Hurricane Debby (1982)

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Hurricane Debby

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)

Hurricane Debby over the Atlantic Ocean.

Formed

September 13, 1982

Dissipated

September 20, 1982

Highest
winds

135 mph (215 km/h) (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

950 mbar (hPa; 28.06 inHg)

Fatalities

None

Damage

Unknown

Areas
affected

Bermuda, Newfoundland, Puerto Rico

Part of the
1982 Atlantic hurricane season

This article is about the 1982 major hurricane. For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Debby.

Hurricane Debby was the fifth and strongest storm of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season. It lasted one week moving over the Atlantic Ocean grazing Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Puerto Rico. No damages were reported.

Debby formed from a tropical disturbance off the coast of Africa on 3 September. It began as a small and diffused storm, heading westward and possibly getting a circulation on 7 September, but the circulation was gone by the next day. The wave was able to strengthen into a tropical depression on 13 September near the Dominican Republic and strengthened into a tropical storm the next day. Debby moved north, grazing Bermuda and soon closing in towards the Canadian Maritimes. The storm moved eastward and caught a forward speed of 60 mph. Debby was absorbed by a major storm system over the British Isles on 20 September. Debby's winds peaked at 135 mph (215 km/h) and had a minimal pressure of 950 mbar.

1 Storm History
2 Preparations and Impact
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Storm History

Storm path

A weather system formed off the coast of Africa on 3 September. The disturbance was small and diffused and completely lost identification within 24 hours of formation.^[1] Pictures from satellites indicated that the disturbance may have gained some circulation on 7 September, but the circulation was gone by the next day. The leftover tropical wave moved into the Lesser Antilles on 11 September and a reconnaissance aircraft was deployed.^[1] The aircraft found circulation, however, by the next day, only a strong wave was detected. Atmospheric conditions changed and became more favorable for development, providing lower wind shear near Hispanola for the days to come. Debby moved into this area as the 13th reconnaissance aircraft was deployed, declaring it a tropical depression on 13 September near the Dominican Republic.^[1]

The 14th reconnaissance aircraft discovered a minimal pressure of 1005 mbar and winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) in the depression's center, upgrading it to Tropical Storm Debby on the morning of 14 September.^[1] Doubt occurred that Debby would have approached an incoming trough or come near the influence of a high-pressure ridge over the southeastern United States. Data came to the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables, Florida that Debby was already picked up by the trough, moving away from land and moved to the north.^[1] Debby strengthened further, becoming a 990-mbar hurricane late on 14 September. The hurricane deepened further, reaching 966 mbars, reaching max winds of 110 mph (180 km/h), a Category 2 storm. Debby started approaching Bermuda in this time, and on 16 September, Debby passed 80 miles west of the island and continued north.^[1]

Debby began to slow down to 5 mph early on September 17 as another trough in the westerlies arrived and Debby entered it.^[1] As Debby entered the trough, its forward speed picked up from 5 to 30 mph. During this time, Debby reached Category 4 strength, reaching a peak intensity of 135 mph (215 km/h) and a minimal pressure of 950 mbar.^[1] Debby passed just south of Cape Race, Newfoundland and started accelerating to the east at 60 mph by 20 September, weakening moderately.^[2] Debby kept its identity while crossing the North Atlantic Ocean, weakened into a tropical storm at 600 UTC 20 September and was absorbed by a major storm over the British Isles.

Starting in 1982 with Debby, the Hurricane Hunter Aircraft (also known as P-3s) began running a new mission for NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. The mission was to drop Omega dropwindsondes that deployed the very-low Omega frequency signals. These signals were to estimate the sonde's motion compared to the aircraft in certain areas in a storm. Synoptic surveillance involves meteorological conditions in an environment.^[3]

[edit] Preparations and Impact

Tourists by the thousands took the last-minute flights out of Bermuda on 16 September as Debby drew near packing 110 mph winds, predicting that the hurricane's eye would be over the island the next day.^[4]Airlines cancelled flights, buildings boarded up, and cruiseliners hurried out of their harbors in the time before Debby arrived.^[5]Rescue teams evacuated workers from a Mobil oil rigs in Debby's path as it neared.^[6]

Debby rainfall

Rainfalls from Debby in Puerto Rico spread from three inches around the northern end of the island to ten inches in the southern ridge of the island. Rains in Puerto Rico peaked at 12.86 inches in Penuelas. The U.S. Virgin Islands reported rain of about three inches and five inches in the Dominican Republic.^[7] Heavy rains fell on Newfoundland and no damage was reported there. Nova Scotia also reported gale-force winds. Bermuda experienced heavy gusts of wind, which caused minor damage with no injuries or fatalities. Electricity was knocked out in Bermuda, but was restored quickly.^[8]

Despite the strength, the name Debby was not retired due to the lack of damage. The name Debby has been used in the 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006 and set for 2012 seasons.