2006 Central Pacific cyclone

Unusual cyclonic formation in the Pacific Ocean

(unofficially)

The 2006 Central Pacific cyclone, also known as Invest 91C or Storm 91C, was an unusual weather system that formed in 2006. Forming on October 30 from a mid-latitude cyclone in the north Pacific mid-latitudes, it moved over waters warmer than normal. The system acquired some features more typical of subtropical and even tropical cyclones. However, as it neared the western coastline of North America, the system fell apart, dissipating soon after landfall, on November 4. Moisture from the storm's remnants caused substantial rainfall in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. The exact status and nature of this weather event is unknown, with meteorologists and weather agencies having differing opinions.

Meteorological history

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On October 28, 2006, a cut-off extratropical cyclone over the central north Pacific moved over an area of ocean with sea surface temperatures as high as 2 °C above normal, at 16–18 °C (61–64 °F), and stalled there for two days.^[1]^[2]^[3] By October 31, the system had acquired convection, a warmer-than-normal core,^[1] and an eye-like feature.^[3] During this time, the storm had moved eastward, then northeastward, before turning northwestward.^[1] On November 1, the system reached its peak intensity, and had estimated 1-minute sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and its most developed convection. After that, the storm slowly weakened, looped counter-clockwise, and headed east towards the west coast of North America. This system's center of circulation passed south of observation buoy 46637 on November 1. The buoy's lowest pressure reading was 989 millibars (29.2 inHg). Other buoys indicated that a rather large area of low pressure was associated with the system. Buoy 46637 was not at the system's center of circulation, so it is possible that this system had a lower minimum pressure than was actually measured.^[1] On November 2, wind shear and cooler waters began to take their toll on 91C, and all convection was gone by the next day, when the storm was located roughly 520 mi (840 km) off the coast of Oregon.^[1] On November 3, the storm made landfall on the Olympic Peninsula in the State of Washington, bringing tropical storm-like conditions to the Pacific Northwest, including sustained winds at 40 mph (64 km/h) and wind gusts up to 60 mph (97 km/h).^[4]^[3] Following its landfall, the storm rapidly weakened and dissipated on the next day.^[4]

Impact, preparation, and records

In response to the weather system, the American National Weather Service issued wind watches for the Oregon Coast.^[4] The National Weather Service also issued a High Wind Warning for the southern Washington coast and Northwest Oregon. The storm brought gale-force winds to the Pacific Northwest, including sustained winds at 40 mph (64 km/h) and wind gusts up to 60 mph (97 km/h).^[4] The system also brought heavy rain to portions of Vancouver Island.^[5]

If Storm 91C is considered a tropical or subtropical cyclone, it holds several records. Since it formed at 36°N, this system formed at the northernmost latitude of any cyclone in the eastern north Pacific basin.^[6] The previous record-holder was Tropical Storm Wene, which formed at 32°N before crossing the dateline.^[7]^[8] In addition, this system's track data indicated that it crossed from the central to the east Pacific as it formed at longitude 149°W and dissipated at 135°W.^[6] Only two recorded other tropical cyclones had done this previously.^[8] However, since the storm was not officially classified, these records are not justified.

Nature of the system

Clark Evans of Florida State University reported that forecasting tools showed that the system's structure was consistent with that of a subtropical or marginally tropical cyclone.^[1] NASA, a non-meteorological government agency, asserted that the system was a subtropical cyclone.^[3]

In 2016, a study by Alicia Bentley and Nicholas Metz found that this cyclone underwent tropical transition, confirming its status as a tropical cyclone.^[10]

Since this system had one-minute sustained winds of 100 km/h (65 mi/h), which are above the 60 km/h (39 mi/h) boundary between a depression and a storm, it would qualify as a named storm if it was a tropical or subtropical cyclone. However, neither of the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers for the eastern north Pacific, the National Hurricane Center^[11] and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center,^[12] include this system in their annual archives, nor is it included in the official "best track" file.^[8] Hence, this system is not an official tropical or subtropical cyclone of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season.