Tropical Depression Sixteen (2008)
| Tropical depression (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Tropical Depression Sixteen shortly after formation on October 14, 2008 | |
| Formed | October 14, 2008 |
| Dissipated | October 16, 2008 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 30 mph (45 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 1004 mbar (hPa); 29.65 inHg |
| Fatalities | At least 75 total |
| Damage | At least $150 million (2008 USD) |
| Areas affected | Central America |
| Part of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Depression Sixteen was a short-lived tropical cyclone that made landfall in Honduras during October 2008. The system developed as a tropical depression on October 14 in the western Caribbean from the interaction of a tropical wave and a broad area of low pressure. Initially disorganized, convection associated with the depression became increasingly organized over the next few hours, at which time the system peaked in intensity below tropical storm status, the only to do so during the season. Due to land proximity, the system became disorganized shortly thereafter and made landfall just west of Punta Patuca, Honduras early on October 15, dissipating a short while later.
Although a weak tropical cyclone, Sixteen dropped heavy rainfall over portions of the western Caribbean.
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[edit] Meteorological history
The depression is believed to have originated, at least partly, in a tropical wave that entered the Atlantic Ocean on September 17, 2008, and generated intermittent convective activity as it approached the eastern Caribbean. On October 10, a broad area of low pressure developed in association with the wave.[1] Late on October 12, while the disturbance was situated well to the southwest of Puerto Rico, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the possibility for tropical development once unfavorable winds subsided.[2] During the morning hours of October 23, satellite imagery indicated that a tropical depression had begun to form.[3] The low turned toward the north and passed just east of Nicaragua, and Dvorak classifications were initiated on the system. The broad area of shower and thunderstorm activity had become sufficiently organized at 12:00 UTC on October 14 to be declared a tropical cyclone. At the time, the depression was centered roughly 50 mi (80 km) northeast of the Nicaragua–Honduras border.[1]
Shortly after being classified as a tropical depression, TD 16 turned west-northwestward and started to deteriorate in organization. Convection near the center of the storm waned, although a few bands of thunderstorm activity persisted on the northern side of the circulation. At the time, the cyclone's forward motion and location were uncertain, and a reconnaissance mission into the storm found a low-level vortex north-northwest of the primary low.[4] Failing to intensify beyond a weak storm system with winds of 30 mph (45 km/h), due to its close proximity to land, TD 16 turned westward on October 15 before bending southwestward. At 12:00 UTC that day—approximately 24 hours after forming—it drifted ashore along the northeast coast of Honduras, just west of Punta Patuca. The storm continued moving southwestward before degenerating into a remnant low early on October 16; it fully dissipated shortly thereafter over mountainous terrain.[1]
[edit] Preparations and impact
[edit] Honduras
The National Hurricane Center issued numerous tropical storm watches throughout the storm's duration, while in Costa Rica a red alert warning was placed into effect across much of the country,[5] and over 100,000 people were evacuated. However as the depression never reached storm strength tropical storm conditions never occurred along the watch areas.
Heavy rains from the depression's remnant low left at least 75 people dead and six missing and forced a further 100,000 people from their homes across Central America. The depression destroyed bridges, flooded villages and blocked roads.[5] Total damage is estimated at about $150 million (2008 USD).[6]
[edit] Belize
In Belize, outer bands from the depression produced widespread flooding that left at least $13.7 million in damages. Roughly 38,000 people were affected by the storm in 24 of the most severely affected communities. Numerous roads were washed out, isolating several communities.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Daniel P. Brown (November 19, 2008). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression 16". http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL162008_Sixteen.pdf. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ James Franklin (October 12, 2008). "Tropical Weather Outlook for October 12, 2008". National Hurricane Center. ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2008101300.ABNT20. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ Lixion Avila and Daniel Brown (October 13, 2008). "Tropical Weather Outlook for October 13, 2008". National Hurricane Center. ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2008101311.ABNT20. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ James Franklin and Daniel Brown (October 14, 2008). "Tropical Depression Sixteen Discussion Number 1". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al16/al162008.discus.002.shtml?. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ a b http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/383822/1/.html
- ^ http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2008.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/STRI-7KMU86-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf
- ^ United Nations Country Team in Belize (October 24, 2008). "Belize: Tropical Depression 16 Flooding — Situation report No 1". ReliefWeb. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LSGZ-7KTF7S?OpenDocument&rc=2&emid=FL-2008-000198-BLZ. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tropical Depression Sixteen (2008) |
- HPC rainfall page for 2008 Tropical Cyclones
- National Hurricane Center Website
- National Hurricane Center's Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook
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Tropical cyclones of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season |
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