| Subtropical storm (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 The storm at peak intensity south of the Azores on March 17. | |
| Formed | March 16, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | March 20, 2022 |
| (Extratropical after March 17) | |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 45 mph (75 km/h) Gusts: 65 mph (100 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 997 mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg |
| Fatalities | 23 direct, 14 indirect |
| Damage | $1.01 billion (2022 USD) |
| Areas affected | Azores, New England (especially Maine), Atlantic Canada (especially Nova Scotia) |
| Part of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The 2022 Azores subtropical storm, officially referred to as Subtropical Storm One was the first of two subtropical systems in the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. Operationally, the system never gained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), until it was upgraded in its tropical cyclone report. The system developed into a subtropical depression, forming from an extratropical cyclone just north of the Azores on March 16. As the cyclone moved southwards through the Azores, the system continued to intensified and peaked with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h), alongside a minimum pressure of 997 mbar (hPa; 29.44 inHg) on March 17. Just after peaking, One weakened to a non-tropical low, meandering in the central Atlantic basin before being absorbed by a cold front on March 20.
During its brief time over New England and Nova Scotia before it developed, the system dropped heavy rain which killed at least 10 people and caused at least $340 million in damage. As it moved over the Azores, the system had brought significant wintry precipitation which caused about $674.3 million in damage and killed around 20 people. In total, there were 37 fatalities and $1.01 billion in damage, some of which is indirect.
Meteorological history[]
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
During mid-March, an extratropical cyclone moved off the coast of New England and Nova Scotia, bringing brief, yet heavy rain to the region. The cyclone swiftly moved eastward through the northern Atlantic Ocean and began being monitored early on March 13 for possible subtropical development near the Azores Islands in the next few days. However, that same day, the low dissipated, and a new one formed the next day well south of Newfoundland. Simultaneously, the low was designated as Invest 90L and was given a 30% chance for development. The low, initially, struggled to organize because of its fast movement as it was almost about to be absorbed into a cold front. However, as the front began to dissipate, the low finally began to organize quickly as it began to move southeast, circling a high-pressure system situated in the central Atlantic Ocean. Late on March 15, the low was confirmed to have fully detached from the aforementioned front, with the evidence from an ASCAT pass. However, the low still lacked a closed center of circulation.
Finally, another ASCAT pass showed a tightly-closed circulation surrounded by plentiful convection. This was enough for the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to finally initiate advisories on Subtropical Depression One at 00:00 UTC on March 16, as the storm had not gained winds of 35 kt or higher. Immediately, tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for the Azores Islands, though they were discontinued as the storm "failed to intensify". Nonetheless, the system's appearance improved, but with the lack of direct ASCAT passes over the system, it was hard to determine the intensity of the storm. Operationally, the storm was believed to have maintained its intensity as a subtropical depression before becoming a remnant low on March 17 at around 02:00 UTC. However, in the post-season analysis, ship reports confirmed that the storm indeed had gained tropical-storm-force winds and thus the system was upgraded to a subtropical storm and lasted for another seven hours before becoming a remnant low since its center became elongated as it came close to being absorbed by another cold front. The low moved slowly well south of the Azores, regaining gale-force winds on March 19 and then being fully absorbed into the cold front on March 20.
Preparations and impacts[]
Azores[]
Snowfall caused by One on the northern coast of Terceira.
When the system was designated as an invest on March 15, weather bulletin warnings were issued for all of the islands for potential winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and extremely heavy rain rates of at least 70.4 mm/hr, mostly on São Miguel Island as the storm was expected to pass directly over the island. Around the coastal areas, there were relatively minor evacuations that occurred. Alongside the rain and wind, heavy snowfall was also expected. However, weather agencies severely underestimated the amount of snowfall that was forecast to drop on the island of Terceira. Only 12 in of snow was expected on the island, which the system severely overperformed once it passed through the islands. While the rain and winds were not much of a problem as One passed through the islands, the severe wintry effects from the system caused many houses to be buried for almost a week, which caused severe starvation across the islands and killed 19 people. Heavy gusts of wind uprooted trees and overturned cars, which only caused 2 injuries on the island of Graciosa after trees fell on top of a shelter. Snowfall totals reached up to 38 in (965.2 mm) on Terceira and 28 in (711.2 mm). Heavy rain on the rest of the islands caused severe flooding with killed the remaining 4 people. Total damage across the entire archipelago stands at $674.3 million (2022 USD)
United States of America[]
Heavy rain occurred throughout the central portion of Maine, bringing severe flash flooding to Bangor and Augusta. Strong wind gusts of 120 km/h (75 mph) toppled several trees, causing major power outages which lasted for at least a week following the storm's passage. In New Hampshire, heavy winds of 95 km/h (60 mph) uprooted trees within the White Mountain National Forest, causing very little damage. In Littleton, severe flooding caused 40 cars to be swept away, which killed 5 people. In Vermont and the northernmost part of New York, only light rain was recorded, with reports of snow flurries as far south as Albany as the storm began moving out-to-sea.
Atlantic Canada[]
High surf caused by the precursor of One along the coast of Lockeport, Nova Scotia.
In Yarmouth, heavy rain was reported, which caused flash flooding and swept away a dozen cars. One man died in Shelburne after he slipped and fell into a river as he was trying to escape his car that was being swept away by floods. In Saint John, a city in New Brunswick, strong winds toppled many trees. Many of which fell on top of people's roofs. No fatalities were reported from these incidents, however. High surf was also reported around the entire coast of the Atlantic Canada region.
See also[]
- 2005 Azores subtropical storm — Another unnamed subtropical storm that affected the Azores.
- Hurricane Lorenzo (2019) — A strong hurricane that became one of the costliest Atlantic hurricanes to affect the islands.
- List of Azores hurricanes