Arrocane Felix
 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 26, 2020 |
| Remnant Low | June 30, 2020 |
| Dissipated | July 1, 2020 |
| Arrocane | |
| 10-minute sustained (FML) | |
| Highest winds | 90 mph (150 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 972 mbar (hPa); 28.70 inHg |
| Category 2 arrocane | |
| 1-minute sustained (AAWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 110 mph (175 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 976 mbar (hPa); 28.82 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 13 |
| Missing | 2 |
| Damage | $3.13 billion (2020 USD) |
| Areas affected | |
Part of the 2020 Ardonia arrocane season | |
Arrocane Felix was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck Felden in late June 2020. The eighth tropical cyclone, sixth named storm, and third arrocane of the 2020 Ardonia arrocane season, Felix reached Category 2 intensity over the Western Ardonia Ocean before making landfall in Felden. The arrocane caused widespread damage across coastal areas and several communities within the kingdom, resulting in $3.125 billion (2020 USD) in damage. Thirteen people were killed and an additional two were reported missing.
Felix developed from an area of low pressure over the Western Ardonia Ocean and became Tropical Depression 08A at 18:00 UTC on June 26. The depression initially moved generally westward before curving toward the northwest and north as it approached Felden. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Felix at 06:00 UTC on June 27 and became an arrocane early on June 28. Felix attained its peak intensity at 12:00 UTC on June 29, with maximum one-minute sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 976 mbar (hPa); 28.82 inHg. After reaching peak intensity offshore, Felix began to weaken before making landfall in Felden while still at Category 2 intensity. The cyclone weakened rapidly inland, becoming a tropical depression on June 30 and degenerating into a remnant low at 18:00 UTC that day. The remnants dissipated on July 1. During its tropical lifetime, Felix generated 7.1675 units of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE).
Felix produced its most substantial impacts along the Felden coast and in Riverstead, Fort Zuka, Ferndale, Felora, and Looma Watchtower. Coastal areas sustained approximately $1 billion in damage, while Riverstead recorded $750 million in losses. Ferndale sustained $575 million in damage, followed by Looma Watchtower with $425 million, Fort Zuka with $250 million, and Felora with $125 million. Five of the storm's 13 fatalities occurred at Fort Zuka, the highest death toll of any individual named location affected by Felix.
Meteorological history
Tropical storm (40–74 mph, 64–119 km/h)
Category 1 (75–94 mph, 120–159 km/h)
Category 2 (95–114 mph, 160–183 km/h)
Category 3 (115–129 mph, 184–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–159 mph, 209–256 km/h)
Category 5 (≥160 mph, ≥257 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression Arrocane Felix originated from an area of low pressure over the Western Ardonia Ocean in late June 2020. The developing system initially moved generally westward before beginning a gradual turn toward the northwest. At 18:00 UTC on June 26, the system developed sufficiently to be designated Tropical Depression 08A, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 km/h) and a central pressure of 1008 mbar (hPa); 29.77 inHg. The depression remained at the same intensity at 00:00 UTC on June 27 before strengthening into Tropical Storm Felix six hours later, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) and a pressure of 1005 mbar (hPa); 29.68 inHg.
Felix steadily strengthened throughout June 27 while moving northwestward across the Western Ardonia Ocean. Its maximum sustained winds increased to 50 mph (80 km/h) at 12:00 UTC and 60 mph (97 km/h) at 18:00 UTC. By 00:00 UTC on June 28, Felix had strengthened to 70 mph (110 km/h) as it gradually turned toward the north in the direction of Felden. Six hours later, the cyclone became a Category 1 arrocane with winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a pressure of 991 mbar (hPa); 29.26 inHg. Felix continued strengthening through the day, reaching 85 mph (137 km/h) at 12:00 UTC and 90 mph (140 km/h) at 18:00 UTC.
At 00:00 UTC on June 29, Felix strengthened into a Category 2 arrocane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a central pressure of 981 mbar (hPa); 28.97 inHg. Winds increased to 105 mph (169 km/h) six hours later. At 12:00 UTC, Felix attained its peak intensity over the Western Ardonia Ocean, with maximum one-minute sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 976 mbar (hPa); 28.82 inHg. Around this time, satellite imagery depicted a compact inner core and a small eye embedded within the cyclone's central dense overcast.
