Hurricane Cesar-Douglas
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This article is about the hurricane of 1996; for other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Cesar (disambiguation).
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Cesar before landfall |
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| Formed | July 24, 1996 | |
| Dissipated | August 5, 1996 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 990 mbar (hPa) as Cesar, 946 mbar (hPa) as Douglas | |
| Damage | $39+ million (1996 USD) $47.3 million (2005 USD) |
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| Fatalities | 67 direct (all as Cesar) | |
| Areas affected |
Curaçao, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela (as Cesar), southern Mexico (as Douglas) | |
| Part of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season 1996 Pacific hurricane season |
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Hurricane Cesar was the third named storm of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season. The Category 1 hurricane formed in late July in the Caribbean Sea and pounded Central America with rain, killing 67 people and causing local governments to deem the region a disaster area. After crossing Central America, the storm redeveloped in the eastern Pacific as Hurricane Douglas, which became part of the 1996 Pacific hurricane season and reached Category 4 strength in the open ocean.
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[edit] Storm history
The precursor to Hurricane Cesar was a tropical wave that moved off of the coast of Africa near Dakar, Senegal on 17 July. The system crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a very favorable environment for tropical development but nonetheless did not begin to develop until it approached the Windward Islands on 23 July. While a declaration of the formation was not issued at the time, it is now estimated that Tropical Depression Three, future Hurricane Cesar, formed on 17 July around 1800 UTC just north of Venezuelan Isla Margarita.[1]
The depression slowly strengthened and moved westward in the Caribbean Sea on an unusually southerly track. It was declared tropical storm and named Cesar on 25 July around 1200 UTC while the system was located near the island of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles. A strong and persistent system of high pressure over the Bahamas kept Cesar moving westward and even south of westward throughout its trek across the Caribbean. Further intensification of the system was hindered by this, however, as the storm remained very close to the coast of Venezuela and much of its circulation was over land and thus not drawing moisture from the sea.[1]
Cesar continued moving westward, however, eventually reaching the southwestern Caribbean where the South American coastline was located further to the south. Warm water and low wind shear allowed for significant intensification, and Cesar became a hurricane on 27 July at 1200 UTC. The storm continued to intensify quickly, and reached its peak sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (140 km/h) at landfall just north of Bluefields, Nicaragua at 0400 UTC on 28 July. Due to its rapid motion, Cesar retained its well-defined circulation over Central America.[1]
Cesar retained its tropical storm strength over Central America, and upon reaching the Eastern Pacific, it became Tropical Storm Douglas in the 1996 Pacific hurricane season. Cesar's favorable conditions persisted, allowing Douglas to intensify at a fair rate, reaching hurricane strength on the 29th. It paralleled the southern coast of Mexico, causing moderate rainfall but remaining offshore. Douglas reached its peak of 140 mph (220 km/h) on August 1 while located 275 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California. Cooler waters weakened the hurricane on the 2nd, and by the 6th, Douglas dissipated. [2]
[edit] Impact
| Country | Deaths |
|---|---|
| Colombia | 11 |
| Nicaragua | 9 |
| Costa Rica | 34 |
| El Salvador | 13 |
| Total | 67 |
Hurricane Cesar was a moisture-laden tropical cyclone that dropped heavy rains along its path through the southern Caribbean Sea and Central America. Damage was moderate to extreme due to mudslides and flooding, and over 65 people were killed.
[edit] Colombia
Cesar moved over northern Colombia as a minimal tropical storm. The San Andres archipelago was hit with heavy rain and flooding, causing 11 deaths. [3]
[edit] Nicaragua
As Cesar approached Central America, Hurricane Warnings were posted 31 hours before landfall, leaving ample time to prepare for the hurricane. With Hurricane Joan occurring only 8 years prior, 10,724 people were evacuated before and during the hurricane to take refuge at special camps. [4] Torrential rainfall was the immediate effect of Cesar, peaking at 10.7 inches (271 mm) at Bluefields, Nicaragua with many other locations reporting over 6 inches (150 mm). The intense precipitation led to widespread mudslides and overflown rivers across the mountainous country. The most affected region was Lake Managua where the water level was approaching dangerous levels. [5] Extensive damage was seen to the rice, bean, corn, yucca, plantanoes, and coffee amounting to $25 million (1996 US dollars). [6] All international flights in and out of Nicaragua were cancelled from the rains for 1 day. Despite its total damage toll of $39 million, only 9 people were killed in the country, possibly due to ample advanced warnings. Reconstruction cost is estimated at $5.1 million (1996 USD). [7]
[edit] Costa Rica
Like Nicaragua, Costa Rica received heavy rainfall from Cesar, leading to mudslides and widespread flooding. River flooding damaged 51 houses and washed away 213. Contaminating drinking water across the country led to outbreaks of malaria and cholera. 72 bridges were destroyed from the flooding, and a disruption to the road network was damaged across the country. Damage amounted to $10 million (1996 USD), [8] and 34 people were killed. [6] Costa Rica requested international aid subsequent to the storm.
[edit] El Salvador
As Cesar continued westward, it produced heavy flooding and mudslides in western El Salvador, killing 9 in the community of Jose Cecilio del Valle. Four others drowned in other parts of the country. [8]
[edit] Mexico
Hurricane Douglas brought up to 6 inches (150 mm) of rain on the south coast of Mexico and resulted in a 4 foot (1.2 m) storm surge, but no deaths were reported. [3]
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
The name Cesar was retired in the spring of 1997 and will never be used again in the Atlantic basin. It was replaced with Cristobal in the 2002 season.
[edit] Trivia
Cesar-Douglas is the sixth known duo of Atlantic-Pacific crossover tropical cyclones. The last one before Cesar-Douglas was Hurricane Joan-Tropical Storm Miriam in the 1988 hurricane season.
In the future, tropical cyclones that cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific (or vice-versa) will retain the initial given name of the storm, as long as the storm maintains the tropical storm strength or greater.
[edit] See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
- List of South America cyclones
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c NHC Cesar TCR
- ^ NHC Douglas TCR
- ^ a b Reliefweb: "Hurricane Douglas leaves at least 35 dead as it crosses from Caribbean to Pacific"
- ^ Reliefweb: "Tropical Storm Puts Nicaragua on Red Alert"
- ^ Reliefweb: "Nicaragua Declares Emergency After Storm"
- ^ a b Reliefweb: "ACT Hurricane Cesar Appeal"
- ^ Reliefweb: "Nicaragua Hurricane Cesar Situation Report No. 3"
- ^ a b Reliefweb: "Hurricane Cesar Kills 28 in Central America"
