| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
|---|---|
 The tropical storm at peak intensity just before making landfall along the coast of Ghana late on June 29, 2135. | |
| Formed | June 28, 2135 |
| Dissipated | June 30, 2135 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 75 km/h (45 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 1006 hPa (mbar); 29.71 inHg |
| Fatalities | 6 direct, 7 indirect |
| Damage | $115 million (2135 USD) (or GH₵1.423 billion) |
| Areas affected | Ghana |
| Part of the 2135 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The 2135 Ghana tropical storm (unofficially referred to as Tropical Storm Goldie) was an exceptionally anomalous and rare tropical cyclone that affected the nation of Ghana in late June of that year. This system was notable for becoming the first tropical or subtropical cyclone to ever affect the nation of Ghana, alongside being one of few instances where a cyclone made landfall in Africa.
The system, initially thought to have been a mere African easterly wave, developed into a broad area of low pressure late on June 27, south of the equatorial coast of Africa. Over the next 24 hours, the system would organize considerably, despite its close proximity to the equator, and would become sufficiently organized late on June 28, being upgraded to a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC. The next day, the system would slow down and turn north, being upgraded to a tropical storm just seven and a half hours before making landfall at peak intensity. Afterwards, the storm moved inland and degenerated into a remnant low mid-day on June 30, with its remnants eventually merging with another tropical wave later that same day.
Due to the storm's slow movement, moderate damage was reported across the southern coast of Ghana, with at least 6 fatalities directly attributed to the storm, with 7 more being accounted for due to the flooding rains the storm brought causing a considerable landslide within inland Africa. This landslide would occur following its degeneration into a remnant low. Total economic losses were assessed to be $115 million USD (or ₵1.423 billion Ghanaian cedi). Areas of Ghana reported up to 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rainfall from the storm, and considerable flooding was reported across the coast.
Meteorological History[]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir-Simpson scale.
A tropical wave emerged off the equatorial coast of Africa on June 25, and initially moved slowly towards the west-southwest. This wave was slow to develop over the next two and a half days, hindered by being entangled within the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Starting early on June 28, the wave began showing signs of organization after entering an environment of warm sea surface temperatures in excess of 28ºC, and relatively low wind shear. Eventually, at 18:00 UTC that day, the wave would become sufficiently organized and was upgraded to a tropical depression at latitude 4.6ºN, longitude 0.2ºE.
Going into June 29, the depression would continue to organize, with centralized convection becoming more prevalent, and evident banding features forming south of the center. At 12:00 UTC that same day, the system would be upgraded to a tropical storm, and would peak 6 hours later with winds of 45 miles per hour (40 knots), and a pressure of 1,006 millibars (29.71 inHg). Following this, northeasterly wind shear would begin to pick up as the system moved northward, however, the storm would make landfall before the effects got too significant. At 19:30 UTC, the tropical storm would make landfall peak intensity on the southern coast of Ghana. After making landfall, the storm would gradually weaken as conditions continued to worsen, being downgraded to a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC on June 30, and degenerating into a remnant low six hours later. The system would last be designated at 18:00 UTC that same day, before merging with another tropical wave located to its west.
Intensification of the system was limited due to a lack of coriolis forces being able to aid the system. Forming at 4.6ºN, the maximum potential intensity of the system was very limited, though some meteorologists had argued that it theoretically could have gotten stronger. Most of this came from them considering other cyclones that formed at a lower latitude managing to attain higher intensities, with examples including Typhoon Vamei and Hurricane Pali. In addition to the limited coriolis effect, the NHC also suggested that its limited ceiling resulted from the high amount of shear induced on the system from the north and east because of the African easterly jet.
Classification of System[]
The system was not recognized by the National Hurricane Center operationally during the 2135 Atlantic hurricane season. However, in April of 2136, the NHC would release a tropical cyclone report recognizing the existence of the system, and counting it as a part of the previous year's Atlantic hurricane season, officially designating it system 02L (thus bumping up the designations of all systems following it).
When the system was initially active, select meteorologists would take to social media, noting the anomalous attributes of the system, with some even boldly proclaiming that it was a tropical storm. These assessments would prove to be correct after a thorough review of this system by the NHC. Supporting this assessment was an ASCAT pass that managed to capture the system having a closed circulation, that and surface reports from within Ghana finding wind patterns that supported a closed, compact tropical cyclone.
Expansion of Area of Responsibility[]
One of the primary reasons as to why the system wasn't initially recognized by the NHC was because of its proximity to Prime meridian, especially as the system was designated at 0.2ºE, not even a full degree of longitude from it. Because of the impacts the tropical storm delivered, many would urge that following this that the NHC expand their area of recognition past the Prime meridian, ending once it reached central Africa. This decision would eventually be enacted in 2137 by the agency after dozens of suggestions and emails from the public.
"Tropical Storm Goldie" []
Outside of official recognition, the tropical storm would unofficially be nicknamed Tropical Storm Goldie as coverage on the designation off the system gained traction across worldwide news agencies. The nickname was inspired the fact that Ghana lies across what was once considered the Gold Coast region of Africa. This nickname would be the subject of controversy as many believed it primarily referred to the British colony of the same name, which participated heavily in slave trades, which were greatly scrutinized by natives of the Gold Coast back in the 1800s.
Preparations and Impact[]
Preparations[]
Although not operationally classified as a tropical cyclone, weather services across Ghana did warn the public of an incoming rainstorm moving from the south starting on June 28. Communities along the coast would take as many precautions as possible, including barricading flood-prone areas and preparing infrastructure for rough swells near the coastline. Because of the rainfall potential, at least 5,000 individuals evacuated to the north to avoid being affected by flooding.
Impact[]
The slow movement of the tropical storm resulted in impacts primarily being rainfall-based. Along the equatorial coast, rough swells in excess of 1 meter were reported, with 2 fatalities directly attributed to the rip currents. In terms of rainfall, the storm would drop up to 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain across southern Ghana, with regions further northwest receiving 200 to 300 mm (8 to 12 in) of rain. 4 additional fatalities were directly attributed to the flooding rains brought about by the tropical storm, with another 7 indirect fatalities resulting from a considerable landslide that occurred from the remnants of the system bringing further flooding inland.
Wind gusts ranging in excess of 50 to 60 miles per hour (45 to 50 knots) would be reported by stations across the coast of Ghana, with a maximum gust of 63 mph (54 knots) reported by a station in Koforidua. Many of these gusts would result in small trees being uprooted, alongside inducing minor damage to homes and businesses, only being furthered as excessive rainfall started to come in and induce flooding.
Economic losses from the storm were estimated to be $115 million USD, or GH₵1.423 billion. The most heavily impacted areas were along the coast, where moderate inundation exacerbated flooding brought by the storm. Further inland, impacts were minor, but heavy rainfall and gusty winds did result in several thousand homes being damaged, only adding to the economic toll. Warnings from local weather services did help to mitigate the impacts somewhat, but many people were still left confused about the strength of this "rainstorm".
Records[]
The tropical storm was designated at latitude 4.6ºN, longitude 0.2ºW, making it both the easternmost and southernmost tropical or subtropical cyclone to ever form in the Atlantic basin. Only a few other systems rival it in terms of latitude, but surpassed all longitudinal records in terms of cyclogenesis in the basin. It also became the first ever system to affect the nation of Ghana, a scenario initially thought to have been impossible due to all the factors thought to have gone against it. In addition to this, the 63 mph (54 knot) wind gust reported in Koforidua became the strongest wind gust ever recorded in the nation of Ghana.