Hurricane Barry (1983)
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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Barry at landfall near the Texas-Mexico border. |
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| Formed | August 23, 1983 | |
| Dissipated | August 29, 1983 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 986 mbar (hPa; 29.13 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | None | |
| Damage | Unknown | |
| Areas affected |
Florida,Texas and Mexico | |
| Part of the 1983 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Barry was the fourth cyclone, second storm and second hurricane of the 1983 Atlantic hurricane season. It affected Florida and Texas, but caused no fatalities. Barry made landfall in Florida after forming on August 22. The storm moved westward, strengthened into a hurricane and slapped the Texas-Mexico border on August 28. Barry dissipated afterwards. Barry left moderate rainfall in Florida and little to no rainfall in Texas.[1][2]
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[edit] Storm History
Barry originated from a tropical disturbance off the African coast on August 13. At the time of formation, the upper-level wind shear was high in the North Atlantic, so development was very slow. The disturbance showed little convection until August 22, as it was approaching the Bahamas.[1] A weak trough turned away and caused upper-level winds to decrease, a more favorable time for development. The distubance entered this enviroment and strengthened into the fourth tropical depression of the 1983 season on August 23.[1] The depression rapidly strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name Barry during the night of August 23. Barry started moving to the west towards Florida on August 24. Upper-level wind shear returned and postponed any further development of the storm. Barry made landfall in Florida on August 25 as a tropical depression.[1]
The depression passed over Florida and entered the Gulf of Mexico on August 26. Gradual strengthening occurred as upper-level shear was low and Barry strengthened back into a storm and then into a hurricane just before landfall near Brownsville, Texas on August 28. Barry dissipated over the Mexican Mountains on August 29.[1]
[edit] Preparations
Few watches and/or warnings were issued in accordance with Barry.[3] The first was a gale warning from Jupiter Inlet, Florida to Savannah, Georgia on August 24 at 1900 UTC. The warning was discontinued from St. Augustine to Savannah the next day. The next was a gale warning issued for Brownsville, Texas to Port 'O Connor, Texas on August 27. This was upgraded into a hurricane warning as Barry strengthened a few hours later. The warning was extended to Mansfield, Texas and was discontinued by late August 28.[3] Over 4,000 people were evacuated from South Padre Island in preparation of Hurricane Barry.[4] Beaches in Port Aransas, Texas were evacuated at about 8 P.M. on August 27 as Barry approached.
[edit] Impact
Rains around 1 inch were reported around Lake Okeechobee, 3 inches (76.2 mm) around the Orlando area and one inch in the Miami area.[2] The peak rainfall was 3.01 inches in Wachula, Florida.[2] Roads with poor drainage in Key West, Florida were flooded with over 1.5 in (38.1 mm) of rain. [5]
No casualties were reported from Barry, but thirty fishing boats were sunk in Mexico, along with the destruction of several hundred homes. Barry is credited with helping to relieve drought conditions in inland parts of northeastern Mexico. The only rainfall reported in Texas by Barry was 1 inch around San Antonio. Along the Texas coast, beach erosion was caused from 1 to 2 feet higher than normal waves.[4] A storm tide of 3 to 4 feet was recorded in Mexican fishing villages. Winds were gusting in excess of 50 mph off the South Padre Island coast. Damage included four hundred homeless people & a major loss of shrimping nets.[4]
Barry also affected the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, whose third mission was scheduled for August 30. NASA did not have time to return the shuttle to the hangar in time for Barry, and had the shuttle ride out the storm on the launch pad.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e National Hurricane Center (1983). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Barry - Page 1 - Storm History. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c David Roth (2007). Tropical Cyclone Rainfall: Hurricane Barry. Hydrometeorogical Prediction Center. Retrieved on February 2, 2007.
- ^ a b National Hurricane Center (1983). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Barry - Page 4 - Watches and Warnings. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c National Hurricane Center (1983). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Barry - Page 2 - Meteorological Statisitics and Impact. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ Miami Herald (1983-08-26). RAIN TRANSFORMS STREET INTO LAKE. The Miami Herald. Retrieved on February 3, 2007.
- ^ Miami Herald (1983). NASA SECURES SHUTTLE AS STORM HEADS FOR CAPE CANAVERAL. The Miami Herald. Retrieved on February 3, 2007.
[edit] External links
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