Hurricane Isidore
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| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Satellite image of Hurricane Isidore just off the coast of Mexico on September 22nd with winds of 125 mph |
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| Formed | September 14, 2002 | |
| Dissipated | September 27, 2002 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 934 mbar (hPa; 27.59 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 4 direct, 3 indirect | |
| Damage | $330 million (2002 USD) $370.12 million (2006 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana | |
| Part of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Isidore was the ninth named storm out of twelve and the second hurricane in the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. One of eight named storms to occur in September, it peaked as a Category 3 hurricane, causing damage and a small number of fatalities in Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States. Isidore is most noted for threatening the northern Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane, but instead hitting as a moderate tropical storm due to a track change. Isidore was predicted to be the first U.S. hurricane landfall since Hurricane Irene in 1999.
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[edit] Storm history
On September 9, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. Despite being entrained in a dry environment, its convection became organized as an anticyclone developed above the wave. On the 14th, the convection was well-organized enough to classify it as Tropical Depression Ten near Trinidad & Tobago, though land interaction from Venezuela weakened the depression back to a tropical wave. The wave continued west-northwestward through the Caribbean Sea, and was able to re-develop into a tropical depression on September 17 while 140 miles south of Jamaica.
Embedded within a weak steering current, it drifted to the northwest, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Isidore on September 18 near Jamaica. After grazing the island, it quickly intensified to a hurricane late on the 19th while south of Cuba. Isidore's winds reached 100 mph (160 km/h) near the Isle of Youth, and weakened slightly to an 85 mph hurricane as it made landfall on Cabo Frances late on September 20. The hurricane quickly crossed the island, and moved westward across the Gulf of Mexico due to weak steering currents. Favorable conditions aloft with warm water temperatures allowed Isidore to quickly intensify to a peak of 125 mph (200 km/h) winds on the 21st.
Despite Dvorak satellite estimates of 145 mph, Reconnaissance Aircraft indicated Isidore remained a 125 mph Category 3 hurricane, with pressures dropping to 934 mbar, typical of a Category 4 hurricane. It is the lowest minimum pressure ever for an Atlantic hurricane that never got above Category 3 intensity. With nearly ideal conditions for development, Isidore was forecasted to reach 150 mph over the northern Gulf of Mexico, based on one NHC discussion. High pressures to its north forced it southward, and Isidore made landfall at Puerto Telchac in Yucatán as a major hurricane on September 22. It weakened rapidly as it nearly stalled over Yucatan, and was only a minimal tropical storm 30 hours after land.
The inner core of convection collapsed, and upon moving northward and reaching the Gulf of Mexico again, it was a large and weak tropical storm. Conditions favored significant strengthening, but Isidore's inner core did not redevelop until reaching the northern Gulf of Mexico. The storm hit Grand Isle, Louisiana on September 26 as a 65 mph tropical storm, and weakened quickly over land to a tropical depression. The system raced to the northeast, and became extratropical on September 27 before becoming absorbed in a frontal zone over Pennsylvania that night.
[edit] Preparations
Before Isidore was even a hurricane, there were fears that the storm would end up being a significant threat. The upper level environment ahead of the storm was very favorable, and the oceanic heat content was very high. As the hurricane approached Cuba, it became apparent that these favorable conditions had made Isidore a dangerous hurricane. Once in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Isidore became a major Category 3 storm with winds of 125 mph. The forecasts then predicted Isidore to move westward in the Gulf of Mexico for a few days, before turning northward towards the Gulf Coast as what was predicted by then to be a strong Category 4 hurricane. Due to Isidore's unexpected southward turn into the Yucatán Peninsula, Isidore weakened significantly to a Tropical Storm which likely saved the Gulf Coast from a potential major disaster.
[edit] Impact
[edit] Caribbean islands
In the Windward Islands, Isidore was a weak tropical depression that caused no reported damage or casualties.
The Cayman Islands reported tropical storm force winds, and likely experienced flooding to some degree, but Isidore caused no reported damage or casualties.
Isidore brought heavy rains to Jamaica, but no figures exist on damage figures.
