| tropical storm (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Cindy | |
| Formed | August 14, 1993 |
| Dissipated | August 17, 1993 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 45 mph (75 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 1007 mbar (hPa; 29.74 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Damage | $2.7 million (1993 USD) |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles (Martinique), Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico |
| Part of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Cindy was a weak but unusually wet tropical cyclone that caused a flood disaster in Martinique during August 1993. Cindy developed to the east of the island on August 14 as the fourth tropical depression of the annual hurricane season and became a tropical storm six hours later. Despite generally favorable atmospheric conditions for further strengthening, the storm remained disorganized while crossing the northeastern Caribbean Sea. Cindy attained peak sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) shortly before interacting with the high terrain of Hispaniola and weakening. The cyclone made landfall in the Dominican Republic on August 16 as a marginal tropical depression, and dissipated over the territory the following day.
Albeit a weak cyclone, Cindy dropped heavy rain over portions of the northeastern Caribbean. In Martinique, 15.6 inches (395 mm) of rain fell in just two hours; in one instance, a station recorded 2.75 inches (70 mm) in 6 minutes. The rainfall caused a flood disaster for northern villages and communes, in particular Le Prêcheur. There, mucky waters washed away entire structures and wrought $2.7 million (1993 USD) in damage. Two deaths were blamed on the storm in the country, and hundreds of people became homeless. On its path to Hispaniola, Cindy brushed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with rough surf and some rain. Heavy rainfall and flooding killed two people in the Dominican Republic, though the exact extent of the damage is unknown.
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The origins of Tropical Storm Cindy trace back to a tropical wave that departed the western coast of Africa on August 8. For several days, the wave retained a distinct cloud pattern on satellite images while tracking steadily west-northwestward across the tropical Atlantic. On August 13, a reconnaissance aircraft intercepted the disturbance but did not find an organized wind circulation at the lower levels of the atmosphere. A second aircraft mission at 1200 UTC the next day, however, revealed that the circulation had acquired sufficient organization for the system to be classified as a tropical depression, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) initiated public storm advisories soon thereafter.[1][2]
Upon forming, the depression moved to the west-northwest toward Martinique and slowed, steered by mid to low-level flow. Satellite images and a subsequent reconnaissance mission revealed that the depression had developed a central dense overcast while its winds had increased to gale force, leading the NHC to upgrade it to Tropical Storm Cindy around 1800 UTC.[1] At that time, Cindy was centered over Martinique and retained a gale radius of 60 mi (95 km) with favorable outflow aloft.[3] However, this upper-level pattern deteriorated when the storm moved away from the Lesser Antilles, preventing it from developing much.[1] Over the course of August 15, Cindy continued to display a disorganized structure due to unfavorable wind shear; its center remained ill-defined, with the most intense thunderstorms confined to the eastern portion of the cyclone.[4][5] The following day, the storm managed to strengthen marginally and attain its peak intensity with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mbar (hPa; 29.74 inHg) about 85 mi (140 km) southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.[1]
Soon after attaining its peak winds, Cindy began to interact with the mountains of Hispaniola. The high terrain disrupted its circulation, causing it to weaken back to a tropical depression around 2100 UTC on August 16. By then, it had begun making landfall near Barahona in the Dominican Republic, with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). The depression became increasingly disorganized over land, and the NHC declassified it as a tropical cyclone early on August 17. The remnants proceeded inland and emerged into the Atlantic, dissolving over the Bahamas the next day.[1]
Cindy posed an immediate threat to the island chain of the Lesser Antilles; tropical storm warnings were issued from Martinique northward to the U.S and British Virgin Islands on August 14. A tropical storm watch was posted for Puerto Rico later that day.[3][6] All warnings for the Lesser Antilles were discontinued on August 15 after Cindy moved away, although the tropical storm watches for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were upgraded to warnings that same day.[7] Officials issued flash flood warnings for the island, while about 600 people living in flood-prone areas sought shelter ahead of the storm. Ferry service between Fajardo and the offshore islands of Culebra and Vieques was suspended as a precaution, leaving about 400 passengers on the latter island stranded for a day.[8] Additionally, a price freeze was placed on emergency supplies in response to the storm, including wood, nails, kerosene and lanterns.[9]
