Tropical Storm Cindy (1993)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Cindy of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season
was a weak tropical storm that formed near Martinique. The fourth tropical depression of the season, Tropical Depression Four had developed from a westward moving tropical wave
, which emerged from the northwest coast of Africa
on August 8. Shortly thereafter formation, Tropical Depression Four had rapidly strengthened, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Cindy just six hours after forming. Despite favorable conditions for further development, the storm crossed the northeastern Caribbean Sea
for a few days, remaining a minimal tropical storm as it did so. Peaking as only a 45 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm, Cindy began to weaken after land interaction with Hispaniola
occurred. Beginning to make landfall in the Dominican Republic
, winds dropped to 35 mph (55 km/h), downgrading Cindy to a tropical depression on August 16. Rapidly disorganizing itself over land, Tropical Depression Cindy was declared dissipated on August 17, 1993.
Cindy dropped moderate to heavy rainfall over portions of the Caribbean, especially in Dominican Republic and Martinique, where Tropical Storm Cindy had killed four people due to flooding. Tropical Storm Cindy had reportedly caused "millions in damage", although a specific damage total is unknown.
, which had crossed the northwest coast of Africa on August 8, 1993. Tracking west-northwestward for several days, the tropical wave was well marked on satellites imagery, due to the cloud mass associated with the tropical wave. Beginning to be classified using Dvorak Technique, the tropical wave had been marked between T-number 1.0 and 1.5 on August 10, but ending on August 14. Already having enough organization to be investigated by Aircraft, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Flight did not indicate an organized surface circulation during a pass on August 13. Although there was no circulation found, another aircraft again investigated the system, finding a low-level circulation while passing into the system on August 14.
Upon finding the low-level circulation on August 14, the National Hurricane Center
began to initiate advisories for Tropical Depression Four, while centered close to Martinique
. Under the steering currents of a low- to mid-level flow, the depression continued west-northwestward, slowing slightly as it did so. Quickly strengthening, Tropical Depression Four had been upgraded to Tropical Storm Cindy at 1800 UTC, while it had been situated directly over Martinique. At the time, tropical storm-force winds extended for about 60 mi (96.6 km) away from the center. Although the storm contained an outflow pattern aloft, little intensification occurred, the upper-level structure of Cindy began to deteriorate, which resulted in little additional strengthening. Strengthening just slightly on August 16, Tropical Storm Cindy attained its peak intensity with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mbar (hPa), while located south of the Dominican Republic
.
Several hours after attaining peak intensity, Tropical Storm Cindy weakened back to a tropical depression due to disruption from land interaction with Hispaniola. Simultaneously to weakening, Tropical Depression Cindy made landfall in Barahona, Dominican Republic with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). Tropical Depression Cindy rapidly became disorganized while moving inland over the island. Becoming severely disorganized, Tropical Depression Cindy had been declared dissipated early on August 17. The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy emerged into the Atlantic, spreading over the Bahamas the day after dissipation.
from Martinique north, and for the U.S and British Virgin Islands. Several island nations were included on this first warning, Martinique, Dominica
, Guadeloupe
, Antigua
, Barbuda
, St. Martin; the warning in the Virgin Islands included: St. Croix, St. Thomas
, and other surrounding islands. Simultaneously, a tropical storm watch was posted for Puerto Rico
. All warnings that had been posted for the Lesser Antilles were discontinued by 0900 UTC August 15, although the tropical storm watch for Puerto Rico was upgraded to a warning that day at 1200 UTC. Only three hours after the upgrade to a tropical storm warning in Puerto Rico, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of Dominican Republic, from Cabo Engaño
to Samaná, Samaná of the northern coast, which stretched to roughly Isla Beata
on the southwestern coast. Having been issued a tropical storm watch, the advisory for Dominican Republic was upgraded to a tropical storm warning just hours thereafter. Early on August 16, the tropical storm warnings for Puerto Rico and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands were discontinued. Weakening to a tropical depression just offshore Dominican Republic, tropical storm warnings were discontinued for Dominican Republic as Cindy had begun to make landfall as only a tropical depression.
Several thousand people prepared for the storm by stocking up on bottled water and canned goods and filling up gas tanks. The Santo Domingo
International Airport suspended operations as the storm approached.
Although Cindy was a weak storm, rainfall amounts of 12 in (304.8 mm) were reported on the island of Martinique
, while three in (76 mm)– four in (102 mm) fell elsewhere over the Dominican Republic and in various locations. While bypassing Puerto Rico, Tropical Storm Cindy dropped precipitation over the island, peaking at 4.60 in (117 mm) in Puerto Real. Generally light rainfall fell across the rest of Puerto Rico, generally no more than one in (25 mm) to two in (51 mm). Also passing near the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Tropical Storm Cindy dropped light rains, with the highest amount being 1.48 in (38 mm) on the island of St. Croix.
The Dominican civil defense director, Eugenio Cabral, reported scattered flooding, although no major damage. The storm did, however, cause moderate to severe flooding in some places, killing two people and leaving two missing in the Dominican Republic and killing two in Martinique. Although a specific damage amount is unknown, estimates of millions of dollars in damage to houses, roads and seawalls were reported.
1993 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a period in the annual formation of tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 1, 1993, and lasted until November 30, 1993. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
was a weak tropical storm that formed near Martinique. The fourth tropical depression of the season, Tropical Depression Four had developed from a westward moving 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...
