Hurricane Madeline (1998)

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Hurricane Madeline
Category 1 Hurricane (SSHS)
Hurricane Madeline on October 18

Hurricane Madeline on October 18
Formed October 16, 2007
Dissipated October 20, 2007
Highest
winds
85 mph (140 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure 979 mbar (hPa; 28.92 inHg)
Fatalities 31 (All from Texas flooding)
Damage Unknown
Areas
affected		 Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, Texas
Part of the
1998 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Madeline was the final tropical cyclone of the 1998 Pacific hurricane season. Madeline originated from a tropical wave that emerged off the coast of Africa on September 25, 1998. The wave traversed the Atlantic Ocean and crossed over Central America on October 5 or 6. Gradually, the system intensified and was classified as a tropical depression on October 16, a tropical storm later that day, and a hurricane on October 17. The storm reached peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) about 95 miles (150 km) southwest of San Blas, Nayarit, and after 18 hours it subsequently began to weaken. Although Madeline never made landfall, numerous rainbands affected the Mexican coast causing no known damage or fatalities. The remnant moisture moved north and contributed to flooding in central Texas which killed 31 people and caused $750 million (1998 USD) in damage.

Contents

[edit] Storm history

Storm path
Storm path

On September 25, 1998 a tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa, producing intermittent concentrated clusters of convective activity. The wave traversed the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea before crossing Central America on October 5 or 6. On October 9, convection increased, and Dvorak classifications initiated. Satellite imagery indicated that the system had dissipated on October 11, although an area of cloudiness persisted off the coast of Mexico. After four days, the system regenerated and under diffluent flow aloft deep convection became more concentrated;[1] it is estimated that a tropical depression formed at 0000 UTC on October 16, about 230 mi (370 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.[2] Initially, due to disorganization, determining the forward movement of depression was difficult,[3] although a few hours later it was estimated that the system was tracking to the north-northwest.[4] With favorable conditions aloft, the deep convection became more concentrated, and 12 hours after first developing, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Madeline about 170 miles (270 km) southwest of Cabo Corrientes.[2]

Later that afternoon, convective cloud tops warmed slightly although the storm continued to intensify.[5] Soon after, thunderstorm activity became limited as Madeline remained generally stationary in movement.[6] An approaching mid-level trough turned Madeline to the northeast. Banding features gradually improved in organization, and late on October 17 it attained hurricane status.[2] However, satellite imagery indicated that convective activity was confined to the western portion of the storm, and at the same time an eye began to form.[7] Early on October 18, data from a Reconnaissance aircraft flight into the storm found a minimum central pressure of 985 mb, as the storm was drifting to the northeast at around 4 mph (6.4 km/h) near the western edge of a large-scale east–west ridge axis.[8] The apparent eye became cloud-filled shortly thereafter and a slight increase in temperature was discovered near the center. Although, upper-level outflow was favorable, leading forecasters to predict slight intensification.[9]

Shortly thereafter, Madeline attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) about 95 miles (150 km) southwest of San Blas, Nayarit. The hurricane maintained peak winds for about 18 hours while curving again to the northwest.[2] With evidence of southern wind shear, only a small area of deep thunderstorm activity existed on October 19, and the system began to appear ill-defined of satellite imagery.[10] Later that day, the hurricane degenerated into a tropical storm.[2] At 1400 UTC, the storm became void of convection due to strong wind shear.[11] At 1700 on October 19, the storm was downgraded to a tropical depression, leaving just a swirl of low clouds midway between the southern tip of Baja California and mainland Mexico.[2] By 0600 UTC on October 20, the remnants of Madeline had completely dissipated.[2]

[edit] Preparations and impact

See also: October 1998 Central Texas floods
Rainfall estimates in Mexico provided by the Meteorological Prediction Center
Rainfall estimates in Mexico provided by the Meteorological Prediction Center

In anticipation of Madeline, the government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for the Baja California Peninsula southward from La Paz, and a hurricane warning from San Patricio, Jalisco to El Dorado, Sinaloa, including the Islas Marías. The storm was initially forecasted to move ashore near Mazatlán, promting officials to close the city's port. President Ernesto Zedillo advised potentially affected residents to stay indoors or seek refuge in shelters.[12] Also, the hurricane canceled a fishing expedition in the Sea of Cortez due to rough surf. The expedition was to provide a new aquarium in downtown Denver, Colorado with about 8,500 fish.[13] Mexican authorities deployed 2,000 soldiers in remote areas of the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa to prepare for the hurricane. Several thousand residents and tourists at the resorts of Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan were put on standby to evacuate their homes.[14] Authorities along the coast in the state of Nayarit went house to house, advising people about the oncoming storm.[15] In addition, ships from Salina Cruz to Acapulco were advised to stay in port.[16]

Although Madeline never crossed the coast, numerous rainbands affected the Mexican coast, dropping up to 9.8 in (250 mm).[17] Despite this, no damage or fatalities were reported in Mexico.[2] After the storm had dissipated, the remnant plume of moisture contributed to severe flooding in central Texas.[18] Rainfall in Texas reached 22 inches (560 mm) in some locations. 31 people died due to the flooding, and damage totaled to $750 million (1998 USD).[19]

[edit] See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lixion A. Avila (1998). Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 1998. American Meteorological Society. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Max Mayfield (1998). Hurricane Madeline Preliminary Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  3. ^ Avile (1998). Tropical Depression Fifteen-E Discussion Number 1. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  4. ^ Rappaport (1998). Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Numbr 2. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  5. ^ Rappaport (1998). Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Number 3. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  6. ^ Avila (1998). Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion number 5. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  7. ^ Rappaport (1998). Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Number 6. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  8. ^ Jarvinen (1998). Hurricane Madeline Discussion Number 8. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  9. ^ Pasch (1998). Hurricane Madeline Dicussion Number 9. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  10. ^ Pasch (1998). Hurricane Madeline Discussion Number 13. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  11. ^ Guiney (1998). Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Number 16. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  12. ^ Reuters. "Mexico braces for Hurricane Madeline", 1998-10-19. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  13. ^ Bill Scanlon. "Storms Skunk Aquarium's Fish Catchers; Biologists leave Baja sans 8,500 Specimens", 1998-10-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  14. ^ BBC News (1998). World: Americas Hurricane Madeline threatening Mexico. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  15. ^ Associated Press. "Mexicans Bracing for Hurricane", The Daily Register. Retrieved on 2008-05-22. 
  16. ^ Greg Bull. "Hurricane Madeline Closing in on Mexico", The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved on 2008-05-22. 
  17. ^ David Roth (1998). Hurricane Madeline Rainfall Summary. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  18. ^ Kelly, John J., Jr, ed. (February 1999), “South Texas Floods, October 17-22, 1998”, Service Assessment, Silver Spring, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Dpt of Commerce 
  19. ^ United States Department of Commerce (1999). South Texas Floods- October 17 – 22, 1998. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.

[edit] External links