Hurricane Brenda (1973)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Brenda was the first tropical cyclone
on record to make landfall
in the Mexican Province of Campeche
. The tropical wave
that spawned Brenda moved off the west coast of Africa on August 9, and uneventfully traversed the Atlantic. By August 18, an associated area of low pressure developed sufficient convective activity
to be declared a tropical depression. Later that day, the system intensified into a tropical storm before moving inland over the Yucatan Peninsula
. Brenda had moved back over water by August 21 and began to quickly intensify, with an eye forming later that day. The storm peaked as an upper-end Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (144.8 km/h) before making landfall in Campeche. The hurricane rapidly weakened after moving over land and dissipated the following day.
Brenda made two landfalls in Mexico: first in the Yucatan and later in Campeche. Little damage resulted from the storm throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. However, severe damage took place in areas near Brenda's second landfall. A total of 10 people were killed by the hurricane and over 2,000 more were left homeless. Flooding caused by Brenda was considered to be the worst in over 25 years in some places.
that moved off the western coast of Africa on August 9; however, the initial wave quickly weakened upon entering the Atlantic Ocean. By August 13, the wave began to regenerate as it passed through the Lesser Antilles
, producing scattered shower and thunderstorm activity
. Several days later, convection
associated with the system consolidated into a central, organized mass and on August 18, the system had become sufficiently organized to be declared a tropical depression. Early the next day, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Brenda following reports of gale-force winds from ships in the vicinity of the storm. Prior to its first landfall
, Brenda suddenly intensified, with the central barometric pressure decreasing to 992 mbar (hPa; 29.29 inHg) and winds reached 65 mph (104.6 km/h). The storm moved inland roughly 30 mi (48.3 km) north of Cozumel
at the northern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula
on August 19.
Roughly 24 hours after landfall, the center of Brenda passed directly over the city of Mérida, Yucatán
. By this time, a strong ridge
over southern Texas and northern Mexico caused the storm to take an unusual southwest turn. Later on August 20, the center of Brenda moved into the Gulf of Mexico
, specifically the Bay of Campeche
. Once back over water, Brenda began to quickly intensify, attaining hurricane status later that day. The next day, a well-defined eye had developed and the storm attained its peak intensity as a high-end Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (144.8 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar (hPa; 28.85 inHg). Around this time, the tropical storm force winds extended out 150 mi (241.4 km) to the north and 75 mi (120.7 km) to the south. The storm made landfall later that day near Ciudad del Carmen
, Mexico at this intensity, becoming the first hurricane to strike the region on record. After moving inland, Brenda rapidly weakened to a depression by the morning of August 22 and dissipated later that day.
as it became better organized. Upwards of 4 in (101.6 mm) was recorded on Grand Cayman
on August 17. Following its first landfall in the northern Yucatan, Brenda produced heavy rainfall and high winds, gusting near 70 mph (112.7 km/h). Along the cost, waves were recorded up to 20 ft (6.1 m). Offshore, a freighter with 25 crewman became trapped in the storm after its engines failed. The United States Coast Guard
responded to the distress call sent out by the ship once Brenda had moved into the Gulf of Mexico on August 21.
Already suffering from severe flooding that killed at least 18 people and left 200,000 homeless, Hurricane Brenda worsened the situation with torrential rainfall and additional flooding. Following the damage wrought by Brenda, a large earthquake
struck the region, hampering relief efforts and collapsing numerous structures. Winds on land gusted up to 112 mph (180.2 km/h), leading to severe wind damage. Brenda caused a total of 10 deaths. Two of the fatalities occurred in Campeche
after 80% of the city was flooded. Two more of these deaths occurred in the coastal city of Veracruz
. This was considered to be the worst flooding in the city in over 25 years. According to officials, 452 homes and the local docks were destroyed in the region. An estimated 2,000 people were left homeless as a direct result of Brenda throughout Mexico.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
on record to make landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
in the Mexican Province of Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
. The tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
that spawned Brenda moved off the west coast of Africa on August 9, and uneventfully traversed the Atlantic. By August 18, an associated area of low pressure developed sufficient convective activity
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
to be declared a tropical depression. Later that day, the system intensified into a tropical storm before moving inland over the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
. Brenda had moved back over water by August 21 and began to quickly intensify, with an eye forming later that day. The storm peaked as an upper-end Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (144.8 km/h) before making landfall in Campeche. The hurricane rapidly weakened after moving over land and dissipated the following day.
