User:Mitchazenia/Hurricane Marco (1996)
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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
.gif/235px-Hurricane_Marco_(1996).gif) Hurricane Marco |
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| Formed | November 16, 1996 | |
| Dissipated | November 26, 1996 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 983 mbar (hPa; 29.04 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 14 direct[1] | |
| Damage | Unknown | |
| Areas affected |
Cuba, Hispanola, Central America and Jamaica | |
| Part of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Marco was the thirteenth storm and the ninth hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season. Marco wandered around for ten days in the Carribean Sea, killing fourteen people and causing heavy rainfall in Hispanola. During Marco's lifetime, the storm was able to perform four cyclonic loops.
Marco formed from a cold front in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on November 9, interacted with a few tropical waves and drifted around without strengthening. A low pressure system formed from an Intertropical Convergence Zone and strengthened into Tropical Depression Thirteen on November 16. Tropical Depression Thirteen achieved tropical storm status on November 19 and became a hurricane the next day. Marco weakened into a tropical depression by November 23. Marco strengthened back into a storm, but dissipated due to a cold front on November 26, spending ten days in the Caribbean, without making landfall, a rare occurrence.
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[edit] Storm history
A cold front moved into the northwestern Caribbean on November 9. The wave became stationary and interacted with a couple of tropical waves which were moving westward.[2] As early as November 13, a weak low pressure system had formed with 25 mph winds from an Intertropical Convergence Zone. The broad area of low pressure drifted northward for a couple of days, and in combination with a high pressure system over the United States, produced gale force winds over Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico. The low pressure system became more organized and was declared the thirteenth tropical depression of the season.[2]
It achieved tropical storm status on November 19 while slowly moving south.[2] It then turned to the east and strengthened into a minimal hurricane on November 20. It turned to the northeast, but on November 23 it weakened rapidly to a tropical depression while southeast of Jamaica. Marco was characterized by its numerous intensity fluctuations. For several consecutive days, Marco became disorganized during the afternoon when the low-level center was practically exposed and there was an increase in the central pressure. This was followed by a significant redevelopment of the convection and a drop in pressure during the nights and early mornings.[2]
The depression moved west and restrengthened into a tropical storm, but a cold front caused it to dissipate on November 26 while south of western Cuba.[2]
[edit] Preparations
On November 19, a tropical storm watch was released for Jamaica, which was upgraded to a hurricane watch the next day.[2] A flash flood warning was released on November 20 and suggesting that sailors should not leave port.[3] for Jamaica as well A hurricane watch was issued for Cuba, Haiti and east of Camaguey on November 20, which was downgraded to a tropica storm watch on the same day. A tropical storm warning was issued on November 25 for Isle of Youth and Pinar del Rio province, Cuba. All watches and warnings were discontinued by November 26.[2]
[edit] Impact
Although Hurricane Marco never made landfall, it was a large storm and caused heavy rainfall throughout Central America and Hispaniola. Flooding and mudslides started by the rain were responsible for fourteen reported fatalities. Nine of those deaths alone were in Honduras.[4] Three deaths were also reported in the Dominican Republic from drowings north of Santo Domingo.[5] Marco also caused 1,214 people to evacuate. During the formative stage of Marco, a strong high and Marco affected Florida, causing beach erosion and gale force winds. Costa Rica rivers flooded many towns and many banana plantations.[1] Parts of Honduras' Atlantic Coast were devastated by lots of rain, and forcing 60,000 people from their homes. Four thousand homes were destroyed and 40 wooden bridges were washed off.[4]
Marco was also one of the few storms to enter the Carribean and not make landfall. Hurricane hunter flights recorded volatile center structure with severe turbulence, extreme rainfall and hail.
[edit] Lack of Retirement
Due to the lack of effects, the World Meteorological Organization did not retire the name Marco in spring of 1997.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Steve Newman (December 3, 1996). Tropical Storms section on Marco. The Intelligencer. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lixion A. Avila (December 3, 1996). Preliminary Report - Hurricane Marco. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ Syracuse Herald-Journal (November 23, 1996). Hurricane Marco comes barreling towards Jamaica. Syracuse Herald-Journal. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b Syracuse Herald-Journal (November 23, 1996). Hurricane Marco weakens;Flooding Kills 9 In Honduras. Syracuse Herald-Journal. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ News and Record (November 23, 1996). HAITI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MAY FACE FLOODS, MUDSLIDES. HighBeam Research. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
