Nearshore Hurricane Intensity Change and Post‐Landfall Dissipation Along The United States Gulf and East Coasts

Abstract

AbstractIntensification and dissipation of a hurricane before and after landfall, respectively, are crucial for coastal and inland risk potential. This study examines the relationship between intensity change prior to landfall and post‐landfall dissipation. The relative difference of 24 h accumulated cyclone energy generated before and after landfall is defined as the landfall dissipation rate (LFDR). This study focuses on the continental United States and shows that the 24 h hurricane LFDR is significantly negatively related to the 24 h intensity change before landfall. This implies hurricanes undergoing rapid intensification before landfall weaken at a slower rate after landfall. The decay rate is also positively correlated with landfall intensity but is less certain for Category 4–5 hurricanes (>112 kt). The relationship between near‐shore wind change and post‐landfall decay is not equally distributed along the U.S. coast, with pre‐landfall intensification more common along the Gulf Coast and a LFDR that varies.