Felix began weakening after reaching peak intensity as it continued northward toward Felden. Maximum sustained winds decreased to 105 mph (169 km/h) at 18:00 UTC on June 29 and to 100 mph (160 km/h) by 00:00 UTC on June 30. Felix subsequently made landfall in Felden while still at Category 2 intensity. After moving inland, the cyclone weakened rapidly, falling to Category 1 intensity with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (140 km/h) by 06:00 UTC.
The weakening accelerated during the morning of June 30. By 12:00 UTC, Felix had weakened to a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 km/h) and a pressure of 1007 mbar (hPa); 29.74 inHg. Six hours later, the cyclone degenerated into a remnant low with winds of approximately 15 mph (24 km/h). The remnant circulation persisted into July 1, weakening to 10 mph (16 km/h) by 06:00 UTC before dissipating later that day. Felix generated 7.1675 units of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) during its tropical lifetime.
Preparations
As Felix strengthened over the Western Ardonia Ocean and began approaching Felden, the cyclone posed an increasing threat to coastal portions of the kingdom. Felden is principally inhabited by Felinas and humans, with both populations present in communities along Felix's path, including Riverstead and the capital, Felora. As Felix attained arrocane intensity and subsequently strengthened into a Category 2 arrocane, preparations expanded across areas near its projected track.
Residents in exposed coastal areas were advised to secure structures and prepare for damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and interruptions to transportation and essential services. Maritime interests along the Felden coast prepared for deteriorating conditions as Felix approached, while inhabitants farther inland monitored the cyclone as its forecast track brought it toward several populated communities.
Preparations were also undertaken in Riverstead, Fort Zuka, Ferndale, Felora, and Looma Watchtower. Felix reached its peak intensity offshore on June 29 before beginning to weaken, although it remained a Category 2 arrocane as it approached and subsequently crossed the Felden coast.
Impact
Arrocane Felix caused significant damage across portions of Felden after making landfall at Category 2 intensity. Damage occurred along the coast and across several locations farther inland, including Riverstead, Fort Zuka, Ferndale, Felora, and Looma Watchtower. Overall, Felix caused approximately $3.125 billion (2020 USD) in damage and killed 13 people, while an additional two people were reported missing.
Coastal Felden
Coastal areas sustained approximately $1 billion in damage, the largest share attributed to any impact area during Felix. One person was killed along the coast. The region experienced the cyclone near the time of landfall, when Felix was still at Category 2 intensity after weakening from its peak of 110 mph (180 km/h).
Coastal losses accounted for approximately 32% of the total damage caused by Felix.
Riverstead
Riverstead, a port town in Felden inhabited by Felinas and humans, sustained approximately $750 million in damage from Felix, making it the second-costliest individual impact area associated with the cyclone. Three people were killed.
Damage in Riverstead accounted for approximately 24% of Felix's total monetary losses.
Fort Zuka
Fort Zuka sustained approximately $250 million in damage. Five people were killed, the highest confirmed death toll of any individual named location affected by Felix.
Although Fort Zuka accounted for approximately 8% of the cyclone's total monetary losses, fatalities there represented more than one-third of Felix's overall death toll.
Ferndale
Ferndale sustained approximately $575 million in damage, representing the third-largest monetary loss among the individual named locations affected by Felix. Two people were killed as a result of the cyclone.
Ferndale accounted for approximately 18% of the $3.125 billion in damage caused by Felix.
Felora
Felora, the capital of Felden and a city inhabited primarily by Felinas and humans, sustained approximately $125 million in damage from Felix. One person was killed.
Of the individual named locations affected by the cyclone, Felora recorded the lowest monetary damage total.
Looma Watchtower
Looma Watchtower sustained approximately $425 million in damage, while one person was killed. Losses there accounted for approximately 14% of Felix's overall damage.
Collectively, the Felden coast and five named locations accounted for all $3.125 billion in recorded damage and all 13 confirmed fatalities associated with Felix.
Aftermath
Following Felix's passage, recovery efforts took place across the portions of Felden affected by the arrocane. The cyclone left $3.125 billion (2020 USD) in damage across coastal areas, Riverstead, Fort Zuka, Ferndale, Felora, and Looma Watchtower. Thirteen people were confirmed dead, while an additional two people were reported missing.
Despite the damage and loss of life caused by Felix, its name was not retired following the 2020 Ardonia arrocane season and remained on the Ardonia tropical cyclone naming lists.