[edit] Cuba
Just 10 months after the destructive Hurricane Michelle, Hurricane Isidore threatened to cause similar effects in Cuba. In preparation for the storm, about 280,000 people and thousands of farm animals were evacuated in the Pinar del Rio province. Hurricane Warnings were posted about 48 hours before landfall, leaving ample time to prepare for the storm.
As was feared, Hurricane Isidore brought torrential rainfall, with many areas reporting over a foot of rain. The maximum reported was 21.7 inches at Isabel Rubio in western Cuba. The rainfall, combined with a 12 foot storm surge, destroyed houses, caused power outages, uprooted trees, and blew off roofs. Over 130 tobacco drying houses were affected to some degree, damaging valuable tobacco stock. In addition, at least 4,000 tons of fruit were lost from the storm.
Damage in Cuba was mainly limited to crop and agricultural damages. Isidore caused no deaths, as well.
[edit] Yucatán Peninsula
Initially expected to remain north of the peninsula, hurricane warnings were issued only a day prior to landfall. Around 70,000 people were evacuated, and many ports on the Gulf coast of Yucatán were closed. Mexican authorities declared a state of emergency prior to the arrival of the storm.
Hurricane Isidore hit near Mérida, Yucatán, as a 125 mph hurricane, and remained over the area for around 36 hours. Coastal flooding was around 12 inches, with varying amounts inland. Over 12,800 houses were destroyed in Yucatan from the intense winds, and 300,000 were left homeless. Downed trees and power lines were common over much of the northern Yucatán Peninsula, and 75% of barns and warehouses were either severely damage or destroyed. Damage to crops and livestock was extreme; 80% of maize production land, 400 square kilometres of fruit trees, 90% of the poultry production, and 80% of the pigs were lost during the storm in Yucatan.
The state of Yucatán experienced the worst of Isidore, though its neighboring provinces were significantly affected as well from the storm. Between 15,000 and 20,000 houses were destroyed from the hurricane's strong winds. Farming in Campeche experienced significant damage, with 30,000 cattle and 100,000 acres of agricultural land lost.
Throughout the Yucatán Peninsula, there were no direct deaths attributed to Hurricane Isidore. However, there were two indirect deaths.
[edit] Gulf Coast
In preparation for the potentially deadly hurricane, the Red Cross mobilized its members across Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida while five days before Isidore's expected landfall. Volunteers were sent in the days prior to ensure families had a family disaster plan and a disaster supplies kit in their household. Hurricane watches and warnings were never posted, as by the time the storm was close enough, it only warranted tropical storm warnings.
In the open Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Isidore and later Hurricane Lili contributed to the shutdown of offshore oil and gas platforms. The effects of back-to-back storms resulted in the loss of production of 14.4 million barrels of oil and 88.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Hurricane Isidore brought moderate widespread rainfall in Louisiana as well as Mississippi, with a maximum of 7.5 inches in the New Orleans International Airport. The flooding was responsible for moderate crop damage, with a total of $330 million in damage (2002 USD, $360 million 2006 USD). According to the NHC, Isidore claimed five lives; four direct and one indirect. The indirect death was from a man that went into cardiac arrest in Mississippi, whereas the other four were drowning deaths.
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
The name Isidore was retired in the spring of 2003 and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again. It will be replaced with Ike in the 2008 season.
[edit] Trivia
Hurricane Isidore was one of only four storms to hit the north side of the Yucatan since records have been kept. It was the first tropical cyclone to hit the area since Tropical Depression Greta in 1970, the first tropical storm since 1935, the first hurricane since 1888, and only major hurricane to ever hit the area.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- NHC Hurricane Isidore Tropical Cyclone Report
- NHC advisory archives for Hurricane Isidore
- Cuba effects
- Red Cross Preparation
- Yucatan effects
- Oil and Gas Production
Categories: 2002 Atlantic hurricane season | 2002 in Mexico | Atlantic hurricanes | Category 3 hurricanes | Hurricanes in Cuba | Hurricanes in Mexico | Hurricanes in Quintana Roo | Hurricanes in Yucatán | Hurricanes in Campeche | Hurricanes in Chiapas | Hurricanes in Tabasco | Louisiana hurricanes | Mississippi hurricanes | Alabama hurricanes | Retired Atlantic hurricanes
