Tropical Storm Delta (2005)

On 19 November, a broad area of eastward-moving low pressure formed in the central Atlantic Ocean about 2,200 km (1,400 miles) southwest of the Azores. Operationally, the National Hurricane Center considered that the storm had already gained enough tropical characteristics to be classified as a tropical storm, but in post-storm analysis, this was reconsidered. The larger-scale deep-layered cyclonic circulation within which it was embedded steered it on a slow southward and then south-southwesterly track. Moving out of the high-shear environment on 24 November, Delta gained organization. Outflow and convective banding increased Delta's motion stalled as it reached the southern base of a large cyclonic trough over the northern Atlantic within which it was embedded. until, that evening when it began a slow southward drift at . Convection broke down in the storm's western semicircle early on 25 November; the decreased organization caused slight weakening. The southward motion slowed and the weakening trend continued into the evening. The storm moved southwestward on 25 November, then turned toward the southeast and east-northeast the following day. During these maneuvers, Delta grew weaker due to strong wind shear, with its winds decreasing to an estimated . on 27 November Delta then accelerated to the northeast on 27 November, towards the Canary Islands. As it did, the system intensified again, reaching a second peak of just under hurricane strength. In post-storm analysis, the NHC noted that there was a possibility that Delta had briefly reached hurricane strength that day; however, the data was not conclusive enough to justify an upgrade to hurricane status. On 28 November, as it neared the Canary Islands Tropical Storm Delta lost its tropical characteristics. The extratropical storm, which maintained winds of near-hurricane strength, passed about north of the islands that night. The storm moved over Morocco early on 29 November and rapidly weakened overland, dissipating late that day over northwestern Algeria. ==Preparations and impact==

Tropical Storm Delta's arrival in the Canary Islands was described as a "historic" event. Tropical cyclones there are extremely rare and the islands had no tropical warning systems in place. The government issued a general emergency advisory and advised citizens to stay indoors. Tenerife North Airport was closed, stranding hundreds of passengers for the duration of the storm. The shipping company Fred Olsen suspended services linking the islands of Tenerife and La Palma and La Gomera. Eighteen died when a boat sank off the Canary Islands; twelve of the bodies were never found. The nineteenth man was killed when while trying to repair his roof during the storm; winds threw him from his ladder. Some patients at Tenerife's University Hospital were evacuated to a safer part of the building when paneling from the hospital's heliport was torn free and smashed some of the building's windows. Off Santa Cruz's southern quay a tug boat broke its ties, collided with another vessel, and sank. Passengers at Tenerife North Airport, who were stranded when their flights canceled, witnessed parts of the new international terminal's roof tear off in the wind. Some vandalism and looting was reported during the loss of power, and the police made several arrests during the night. El Dedo de Dios (or God's finger), which had been pointing towards the sky for over a millennium, was destroyed by Delta's wind and wave action along Gran Canaria's shore. Upon hearing of the destruction of the natural monument one man, later found to be clinically insane, unsuccessfully tried to kill himself and then stabbed three members of his own family. When the remnants of Delta arrived in Morocco they were described as a "normal atmospheric disturbance". No damage was reported there and in fact the system was welcomed by farmers who needed the rain to complete the sowing of cereal crops. ==Aftermath==

With the Canary Islands' power grid substantially disrupted, the Unelco-Endesa power company was forced to use temporary generators to boost power at sub-stations far from the main grid. In La Corujera in Santa Úrsula, these generators were poorly received and over 1,000 local residents claimed to be affected by the noise and pollution. Children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems suffered most acutely. Roughly €25 million (US$37.25 million) was allocated by the government of the Canary Islands in relief and reconstruction funds. Of this total, €22.5 million (US$33.5 million) was used to repair infrastructure and utilities; €1.5 million (US$2.2 million) was used for agricultural relief; and €1 million (US$1.5 million) was used in home repairs. Due to the severity of crop losses, farmers would be given a grant from the government that would cover 50% of their losses, including infrastructural. A tax break was also given to most residents who suffered damage from Delta. Fishermen of the Canary Islands had to return to and remain in port for several days while weathering the storm, and this disruption was blamed for a 10–15% reduction of the islands' tuna catch. Tropical Storm Delta also had some further-reaching effects. The political opposition Popular Party challenged that the impact of Tropical Storm Delta proved the need for the island to prepare an emergency plan to deal with natural and man-made disasters. Only five of the island's many municipalities had an emergency plan, and there was no coordination across the entire island chain. Delta also served to highlight the islands' aging power grid, The storm sparked a vigorous debate on the island about the effects of global climate change, how they will affect the islands, and how these effects can be avoided. ==Record==

Delta established a record formation date for the season's 26th tropical or subtropical storm. This mark stood until 2020, when Hurricane Epsilon formed on 19 October. ==See also==