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| Basin=Atl
| Basin=Atl
| Image location=Allen Peak Intensity.JPG
| Image location=Allen Peak Intensity.JPG
| Image name=Hurricane Allen in the [[Yucatán Channel]] near peak intensity on [[August 7]], [[1980]]
| Image name=Hurricane Allen in the [[Yucatán Channel]] near peak intensity on August 7, 1980
| Formed=[[July 31]], [[1980]]
| Formed=July 31, 1980
| Dissipated=[[August 11]], [[1980]]
| Dissipated=August 11, 1980
| 1-min winds=165
| 1-min winds=165
| Pressure=899
| Pressure=899
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| Inflated=1
| Inflated=1
| Fatalities=236 – 261 direct[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml]
| Fatalities=236 – 261 direct[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml]
| Areas=[[Windward Islands]], [[Haiti]], [[Jamaica]], [[Yucatán Peninsula]], northern [[Mexico]], southern [[Texas]]
| Areas=[[Windward Islands]], [[Haiti]], [[Jamaica]], [[Yucatán Peninsula]], northern Mexico, southern [[Texas]]
| Hurricane season=[[1980 Atlantic hurricane season]]
| Hurricane season=[[1980 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}
}}
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Allen originated as a [[Cape Verde-type hurricane]], a rarity for tropical systems in early August. The tropical disturbance which would become Allen moved off the coast of Africa on July 30, and was upgraded to a tropical depression on August 1. Early on August 2, as it moved towards the Caribbean it became the first named storm of the season-Tropical Storm Allen. Allen moved westward at an unusually high speed of {{convert|15|to|20|kn|km/h}}, rapidly intensifying into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane at 0000 (GMT) on August 5 while south of Puerto Rico and (very unusually) remaining so for over a day. During this time, Allen attained a central pressure of {{convert|911|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=off}}, the lowest pressure on record in the Eastern Caribbean. The eye passed just south of [[Hispaniola]] and just north of [[Jamaica]] as a Category&nbsp;4 hurricane.<ref name="AllenTCR" />
Allen originated as a [[Cape Verde-type hurricane]], a rarity for tropical systems in early August. The tropical disturbance which would become Allen moved off the coast of Africa on July 30, and was upgraded to a tropical depression on August 1. Early on August 2, as it moved towards the Caribbean it became the first named storm of the season-Tropical Storm Allen. Allen moved westward at an unusually high speed of {{convert|15|to|20|kn|km/h}}, rapidly intensifying into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane at 0000 (GMT) on August 5 while south of Puerto Rico and (very unusually) remaining so for over a day. During this time, Allen attained a central pressure of {{convert|911|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=off}}, the lowest pressure on record in the Eastern Caribbean. The eye passed just south of [[Hispaniola]] and just north of [[Jamaica]] as a Category&nbsp;4 hurricane.<ref name="AllenTCR" />
After weakening from interactions with the mountains of Haiti and Jamaica, Allen reintensified to a Category&nbsp;5 for a second time, again retaining this intensity for over a day. It moved between [[Cuba]] and the [[Yucatán Peninsula]], reaching its minimum pressure of 899mb while crossing the [[Yucatán Channel]]. Interestingly, during Allen's trek through the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], its center of circulation never crossed over land despite its close passage to the islands of the Caribbean.<ref name="AllenTCR" />
After weakening from interactions with the mountains of Haiti and Jamaica, Allen reintensified to a Category&nbsp;5 for a second time, again retaining this intensity for over a day. It moved between [[Cuba]] and the [[Yucatán Peninsula]], reaching its minimum pressure of 899mb while crossing the [[Yucatán Channel]]. Interestingly, during Allen's trek through the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], its center of circulation never crossed over land despite its close passage to the islands of the Caribbean.<ref name="AllenTCR" />
{{Most intense hurricanes|align=left}}[[Image:Hurricane Allen.jpg|thumb|right|Hurricane Allen at landfall on [[August 9]], [[1980]]]]
{{Most intense hurricanes|align=left}}[[Image:Hurricane Allen.jpg|thumb|right|Hurricane Allen at landfall on August 9, 1980]]
Allen again weakened to a Category&nbsp;4 storm through interactions with land, but it restrengthened into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane for a third time as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, again keeping this intensity for nearly a full day and with a pressure drop to {{convert|909|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=off}}, the lowest pressure ever recorded in the western Gulf of Mexico. Shortly before landfall, dry air aloft in the Gulf caused the massive storm to weaken substantially. Allen made landfall north of [[Brownsville, Texas]] as a Category&nbsp;3 storm with sustained winds of 115 [[mph]].<ref name="AllenTCR" />
Allen again weakened to a Category&nbsp;4 storm through interactions with land, but it restrengthened into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane for a third time as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, again keeping this intensity for nearly a full day and with a pressure drop to {{convert|909|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=off}}, the lowest pressure ever recorded in the western Gulf of Mexico. Shortly before landfall, dry air aloft in the Gulf caused the massive storm to weaken substantially. Allen made landfall north of [[Brownsville, Texas]] as a Category&nbsp;3 storm with sustained winds of 115 [[mph]].<ref name="AllenTCR" />
===Records===
===Records===
When Allen reached Category&nbsp;5 intensity on August 5, it became the earliest Category&nbsp;5 storm ever recorded. This record stood until [[Hurricane Emily (2005)|Hurricane Emily]] shattered it on [[July 16]], [[2005]].
When Allen reached Category&nbsp;5 intensity on August 5, it became the earliest Category&nbsp;5 storm ever recorded. This record stood until [[Hurricane Emily (2005)|Hurricane Emily]] shattered it on July 16, 2005.
[[Image:Debris from Hurricane Allen on Padre Island.jpg|right|thumb|Debris from Hurricane Allen]]
[[Image:Debris from Hurricane Allen on Padre Island.jpg|right|thumb|Debris from Hurricane Allen]]
Allen is one of three Atlantic hurricanes to reach Category&nbsp;5 on the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale]] on three separate occasions, the others being [[Hurricane Ivan]] and [[Hurricane Isabel]].
Allen is one of three Atlantic hurricanes to reach Category&nbsp;5 on the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale]] on three separate occasions, the others being [[Hurricane Ivan]] and [[Hurricane Isabel]].


Allen also produced the fifth-lowest minimum pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin at 899 [[Bar (unit)|mbar]] ([[pascal (unit)|hPa]]) and was the strongest known hurricane in the basin, in terms of pressure, since 1935. Until then, it was the second strongest hurricane by pressure in the Atlantic Basin, but was since pushed down to 5th, and no hurricane has ever achieved 190 mph winds in this basin since then.<ref>NOAA. [http://www.weather.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/Katrina.pdf Hurricane Katrina Service Assessment.] Retrieved on [[2007-04-13]].</ref> It remains the most intense storm ever in August.
Allen also produced the fifth-lowest minimum pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin at 899 [[Bar (unit)|mbar]] ([[pascal (unit)|hPa]]) and was the strongest known hurricane in the basin, in terms of pressure, since 1935. Until then, it was the second strongest hurricane by pressure in the Atlantic Basin, but was since pushed down to 5th, and no hurricane has ever achieved 190 mph winds in this basin since then.<ref>NOAA. [http://www.weather.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/Katrina.pdf Hurricane Katrina Service Assessment.] Retrieved on 2007-04-13.</ref> It remains the most intense storm ever in August.


Allen spent nearly 3&nbsp;days as a Category&nbsp;5 storm, by far the highest of any Atlantic hurricane, and the third longest lasting category 5 storm on record, behind two typhoons ([[Typhoon Karen|Karen]] and [[Typhoon Nancy (1961)|Nancy]]) in the early 1960s.
Allen spent nearly 3&nbsp;days as a Category&nbsp;5 storm, by far the highest of any Atlantic hurricane, and the third longest lasting category 5 storm on record, behind two typhoons ([[Typhoon Karen|Karen]] and [[Typhoon Nancy (1961)|Nancy]]) in the early 1960s.
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|+ Storm deaths by region<br /><small>(incomplete)</small>
|+ Storm deaths by region<br /><small>(incomplete)</small>
|-
|-
! Region !! Deaths<ref>Preliminary Storm Report. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/allen/ Hurricane Allen.] Retrieved on [[2007-04-13]].</ref>
! Region !! Deaths<ref>Preliminary Storm Report. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/allen/ Hurricane Allen.] Retrieved on 2007-04-13.</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Haiti]] || 220
| [[Haiti]] || 220
|-
|-
| [[United States]] || 24
| United States || 24
|-
|-
| [[St. Lucia]] || 18
| [[St. Lucia]] || 18
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In the central Caribbean, [[Cayman Brac]] was hit by winds in excess of {{convert|115|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} which caused considerable property damage. Eight deaths in [[Jamaica]] were attributed to Allen. Damage was very significant along the northeast coast, where the hurricane made its closest approach to the island. Also, though there were no reports of significant property damage in Cuba, 3 deaths were attributed to Allen.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}
In the central Caribbean, [[Cayman Brac]] was hit by winds in excess of {{convert|115|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} which caused considerable property damage. Eight deaths in [[Jamaica]] were attributed to Allen. Damage was very significant along the northeast coast, where the hurricane made its closest approach to the island. Also, though there were no reports of significant property damage in Cuba, 3 deaths were attributed to Allen.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}


Extensive damage occurred in [[Haiti]] due to high winds and flash flooding. Total costs for that country were estimated to be at more than $400&nbsp;million (1980 [[United States dollar|USD]]). Roughly 50% of the nation's coffee crop was destroyed. In all, 220 people were killed and 835'000 were left homeless. In [[Port-au-Prince]], 41 deaths were caused by tin roofs flying off and around 1200 were made homeless by flooding <ref>Hurricanecity. [http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/portauprince.htm Port au prince,Haiti's history with tropical systems.] Retrieved on [[2007-04-13]].</ref>.
Extensive damage occurred in [[Haiti]] due to high winds and flash flooding. Total costs for that country were estimated to be at more than $400&nbsp;million (1980 [[United States dollar|USD]]). Roughly 50% of the nation's coffee crop was destroyed. In all, 220 people were killed and 835'000 were left homeless. In [[Port-au-Prince]], 41 deaths were caused by tin roofs flying off and around 1200 were made homeless by flooding <ref>Hurricanecity. [http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/portauprince.htm Port au prince,Haiti's history with tropical systems.] Retrieved on 2007-04-13.</ref>.


=== Mexico ===
=== Mexico ===

Revision as of 13:19, 8 November 2008

Hurricane Allen
Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Allen in the Yucatán Channel near peak intensity on August 7, 1980
FormedJuly 31, 1980
DissipatedAugust 11, 1980
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 190 mph (305 km/h)
Lowest pressure899 mbar (hPa); 26.55 inHg
Fatalities236 – 261 direct[1]
Damage$2.6 billion (1980 USD)
Areas affectedWindward Islands, Haiti, Jamaica, Yucatán Peninsula, northern Mexico, southern Texas
Part of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Allen was the strongest hurricane of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. It was one of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history, one of the few hurricanes to reach Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale on three separate occasions, and spent more time as a Category 5 than any other Atlantic hurricane. Allen is the second of only two hurricanes in the recorded history of the Atlantic basin to achieve sustained winds of 190 mph (310 km/h), after Hurricane Camille in 1969.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Allen originated as a Cape Verde-type hurricane, a rarity for tropical systems in early August. The tropical disturbance which would become Allen moved off the coast of Africa on July 30, and was upgraded to a tropical depression on August 1. Early on August 2, as it moved towards the Caribbean it became the first named storm of the season-Tropical Storm Allen. Allen moved westward at an unusually high speed of 15 to 20 knots (28 to 37 km/h), rapidly intensifying into a Category 5 hurricane at 0000 (GMT) on August 5 while south of Puerto Rico and (very unusually) remaining so for over a day. During this time, Allen attained a central pressure of 911 mbar (26.9 inHg), the lowest pressure on record in the Eastern Caribbean. The eye passed just south of Hispaniola and just north of Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane.[1] After weakening from interactions with the mountains of Haiti and Jamaica, Allen reintensified to a Category 5 for a second time, again retaining this intensity for over a day. It moved between Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula, reaching its minimum pressure of 899mb while crossing the Yucatán Channel. Interestingly, during Allen's trek through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, its center of circulation never crossed over land despite its close passage to the islands of the Caribbean.[1]

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes
Rank Hurricane Season Pressure
hPa inHg
1 Wilma 2005 882 26.05
2 Gilbert 1988 888 26.23
3 "Labor Day" 1935 892 26.34
4 Rita 2005 895 26.43
5 Allen 1980 899 26.55
6 Camille 1969 900 26.58
7 Katrina 2005 902 26.64
8 Mitch 1998 905 26.73
Dean 2007
10 Maria 2017 908 26.81
Source: HURDAT[2]
Hurricane Allen at landfall on August 9, 1980

Allen again weakened to a Category 4 storm through interactions with land, but it restrengthened into a Category 5 hurricane for a third time as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, again keeping this intensity for nearly a full day and with a pressure drop to 909 mbar (26.8 inHg), the lowest pressure ever recorded in the western Gulf of Mexico. Shortly before landfall, dry air aloft in the Gulf caused the massive storm to weaken substantially. Allen made landfall north of Brownsville, Texas as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph.[1]

Records

When Allen reached Category 5 intensity on August 5, it became the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded. This record stood until Hurricane Emily shattered it on July 16, 2005.

