Calvin was a minimal tropical storm that remained well away from any land
areas.
a. Synoptic History
Calvin developed from a tropical wave that emerged off the coast of
Africa on 9 July. The wave crossed Central America and entered the Pacific
Ocean 11 days later on the 20th. The wave showed some evidence of
a mid-level circulation on the 23rd, and it slowly became better
organized over the next two days. ERS scatterometer wind data suggest
that an elongated low-level circulation formed within the ITCZ on the
24th, but the system did not yet have the organized convection
required of a tropical depression. At 0600 UTC on the 25th,
depression status was attained when the circulation, located about 560 nm
south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, became better defined and was
accompanied by persistent deep convection in its southeast quadrant.
Satellite microwave imagery indicated that the circulation continued to
become better organized over the next several hours, and storm strength was
reached at 1200 UTC on the 25th. Almost immediately thereafter,
west-northwesterly vertical shear exposed the low-level center and halted
the intensification process. Calvin moved to the west-northwest over the
next 24 hours in a sheared state with only occasional convection near the
center. Satellite classifications indicate that Calvin weakened to a
depression at 1200 UTC on the 26th. Late on the 26th,
there was an increase in deep convection and a turn to the northwest at a
somewhat slower forward speed, with the latter perhaps a response to a
mid-tropospheric trough to the northwest of the depression. An
alternative possibility is the proximity of Calvin to the developing
circulation of Tropical Depression Six-E, which was located about 400 n
mi to the southwest. Calvin's convective burst did not persist and the
depression dissipated by 1200 UTC 27 July. A low-cloud swirl remained
and subsequently continued on a west-northwesterly course for another
couple of days.
The "best-track" of Calvin is listed in Table 1
and illustrated in Figure 1.
b. Meteorological Statistics
Figure 2 and Figure 3 show the best
track curves of maximum sustained surface wind (defined as a 1 min
average at an elevation of 10 m) and minimum central pressure,
respectively, as well as the observations on which the best track
estimates are based. There were no direct measurements of surface
winds; the best track values are based on interpretation of Dvorak
satellite classifications from the Tropical Analysis and Forecast
Branch (TAFB) of the Tropical Prediction Center, the NOAA/NESDIS
Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), and the Air Force Weather Agency
(indicated by AFGWC in figure legends). In some cases,
operational classifications have been reexamined, in view of
differences between the operational and best track position
estimates.
There are no known ship or land reports of winds in excess of 34 kt
associated with Calvin.
c. Casualty and Damage Statistics
Calvin remained at sea during its brief lifetime; there have been no
reports of casualties or damage.
d. Forecast and Warning Critique
Calvin was a tropical storm for only 18 hours; therefore only two 12-h
forecasts verified. The average error of these two forecasts was 38 n mi,
about equal to the 1988-97 period mean.
Acknowledgments:
ERS scatterometer data were obtained from the
Fleet Numerical Meteorology
and Oceanography web site. Satellite microwave imagery was obtained from
the Naval Research Laboratory web site.
Figure 1.
Best track positions for Tropical Storm Calvin, 25-27 July 1999.
Figure 2.
Best track maximum sustained wind speed curve for Tropical Storm Calvin.
Figure 3.
Best track minimum central pressure curve for Tropical Storm Calvin.
Table 1.
Best track for Tropical Storm Calvin, 25-27 July 1999.
Date/Time (UTC) |
Position |
Pressure (mb) |
Wind Speed (kt) |
Stage |
Lat. (°N) |
Lon. (°W) |
25/0600 | 14.9 | 115.2 | 1006 | 30 | tropical depression |
25/1200 | 15.3 | 116.2 | 1005 | 35 | tropical storm |
25/1800 | 15.7 | 117.2 | 1006 | 35 | " |
26/0000 | 16.1 | 118.2 | 1006 | 35 | " |
26/0600 | 16.6 | 119.2 | 1006 | 35 | " |
26/1200 | 17.0 | 120.3 | 1006 | 30 | tropical depression |
26/1800 | 17.3 | 121.5 | 1006 | 30 | " |
27/0000 | 17.8 | 122.1 | 1006 | 30 | " |
27/0600 | 18.5 | 122.6 | 1007 | 25 | " |
|
25/1200 | 15.3 | 116.2 | 1005 | 35 | minimum pressure |