Tropical Storm Chantal (2001)
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This article is about the tropical storm of 2001. For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Chantal.
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Tropical Storm Chantal making landfall on August 20, 2001. |
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| Formed | August 14, 2001 | |
| Dissipated | August 22, 2001 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 997 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $4 million (2001 USD)
$4.4 million (2006 USD) |
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| Fatalities | 0 direct, 2 indirect | |
| Areas affected |
Windward Islands, Jamaica, Belize, Mexico | |
| Part of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Chantal was the third named storm of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. Because of persistent high wind shear, Chantal was a poorly organized storm. Chantal moved westward across the Caribbean Sea, reaching a peak intensity of 70 mph and a low barometric pressure of 999 millibars before making landfall near the Mexico/Belize border on August 20. The storm later dissipated on August 22.
Chantal caused $4 million dollars (2001 USD) in damage, all of it in Belize. In addition, the storm caused two indirect deaths while it was a tropical wave.
Contents |
[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 11 and moved westward. The system then developed a closed area of circulation on the 13th which increased a day later. On the 14th, the tropical wave was 1300 miles east of the Windward Islands still showing a strong area of convection. At 2000 UTC, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to tropical depression status. Located south of a high pressure system, the tropical depression continued on its rapid westward track. On August 16, despite impressiveness of the storm on satellite photographs, hurricane hunter aircraft could not find a closed area of circulation, indicating that the tropical depression had briefly degraded to a tropical wave. However, Quickstat and Dvorak estimates indicated that the system had reach tropical storm strength. On the 17th, the depression passed over the Windward Islands and slowed its forward speed down to 23 mph (37 km/h). Hurricane hunter aircraft then found a small closed area of circulation which prompted officials upgrade the system to tropical storm status.[1]
In an 18 hour period, the pressure in Tropical Storm Chantal fell from 1018 millibars to 1003 millibars as the storm continued on its westward heading. The winds in the storm increased from 45 mph (65 km/h) to 65 mph (105 km/h). However, Chantal's forward speed increased once again, weakening and disorganizing the storm. Despite this, the pressure fell to 997 millibars and the winds increased to 70 mph (110 km/h).[1]
On August 19, the center of Chantal passed south of Jamaica. On the same day, the storms structure was further disorganized , making it for the forecasters and hurricane hunter aircraft determine the storms circulation. On the 20th, before landfall, the storm entered a small area of weak windshear. That allowed Chantal to reorganize and the pressure fell to 999 millibars before it made landfall on the 21st. The storm then moved inland over Mexico where it weakened to a tropical depression before dissipating on the 22nd.[1]
[edit] Preparations
A tropical storm watch was issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia on August 15. [2] The following day the watches were changed warnings as forecasters predicted that the system will reach tropical storm status. Additional watches were also issued for the rest of Windward Islands[3] Forecasters also placed Jamaica and the Cayman Islands under a tropical storm watch. However, when Chantal strengthened to a strong tropical storm, officials issued a hurricane watch (and later a warning) for Jamaica, in anticipation that the storm might reach hurricane strength. [4] [5] [6] Officials then extended the tropical storm watch for Belize and Mexico. Later a hurricane watch was issued for Belize City, northward and the tropical storm watch was changed to a warning along the coast. [7] [8] On August 18, officials predicted that Chantal will make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula based on forecast models except one which takes Chantal path though the Yucatan Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico. [9] As the storm drew closer, nearly 2,500 people in Mexico evacuated to storm shelters. In Belize, the national government opened its emergency operation center and evacuated hospitals. [8] In addition numerous airline flights and cruse ship travels were cancelled or diverted to safer locations. [10]
[edit] Impact
The island of Martinique reported tropical storm force winds. Elsewhere in the Windward Islands, there was little or no damage. In Trinidad, lighting from Chantal caused two indirect fatalities.[1] In Puerto Rico, the outer bands of Chantal dropped over an inch of rain in some areas. The highest rainfall total was 2.4 inches in Rio Piedras.[11] In Belize, the tropical storm produced a 70 mph gust and dropped 8-10 inches of rain. Chantal caused extensive wave damage to sea walls and piers which totaled up to $4 million dollars (2001 USD, $4.4 million 2005 USD). In Mexico, there were reports of downed trees and powerlines, but little other damage.[1][12]
Because Chantal did little damage, the name was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization. As a result, it remained on the list and will be used during the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Franklin, James L. NHC Report on ChantalNational Hurricane Center (2001). URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001) Advisory on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001) Tropical Discussions on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001) Advisory on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001)Advisory on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed:July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001) Tropical Discussions on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001)Advisory on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ a b Reliefweb.intURL Accessed:July 26, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2001) Advisory on ChantalNational Hurricane Center. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ Merzer, Martin Chantal buffets, drenches YucatanThe Miami Herald. URL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ HPC (2001) HPC Report on ChantalURL Accessed: July 26, 2006
- ^ Hurricanecity.comURL Accessed: July 26, 2006
