Tropical Storm Laura (2008)
| Tropical Storm (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Subtropical Storm Laura on September 29
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| Formed | September 29, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 4, 2008 |
| (Extratropical after October 1) | |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 994 mbar (hPa); 29.35 inHg |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Azores, Atlantic Canada, Greenland, Europe |
| Part of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Laura was a large but short-lived tropical cyclone that developed over the north-central Atlantic Ocean in late September during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. The 12th named storm of the season, Laura formed out of a large extratropical area of low pressure located about 1015 miles (1635 km) west of the Azores on September 29. Laura slowly developed tropical characteristics throughout the day as it moved over warmer waters. On the afternoon of September 30, Laura had acquired enough tropical characteristics to be designated a Tropical Storm. Shortly after being declared tropical, Laura began to undergo an extratropical transition, which did not fully take place until the morning of October 1. Laura degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone later that morning, and the final advisory by the National Hurricane Center was issued. The remnants of Laura contributed to heavy rainfall and power outages in the British Isles, the Netherlands, and Norway on October 5 to 8.
On September 26, a very large extratropical area of low pressure developed along a quasi-stationary frontal system a few hundred miles west of the Azores. The low intensified into the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) at 12:00 UTC on September 27. Over the following days, the low began to lose its frontal features and began to transition into a subtropical cyclone as it traveled in a general westward direction. By September 29, the low had developed sufficient convection and was declared Subtropical Storm Laura. Upon being upgraded, cold cloud tops began to wrap around the center of Laura and consolidate near the center of circulation. The convection organized around the center quickly and a satellite pass over the storm revealed that it could be intensifying. A later satellite pass disregarded the possibility of intensification as the intensity was confirmed to be at 60 mph (95 km/h). The overall structure of Laura remained subtropical but there were indications that it was acquiring tropical characteristics.
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