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Hurricane Douglas (2002)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Douglas was the fifth tropical depression and second hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season
. Douglas originated from a westward-traveling tropical wave
that moved across the Atlantic
and the Caribbean Sea
. After crossing into the Pacific Ocean
, the wave spawned a small low-pressure system
on July 20, 2002, which matured into a tropical depression later that day. The depression soon intensified into a tropical storm, and received the name
"Douglas" while continuing its westward track. Two days later, it intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. Within four days, the cyclone weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and ultimately degenerated into a remnant low. Because the storm remained far out at sea, no damage was reported in association with Douglas. It dissipated during the morning of July 26, 2002.
that exited the west coast of Africa
on July 8. It crossed the Atlantic and entered the Caribbean Sea
. There, showers increased in association with the wave. Upper-tropospheric westerlies prevented the system from developing and the system crossed Central America
on July 16. On the July 20, 2002, the strong thunderstorms became concentrated near the apparent center located 395 miles (635.7 km) south of Manzanillo, Mexico. It was estimated that the wave became Tropical Depression Five-E at 1200 UTC that day. The formation of the system coincided with relaxation of wind shear in the area. At that time, the depression was near tropical storm strength. A gradual strengthening was predicted until 72 hours when the storm was to be near cool waters and should therefore, weaken. The storm was expected to peak as a very strong tropical storm with winds of 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s).
At the next advisory, the storm strengthened into a tropical storm and was named "Douglas". The wind radii at the time was more to the south of the center which was in the northern part of the deep convection. During the night of the 20th, Douglas was first expected to become a hurricane. The forecast stated that Douglas was to be a hurricane only briefly. As the hurricane rapidly intensified, Douglas was upgraded to a hurricane late on July 21, 2002.
The hurricane was in a low wind shear environment for the next few days. The only thing preventing Douglas's continued intensification was that it was expected to reach cold waters in 36 hours. As predicted, the storm became a Category 2 hurricane later that morning. Even at this point, Douglas was not predicted to become a major hurricane and Douglas reached its peak intensity of 105 miles per hour (46.9 m/s) late that night, making it a moderate Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. Douglas held this intensity for 18 hours as it traveled westward. When Douglas weakened from its peak intensity, it had an organized cloud pattern, but the thunderstorm activity was weakening, typical of most Eastern Pacific hurricanes that reach cooler waters. At 2 p.m. PDT on July 23, 2002, Douglas weakened to Category 1 status as it continued to move over colder waters. Further weakening was expected and Douglas was predicted to become a remnant-low pressure area, a swirl of low clouds that would have no thunderstorm activity in them in 72 hours. However, the weakening stopped later that evening as Douglas was going through an eyewall replacement cycle
. Douglas was downgraded to a tropical storm late on July 24 as the storm only had a small area of deep convection left.
Late that night, Douglas kept its intensity of 50 miles per hour (22.4 m/s) as convection returned to the storm. Even then, the convection was already fading away. The storm was downgraded to a tropical depression early on July 26. It became a remnant low pressure area on July 26 as the storm had had no thunderstorm activity for 24 hours. The remnant low dissipated the next day.
2002 Pacific hurricane season
The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...
. Douglas originated from a westward-traveling 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 moved across the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and 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....
. After crossing into 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...
, the wave spawned a small low-pressure system
Pressure system
A pressure system is a region of the Earth's atmosphere where air pressure is a relative peak or lull in the sea level pressure distribution. The surface pressure at sea level varies minimally, with the lowest value measured and the highest recorded...
on July 20, 2002, which matured into a tropical depression later that day. The depression soon intensified into a tropical storm, and received the name
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
"Douglas" while continuing its westward track. Two days later, it intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. Within four days, the cyclone weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and ultimately degenerated into a remnant low. Because the storm remained far out at sea, no damage was reported in association with Douglas. It dissipated during the morning of July 26, 2002.
Meteorological history
Hurricane Douglas 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 exited the west coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
on July 8. It crossed the Atlantic 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....
. There, showers increased in association with the wave. Upper-tropospheric westerlies prevented the system from developing and the system crossed Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
on July 16. On the July 20, 2002, the strong thunderstorms became concentrated near the apparent center located 395 miles (635.7 km) south of Manzanillo, Mexico. It was estimated that the wave became Tropical Depression Five-E at 1200 UTC that day. The formation of the system coincided with relaxation of wind shear in the area. At that time, the depression was near tropical storm strength. A gradual strengthening was predicted until 72 hours when the storm was to be near cool waters and should therefore, weaken. The storm was expected to peak as a very strong tropical storm with winds of 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s).
At the next advisory, the storm strengthened into a tropical storm and was named "Douglas". The wind radii at the time was more to the south of the center which was in the northern part of the deep convection. During the night of the 20th, Douglas was first expected to become a hurricane. The forecast stated that Douglas was to be a hurricane only briefly. As the hurricane rapidly intensified, Douglas was upgraded to a hurricane late on July 21, 2002.
The hurricane was in a low wind shear environment for the next few days. The only thing preventing Douglas's continued intensification was that it was expected to reach cold waters in 36 hours. As predicted, the storm became a Category 2 hurricane later that morning. Even at this point, Douglas was not predicted to become a major hurricane and Douglas reached its peak intensity of 105 miles per hour (46.9 m/s) late that night, making it a moderate Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
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...
. Douglas held this intensity for 18 hours as it traveled westward. When Douglas weakened from its peak intensity, it had an organized cloud pattern, but the thunderstorm activity was weakening, typical of most Eastern Pacific hurricanes that reach cooler waters. At 2 p.m. PDT on July 23, 2002, Douglas weakened to Category 1 status as it continued to move over colder waters. Further weakening was expected and Douglas was predicted to become a remnant-low pressure area, a swirl of low clouds that would have no thunderstorm activity in them in 72 hours. However, the weakening stopped later that evening as Douglas was going through an eyewall replacement cycle
Eyewall replacement cycle
Eyewall replacement cycles, also called concentric eyewall cycles, naturally occur in intense tropical cyclones, generally with winds greater than 185 km/h , or major hurricanes...
. Douglas was downgraded to a tropical storm late on July 24 as the storm only had a small area of deep convection left.
Impact and naming
Because Hurricane Douglas formed away from land, no hurricane watches or warnings were issued. The storm caused no damage.See also
- 2002 Pacific hurricane season2002 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...
- Hurricane Cesar-DouglasHurricane Cesar-DouglasHurricane Cesar–Douglas was a devastating tropical cyclone that killed 122 people throughout Central and South America in late-July 1996. The Category 1 hurricane formed in late July in the Caribbean Sea and pounded Central America with rain, killing 67 people and causing local governments to deem...
- Tropical Storm Douglas (2008)Tropical Storm Douglas (2008)Tropical Storm Douglas was the fourth named storm of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season. Douglas developed out of a tropical wave that formed off the African coast on June 19 and traversed the Atlantic Ocean. On June 27, the wave crossed Central America and entered the Pacific Ocean...