Tropical Depression Nine (2001)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Depression Nine was the ninth tropical depression of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season
. It formed off the Nicaraguan coast on September 19 and made landfall three hours later. The system quickly dissipated the next morning causing no reports of damage or deaths. The remnant of the depression would eventually form Pacific Hurricane Juliette
.
. On September 19, as the wave had reached the south-western Caribbean Sea
, thunderstorm activity had increased in both coverage and intensity. Satellite imagery indicates that Tropical Depression Nine formed at 1800 UTC that day. At the time, the system was 50 miles (80 km) north-northwest of San Andres Island.
At the time, it was noted that the system had two centers of circulation, one east of Costa Rica
and one east of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Because the thunderstorm activity was more intense and persistent at the northern circulation (the one east of Nicaragua), advisories were started using that center. At the time, forecasting models were predicting that the depression would make landfall in Nicaragua
and then enter the Eastern Pacific Ocean within 36 hours. However, some models separated the system into two systems, with the northern center going into the Bay of Campeche
and the southern center going westward through Costa Rica
and into the Pacific while strengthening into a "significant tropical cyclone". Also, at the time, upper level outflow was circular and was indicative of a more "mature" tropical cyclone.
Within three hours of being upgraded into a tropical depression, it made landfall near Punta Cabezas, Nicaragua with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and weakening was immediately forecast. Three hours later, the last advisory was issued as the lower level center became poorly defined because of interaction with the mountain of Central America
and deep thunderstorm activity had diminished. It was also noted that the depression had a potential to redevelop if it moved into the Pacific ocean in the next few days. Although the depression never redeveloped, the tropical wave associated with it was responsible for the formation of Pacific Hurricane Juliette
.
, there are no reports of damage or deaths in the region due to the depression.
In El Salvador
, heavy rains from the depression helped alleviate drought conditions; however, flooding also inundated 200 homes in San Salvador
along the Acelhuate River. Fifteen farms were inundated by flooding, five of which were destroyed. Seventy people evacuated to shelters set up after the storm by the local Red Cross and armed forces. Military crews were quickly deployed to help clean up the damages on September 22.
2001 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2001 Atlantic hurricane season was a fairly active Atlantic hurricane season that produced 17 tropical cyclones, 15 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. The season officially lasted from June 1, 2001, to November 30, 2001, dates which by convention limit the period of each...
. It formed off the Nicaraguan coast on September 19 and made landfall three hours later. The system quickly dissipated the next morning causing no reports of damage or deaths. The remnant of the depression would eventually form Pacific Hurricane Juliette
Hurricane Juliette (2001)
Hurricane Juliette was a long lasting Category 4 hurricane in the 2001 Pacific hurricane season. It caused 12 deaths and $400 million in damage when it hit Baja California in late September.-Meteorological history:...
.
Meteorological history
The origins of Tropical Depression Nine can be found in a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on September 11. On September 16 the wave entered the Caribbean SeaCaribbean 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 September 19, as the wave had reached the south-western 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....
, thunderstorm activity had increased in both coverage and intensity. Satellite imagery indicates that Tropical Depression Nine formed at 1800 UTC that day. At the time, the system was 50 miles (80 km) north-northwest of San Andres Island.
At the time, it was noted that the system had two centers of circulation, one east of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and one east of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Because the thunderstorm activity was more intense and persistent at the northern circulation (the one east of Nicaragua), advisories were started using that center. At the time, forecasting models were predicting that the depression would make landfall in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
and then enter the Eastern Pacific Ocean within 36 hours. However, some models separated the system into two systems, with the northern center going 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 the southern center going westward through Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and into the Pacific while strengthening into a "significant tropical cyclone". Also, at the time, upper level outflow was circular and was indicative of a more "mature" tropical cyclone.
Within three hours of being upgraded into a tropical depression, it made landfall near Punta Cabezas, Nicaragua with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and weakening was immediately forecast. Three hours later, the last advisory was issued as the lower level center became poorly defined because of interaction with the mountain of 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...
and deep thunderstorm activity had diminished. It was also noted that the depression had a potential to redevelop if it moved into the Pacific ocean in the next few days. Although the depression never redeveloped, the tropical wave associated with it was responsible for the formation of Pacific Hurricane Juliette
Hurricane Juliette (2001)
Hurricane Juliette was a long lasting Category 4 hurricane in the 2001 Pacific hurricane season. It caused 12 deaths and $400 million in damage when it hit Baja California in late September.-Meteorological history:...
.
Preparations and Impact
When the depression first formed, a tropical storm watch was issued from Bluefields, Nicaragua to Dangriga, Belize. When the depression made landfall, this warning was discontinued. Residents in El Salvador were advised to avoid rivers due to possible flooding but no mandatory evacuations were put in place. A green alert was issued in Nicaragua due to the threat of heavy rains and high winds. This alert remained in effect until September 21. Three children were injured by a fallen tree in the country. The highest sustained winds on land from the depression were reported at Punta Cabezas, Nicaragua with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mbar (hPa). A total of 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain was recorded in Bluefields while up to 150 mm (5.9 in) was estimated to have fallen in mountainous areas. Even though the depression passed over Central AmericaCentral 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...
, there are no reports of damage or deaths in the region due to the depression.
In El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, heavy rains from the depression helped alleviate drought conditions; however, flooding also inundated 200 homes in San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
along the Acelhuate River. Fifteen farms were inundated by flooding, five of which were destroyed. Seventy people evacuated to shelters set up after the storm by the local Red Cross and armed forces. Military crews were quickly deployed to help clean up the damages on September 22.
See also
- 2001 Atlantic hurricane season2001 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2001 Atlantic hurricane season was a fairly active Atlantic hurricane season that produced 17 tropical cyclones, 15 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. The season officially lasted from June 1, 2001, to November 30, 2001, dates which by convention limit the period of each...
- Timeline of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe timeline of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation...