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Hurricane Dolly (1996)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Dolly was a Category 1
hurricane that struck Mexico. The storm killed 14 people and left many homeless. The fourth named storm and the third hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season
, Dolly developed from a tropical wave
in the west-central Caribbean Sea
on August 19. Becoming a tropical storm shortly thereafter, the system was then named Dolly by the National Hurricane Center
. Dolly continued to strengthen further, and became a minimal hurricane before making landfall near Chetumal
, Quintana Roo
on August 20. Dolly rapidly weakened over the Yucatan Peninsula
, and was only a tropical depression after being inland for about 24 hours. Dolly continued out into the Bay of Campeche
, and it regained hurricane strength before a second landfall near Tampico
, Tamaulipas
on August 23. Dolly again rapidly weakened over Mexico
, but the system reached the Pacific Ocean
before dissipating on August 26.
Fourteen people were reported dead in Mexico. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, and large areas of crop land were flooded. A monetary estimate of the damage is not available.
which moved off the west coast of Africa and entered the Caribbean Sea
between August 9 and August 18. The tropical wave was slightly disorganized until reports from hurricane hunter aircraft and ship suggested that the system reached tropical depression status on August 19. Six hours later, the depression became a tropical storm and was named Dolly, the fourth named storm of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season.
Dolly strengthened on August 19 and August 20 as it moved west-northwest. Convection was became more organized before the storm made landfall on Yucatán Peninsula
northeast of Chetumal
as a minimal hurricane. During its 24 hour passage over the Yucatán, Dolly weakened to a tropical storm, but restrengthened back into a hurricane over the Bay of Campeche
. Dolly retained hurricane status with peak winds at 80 mph (135 km/h) and a pressure of 989 mbar before making its final landfall between Tuxpan
, Veracruz
, and Tampico
, Tamaulipas
, on August 23.
Dolly weakened to a tropical depression as it crossed central Mexico
and dissipated when entering the Pacific basin on August 26.
to Progreso, Yucatán
, and a tropical storm watch was placed between Pinar del Rio Province
and Isle of Pines, Cuba. Just three hours later, another Tropical Storm Warning was given to an area between San Pedro Town
, Belize
, and the Mexican border
. On August 20, the Tropical Storm Watch was discontinued for Cuba
, as the system was moving away from the area. At around midday, another Tropical Storm Warning was issued from Progreso, Yucatán
, to Ciudad del Carmen
. Only an hour later, a Tropical Storm Warning from Cozumel to Chetumal was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning. In the afternoon of the 20th, all warnings south of Cozumel were discontinued. Just six hours later on August 21, all Tropical Storm Warnings east of 88°W were discontinued. Shortly after that, a Tropical Storm Warning east of Progreso was removed. By the end of the day, all warnings for Mexico were discontinued.
When Dolly entered the Bay of Campeche
on August 22, a Hurricane Watch was put into action for Veracruz
, La Pesca, and all areas in between. Only six hours later, the watch became a Hurricane Warning until Dolly made landfall, when all remaining warnings were removed.
Approximately 6,500 people were evacuated from low-lying zones of Tampico
.
, which recorded 10.59 inches (270 mm), and Puerto de Valles, which received 10 inches (254 mm) of rain. The rains also occurred in some more widely-known cities, including Acapulco
, with 7.48 inches (190 mm) of rain, Los Mochis
, with 7.06 inches (179 mm), Tuxpan
, with 5.88 inches (149 mm), Chetumal
, with 5.73 inches (146 mm), Monterrey
, with 4.93 inches (125 mm), and Cancún
, with a mere 1.35 inches (34.3 mm).
According to newspaper reports, fourteen people died in the storms passage. Seven drowned in Veracruz
and four in Nuevo León
. An additional two people from Nuevo León were reported to be missing. This could rise in post-season analysis. Hundreds of homes were destroyed leaving 35,000 people homeless and there was severe damage in Tuxpan
, Tamiahua
, Pueblo Viejo, Platon, Pánuco, Tampico Alto
, and elsewhere along the coast of northeast Mexico
. In Quintana Roo
, large areas of farmland were lost to the storm.
, Dolly did manage to bring heavy rain and high winds to southern Texas. Weekly rainfall totals in Corpus Christi
reached 5.53 inches (141 mm) and 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) in Brownsville. Corpus Christi daily rainfall measurements on Friday and Saturday were as high as 1.92 inches (48.8 mm) and 2.55 inches (64.8 ), a new daily record.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane that struck Mexico. The storm killed 14 people and left many homeless. The fourth named storm and the third hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season
1996 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1996 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season since 1965 in which all tropical cyclones reached tropical storm status. It officially began on June 1, 1996, and lasted until November 30, 1996...
, Dolly developed from a 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...
in the west-central Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
on August 19. Becoming a tropical storm shortly thereafter, the system was then named Dolly by the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
. Dolly continued to strengthen further, and became a minimal hurricane before making landfall near Chetumal
Chetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
, Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
on August 20. Dolly rapidly weakened 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...
, and was only a tropical depression after being inland for about 24 hours. Dolly continued out into 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...
, and it regained hurricane strength before a second landfall near Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
on August 23. Dolly again rapidly weakened over Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, but the system reached the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
before dissipating on August 26.
Fourteen people were reported dead in Mexico. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, and large areas of crop land were flooded. A monetary estimate of the damage is not available.
Meteorological history
Dolly formed 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...
which moved off the west coast of Africa and entered the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
between August 9 and August 18. The tropical wave was slightly disorganized until reports from hurricane hunter aircraft and ship suggested that the system reached tropical depression status on August 19. Six hours later, the depression became a tropical storm and was named Dolly, the fourth named storm of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season.
Dolly strengthened on August 19 and August 20 as it moved west-northwest. Convection was became more organized before the storm made landfall on Yucatán 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...
northeast of Chetumal
Chetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
as a minimal hurricane. During its 24 hour passage over the Yucatán, Dolly weakened to a tropical storm, but restrengthened back into a hurricane over 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...
. Dolly retained hurricane status with peak winds at 80 mph (135 km/h) and a pressure of 989 mbar before making its final landfall between Tuxpan
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
, Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, and Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, on August 23.
Dolly weakened to a tropical depression as it crossed central Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and dissipated when entering the Pacific basin on August 26.
Preparations
Shortly after the formation of Dolly, a Tropical Storm Warning was issued from ChetumalChetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
to Progreso, Yucatán
Progreso, Yucatán
Progreso is a port city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, located on the Gulf of Mexico in the north-west of the state some 30 minutes north of state capital Mérida by highway. As of the Mexican census of 2005, Progreso had an official population of 35,519 inhabitants, the fifth-largest community...
, and a tropical storm watch was placed between Pinar del Rio Province
Pinar del Río Province
Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba.-Geography:The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario and...
and Isle of Pines, Cuba. Just three hours later, another Tropical Storm Warning was given to an area between San Pedro Town
San Pedro Town
San Pedro is a town on the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye in the Belize District of the nation of Belize, in Central America. According to 2005 mid-year estimates, the town has a population of about 12,400. It is the second largest city in the Belize District and largest city in the...
, Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, and the Mexican border
Belize–Mexico border
The Belize–Mexico border is the international border between Belize and Mexico. It is 251 km long and almost exclusively follows the course of the Hondo River. It separates Belize from the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Campeche ....
. On August 20, the Tropical Storm Watch was discontinued for Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, as the system was moving away from the area. At around midday, another Tropical Storm Warning was issued from Progreso, Yucatán
Progreso, Yucatán
Progreso is a port city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, located on the Gulf of Mexico in the north-west of the state some 30 minutes north of state capital Mérida by highway. As of the Mexican census of 2005, Progreso had an official population of 35,519 inhabitants, the fifth-largest community...
, to 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...
. Only an hour later, a Tropical Storm Warning from Cozumel to Chetumal was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning. In the afternoon of the 20th, all warnings south of Cozumel were discontinued. Just six hours later on August 21, all Tropical Storm Warnings east of 88°W were discontinued. Shortly after that, a Tropical Storm Warning east of Progreso was removed. By the end of the day, all warnings for Mexico were discontinued.
When Dolly entered 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...
on August 22, a Hurricane Watch was put into action for Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, La Pesca, and all areas in between. Only six hours later, the watch became a Hurricane Warning until Dolly made landfall, when all remaining warnings were removed.
Approximately 6,500 people were evacuated from low-lying zones of Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
.
Mexico
The highest storm total noted with Dolly was 37.41 inches/950 mm at Llano Gde. Hilarios. The place with the most rainfall received in a 24-hour-period was in Micos, which received 12.94 inches (329 mm) of rain. Some other high rainfall recordings were in Santa RosaSanta Rosa
Santa Rosa is the Spanish and Portuguese name for Saint Rose. It may also refer to:-Places: Argentina:*Santa Rosa, La Pampa*Santa Rosa de Calamuchita *Santa Rosa de Calchines *Santa Rosa de Río Primero...
, which recorded 10.59 inches (270 mm), and Puerto de Valles, which received 10 inches (254 mm) of rain. The rains also occurred in some more widely-known cities, including Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, with 7.48 inches (190 mm) of rain, Los Mochis
Los Mochis
Los Mochis is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of Ahome. As of the 2010 census, the population was 256,613, which was 61 percent of the municipality's population....
, with 7.06 inches (179 mm), Tuxpan
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
, with 5.88 inches (149 mm), Chetumal
Chetumal
Chetumal is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco...
, with 5.73 inches (146 mm), Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, with 4.93 inches (125 mm), and Cancún
Cancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
, with a mere 1.35 inches (34.3 mm).
According to newspaper reports, fourteen people died in the storms passage. Seven drowned in Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
and four in Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
. An additional two people from Nuevo León were reported to be missing. This could rise in post-season analysis. Hundreds of homes were destroyed leaving 35,000 people homeless and there was severe damage in Tuxpan
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
, Tamiahua
Tamiahua
Tamiahua is a municipality located in the north zone in the State of Veracruz. It has a surface of 985.4 km2. It is located at . The name comes from the náhuatl...
, Pueblo Viejo, Platon, Pánuco, Tampico Alto
Tampico Alto
Tampico Alto is a town in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Located in the state's Huasteca Alta region, it serves as the municipal seat of the surrounding municipality of Tampico Alto.In the 2005 INEGI Census, Tampico Alto reported a population of 2,126....
, and elsewhere along the coast of northeast Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
, large areas of farmland were lost to the storm.
| Country | Total | State | State total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
14 | Veracruz Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is... |
7 |
| Nuevo León Nuevo León Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S... |
4 | ||
Texas
Though far from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Dolly did manage to bring heavy rain and high winds to southern Texas. Weekly rainfall totals in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
reached 5.53 inches (141 mm) and 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) in Brownsville. Corpus Christi daily rainfall measurements on Friday and Saturday were as high as 1.92 inches (48.8 mm) and 2.55 inches (64.8 ), a new daily record.
See also
- Other storms of the same name