Hurricane Michelle
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Michelle at peak intensity on November 4 |
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| Formed | October 29, 2001 | |
| Dissipated | November 6, 2001 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 933 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $2 billion (2001 USD) $2.2 billion (2006 USD) [1] |
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| Fatalities | 17 direct, 26 missing | |
| Areas affected |
Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, Bahamas | |
| Part of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Michelle was the 13th named storm and one of the strongest hurricanes of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. One of only four November Category 4 hurricanes, Michelle made landfall on south-central Cuba with winds of 140 mph, the strongest Cuban landfall since Hurricane Fox in the 1952 season. The hurricane brought torrential rains across its path from Central America through the Greater Antilles, killing 17 people and causing widespread damage.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on October 16 and moved westward. It remained disorganized until reaching the western Caribbean Sea, when favorable upper-level winds and warm water temperatures allowed it to develop into Tropical Depression Fifteen on October 29. It made landfall on Nicaragua on the 30th, and drifted to the north over Nicaragua and Honduras. It reached the Caribbean Sea again on the 31st, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Michelle on November 1
Over the warm waters of the western Caribbean, Michelle continued to strengthen, and reached hurricane status on November 2. Rapid intensification ensued, and 30 hours after becoming a hurricane, Michelle attained Category 4 strength with winds of 135 mph (220 km/h). After fluctuating in intensity while drifting to the northeast, Michelle peaked at 140 mph, and hit Cuba at that strength on the 4th. It rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain, and accelerated to the northeast. By mid-morning on November 5, the storm weakened even more to 85 mph (140 km/h) as the storm raced toward the Bahamas. After crossing the Bahamas, Michelle became extratropical early on the 6th, and was absorbed by a strong frontal system that night.
[edit] Impact
| Region | Direct deaths | Missing |
|---|---|---|
| Honduras | 6 | 14 |
| Cuba | 5 | |
| Nicaragua | 4 | 12 |
| Jamaica | 2 | |
| Total | 17[2] | 26[2] |
Hurricane Michelle brought torrential rains along its path through the western Caribbean Sea, killing 17 people and causing extensive damage in Central America and Cuba.
[edit] Jamaica
As the tropical wave that would become Michelle was drifting through the western Caribbean Sea, it produced torrential rainshowers on the island of Jamaica. When the hurricane passed to the northwest, it brought more rainfall, amounting to a 10-day total of 37.44 inches at Comfort Castle. Many other locations across the island recorded over 15 inches, resulting in widespread mudslides and moderate property damage, killing 2 people. [2] Many roads were blocked, and numerous houses were either damaged or destroyed. [3] Damage on Jamaica totaled to $18 million (2001 USD, $19.1 million 2006 USD). [4]
[edit] Central America
As Tropical Depression Fifteen was drifting over Central America, it dropped torrential rains, forcing over 100,000 people from their homes from Panama through Honduras. In Honduras, the deadly flooding led to overflown rivers and mudslides, cutting off around 100 villages in the province of Gracias a Dios from the rest of the country. [2] Bridges, roads, and houses were destroyed across the coastal areas of Central America, with extensive corn and bean crop damage, affecting millions. In areas where the rain was not extreme, the precipitation was welcome to farmers, helping to end a severe drought that had been in place all year. Other drought areas denounced the extreme flooding that destroyed the rest of their crops. [5] Though south of where the depression came ashore, Costa Rica experienced flooding in the north part of the country, forcing thousands to evacuate. [2]
Michelle was responsible for 6 deaths in Honduras and 4 deaths in Nicaragua, with an extensive yet unknown amount of damage. An additional 26 people were reported missing in Central America. [2] The areas most affected by the storm coincided with the areas ravaged by Hurricane Mitch almost exactly three years prior. [6]
[edit] Cayman Islands
Hurricane Michelle brought heavy surf, storm surge, and flooding in the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman experienced about $28 million in damage, mostly along the west coast. No casualties were reported. [2]
[edit] Cuba
In Cuba, about 750,000 people and 741,000 animals were evacuated prior to the hurricane's arrival. [7] Hurricane Michelle quickly crossed the island as a Category 4 hurricane, the strongest since 1952's Hurricane Fox. To the south of Cuba, Cayo Largo del Sur received a 9-10 foot storm surge, inundating the entire island with water. Closer to Cuba, the Isle of Youth experienced 11.83 inches of rain with 15 foot waves, causing extensive power outages and flooding. [2]
On the coast of western and southern Cuba, Michelle produced 4-5 foot waves, along with a heavy storm surge. In addition, the hurricane brought immense precipitation, with a maximum of 11.83 inches at Punta del Este. The provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, and Cienfuegos were hardest hit, where 10,000 homes were destroyed and another 100,000 damaged. Severe damage was also reported to the sugar cane [2] and in the tourist town of Varadero. In Havana, winds and rain destroyed 23 buildings, with many others damaged. Due to well-executed warnings and evacuations, only 5 people were killed in Cuba. [7] The Category 4 hurricane caused $1.8 billion in damage (2001 USD, $1.98 billion 2006 USD). [1]
The United States offered aid to the island, an act it had done in the past despite a political embargo. [8] President Fidel Castro refused, believing his country would survive with enough resources for the reconstruction process. [9]
[edit] Florida
Michelle barely grazed South Florida with 50 mph (80 km/h) wind gusts, 2-3 inches of rain, and two weak tornadoes, resulting in $20,000 in damage (2001 USD, $22,000 2006 USD). No one was killed in Florida as a result of the storm. The hurricane's prolonged easterly winds caused significant beach erosion on Florida's east coast, while the west coast experienced a 1-3 foot storm surge. A NOAA WP-3D Orion hurricane hunter aircraft was damaged during a mission into the storm. [2]
[edit] Bahamas
Because Hurricane Michelle was weakened and moving rapidly as it moved through the Bahamas, no deaths or damage were reported. The hurricane still retained some of its strength, and caused 12.64 inches of rain in Nassau, while New Providence received a storm surge of 5-8 feet. [2]
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
Due to its effects, the name Michelle was retired in the spring of 2002 and will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane. The name will be replaced with Melissa in the 2007 season.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Hurricane Vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2001michelle.html NHC Michelle Report
- ^ Jamaica News Reports
- ^ 2001 Flood Archive
- ^ Central America News Reports
- ^ Flooding Coincides with Mitch
- ^ a b Cuba News Reports
- ^ U.S. Aid
- ^ Cuba Refuses Aid
[edit] External links
- NHC Michelle Report
- Michelle News Reports
- The Hurricane Hut - A comprehensive summary of Hurricane Michelle
