HURRICANE LORENCO, AZORES – 29TH SEPTEMBER 2019
MAJOR INCIDENT
UPDATE 1500 HRS 2ND OCTOBER
As a result of Lorenzo there have been 171 occurrences, according to Azores Civil Protection, of which 66 are in Faial, 23 in Flores, 28 in Pico, 21 in São Jorge, eight in Graciosa, 20 in Terceira, two in São Miguel and three in Corvo,”
“It is the strongest hurricane of the last 20 years” to hit the archipelago, according to Carlos Neves, president of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service.
The largest gust of wind recorded by the IPMA during the passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo” through the Azores was 163 kph on Corvo island, a source from the institute told Lusa.
The passage of Lorenzo caused the partial destruction of Lajes das Flores Port. The captain of the Port of Santa Cruz das Flores, Rafael da Silva, explained that “the jetty of the port was destroyed and a number of buildings were also destroyed. There are also vessels and containers that did not withstand the force of as well as about four fishing vessels”
The destruction of Flores’ only commercial port is, so far, the biggest material damage caused by Lorenzo’s passage through the Azores . Rafael da Silva says that now is the time to “evaluate what can be used and address the logistical problem that will be posed to the islands of the Western Group.
The mayor of Horta, in the Azores, stated that 44 people were relocated on the island of Faial, due to the intensity of the waves in the parish of Angustias, having been recorded 70 occurrences due to the passing of “Lorenzo”.
Most of the evictions occurred in the town of Horta, on Faial Island, one of the most affected, due to “flooding at Avenida 25 de Abril”. In the municipality of Lajes do Pico, on the island of Pico, 100 inhabitants were “removed from their dwellings”, as a precaution.
The 171 recorded occurrences only concern “material damage”. “We have to emphasise in the midst of this considerable number of occurrences that there were no injuries, no victims and that is what makes us more rested,” said the president of Civil Protection.
Hurricane Lorenzo also caused “some power outages in the Santa Cruz das Flores area” as well as problems “in the mobile phone and communications networks” that must be corrected “over the days”.
SITREP 2ND OCTOBER 2019
Situation as at 0730 hrs
As at 0730 hrs (Lisbon time) the Azores civil protection services has registered about 50 occurrences due to the passing of Hurricane “Lorenzo”. These involve mainly involve: “obstruction of roads, falling trees and fallen roof tiles”, “in Flores, Pico and Faial. Two people were relocated on the island of Sao Jorge, the Regional Government said. On Faial Island, a bus stop was totally destroyed. Upcoming hours are still critical.
Hurricane “Lorenzo” is now down to Category 1, at the intensity expected by the Azorean Civil Protection. “We are following the whole process and we think the peak will be around 06:00 [07:00 in mainland Portugal],” said Teresa Machado Luciano.
The maximum gust so far, is 145 kph was recorded on the island of Faial in the central group, followed by 130 Kph in Flores and 126 kph in Corvo. A total of 61 roads have already been closed on several islands of the Azores.
The commander of the Santa Cruz das Flores Fire Department told Lusa today that the road in the Monte Zone in Santa Cruz das Flores is closed due to the fall of a large tree due to from the passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo”.
The closest proximity from the centre of Hurricane “Lorenzo” to the island of Flores should be around 100 kms at 6:00 today (07:00 in Lisbon
The Azores IPMA also confirmed that the critical period of Hurricane “Lorenzo” will run until 9:00 am in the region (10:00 am in Lisbon), mostly affecting Flores and Corvo.
FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS
SATA has announced that it will cancel flights scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, until 4 pm, due to the passing of Hurricane Lorenzo. There are 24 flights, with only two connecting to the mainland and the rest are regional, which are suspended, with 873 passengers being affected, according to the airline.
SATA states that “all affected passengers will be accommodated on flights from October 2-4.”
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Nearly 1,000 operatives, including firefighters, public officials, health professionals and security forces, are being deployed at dawn in the Azores to respond to the passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo” through the archipelago.
The president of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service also said that “some people were relocated in Praia da Vitória,” by the municipality, as a preventive measure, “for living in degraded housing”.
Lorenzo” is affecting the entire archipelago, but “especially” the island of Flores and Corvo, according to the IPMA, underlining that the effects of the storm will start to feel progressively early in the morning and Wednesday morning. .
POLICE MARITIME ADVICE AS HURRICANE LORENZO APPROACHES THE AZORES
SITREP
ISSUED 1ST OCTOBER
The forecast of the sea state predicts an exceptional worsening of weather and oceanographic conditions in the Azores archipelago, with a special focus on the western and central groups, due to the tropical storm Lorenzo, between the night of Tuesday, October 1st, and early in the morning of Thursday, October 3rd.
