Tropical Storm Gamma (2005)

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Tropical Storm Gamma

Tropical storm (SSHS)

Tropical Storm Gamma in the Gulf of Honduras

Formed

November 13, 2005

Dissipated

November 20, 2005

Highest
winds

50 mph (85 km/h)^[1] (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

1002 mbar (hPa)^[1]

Damage

>$18 million (2005 USD)^[1]

Fatalities

37 direct, 4 indirect

Areas
affected

Lesser Antilles, Honduras, Belize

Part of the
2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Gamma was the twenty-fourth named storm of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, extending the 2005 season's record for activity. In November, the storm formed and degenerated in the central Caribbean Sea, then reformed north of Honduras. Despite never making landfall, it caused minor damage in the Lesser Antilles and moderate damage in Honduras. In total, 37 people have been confirmed dead as a direct result of Tropical Storm Gamma.

1 Storm history
2 Preparations
3 Impact
4 Aftermath
- 4.1 Lack of retirement
5 Naming and records
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Storm history

Storm path

The NHC began tracking the tropical wave that would become Gamma around November 11, but the system did not organize into a tropical depression until after it had crossed the Lesser Antilles on November 13. At that time, the storm was designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-Seven and was forecast to strengthen into a strong tropical storm or possibly a hurricane as it moved across the Caribbean Sea. However, a second system developing in the southwestern edge of the Caribbean began exerting wind shear on the depression on November 14, and that shear resulted in the collapse of circulation on November 16, turning the depression into a tropical wave; advisories were temporarily discontinued. On later reanalysis, it was found that the depression had likely become a tropical storm by 15 November at 0600 UTC for less than 6 hours, but it had not been named at the time (technically it was Tropical Storm Twenty-seven).^[1]

As the remnants of Twenty-seven moved westward, the system in the southwestern Caribbean moved onshore into Nicaragua and quickly weakened, reducing the shear on the remnant low. Near Honduras, the two systems combined and rapidly reacquired characteristics of a tropical system on November 18, when it was upgraded directly to a tropical storm and given the name Gamma. It is uncertain whether the remnant circulation of Gamma absorbed the low pressure system or vice versa, but National Hurricane Center forecasters decided that it was more likely that Gamma absorbed the other system. (If it was determined to be the other way around, the previously mentioned Tropical Storm Twenty-seven would have been a separate and unnamed tropical storm.)^[1]

Tropical Storm Gamma over the western Caribbean Sea.

Gamma strengthened slightly to reach its maximum of 45 kt (50 mph, 85 km/h) winds during that day, but a trough sweeping into the Gulf of Mexico restricted further development. Gamma meandered just north of the coast of Honduras for about a day, then weakened to a tropical depression as it began to be absorbed into the front as it entered the Caribbean. On November 20, shear had shredded Gamma and advisories were discontinued, although the low level circulation of Gamma persisted for another 36-48 hours. Shortly afterward, the remnants of Gamma were absorbed into the approaching front. Gamma never made landfall as a tropical storm.^[1]

[edit] Preparations

Because the storm was not predicted to make landfall (and it did not), few preparations were taken in Honduras for the storm. However, constant rainfall for well over a day as Gamma wandered offshore caused floods that forced over 23,000 people to abandon their homes.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Impact

[edit] Death toll

Country	Total	Direct deaths
Belize	3	3
Honduras	34	34
St. Vincent	2	0
Jamaica	2	0
Totals	41	37
Because of differing sources, totals may not match.

As of January 24, 2006, a total of thirty seven people were reported dead as a direct result of Tropical Storm Gamma, mostly in Honduras, with 13 missing in Honduras. ^[2]

[edit] Caribbean islands

Two people were killed by a mudslide in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the island of Bequia as what would become Gamma, at the time only Tropical Depression Twenty-seven, passed the region. Seven homes were also destroyed by flood waters in the region and others were damaged. ^[3]

Other effects across other areas of the Lesser Antilles were minimal and no greater than that of a normal rain event.

The deaths of two fishermen in Jamaica were reported to be blamed on Gamma. ^[4]

[edit] Honduras

Thirty-four people died in Honduras with at least thirteen others missing. All deaths were due to flooding and mudslides rather than wind damage as tropical storm-force winds did not impact the mainland.^[1]

According to the COCEP, the Honduran civil emergency committee, dozens of bridges were washed away and about 2,000 homes were destroyed.^{[citation needed]} According to the NHC, 10 bridges were destroyed due to flooding, and 7 damaged. And 5,200 acres worth of banana crops was destroyed, causing $13-18 million (2005 USD) in damage.^[1] Floods covered most of Islas de la Bahía department.^{[citation needed]}

An unofficial report of 4.44 inches of rain was reported on Roatan Island.^[1]

[edit] Belize

Five fishermen who were at sea during Tropical Storm Gamma have been reported missing and, as of November 25, were feared dead pending examination of five unidentified bodies found on the Honduran coast.^[5] Three people were killed in a plane crash during Gamma's outer bands; it was deemed weather was a factor.^[6] Other effects to Belize were minimal.

[edit] Aftermath

After the storm turned out to sea, Honduran authorities executed helicopter rescues for individuals and families stranded by flood waters, and UN agencies began airlifting food and water to impacted areas.^{[citation needed]}

The government of Andalucía, in Spain, donated 40 million lempiras to aid in disaster efforts, and the United States sent helicopters to help in the distribution of food among those impacted by the storm.^[7]

[edit] Lack of retirement

Because damage was minimal, Gamma was not retired and will be used again whenever the regular list of names is used up.

[edit] Naming and records

After all of the twenty one predetermined hurricane names for the 2005 season were exhausted following Hurricane Wilma, the Greek alphabet was used, beginning with Tropical Storm Alpha. This storm was designated Gamma once it was known to have reached tropical storm status (after it regenerated). This was the first time that the name Gamma had been used for a tropical cyclone.

By virtue of being the only twenty-fourth tropical storm to form in any Atlantic hurricane season, Gamma also holds the record for being the earliest twenty-fourth tropical storm, reaching tropical storm strength on November 18. Gamma also extended the 2005 season's record for tropical storms to twenty-four, which was exceeded four more times and ended at twenty-eight storms due to Tropical Storm Zeta and a post-season addition of an unnamed storm occurring in October. Additionally, Gamma tied the record set during the 1992 Eastern Pacific hurricane season for most storms in a single basin monitored by NOAA.