On October 31, a combination of this shear and pockets of dry air dispersed the convection surrounding the eye, initiating a weakening trend. Although the NHC noted the potential for Tomas to become a major hurricane, the agency conversely observed that the hurricane had begun to suffer from southwesterly wind shear, which computer models forecast to increase in the long term. Subsequent reports from Hurricane Hunters and post-storm reanalysis indicated that Tomas had reached a peak intensity with wind speeds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mbar ( hPa 29.00 inHg) during its trek across the islands, making it a Category 2 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. Around 20:00 UTC, the eye traversed the northern shores of Saint Vincent, while the northernmost ring of the severest winds skirted Saint Lucia. Tomas continued to strengthen through October 30 as it moved generally west- to west-northwestward. Ī weakening Tropical Storm Tomas over the Atlantic on November 6 By that time, the eye measured 35–46 mi (56–74 km) in diameter. Radar images from Martinique soon revealed the formation of an eye-like feature Tomas attained hurricane status a couple of hours later, about 35 miles (55 km) east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, after Hurricane Hunters recorded surface winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). The center of the intensifying storm crossed southern Barbados the next morning, around 09:00 UTC. Despite the prior forecasts of moderated strengthening, Tomas' winds sharply increased to 60 mph (95 km/h) by late October 29 moreover, the outflow aloft became well established in all quadrants as the convection consolidated into a prominent rain band. Steered along high pressure to its north, the storm retraced slightly west-northwestward on its approach to the Windward Islands. A misalignment between the cyclone's low- and upper-level circulations impeded this strengthening potential, however, and at that time the NHC did not expect Tomas to attain hurricane status until 36 to 48 hours later. On its inception, Tomas turned toward the northwest and decelerated within a region of low wind shear and high tropical moisture-two of the prime prerequisites of rapid intensification. In light of those features, the NHC estimated that the system became a tropical depression by 06:00 UTC that day, about 460 mi (740 km) southeast of Barbados, and further upgraded it to Tropical Storm Tomas six hours later. A Hurricane Hunters aircraft investigating the disturbance on October 29 observed a developing circulation with tropical storm-force winds at sea level. The wave and its expansive convection amplified over the next two days, featuring hints of spiraling rainbands. On October 27, when the system was about 1,200 miles (1,940 km) east-southeast of the Windward Islands, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted favorable atmospheric conditions for tropical cyclogenesis, namely light wind shear. During this time the wave's structure retained a vigorous appearance the western portion contained scattered convection, with strong thunderstorms, as well as a broad area of rotating winds. It moved hastily westward across the tropical Atlantic at a comparatively low latitude, becoming embedded within the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Overall damage from the storm was $463.4 million.Įxtratropical cyclone / Remnant low / Tropical disturbance / Monsoon depressionĪ tropical wave exited the western coast of Africa on October 24. However, direct impacts from the hurricane in Haiti were less than anticipated. In the wake of the storm in Haiti, flooding intensified a cholera outbreak indirectly causing more fatalities.
Throughout the hurricane's path, 44 people are known to have been killed, 8 of whom were in Saint Lucia.
Tomas later regained hurricane status as it reorganized near the Windward passage. After reaching Category 2 status on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Tomas quickly weakened to a tropical storm in the central Caribbean Sea, due to strong wind shear and dry air. Quickly intensifying into a hurricane, it moved through the Windward Islands and passed over Saint Lucia. The nineteenth named storm and twelfth hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, Tomas developed from a tropical wave east of the Windward Islands on October 29.
Hurricane Tomas was the latest recorded tropical cyclone on a calendar year to strike the Windward Islands. Part of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles and Lucayan Archipelago Tomas near peak intensity while approaching landfall in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on October 30