 Fay at peak intensity over Bermuda on October 12 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 10, 2014 |
| Dissipated | October 13, 2014 |
| Category 1 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 983 mbar (hPa); 29.03 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | ≥$3.8 million (2014 USD) |
| Areas affected | Bermuda |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Fay was the first hurricane to make landfall on Bermuda since Emily in 1987.[1] The sixth named storm and fifth hurricane of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, Fay evolved from a broad disturbance several hundred miles northeast of the Lesser Antilles on October 10. Initially a subtropical cyclone with an expansive wind field and asymmetrical cloud field, the storm gradually attained tropical characteristics as it turned north, transitioning into a tropical storm early on October 11.
Despite being plagued by disruptive wind shear for most of its lifetime, Tropical Storm Fay steadily intensified. Veering toward the east, Fay briefly achieved Category 1 hurricane status while making landfall on Bermuda early on October 12. Wind shear eventually took its toll on Fay, causing the hurricane to weaken to a tropical storm later that day and degenerate into an open trough early on October 13.
A few tropical cyclone warnings and watches were issued in anticipation of Fay's impact on Bermuda. Despite its modest strength, Fay produced extensive damage on Bermuda. Winds gusting over 100 mph (155 km/h) clogged roadways with downed trees and utility poles, and left a majority of the island's electric customers without power. The terminal building at L.F. Wade International Airport was flooded after the storm damaged its roof and sprinkler system. Along the coast, the storm unmoored and destroyed numerous boats. Immediately after the hurricane, 200 Bermuda Regiment soldiers were called to clear debris and assist in initial damage repairs. Cleanup efforts overlapped with preparations for the approach of the stronger Hurricane Gonzalo, which struck the island less than six days later and compounded the damage. Fay and Gonzalo marked the first recorded instance of two Bermuda hurricane landfalls in one season.[2]
- ^ A landfall occurs when the precise center of a storm crosses a coastline.
- ^ Daniel P. Brown (March 4, 2015). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Gonzalo (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 1, 2015.