Tropical Storm Beryl (2000)

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Tropical Storm Beryl
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Tropical Storm Beryl in the Gulf of Mexico at peak intensity

Tropical Storm Beryl in the Gulf of Mexico at peak intensity
Formed August 13, 2000
Dissipated August 15, 2000
Highest
winds
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure 1007 mbar (hPa; 29.75 inHg)
Fatalities 1 direct
Damage $27,000 (2000 USD)
$34,000 (2008 USD)
Areas
affected		 Northeast Mexico and Texas
Part of the
2000 Atlantic hurricane season
This article is about the Atlantic tropical storm of 2000. For other storms of the same name, see Tropical Storm Beryl.

Tropical Storm Beryl was a tropical storm that formed in the Gulf of Mexico on August 13, 2000 and dissipated over the mountains of northeastern Mexico on August 15. Beryl was the second tropical storm of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season, and the first storm in 2000 to make landfall in North America of at least tropical storm intensity.

Beryl originated from a tropical wave near the African coast and never intensified until it reached the Bay of Campeche were it became a tropical storm. Beryl rapidly deepened while in the Gulf of Mexico, and it initially was forecast to strengthen to a hurricane under favorable conditions for development, before making landfall near the United States–Mexico border at that intensity. However, Beryl remained poorly organized and was not able to intensify any further. It made landfall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas as a weak tropical storm with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). One death was reported in Mexico due to drowning. Otherwise no significant damage was reported associated with Beryl, as it affected a sparsely populated area of Mexico.

Contents

[edit] Storm history

Storm path
Storm path

A tropical wave emerged from the African coast with a closed circulation on August 3. It tracked westward across the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean and broke into two distinct parts, the northern portion eventually became Hurricane Alberto. The southern portion continued to track westward into the Caribbean Sea, while producing little or no deep convection. The wave reached Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula on August 12, and only then did deep convection redevelop, mostly due to diurnal heating. The wave emerged over the Bay of Campeche early on August 13 as a large area of low pressure. The wave was upgraded to Tropical Depression Five later that day, based on satellite intensity estimates and an observation from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft.[1] Six hours after developing, the depression was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane early on August 16 due to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and little wind shear to inhibit development.[2]

The tropical depression travelled to the northwest across the southwest Gulf of Mexico.[1] It strengthened rapidly, and there was evidence of deep convection as it passed over warm waters.[3] It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Beryl late on August 14 with surface winds of 50 mph (85 km/h), based on reconnaissance aircraft observation.[1] Six hours later, the storm accelerated to near 9 mph (15 km/h), meaning that landfall would happen sooner than expected, preventing the time for Beryl to strengthen to a hurricane.[4] However, Beryl failed to undergo significant intensification as was forecast, as it maintained an intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h). The lack of intensification could be due to moderate wind shear and entrainment over the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Beryl continued to track to the northwest toward the Rio Grande Valley area in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Texas. The storm made landfall early on August 15 along the Mexican coast about 105 mi (165 km) south of Brownsville, Texas, 35 mi (55 km) north La Pesca, Tamaulipas[1] and about 115 mi (185 km) north of Tampico.[5] Beryl was downgraded to a tropical depression about five hours after landfall.[1] The Brownsville radar showed that the circulation centre of the storm became elongated parallel to the mountain ranges of northeastern Mexico, so the system was no longer declared a tropical depression late on August 15,[6] while located near Monterrey.[1]

[edit] Preparations

Tropical Storm Beryl in the Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Beryl in the Gulf of Mexico

The National Hurricane Centre started issuing hurricane warnings early on August 14, anticipating that Beryl would reach hurricane strength. The warnings were issued along the Texas coast from Baffin Bay to the United States/Mexico border. The Government of Mexico issued hurricane warnings from the borderline south to La Pesca.[7] The hurricane warnings issued stretched for 230 miles (370 km) along the coast.[8] Mexico also issued a tropical storm warning south of La Pesca to Tampico. A storm surge of 2 to 5 feet (0.6 m to 1.5 m) was expected along the coast near and to the north of Beryl’s centre. Rainfall between 5 to 10 inches (125 to 250 mm) were also expected.[7] Thousands of residents in coastal areas of southern Texas and northern Mexico were asked to pay attention to the hurricane warnings and to move towards higher ground. The National Weather Service warned the cities of Cameron and Kenedy, and Willacy County in southern Texas that severe flooding is the deadliest threat associated with the storm. In low-lying rural areas near the Rio Grande river mouth, an estimated 20,000 residents were urged to seek shelter, as the inadequate drainage in these areas make them in danger to severe flooding. The National Weather Service also warned of possible tornadoes forming when associated with thunderstorms and tropical storm generated winds. Authorities in southern Texas filled 20,000 sandbags along the shores, and closed government offices. Residents nailed plywood on windows, parks were temporarily closed, and documents were transferred to waterproof storage areas.[9]

