Hurricane Gert (2017)

Hurricane Gert

Gert at peak intensity south of Nova Scotia on August 16
Meteorological history
Formed	August 12, 2017
Extratropical	August 17, 2017
Dissipated	August 18, 2017
Category 2 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	110 mph (175 km/h)
Lowest pressure	962 mbar (hPa); 28.41 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	2
Damage	Minimal
Areas affected	Eastern United States, Eastern Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom
IBTrACS
Part of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Gert was a strong tropical cyclone that brought heavy surf and rip currents to the East Coast of the United States in August 2017. Gert originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 3 yet failed to organize significantly until August 12, when the system coalesced into a tropical depression east of the Bahamas. A few hours later, the depression became the seventh tropical storm of the annual hurricane season and was named Gert. For the next day, though, further intensification was hindered by the proximity of dry air. Once Gert was able to overcome that on August 14, however, Gert resumed strengthening while moving northwards, paralleling the United States coastline. Gert reached its peak intensity on August 16 at Category 2 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale as it accelerated northeastwards. Thereafter, increasing vertical wind shear and decreasing sea surface temperatures caused Gert to rapidly weaken and transition into an extratropical cyclone on August 17, well east of Atlantic Canada. The remnants of Gert dissipated late on August 18, after they merged with another extratropical cyclone over the open Atlantic.

During its lifetime, Gert brought heavy swells, rough surf, and rip currents to the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. Two fatalities occurred when two swimmers drowned amid heavy surf. The extratropical system that merged with the remnants of Gert went on to bring strong winds and rain to Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom.