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Tropical Depression Sixteen (2008)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Depression Sixteen was the only tropical cyclone
not to intensify into a tropical storm during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season
. The sixteenth tropical cyclone of the season, Tropical Depression Sixteen developed partially from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea
on October 14. It was predicted to intensify into a tropical storm, but close proximity to land prevented it from strengthening further. TD 16 made landfall along the northern coast of Honduras on October 15, then relocated onshore and rapidly dissipated the next morning.
Heavy rainfall from the depression triggered deadly flooding in Central America which left at least 75 people dead, displaced 100,000 others, and caused at least $150 million in damage.
that entered the Atlantic Ocean on September 17, 2008, and generated intermittent convective activity as it approached the eastern Caribbean
. On October 10, a broad area of low pressure
developed in association with the wave. Late on October 12, while the disturbance was situated well to the southwest of Puerto Rico
, the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) noted the possibility for tropical development once unfavorable winds subsided. During the morning hours of October 23, satellite imagery indicated that a tropical depression had begun to form. The low turned toward the north and passed just east of Nicaragua
, and Dvorak classifications
were initiated on the system. The broad area of shower and thunderstorm activity had become sufficiently organized at 12:00 UTC on October 14 to be declared a tropical cyclone. At the time, the depression was centered roughly 50 mi (80.5 km) northeast of the Nicaragua–Honduras
border.
Shortly after being classified as a tropical depression, TD 16 turned west-northwestward and started to deteriorate in organization. Convection near the center of the storm waned, although a few bands of thunderstorm activity persisted on the northern side of the circulation. At the time, the cyclone's forward motion and location were uncertain, and a reconnaissance
mission into the storm found a low-level vortex north-northwest of the primary low. Failing to intensify beyond a weak storm system with winds of 30 mph (45 km/h), due to its close proximity to land, TD 16 turned westward on October 15 before bending southwestward. At 12:00 UTC that day—approximately 24 hours after forming—it drifted ashore along the northeast coast of Honduras, just west of Punta Patuca. The storm continued moving southwestward before degenerating into a remnant low early on October 16; it fully dissipated shortly thereafter over mountainous terrain.
issued numerous tropical storm watches throughout the storm's duration, while in Costa Rica a red alert warning was placed into effect across much of the country, and over 100,000 people were evacuated. However as the depression never reached storm strength tropical storm conditions never occurred along the watch areas.
Heavy rains from the depression's remnant low left at least 75 people dead and six missing and forced a further 100,000 people from their homes across Central America. The depression destroyed bridges, flooded villages and blocked roads. Total damage is estimated at about $150 million (2008 USD).
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...
not to intensify into a tropical storm during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season
2008 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was a very active hurricane season with sixteen named storms formed, including eight that became hurricanes and five that became major hurricanes. The season officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of...
. The sixteenth tropical cyclone of the season, Tropical Depression Sixteen developed partially from a tropical wave in the 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....
on October 14. It was predicted to intensify into a tropical storm, but close proximity to land prevented it from strengthening further. TD 16 made landfall along the northern coast of Honduras on October 15, then relocated onshore and rapidly dissipated the next morning.
Heavy rainfall from the depression triggered deadly flooding in Central America which left at least 75 people dead, displaced 100,000 others, and caused at least $150 million in damage.
Meteorological history
The depression is believed to have originated, at least partly, in 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 entered the Atlantic Ocean on September 17, 2008, and generated intermittent convective activity as it approached the eastern Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. On October 10, a broad area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
developed in association with the wave. Late on October 12, while the disturbance was situated well to the southwest of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 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...
(NHC) noted the possibility for tropical development once unfavorable winds subsided. During the morning hours of October 23, satellite imagery indicated that a tropical depression had begun to form. The low turned toward the north and passed just east of 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 Dvorak classifications
Dvorak technique
The Dvorak technique is a widely used system to subjectively estimate tropical cyclone intensity based solely on visible and infrared satellite images. Several agencies issue Dvorak intensity numbers for cyclones of sufficient intensity...
were initiated on the system. The broad area of shower and thunderstorm activity had become sufficiently organized at 12:00 UTC on October 14 to be declared a tropical cyclone. At the time, the depression was centered roughly 50 mi (80.5 km) northeast of the Nicaragua–Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
border.
Shortly after being classified as a tropical depression, TD 16 turned west-northwestward and started to deteriorate in organization. Convection near the center of the storm waned, although a few bands of thunderstorm activity persisted on the northern side of the circulation. At the time, the cyclone's forward motion and location were uncertain, and a reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
mission into the storm found a low-level vortex north-northwest of the primary low. Failing to intensify beyond a weak storm system with winds of 30 mph (45 km/h), due to its close proximity to land, TD 16 turned westward on October 15 before bending southwestward. At 12:00 UTC that day—approximately 24 hours after forming—it drifted ashore along the northeast coast of Honduras, just west of Punta Patuca. The storm continued moving southwestward before degenerating into a remnant low early on October 16; it fully dissipated shortly thereafter over mountainous terrain.
Honduras
The National Hurricane CenterNational 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...
issued numerous tropical storm watches throughout the storm's duration, while in Costa Rica a red alert warning was placed into effect across much of the country, and over 100,000 people were evacuated. However as the depression never reached storm strength tropical storm conditions never occurred along the watch areas.
Heavy rains from the depression's remnant low left at least 75 people dead and six missing and forced a further 100,000 people from their homes across Central America. The depression destroyed bridges, flooded villages and blocked roads. Total damage is estimated at about $150 million (2008 USD).