The warnings remained in effect for twelve hours, then they were discontinued north of Port Mansfield in Texas. The hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning in all areas between Port Mansfield southwards to Tampico. It was predicted the rains from Beryl could produce dangerous flash floods and mudslides over the mountainous areas of Mexico.[10] When Beryl made landfall early on August 15, all warnings were discontinued in Texas.[11] All warnings issued in the Government of Mexico were discontinued six hours later when Beryl was downgraded to a tropical depression.[12]

[edit] Impact

Tropical Storm Beryl's Rainfall in Mexico
Tropical Storm Beryl's Rainfall in Mexico

Beryl made landfall in a sparsely populated region of northeast Mexico, so no official reports of tropical storm force winds were recorded.[1] Moisture from Beryl brought 0.8 in (20.1 mm) of rain in Corpus Christi, Texas and 0.5 in (13.7 mm) in Brownsville, Texas in a 48-hour period between August 14 and August 16. The highest winds from these stations were no more than 25 knots (28 mph and 46 km/h).[5] Cloud cover and rainfall resulted with cool high temperatures in southern Texas. Brownsville had a high temperature of 84˚F (28.9˚C) on August 15. This broke the record for the coolest maximum temperature in Brownsville for August 15; the previous record was 85˚F (29.4˚C) set in 1881.[13]

In Mexico a rainfall total of 6.3 in (160 mm) within a period of 24 hours was measured in San Gabriel, Tamaulipas.[14] Residents from two low-lying fishing villages were evacuated from the state of Tamaulipas and taken to extemporaneous shelters at schools and a sports complex.[15] One drowning death was reported in northeast Mexico, caused by the extensive flooding from Beryl's heavy rains.[1] Officials declared fifteen municipalities in Tamaulipas a disaster area.[16] The total damage in Mexico was estimated to be $254,000 (2000 MXN, $27,400 2000 USD, $34,000 2008 USD).[17]

Due to the storm producing no significant damage, the World Meteorological Organisation did not retire the name Beryl in the spring of 2001. The name was used again during the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season.

[edit] See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Stewart, S. (2000). TPC ATLANTIC BERYL 2000 TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  2. ^ Stewart, S. (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Discussion #2. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  3. ^ Franklin (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Discussion #4. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  4. ^ Franklin (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Discussion #5. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  5. ^ a b Padgett, G. (2000). MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY - AUGUST, 2000. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  6. ^ Franklin (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Discussion #9. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  7. ^ a b Franklin (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Public Advisory #4. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  8. ^ CNN.com - Tropical Storm Beryl forms, heads for Texas, Mexico - August 14, 2000. Cable News Network (2000). Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
  9. ^ CNN.com - Weather - Tropical Storm Beryl bears down on Texas-Mexico border - August 14, 2000. Cable News Network (2000). Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
  10. ^ Stewart (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Public Advisory #6. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  11. ^ Lawrence (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Public Advisory #7. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  12. ^ Lawrence (2000). NHC Advisory Archive Public Advisory #8. National Hurricane Centre. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
  13. ^ Ross, T. (2000). NCDC- Hurricane Page August 2000. National Climatic Data Centre. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  14. ^ Unzón, A. (2000). Tormenta Tropical Beryl, temporada 2000 ((Spanish)). Centro Nacional de Previsión del Tiempo. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  15. ^ CNN.com - Tropical storm churns past Baja, rain across northern Mexico - August 15, 2000. Cable News Network (2000). Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
  16. ^ Noticias de México... ((Spanish)). La Prensa San Diego (2000). Retrieved on December 23, 2006.
  17. ^ Bitrán, D. (2001). IMPACTO SOCIOECONÓMICO DE LOS PRINCIPALES DESASTRES OCURRIDOS EN LA REPÚBLICA MEXICANA EN EL AÑO 2000 ((Spanish)). Cenapred. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.

[edit] External links

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