Hurricane Ophelia and The Extratropical Cyclone Update Eight

WOCN31 CWHX 032045
Intermediate tropical cyclone information statement updated by the
Canadian Hurricane Centre of Environment Canada at 6:14 PM ADT Monday
3 October 2011.
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Intermediate tropical cyclone information statement for:
      Newfoundland.

      For post-tropical storm Ophelia.

      This is the final statement by the chance of on this storm.

      As of 6:30 PM NDT the low was located east of the Newfoundland
      Marine district - soon to be absorbed by a large frontal
      System.

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==discussion==
Summary of hurricane/post-tropical storm Ophelia.

Ophelia made landfall around 9:30 AM local time on Monday October 3rd
in the vicinity of placentia on the Avalon Peninsula's southwest
coast of Newfoundland.  The storm then moved across the peninsula
passing just north of St. John's then moved over the Northern Grand
Banks during the afternoon.  The lowest pressure over land at the
time of landfall was near 992 MB as reported by a privately-run
weather station at cape pine near st.  Shotts.  The minimum pressure
in the centre of the storm at landfall was near 988 MB.
Maximum winds at landfall were near 100 or 110 km/h over the ocean.

The forecast track had been corrected slightly to the northwest based
on computer models and satellite images analysed Sunday evening.
The strongest winds with the storm were to the right of its
track/centre.  The highest winds remained just offshore to the south
of the Avalon.  Wind gusts to 100 km/h were recorded along the
immediate coastline while inland gusts in the 80 to 85 km/h range
were measured.  Winds noticably diminished as the centre passed over
some communities on the Avalon Peninsula, then picked-up again from
the west or northwest as the storm moved away.  A few of those wind
gusts got into the upper 90 km/h range.

Rainfall amounts ranging from 25 to 60 millimetres were recorded
across much of Southeastern Newfoundland.  St Lawrence received 58
millimetres and Bonavista 62 millimetres.  Cape Race to the east and
Burgeo to the west of the storm reported only 4 and 10 millimetres,
respectively.  This was due in part to the dry air that wrapped
around the storm as it was undergoing transition to post-tropical,
and also due to its rapid speed of travel through the area.

There were several reports of flooding impacts which resulted from
heavy downpours Monday morning.  Rainfall rates of 20
millimetres/hour were observed over the Burin, Connaigre and
Bonavista peninsulas.  At least one community, belleoram, declared a
state of emergency for a 3-hour period after heavy rain caused
localised flooding.  A number of roadways were closed to traffic due
to flooding, washout and Debris.

Here are some unofficial precipitation amounts and maximum wind gusts
as of 3 PM Monday:

                       Rainfall    peak wind
                     (millimetres)    (km/h)
St.  Pierre/Miquelon      65            98
Bonavista                 62            80
St. Lawrence             58            70
St.  Alban's              49            -
Terra Nova park           47            -
Gander                    27            -
St. John's airport       27            78
Argentia                  24            72
St. John's west           22            -
Burgeo                    10            -
Cape Race                 4             98

The axis of maximum winds extended from Laurentian Fan to just south
of the Avalon Peninsula to the Northern Grand Banks.  These winds
created significant waves of 14 metres with peaks at 22 metres at the
Laurentian Fan buoy Sunday evening.  These waves propagated northward
during the night and reached the South Coast of Newfoundland at a
reduced amplitude Monday morning.  Significant waves of 5 to 9 metres
and peak waves of 10 to 15 metres were recorded at the mouth of
Placentia Bay and at buoy 44251 respectively.  These waves propagated
over the Grand Banks during the afternoon at a lesser amplitude.
Hibernia reported waves of 5 metres during the mid-afternoon.

Curious spectators attracted by the wave action were encouraged to
stay well away from the wave-breaking zones as dangerous surf and
riptide conditions were created. There was some beachfront Debris
wash-ups in prone areas of the Southern Avalon and Burin peninsulas.

Storm surge was not a significant factor with Ophelia - registering
near 50 cm at Argentia at low tide Monday morning.  Since the storm
was moving so fast, there was little time for the wind to cause water
to pile-up in the bays.

END/COUTURIER/FOGARTY