1980 Atlantic hurricane season
| Season summary map | |
| First storm formed | August 1, 1980 |
|---|---|
| Last storm dissipated | November 27, 1980 |
| Strongest storm | Allen – 899 mbar (hPa) (26.56 inHg), 190 mph (305 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| Total depressions | 15 |
| Total storms | 11 |
| Hurricanes | 9 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 256 |
| Total damage | $1 billion (1980 USD) |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
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The 1980 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1980, and lasted until November 30, 1980. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was fairly active, with eleven storms forming, of which nine reached hurricane strength.
Only three storms made landfall in the 1980 season. The most notable storm was Hurricane Allen, a powerful Category 5 hurricane that travelled across the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread damage and hundreds of deaths. Additionally, Tropical Storm Danielle flooded the northeast coast of Texas, and Tropical Storm Hermine was responsible for flooding in Mexico.
Season summary
The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 149,[1] which is classified as "above normal".[2] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones are excluded from the total.[3]
Storms
Tropical Depression One
| Tropical depression (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | July 17 – July 21 | ||
| Intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), 1010 mbar (hPa) | ||
A decaying cold front entered into Gulf of Mexico, and developed a low-pressure area of July 17. Later that day, the low-pressure area developed into Tropical Depression One almost halfway between Louisiana and the Yucatan Peninsula. The depression moved northwestward, and minimal intensification occurred, as it approached the Gulf Coast of the United States. The depression made landfall in Texas near the Galveston area, and dissipated by July 21. Minimal impact was recorded from the depression, and light rainfall was reported in Texas and western Louisiana, peaking at 3.77 in (96 mm) in Refugio, Texas.[4]
Hurricane Allen
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 1 – August 11 | ||
| Intensity | 190 mph (305 km/h) (1-min), 899 mbar (hPa) | ||
Like most Atlantic hurricanes, Allen originated as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa. A tropical wave became Tropical Depression Two late on August 1. Tropical Depression Two became Tropical Storm Allen on August 2, and on the 3rd moved between Barbados and St. Lucia as a hurricane. Now in the Caribbean Sea, the storm passed just south of Hispaniola, then continued west between Cuba and Jamaica.
Allen stayed south of Cuba, and passed through the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf of Mexico. The center of Hurricane Allen finally struck land in southern Texas near the border with Mexico. Allen underwent a rapid drop in intensity just before its only landfall, described by a National Weather Service statement as "miraculous".
Allen was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes of record, with maximum sustained winds at 190 mph (310 km/h) at its peak. It became a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale on August 5; Allen reached that strength two more times thereafter. While the storm was passing south of Cuba, its wind field extended so far as to cause gale force winds to be recorded in the Florida Keys on the far side of Cuba.
Allen killed roughly 250 people, mostly in Haiti. Property damage was estimated at over $1 billion (1980 US dollars), mostly to the U.S. and Haiti.
Tropical Depression Four
| Tropical depression (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 13 – August 16 | ||
| Intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Tropical Depression Four formed on August 13 just east of Cape Verde. Tropical Depression Four moved through the islands shortly later. Tropical Depression Four dissipated on August 16 near the Azores.
Hurricane Bonnie
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 14 – August 19 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), 975 mbar (hPa) | ||
Bonnie formed midway between Cape Verde and the Windward Islands on August 14. The storm moved almost due north, strengthening into a hurricane. A companion tropical system formed near Bonnie, but never exceeded depression strength. Bonnie continued north until it became extratropical on August 19. Hurricane Bonnie caused no known damage.
Hurricane Charley
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 20 – August 25 | ||
| Intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), 989 mbar (hPa) | ||
An extratropical storm moved off the Atlantic coast of the United States on August 20. As it moved over the ocean, its circulation closed, and it took on subtropical characteristics. The storm followed a looping path generally to the east. On August 23, it reached hurricane strength and began moving almost due east. Charley weakened and was absorbed by an extratropical cyclone on August 26 without ever affecting land.
Tropical Depression Six
| Tropical depression (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 25 – August 29 | ||
| Intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Tropical Depression Six formed on August 25. The depression headed west towards the Lesser Antilles. The depression curved northwest and dissipated on August 29 before being able to affect land.
Tropical Storm Danielle
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | September 4 – September 7 | ||
| Intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), 1004 mbar (hPa) | ||
Danielle formed as a tropical depression off the coast of Louisiana on September 4. As it moved west, it strengthened, reaching tropical storm intensity on September 5 while just south of Cameron, Louisiana. It struck land near Galveston, Texas a few hours later. Danielle weakened over land, but its circulation was tracked as far inland as Del Rio, Texas.