A tropical storm warning was issued for portions of the Dominican Republic, from Cabo Engaño to Samaná along the northern coast to Isla Beata off the southwestern coast.[7] Thousands of residents stocked up on bottled water, canned goods and gas.[10] The Santo Domingo International Airport suspended its operations.[11] The tropical storm warning for the island was discontinued when Cindy began to make landfall as no more than a tropical depression.[7] In Cuba, a storm warning was issued for eastern provinces after forecasters warned of the potential for heavy rainfall.[12]
On August 14, Cindy passed over Martinique with rough winds and particularly violent rainfall. In a span of 2 hours, 15.6 inches (395 mm) of rain were recorded at Saint-Joseph, of which 2.75 in (70 mm) fell in only 6 minutes.[13] Le Prêcheur received 5.8 in (147 mm) within one hour, though the 24-hour total reached 12.0 in (305 mm).[14] These amounts were well above the September average of 9.3 in (236 mm), making Cindy one of the most extreme rain events in the island's history.[13]
Cindy produced brisk winds across northern Martinique, downing banana trees and power lines.[15] Following hours of extreme rainfall, several rivers—including the Rivière des Pères, Rivière Claire and Rivière Sèche—quickly swelled and overflowed.[16] Catastrophic flooding and mud submerged northern villages, damaging homes, roads and bridges, including a vital bridge in Anse Belleville.[15][17][18] News footage was shown on national television of "cars [being] swept away to sea and buried in mud".[9] The Prêcheur River—which normally flows at a rate of about 18 ft3/s (0,5 m3/s)—attained an exceptional discharge rate of nearly 25,000 ft3/s (700 m3/s) before overflowing, causing great destruction to Le Prêcheur.[19] In some areas, the thick flood waters reached heights of up to 10 ft (3 m), washing over homes and roads. Damage across the small commune alone was estimated at ₣15 million (US$2.7 million).[20] Similar effects and one death occurred in Grand'Rivière when rushing water caused extensive damage to the river banks of the Grande Rivière.[15][21] Overall, the disaster resulted in 2 deaths, 11 injuries and over 150 destroyed homes across Martinique.[9][18]
Minimal effects were felt elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles. In Guadeloupe, the storm dropped up to 3.94 in (100 mm) of rain; an official total of 3.03 in (77 mm) was recorded at Raizet Airport.[22] The airport additionally measured a wind gust of 38 mph (61 km/h), just below tropical storm force.[23] Moderate breeze with embedded gusts to 28 mph (44 km/h) brushed Dominica, and 1.25 in (32 mm) of rain fell at Canefield Airport within 24 hours of Cindy's passage.[24] Further south, a weather station in Saint Lucia recorded 1.88 in (48 mm) of precipitation, as well as light winds.[25] While Cindy was passing to the south of the Virgin Islands, unsettled seas and minor beach erosion impacted the islands' south shores, with swells of 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) reported at Saint Croix.[26] Onshore, the island experienced wind gusts to 35 mph (55 km/h) and 1.48 in (38 mm) of rainfall.[27][28]
In spite of the thorough preparations across Puerto Rico, Cindy's center passed well to the south of the island. Impact from the storm was limited to intermittent downpours and 8 ft (2.4 m) waves along the island's southern coast.[29] The high waves and rough sea caused some minor erosion to beach facilities.[26] According to a report from the United States Geological Survey, a maximum of 5.54 in (141 mm) of rain fell near Río Cerrillos in Ponce; however, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center reported a peak total of 4.60 in (117 mm) at Puerto Real in Cabo Rojo.[26][28] Many other locations received rainfall amounts of between 2.0–4.5 in (50–115 mm), flooding some roads and low-lying areas.[26]
Cindy dropped considerable rainfall in southern and eastern parts of the Dominican Republic, with totals ranging from 4–10 in (100–255 mm).[27][11] Upon its landfall, winds in the country reached 35 mph (55 km/h) in Barahona.[30] The rainfall caused scattered street flooding and swelled rivers, affecting hundreds of residents.[10][11] In Villa Altagracia, one fatality was reported when a child drowned in flood waters, although the final death toll for the country stood at two.[11][27]
In the wake of the flood disaster, thousands of people across Martinique sought refuge in public shelters, and about 3,000 residents became homeless.[9][15] La Capricieuse, a French Navy ship stationed in Guyana, delivered disaster relief supplies to Fort-de-France. The goods were distributed by the Lions Club Association of Saint Barthélémy and included 250 packages with clothing items.[31] Sea conditions generated by Cindy restricted sea transport to Martinique; trading vessels from Petite Martinique ceased their purchases from supplying fishers during the week after the passage of the storm.[32]