Brenda made two landfalls in Mexico: first in the Yucatan and later in Campeche. Little damage resulted from the storm throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. However, severe damage took place in areas near Brenda's second landfall. A total of 10 people were killed by the hurricane and over 2,000 more were left homeless. Flooding caused by Brenda was considered to be the worst in over 25 years in some places.
Meteorological history
Hurricane Brenda originated from a tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
that moved off the western coast of Africa on August 9; however, the initial wave quickly weakened upon entering the Atlantic Ocean. By August 13, the wave began to regenerate as it passed through the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
, producing scattered shower and thunderstorm activity
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
. Several days later, convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
associated with the system consolidated into a central, organized mass and on August 18, the system had become sufficiently organized to be declared a tropical depression. Early the next day, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Brenda following reports of gale-force winds from ships in the vicinity of the storm. Prior to its first landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
, Brenda suddenly intensified, with the central barometric pressure decreasing to 992 mbar (hPa; 29.29 inHg) and winds reached 65 mph (104.6 km/h). The storm moved inland roughly 30 mi (48.3 km) north of Cozumel
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
at the northern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
on August 19.
Roughly 24 hours after landfall, the center of Brenda passed directly over the city of Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
. By this time, a strong ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
over southern Texas and northern Mexico caused the storm to take an unusual southwest turn. Later on August 20, the center of Brenda moved into the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, specifically the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
. Once back over water, Brenda began to quickly intensify, attaining hurricane status later that day. The next day, a well-defined eye had developed and the storm attained its peak intensity as a high-end Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (144.8 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar (hPa; 28.85 inHg). Around this time, the tropical storm force winds extended out 150 mi (241.4 km) to the north and 75 mi (120.7 km) to the south. The storm made landfall later that day near Ciudad del Carmen
Ciudad del Carmen
Ciudad del Carmen is a city in the southwest of the Mexican state of Campeche. Ciudad del Carmen is located at on the southwest of Carmen Island, which stands in the Laguna de Términos on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The 2005 census population was 154,197 people...
, Mexico at this intensity, becoming the first hurricane to strike the region on record. After moving inland, Brenda rapidly weakened to a depression by the morning of August 22 and dissipated later that day.
Impact and aftermath
The tropical wave that spawned Brenda produced significant amounts of rainfall in the Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
as it became better organized. Upwards of 4 in (101.6 mm) was recorded on Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
on August 17. Following its first landfall in the northern Yucatan, Brenda produced heavy rainfall and high winds, gusting near 70 mph (112.7 km/h). Along the cost, waves were recorded up to 20 ft (6.1 m). Offshore, a freighter with 25 crewman became trapped in the storm after its engines failed. The United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
responded to the distress call sent out by the ship once Brenda had moved into the Gulf of Mexico on August 21.
Already suffering from severe flooding that killed at least 18 people and left 200,000 homeless, Hurricane Brenda worsened the situation with torrential rainfall and additional flooding. Following the damage wrought by Brenda, a large earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
struck the region, hampering relief efforts and collapsing numerous structures. Winds on land gusted up to 112 mph (180.2 km/h), leading to severe wind damage. Brenda caused a total of 10 deaths. Two of the fatalities occurred in Campeche
Campeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
after 80% of the city was flooded. Two more of these deaths occurred in the coastal city of Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
. This was considered to be the worst flooding in the city in over 25 years. According to officials, 452 homes and the local docks were destroyed in the region. An estimated 2,000 people were left homeless as a direct result of Brenda throughout Mexico.