Wind and wave damage from Danielle was minimal. However, heavy rainfall caused flooding in the Beaumont – Port Arthur area of Texas. The Jefferson County Airport recorded 17.16 inches (436 mm) of rain, setting a new 24-hour record for that location. The storm total maximum at that location totaled 18.29 inches (465 mm), which was the highest observed with Danielle.[5]
Hurricane Earl
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | September 4 – September 10 | ||
| Intensity | 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min), 985 mbar (hPa) | ||
Hurricane Earl was the first of a short series of Cape Verde-type hurricanes to form in early September. Earl was named on September 6, although re-analysis showed that it actually reached tropical storm strength on September 6. The storm followed a curving path roughly centered on the Azores. It reached hurricane strength on September 8 before weakening and becoming extratropical on September 10. Earl caused no reported damage to land or shipping.
Hurricane Frances
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | September 6 – September 20 | ||
| Intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min), 958 mbar (hPa) | ||
A strong low pressure system moved off the African coast on September 5, and developed into Tropical Depression Ten on the following day. Later that day, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Frances. After becoming a tropical storm, Frances rapidly strengthened, reaching hurricane intensity by September 7. Frances moved slowly to the west, reaching its peak intensity of as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). After peak intensity, Frances weakened back below major hurricane intensity, but oscillated in intensity, ranging from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 1 hurricane over the next few days. However, by September 17, Frances had weakened back into a Category 1 hurricane, and re-intensification would not occur. It then turned northeast and was absorbed by another low pressure system over the north Atlantic on September 20.[6]
Reports of strong tropical storm force winds were received from ships, but no damage was reported except for minor squalls in Cape Verde.[6]
Hurricane Georges
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | September 1 – September 8 | ||
| Intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), 993 mbar (hPa) | ||
Georges initially formed as a tropical depression over the central Atlantic on September 1. This depression remained weak for the next several days as it travelled west-northwest. Interaction with a non-tropical low disrupted the depression and destroyed its circulation. On September 5, a subtropical system began forming out of the depression's remnants as they began turning to the northeast. The subtropical depression strengthened and became tropical, finally becoming a named storm on September 7 as it passed north of Bermuda. The tropical storm intensified into a hurricane, one of few to do so north of 40°N. After passing Cape Race, Georges lost its tropical characteristics over cold water. Georges caused no known damage.
Tropical Storm Hermine
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | September 20 – September 26 | ||
| Intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min), 993 mbar (hPa) | ||
An African tropical wave that traversed the Atlantic Ocean organized into a tropical storm off the coast of Honduras on September 21. After grazing Honduras, a disorganized Tropical Storm Hermine made landfall just north of Belize City on the 22nd. After crossing the Yucatán Peninsula, Hermine briefly emerged over the Bay of Campeche where it restrengthened before recurving back into the Mexican coast. The storm drifted inland and its surface dissipated on September 26. The remnant disturbance tracked around the southern and western periphery of Mexico over the next few days.[7]
Hermine caused freshwater flooding in Mexico. Storm total rainfall across Mexico reached as high as 31.15 inches (791 mm) at San Pedro Tapanatepec.[7] No reports on Honduras and Belize were received by the NHC, but meteorologists stated that similar flooding likely occurred there as well.
Hurricane Ivan
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | October 4 – October 11 | ||
| Intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min), 970 mbar (hPa) | ||
In late September, an cold-core low persisted off the coast of Portugal, moving southwestward. At the time, there was little convection near the center, although the overall cloud pattern cyclonically curved. The system gradually developed tropical characteristics as it turned northwestward and executed a loop near the Azores. After the cyclone resumed its southwest track, the convection increased and became more organized near the center. Even though it was located beneath an upper-level low, it was sufficiently organized to be designated a tropical depression on October 4 just east of the Azores; shortly thereafter, it intensified into Tropical Storm Ivan.[8] The National Hurricane Center did not initiate advisories on Ivan until late on October 5, by which time the storm was strengthening and developing anticyclonic outflow aloft.[9] Ivan moved largely in tandem with the upper-level low above it, while its southwest movement was caused by a building ridge to its north.[8] Late on October 5, an eye developed,[10] and by October 6 Ivan attained hurricane status about 600 miles (970 km) southwest of the Azores. It slowed down as the ridge to its north weakened, and 18 hours after reaching hurricane strength, Ivan peaked with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h).[8]
Between October 6 and the 7, Hurricane Ivan executed a tight loop, after which another ridge began intensifying to its east; this allowed the storm to begin a motion to the west-northwest. Ultimately, the intensity did not change for about 90 hours.[8] During that time, the eye fluctuated occasionally as the convection waxed and waned.[11] On October 9, Ivan turned to the north in advance of an approaching cold front and extratropical storm. The next day, the hurricane began weakening as it accelerated northeastward over cooler waters of the far northern Atlantic Ocean. By October 12, the cold front absorbed Hurricane Ivan when it was located about 665 miles (1070 km) west of Ireland.[8] Ivan only posed a threat to shipping interests,[12] and several vessels recorded gale-force winds.[8]
Hurricane Jeanne
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | November 8 – November 15 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), 986 mbar (hPa) | ||
Jeanne was another unusual storm, becoming one of a handful of November hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and the first recorded to have reached hurricane status while already in the Gulf. Jeanne began as a tropical depression near the coast of Nicaragua on November 8. The depression reached tropical storm strength the next day as it moved through the Yucatan Channel. Jeanne turned westward over the central Gulf, and strengthened into a hurricane. As the hurricane entered the western Gulf, it weakened to a tropical storm. It meandered for several days until a cold front moving off the Texas coast destroyed the storm's circulation. The systems merged on November 16.
