Gert (2011)

A small tropical cyclone formed from a frontal trough in the central Atlantic and became a tropical depression about 370 nautical miles southeast of Bermuda on 13 August 2011. It strengthened to Tropical Storm Gert later that day and moved generally west-northwest then turned northward and northeastward under the influence of nearby weather systems. Gert lasted only a few days as a tropical cyclone, becoming post-tropical on 16 August and dissipating well east of Newfoundland on 17–18 August.

Gert did not make any landfalls. The storm passed about 90 nautical miles east of Bermuda near its peak on 15 August, but no tropical-storm-force winds were reported at Bermuda or other land stations.

The storm’s peak intensity was estimated at 55 knots (about 63 mph) at 1200 UTC 15 August, with a minimum central pressure near 1000 mb. Aircraft and satellite measurements supported that peak; a flight-level wind of 61 kt was measured and surface wind estimates from the SFMR were 50–55 kt.

There were no reports of storm surge or notable coastal inundation tied to Gert, and no land stations, ships, or buoys recorded tropical-storm-force winds. The report does not list any significant rainfall totals for populated locations and no notable surge heights were recorded.

No deaths or damage were reported in association with Gert. The storm’s impacts were minimal because it stayed over open water and passed east of Bermuda without producing sustained tropical-storm-force conditions on the island.

Noteworthy items include that the precursor disturbance’s development was not well forecast more than a day in advance, and Gert’s track forecasts were generally skillful relative to climatology and persistence. The European model (ECMWF) had consistently lower track errors than the official forecast during Gert’s short life.