, which emerged from the northwest 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 August 8. Shortly thereafter formation, Tropical Depression Four had rapidly strengthened, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Cindy just six hours after forming. Despite favorable conditions for further development, the storm crossed the northeastern 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....
for a few days, remaining a minimal tropical storm as it did so. Peaking as only a 45 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm, Cindy began to weaken after land interaction with Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
occurred. Beginning to make landfall in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, winds dropped to 35 mph (55 km/h), downgrading Cindy to a tropical depression on August 16. Rapidly disorganizing itself over land, Tropical Depression Cindy was declared dissipated on August 17, 1993.
Cindy dropped moderate to heavy rainfall over portions of the Caribbean, especially in Dominican Republic and Martinique, where Tropical Storm Cindy had killed four people due to flooding. Tropical Storm Cindy had reportedly caused "millions in damage", although a specific damage total is unknown.
Meteorological history
The origins of Cindy can be traced back to 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 had crossed the northwest coast of Africa on August 8, 1993. Tracking west-northwestward for several days, the tropical wave was well marked on satellites imagery, due to the cloud mass associated with the tropical wave. Beginning to be classified using Dvorak Technique, the tropical wave had been marked between T-number 1.0 and 1.5 on August 10, but ending on August 14. Already having enough organization to be investigated by Aircraft, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Flight did not indicate an organized surface circulation during a pass on August 13. Although there was no circulation found, another aircraft again investigated the system, finding a low-level circulation while passing into the system on August 14.
Upon finding the low-level circulation on August 14, 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...
began to initiate advisories for Tropical Depression Four, while centered close to Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
. Under the steering currents of a low- to mid-level flow, the depression continued west-northwestward, slowing slightly as it did so. Quickly strengthening, Tropical Depression Four had been upgraded to Tropical Storm Cindy at 1800 UTC, while it had been situated directly over Martinique. At the time, tropical storm-force winds extended for about 60 mi (96.6 km) away from the center. Although the storm contained an outflow pattern aloft, little intensification occurred, the upper-level structure of Cindy began to deteriorate, which resulted in little additional strengthening. Strengthening just slightly on August 16, Tropical Storm Cindy attained its peak intensity with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mbar (hPa), while located south of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Several hours after attaining peak intensity, Tropical Storm Cindy weakened back to a tropical depression due to disruption from land interaction with Hispaniola. Simultaneously to weakening, Tropical Depression Cindy made landfall in Barahona, Dominican Republic with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). Tropical Depression Cindy rapidly became disorganized while moving inland over the island. Becoming severely disorganized, Tropical Depression Cindy had been declared dissipated early on August 17. The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy emerged into the Atlantic, spreading over the Bahamas the day after dissipation.
Preparations and Impact
As early as August 14, tropical storm warning were issued in the Lesser Antilles, as Cindy posed an immediate threat. The tropical storm warning were in effect for the Lesser AntillesLesser 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...
from Martinique north, and for the U.S and British Virgin Islands. Several island nations were included on this first warning, Martinique, Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
, Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, Barbuda
Barbuda
Barbuda is an island in the Eastern Caribbean, and forms part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It has a population of about 1,500, most of whom live in the town of Codrington.-Location:...
, St. Martin; the warning in the Virgin Islands included: St. Croix, St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
, and other surrounding islands. Simultaneously, a tropical storm watch was posted for 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...
. All warnings that had been posted for the Lesser Antilles were discontinued by 0900 UTC August 15, although the tropical storm watch for Puerto Rico was upgraded to a warning that day at 1200 UTC. Only three hours after the upgrade to a tropical storm warning in Puerto Rico, a tropical storm watch was issued for portions of Dominican Republic, from Cabo Engaño
Cabo Engaño
Cabo Engaño is the easternmost point of the island of Hispaniola, on the territory of the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana International Airport, the nation's busiest, lies slightly south of the cape....
to Samaná, Samaná of the northern coast, which stretched to roughly Isla Beata
Beata Island
Beata Island is a small island on the Caribbean Sea, located 7 km southwest from cape Beata, the southernmost point of the island Hispaniola. Some 12 km SW of it lies the smaller Alto Velo Island...
on the southwestern coast. Having been issued a tropical storm watch, the advisory for Dominican Republic was upgraded to a tropical storm warning just hours thereafter. Early on August 16, the tropical storm warnings for Puerto Rico and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands were discontinued. Weakening to a tropical depression just offshore Dominican Republic, tropical storm warnings were discontinued for Dominican Republic as Cindy had begun to make landfall as only a tropical depression.
Several thousand people prepared for the storm by stocking up on bottled water and canned goods and filling up gas tanks. The Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
International Airport suspended operations as the storm approached.
Although Cindy was a weak storm, rainfall amounts of 12 in (304.8 mm) were reported on the island of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, while three in (76 mm)– four in (102 mm) fell elsewhere over the Dominican Republic and in various locations. While bypassing Puerto Rico, Tropical Storm Cindy dropped precipitation over the island, peaking at 4.60 in (117 mm) in Puerto Real. Generally light rainfall fell across the rest of Puerto Rico, generally no more than one in (25 mm) to two in (51 mm). Also passing near the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Tropical Storm Cindy dropped light rains, with the highest amount being 1.48 in (38 mm) on the island of St. Croix.
The Dominican civil defense director, Eugenio Cabral, reported scattered flooding, although no major damage. The storm did, however, cause moderate to severe flooding in some places, killing two people and leaving two missing in the Dominican Republic and killing two in Martinique. Although a specific damage amount is unknown, estimates of millions of dollars in damage to houses, roads and seawalls were reported.
See also
- 1993 Atlantic hurricane season1993 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a period in the annual formation of tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 1, 1993, and lasted until November 30, 1993. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
- Other tropical storms named Cindy
- Timeline of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season