Damage was limited to shipping, which was caught by surprise by the late-season storm. Fringe effects of Hurricane Jeanne triggered a record-breaking 23.28 inches (591 mm) of rain at Key West, Florida within a 24-hour period.[13]
Tropical Depression Fourteen
| Tropical depression (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | November 12 – November 18 | ||
| Intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), 1011 mbar (hPa) | ||
As Jeanne meandered through the Gulf of Mexico, a tropical depression formed north of Panama on November 12. Steered northward by deep southerly flow southeast of Jeanne, the tropical depression varied in organization through much of its life cyclone. Briefly, the cloud pattern between Jeanne and the depression merged, with a line of thunderstorms moving across the Florida peninsula between the two systems as the depression underwent increased westerly vertical wind shear. By November 15, the depression regained convective organization as it moved ashore western Cuba early on November 16. By early on November 17, vertical wind shear increased from the northwest, and the center parted from the system's related thunderstorm activity once more. After the system moved through the Florida peninsula, thunderstorms increased near the system once more as it pulled northeast offshore the Southeast United States.[14]
Hurricane Karl
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | November 25 – November 27 | ||
| Intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min), 985 mbar (hPa) | ||
A large extratropical low formed off the southeastern coast of the United States on November 21. The low moved away from the coast, and a convective cloud mass began forming near the low's center. By November 25, the cloud mass showed distinct signs of being a tropical system, and when its intensity was estimated at hurricane strength, it was classified as Hurricane Karl. Karl followed a curving cyclonic path, first east, then north. It approached the Azores on November 27, but did not approach close enough to affect the islands. By November 28, Hurricane Karl had become extratropical. No damage is associated with the storm.
Storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1980. The names not retired from this list were used again in the 1986 season. It was the first use for all of these names since the post-1978 naming change, except Frances which was used in 1961, 1968, and 1976. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired one name in the spring of 1981: Allen. It was replaced in 1986 season by Andrew.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- 1980 Pacific hurricane season
- 1980 Pacific typhoon season
- 1980 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons: 1979–80, 1980–81
References
- ^ Hurricane Research Division (March 2011). "Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Comparison_of_Original_and_Revised_HURDAT_mar11.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- ^ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (May 27, 2010). "Background information: the North Atlantic Hurricane Season". Climate Prediction Center. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/background_information.shtml. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
- ^ David Levinson (2008-08-20). "2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones". National Climatic Data Center. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- ^ David M. Roth (November 13, 2008). "Tropical Depression One - July 19-21, 1980". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/td01aof1980.html. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ David Roth. Tropical Storm Danielle. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Frances Preliminary Report, Page 1". National Hurricane Center. 1980. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/frances/prelim01.gif. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ a b David M. Roth. Tropical Storm Hermine (1980) Rainfall Graphic. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ a b c d e f National Hurricane Center (1980). "Hurricane Ivan Preliminary Report". http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0111-jpg/1980/atlantic/ivan/prenhc/prelim_ivan_1001-1011.jpg. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Hope, John (1980). "Tropical Storm Ivan Discussion". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0111-jpg/1980/atlantic/ivan/tropdisc/tcd10051500z.jpg. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Clark, Gilbert (1980). "Tropical Storm Ivan Discussion". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0111-jpg/1980/atlantic/ivan/tropdisc/tcd10052100z.jpg. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Pelissier, J.M. (1980). "Hurricane Ivan Discussion". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0111-jpg/1980/atlantic/ivan/tropdisc/tcd10080900z.jpg. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Staff Writer (October 9, 1980). "Hurricane Ivan No Danger". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-u4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GeAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4703,4311208&dq=hurricane-ivan&hl=en. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ David Roth. Hurricane Jeanne. Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
- ^ David M. Roth. Tropical Depression Fourteen – November 14-18, 1980. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
External links
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Tropical cyclones of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season |
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