Hurricane Richard (2010)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Richard was the seventeenth named storm and the tenth hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
. Richard developed from an area of low pressure that stalled in the Caribbean Sea
in mid-October. It slowly organized, and the National Hurricane Center
declared it a tropical storm, giving it the name Richard on October 20.
Throughout Belize, Hurricane Richard caused an estimated US$80 million in damage. Two fatalities took place in the country, one direct and the other indirect. One person drowned after his ship capsized during the storm and another was mauled to death by a jaguar that escaped its cage after a tree fell and broke the cage.
that moved off the African coast on October 4 and moved westward, stalling over Venezuela
on October 13. Over the next 3 days, it drifted into the extreme southwestern Caribbean Sea
, and soon developed an area of low pressure, until it stalled just north of Panama
. On October 16, the National Hurricane Center began to monitor that area of disturbed weather in association with a weak trough of low pressure over the southwestern Caribbean Sea, which persisted across the region as Hurricane Paula
dissipated over Cuba
on the same day. By October 17, the easterly and northerly trade wind
s flowed into the low, producing a disorganized area of convection, or thunderstorms across the region. For several days the system moved generally west-northwestward toward Central America
. Convection increased over the low on October 18, and the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) noted the possibility of further organization due to favorable environmental conditions. Later that day it passed near the eastern coast of Nicaragua, and it became more organized as it turned to a north-northwest drift in the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
The Hurricane Hunters
investigated the system on October 19 and indicated the development of a low-level circulation
. As such, the NHC noted that "any increase in the organization of the associated showers and thunderstorms [would] lead to the formation
of a tropical depression." The next day, after the system turned to the east, strong upper-level wind shear
impeded its further development, but such conditions were expected to abate. Early on October 21, the convection had organized and increased near the center of circulation despite still being in an area of moderate wind shear. Due to the organization, the NHC classified it as Tropical Depression Nineteen about 125 miles (200 km) south of Grand Cayman
. At the time, the depression was drifting eastward, located near the base of a mid-level trough
and toward the west of a subtropical ridge
. In the hours after its formation, the center remained located along the western portion of a cyclonically curved rainband as the convection increased. The wind shear decreased, and despite the presence of dry air to its northwest, the depression intensified to Tropical Storm Richard by 1500 UTC
on October 21, based on confirmation from the Hurricane Hunters.
Upon intensifying to tropical storm status, Richard was moving southeastward, still in an area of weak steering currents and in the midst of undergoing a loop in its track. Two hurricane models predicted for the storm to intensify to major hurricane status over the western Caribbean, which the NHC noted as "not out of question if Richard develops the right inner core structure." The official forecast was for the storm to make landfall on Belize with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). As Richard continued generally southward early on October 22, its convection became ragged and linear, preventing any initial strengthening. Additionally, the circulation became elongated as the thunderstorms deteriorated, due to the continued presence of dry air and wind shear. After turning westward, Richard moved parallel just offshore the Honduras coast, and its circulation became difficult to locate on satellite imagery.
On October 23, Tropical Storm Richard began strengthening again, after the shear diminished and the storm took advantage of the warm waters of the western Caribbean. Later that day, a mid-level eye feature
became evident on satellite imagery. Additionally, the outflow
gradually improved and became more symmetrical throughout the circulation. On October 24, Hurricane Hunters indicated that Richard attained hurricane status, based on surface winds of 85 mph (137 km/h). In addition, radar from Belize at the time indicated a nearly-closed eyewall. The hurricane continued intensifying to peak winds of 100 mph (150 km/h), and the minimum central pressure
dropped to 977 millibars (28.9 inHg), making it a category 2 hurricane, even though officially measured at 90 mph winds and 981mbar pressure.
At around 0045 UTC on October 25, Hurricane Richard made landfall about 20 miles (35 km/h) south-southeast of Belize City
, Belize
at peak intensity, and just after moving ashore, the eye briefly became better defined. Within a few hours however, the inner core lost definition as the eye dissipated. The winds rapidly diminished, and Richard weakened to tropical depression status after crossing into northern Guatemala. By then, there was little deep convection remaining, and after emerging into the Bay of Campeche
Richard degenerated into a remnant low on October 26, but then turned back east as the system was forced to because of the strong wind shear. After the storm reached the Yucatán Peninsula
, the system began turning north until it reached the Gulf of Mexico
. The remnants of Hurricane Richard continued to move north over the Gulf of Mexico as it weakened, until the system dissipated completely, late on October 27.
issued a tropical storm watch for then-Tropical Storm Richard, which covered the north coast of Honduras from Limón to the border with Nicaragua
. When Richard finally began to head westward on October 22, the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warnings; a hurricane watch was also issued for the same location. By 1500 UTC on October 23, the Government of Honduras had issued a tropical storm warning from Limón heading westward toward Puerto Cortés
; the tropical storm warning also included the three Bay Islands of Guanaja
, Roatán
, and Útila
. As Richard was predicted to brush the coast of Honduras just offshore, the tropical storm warning was upgraded to a hurricane warning.