Debris from Hurricane Allen

Allen is one of three Atlantic hurricanes to reach Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale on three separate occasions, the others being Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Isabel.

Allen also produced the fifth-lowest minimum pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin at 899 mbar (hPa) and was the strongest known hurricane in the basin, in terms of pressure, since 1935. Until then, it was the second strongest hurricane by pressure in the Atlantic Basin, but was since pushed down to 5th, and no hurricane has ever achieved 190 mph winds in this basin since then.[3] It remains the most intense storm ever in August.

Allen spent nearly 3 days as a Category 5 storm, by far the highest of any Atlantic hurricane, and the third longest lasting category 5 storm on record, behind two typhoons (Karen and Nancy) in the early 1960s.

Impact

Storm deaths by region
(incomplete)
Region Deaths[4]
Haiti 220
United States 24
St. Lucia 18
Jamaica 8
Cuba 3
Guadeloupe 1
Total (direct & indirect) 274

Allen caused $2.6 billion (2005 USD) in damages and killed at least 274 people throughout its course (including indirect deaths).[1]

Caribbean islands

In Barbados, preliminary damages were estimated to be $1.5 million (1980 USD). About 500 houses were either damaged or destroyed. No deaths were reported. St. Lucia sustained heavy damage from Allen. Eighteen people lost their lives as a result of the storm's passage. One death in Guadeloupe was attributed to Allen.[citation needed]. The hurricane also divided the Isla de Aves of Venezuela into two smaller islets.

In the central Caribbean, Cayman Brac was hit by winds in excess of 115 mph (185 km/h) which caused considerable property damage. Eight deaths in Jamaica were attributed to Allen. Damage was very significant along the northeast coast, where the hurricane made its closest approach to the island. Also, though there were no reports of significant property damage in Cuba, 3 deaths were attributed to Allen.[citation needed]

Extensive damage occurred in Haiti due to high winds and flash flooding. Total costs for that country were estimated to be at more than $400 million (1980 USD). Roughly 50% of the nation's coffee crop was destroyed. In all, 220 people were killed and 835'000 were left homeless. In Port-au-Prince, 41 deaths were caused by tin roofs flying off and around 1200 were made homeless by flooding [5].

Mexico

United States

Hurricane Allen's rainfall across Texas and Mexico

In Texas, the storm surge was reported as high as 12 feet (3.7 m) at Port Mansfield, though it may have been higher because the highest surges occurred in unpopulated and unmonitored sections of the Texas coast. A peak wind gust of 129 mph (208 km/h) was also measured at Port Mansfield. The storm caused 7 deaths in Texas and 17 in Louisiana (most resulting from the crash of a helicopter evacuating workers from an offshore platform). Allen spawned several tornadoes in Texas. One tornado caused $100 million in damage when it hit Austin, Texas, making it the costliest tropical cyclone-spawned tornado in recorded history. Overall, however, the storm caused limited damage in the United States due to its suddenly diminished power and because its highest tides and winds hit a sparsely-populated portion of the Texas coast.[1]

One bit of good news resulted from Allen's arrival -- it dumped 10 to 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in south Texas, ending a summer-long drought during the Heat Wave of 1980. Its storm total rainfall map is shown to the right.[6]

Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

Because of the destruction, extreme death tolls and intensity, the name Allen was retired from the Atlantic tropic storms list in the spring of 1981, and will never be used again for a future Atlantic hurricane. It was replaced with Andrew in the 1986 season although that was retired after the 1992 storm because of its destruction in southeastern Florida and Louisiana and replaced by Alex for the 1998 Season, which remains in use today and will next be used in the 2010 season.

See also

Template:Tcportal

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report". Retrieved 2006-05-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ NOAA. Hurricane Katrina Service Assessment. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
  4. ^ Preliminary Storm Report. Hurricane Allen. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
  5. ^ Hurricanecity. Port au prince,Haiti's history with tropical systems. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
  6. ^ ""NOAA HPC - Hurricane Allen"".

Further reading


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hurricane_Allen&oldid=250432010"