hurricane hurricane ninth tropical storm fourth hurricane strongest hurricane atlantic hurricane season long lived cape type hurricane formed extreme southeastern peaking category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane scale traversed central atlantic affected land end lifespan weak extratropical system minor impact northern british isles meteorological history second week september strong tropical wave began emerge coast africa organized start september emerged coast national_hurricane_center believed quickly develop tropical depression happened tropical depression morning september enormous size depression fairly slow develop combined easterly wind shear eastern atlantic influence air layer north tracked south cape_verde islands convection slow build little banding initial strengthening delayed result september organization improved banding better defined evening depression strengthened tropical storm storm slowly strengthened warm waters eastern atlantic tracked west northwest dry air continued slow development september remained low end tropical storm bout intensification took place september shear diminished storm better organized defined banding leveled evening hurricane intensity morning september storm began develop ragged eye storm strengthened hurricane status intensity leveled marginal category hurricane intensification slowed presence moderate wind shear despite absence significant dry air late evening storm began slowly intensify september intensification rapid quickly category hurricane morning eye surrounded deep convection turned northward slowed central atlantic response weakness subtropical ridge farther north created gordon north northward turn shifted course away land areas intensification continued afternoon evening strengthened major hurricane mph minimum central pressure mbar shear remained low oceans remained warm intensified slightly peaking solid category hurricane mph winds early september time gordon roughly open ocean operationally estimated mph winds post storm analysis downgraded slightly gordon moved eastward afternoon 18th narrow ridge built forcing westward eyewall collapsed somewhat weakened slightly category hurricane leveled hours september lengthy eyewall replacement cycle elongated cloud pattern 20th turned northwest weakened slightly slight increase wind shear afternoon downgraded category hurricane remained extratropical early september motion shifted north moved northwest periphery subtropical ridge general motion continued day began turn northeastward evening edge subtropical ridge east bermuda decrease wind shear relatively warm water kept intensity stationary keeping category hurricane intensity held mph strengthening slightly late september despite losing tropical characteristics operationally downgraded tropical storm brief period accelerated northeast north atlantic analysis early september confirmed high end category hurricane mph winds transitioned hybrid storm tropical extratropical characteristics afternoon deep warm core frontal like appearance increased shear weakened remained hurricane strength storm fully extratropical morning september extratropical storm weakened tracked eastward gale center west ireland early september eventually merged larger extratropical low near northern end british isles late 27th impact tropical system approached land ships caught outer bands strongest reported mph sustained winds early september north atlantic remained far away island hurricane produced rough waves bermuda weakened extratropical system strong wind gusts reported ireland northern scotland strongest reported wind gust ireland observatory mph gusts reported scotland strongest gust outer mph gusts reported damage fatalities reported result
Hurricane Helene (2006)