This is associated with the passing of the exceptionally intense Lorenzo tropical storm, which will result in a significant waves between 10 and 16 meters in the Western and Central Groups, with an average period ranging between 14 and 16 seconds.
The wind may exceed 120 km / h and gusts above 160 km / h.
The National Maritime Authority and the Navy reinforce the recommendations, in particular to the fishing and recreational boating community at sea, of the possible return to the nearest port of shelter and the adoption of precautionary measures.
The maritime community is advised to plan and take timely precautionary measures, which may include checking and reinforcing moorings, placing dry boats in a safe place, away from the ramp itself and In the case of larger vessels, their eventual displacement to ports of shelter away from the possible course of the storm.
The general population should refrain from approaching the seafront, walking along the waterfront and on the beaches, and playing recreational activities at sea.
Seafarers are also advised to maintain a permanent state of vigilance and to monitor the evolution of the meteorological situation and the Navigational and Meteorological Warnings issued by the Navy and the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), as well as Civil Protection Azores and other information from port captaincies on the conditions of access to ports, avoiding going out to sea until conditions improve.
SIREP 30th September 2019
URRICANE LORENZO MOVING CLOSER TO THE AZORES
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POST HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY A NEW UPDATED POST MADE AT 0900 HRS ON 1st OCTOBER ON THIS PAGE
UPDATE 1300 HRS
The IPMA has issued red warnings today to the islands of the Western and Central Azorean groups, due to the expected passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo” in the region on Wednesday.
The red warning is the highest of the weather warnings and represents an extremely risky weather situation.
The red warning for Flores and Corvo (Western group) regarding sea turbulence will be in effect from 00:00 to 12:00 on Wednesday, taking into account the predictions of waves of 10 to 15 meters in height, with a maximum height reaching 25 meters.
Flores and Corvo will be under red wind warning between 00:00 and 12:00 on Wednesday, with maximum gust forecasts of 190 kilometers per hour and a 40% probability of exceeding 200 kilometers per hour.
For the Central group (Terceira, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Faial) the red warning regarding the sea turbulence will be in effect between 06:00 and 15:00 on Wednesday, during which waves are expected from 9am to 9pm. 12 meters high and the maximum height can reach 22 meters.
The IPMA also issued yellow and orange warnings to the islands of the Eastern group (São Miguel and Santa Maria).
In the light of these predictions, the Azores Civil Protection issued a warning to recommend the adoption of self-protection measures.
About 900 passengers on SATA flights are expected to be affected on Wednesday by the hurricane “Lorenzo” passing through the Azores, according to an estimate from the air carrier’s emergency office disclosed to Lusa.
The SATA group today convened its emergency office to take measures to minimize the possible impacts that the passage of Hurricane “Lorenzo” through the Azores may cause on scheduled flights.
The Hurricanne is now at Category 2 level, was about 1,800 kilometers southwest of the Azores in the morning, but is expected to “decrease in intensity in the coming days”.
http://www.ipma.pt/pt/otempo/prev-sam/?p=AOC
SITREP MONDAY 30th SEPTEMBER 0900 HRS
At 0600 hrs, the US Hurricane Centre reported that the centre of Hurricane Lorenzo was located near latitude 28.1 North, longitude 43.2 West. Lorenzo is moving towards the north-northeast near 17 km/h. A turn to the northeast is expected later today with a gradual increase in forward speed through Wednesday.
On the forecast track, the centre of Lorenzo is expected to pass near the Azores early on Wednesday.
Chart is the forecast track issued 0200 hrs today (30th September)
Maximum sustained winds are near 175 km/h with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, but Lorenzo is forecast to remain a large and powerful hurricane while it passes near the Azores.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 255 miles (405 km).
AZORES REGIONAL GOVERNMENT PREPARES FOR THE ARRIVAL OF HURRICANE LORENZO
PLEASE NOTE THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH A NEW POST AT 0849 HRS on 30TH SEPTEMBER
SITREP – 29TH SEPTEMBER 1100 HRS
CHART – LATEST WIND SPEED FORECAST – US HURRICANE CENTRE
The US National Hurricane Centre issued a bulletin this morning stating that: “This is a large and powerful hurricane with tropical storm force winds that are expected to expand further in the next several days. Regardless of the exact track near the Azores, strong winds are increasing likely on the islands especially Tuesday night and Wednesday.”
The Regional Secretary of Health stated yesterday in Angra do Heroísmo that the Government of the Azores “is taking all steps to address” the situation resulting from Hurricane Lorenzo and “providing effective support to all occurrences that may occur”.
The President of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Protection Service of the Azores (SRPCBA) said that “according to the IPMA, it will be the eastern part of the hurricane that will have the most intensity, thus affecting the Central Group more aggressively”. However, this is “a projection that may change over the next few days”.
Safe Communities will continue to monitor the situation