Tropical Storm Hermine (1980)
| Tropical Storm (SSHWS/NWS) | |
.JPG) Tropical Storm Hermine on September 22 | |
| Formed | September 20, 1980 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 26, 1980 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 993 mbar (hPa); 29.32 inHg |
| Fatalities | No fatalities reported |
| Areas affected | Central America, Mexico |
| Part of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Hermine was the eleventh tropical cyclone as well as the eight named storm of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. Hermine developed from a tropical wave which moved off the coast of Africa on September 11. It began to cross the Caribbean over the next several days, thought a there was no evidence of a closed circulation. Finally, by September 20, a well-defined circulation became present; this allowed the system to become classified as Tropical Depression Eleven. Over the next few days, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine and nearly became a hurricane before it made landfall in Belize as a strong tropical storm.
Hermine emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on September 23. Tropical Storm Hermine began to re-strengthen slightly, nearly reaching hurricane status again on September 24. It made landfall on the Mexico mainland on September 24 before it could become a hurricane. Tropical Storm Hermine dissipated over Mexico by September 26. Hermine caused some flooding in Mexico and Central America, though there no reports of damage or fatalities.
Meteorological history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionTropical Storm Hermine formed from a tropical wave that emerged into the Atlantic from the off coast of Africa on September 11. This tropical wave did not have a well-defined circulation. The tropical wave continued on a westerly course across the Atlantic. While the tropical wave was a few hundred miles east of Lesser Antilles, a low level cloud banding feature appear, along with an increase in central convection. This suggested could have possibly been a low-level circulation. On the afternoon of September 17, an Air Force Reserve flight investigated this system, though it discovered little evidence of a low-level circulation. The system had crossed the Lesser Antilles on September 18, it had entered the Caribbean Sea. As it passed near Jamaica on September 20, a low-level circulation became more apparent on satellite imagery.[1]
Late on September 20 the National Hurricane Center began classifying the system as Tropical Depression Eleven. It had been upgraded approximately 237 miles (381 kilometers) to the south of Kingston, Jamaica.[2] Tropical Depression Eleven tracked to the west-by-north toward the northeast coast of Honduras. By September 21, Tropical Depression Eleven was upgraded to a tropical storm, it had received the name Hermine.[3] Later that day, Tropical Storm Hermine passed within 5 miles of the northeast coast of Honduras. An Air Force Reserve flight investigated if landfall occurred;[4] Tropical Storm Hermine had remained offshore. After Tropical Storm Hermine moved to the northwest away from Honduras, maximum sustained winds began to increase. By September 22 maximum sustained winds had reached 70 miles per hour (112.6 km/h).[1]
Hermine maintained this intensity when it made landfall just to the north of Belize City later that day.[5] Over the Yucatan Peninsula, Tropical Storm Hermine weakened somewhat to a 50 mph (80.4 km/h) tropical storm. Tropical Storm Hermine emerged into the Bay of Campeche on September 23 near the border of the Mexican states of Chiapas and Campeche. Almost immediately after emerging into the Bay, Tropical Storm Hermine began to re-strengthen. Hermine changed direction from northwest to north-northwest after it emerged into the Bay of Campeche, Tropical Storm Hermine would also briefly head due west before again changing to a west-southwestward course. Maximum sustained winds increased to 70 mph (112.6 km/h) again on September 23, though it was at peak intensity this time because the minimum central pressure was lower than before.[1]
Around this point, late on September 23, Tropical Storm Hermine became stationary. Tropical Storm Hermine weakened slightly to a 65 mph (104.6 km/h) tropical storm before it made landfall near Coatzacoalcos, Mexico on September 24. Hermine continued to move slowly inland over Mexico, which resulted in rapid weakening. By 24 hours after landfall, it was a minimal tropical storm. Tropical Storm Hermine stalled again, simultaneously, it had also been downgraded to a tropical depression. Hermine remained stationary for several more hours near Oaxaca.[1] On September 26, a center could not be located, so it was declared dissipated at this time.[6] The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine traveled along most of the Pacific coast of Mexico, the remnants ultimately entered Texas before dissipating.
Impact
The forecast tracks of Tropical Storm Hermine were greatly inaccurate. Many predicted a turn to the northwest or north-northwest eventually reaching the northeast coast of Mexico or southern Texas. These inaccuracies were occurring even when it began to drift south-southwestward. Sometimes it was also inaccurate when predicting how quickly Hermine would dissipate. On September 21 the government of Belize issued a gale warnings, as well as a hurricane watch, for most of the eastern coast of the country.[1] It was canceled after Tropical Storm Hermine had moved inland.[7]
Tropical Storm Hermine and the remnants caused heavy rainfall across along most of the southern and eastern parts of Mexico. Rainfall from Tropical Storm Hermine peak at 31.15 inches (791 mm) in San Pedro Tapanatepec. When the remnants of Hermine reached the Pacific coast of Mexico, several inches of rain were recorded.[8] There were no reports of flooding in Belize or Honduras, though it is likely that the situation was similar to that in Mexico. Despite the flooding, there were no reports of damage or fatalities.[1]
See also
Reference
- ^ a b c d e f Lawrence, Miles (1980). "Tropical Storm Hermine Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Clark, Gilbert (September 20, 1980). "Tropical Depression Advisory". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Clark, Gilbert (September 21, 1980). "Tropical Storm Hermine Advisory Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Clark, Gilbert (September 21, 1980). "Tropical Storm Hermine Intermediate Advisory". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Paul, Hebert (September 22, 1980). "Tropical Storm Hermine Advisory Number 5". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Lawrence, Miles (September 25, 1980). "Tropical Depression Hermine Advisory Number 18". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Pelissier, Joseph (September 21, 1980). "Tropical Storm Hermine Advisory Number 3". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ Roth, David (2008). "Tropical Storm Hermine - September 22–29, 1980". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 17 March 2010. [dead link]
External links
Tropical cyclones of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
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