At the time Richard had intensified into a hurricane, it had moved away from eastern Honduras, and the tropical storm warning and hurricane watch was discontinued from Limón to the border with Nicaragua. While Hurricane Richard was approaching Belize on October 24, the Government of Honduras discontinued all watches and warning that had been issued in association with the storm as was no longer considered a possible threat for landfall.
Throughout Belize, Hurricane Richard damaged thousands of homes and leaving many without power. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, a major attraction for ecotourists and Belizeans, was in the path and heavily damaged forcing it to close 6 weeks to remove debris and repair their animal exhibits. According to the Prime Minister of Belize, damage was likely to run into the millions of dollars. Overall damage was BZ$
33.8 million ($17.4 million 2010 USD), most of which from crop damage. The entire grapefruit harvest was lost, and several large trees were downed. In addition, about 200 homes were destroyed.
After Hurricane Richard made landfall in Belize, the Government of Mexico discontinued the hurricane watch from Punta Gruesa southward to Chetumal, although the tropical storm warnings have been cancelled.
2010 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, tying with the 1887 Atlantic hurricane season, 1995 Atlantic hurricane season and the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It had the most number of named storms since the 2005 season and also ties with the...
. Richard developed from an area of low pressure that stalled in 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....
in mid-October. It slowly organized, and 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...
declared it a tropical storm, giving it the name Richard on October 20.
Throughout Belize, Hurricane Richard caused an estimated US$80 million in damage. Two fatalities took place in the country, one direct and the other indirect. One person drowned after his ship capsized during the storm and another was mauled to death by a jaguar that escaped its cage after a tree fell and broke the cage.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Richard 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...
that moved off the African coast on October 4 and moved westward, stalling over Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on October 13. Over the next 3 days, it drifted into the extreme southwestern 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....
, and soon developed an area of low pressure, until it stalled just north of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. On October 16, the National Hurricane Center began to monitor that area of disturbed weather in association with a weak trough of low pressure over the southwestern Caribbean Sea, which persisted across the region as Hurricane Paula
Hurricane Paula (2010)
Hurricane Paula was a small but strong hurricane that impacted several areas surrounding the western Caribbean Sea. The sixteenth named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, Paula developed from an area of low pressure over the southwestern Caribbean in early October 2010...
dissipated over 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...
on the same day. By October 17, the easterly and northerly trade wind
Trade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
s flowed into the low, producing a disorganized area of convection, or thunderstorms across the region. For several days the system moved generally west-northwestward toward 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...
. Convection increased over the low on October 18, and 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 of further organization due to favorable environmental conditions. Later that day it passed near the eastern coast of Nicaragua, and it became more organized as it turned to a north-northwest drift in the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
The Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
investigated the system on October 19 and indicated the development of a low-level circulation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means by which thermal energy is distributed on the surface of the Earth....
. As such, the NHC noted that "any increase in the organization of the associated showers and thunderstorms [would] lead to the formation
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
of a tropical depression." The next day, after the system turned to the east, strong upper-level wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
impeded its further development, but such conditions were expected to abate. Early on October 21, the convection had organized and increased near the center of circulation despite still being in an area of moderate wind shear. Due to the organization, the NHC classified it as Tropical Depression Nineteen about 125 miles (200 km) south of Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
. At the time, the depression was drifting eastward, located near the base of a mid-level trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
and toward the west of a subtropical ridge
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
. In the hours after its formation, the center remained located along the western portion of a cyclonically curved rainband as the convection increased. The wind shear decreased, and despite the presence of dry air to its northwest, the depression intensified to Tropical Storm Richard by 1500 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on October 21, based on confirmation from the Hurricane Hunters.
Upon intensifying to tropical storm status, Richard was moving southeastward, still in an area of weak steering currents and in the midst of undergoing a loop in its track. Two hurricane models predicted for the storm to intensify to major hurricane status over the western Caribbean, which the NHC noted as "not out of question if Richard develops the right inner core structure." The official forecast was for the storm to make landfall on Belize with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). As Richard continued generally southward early on October 22, its convection became ragged and linear, preventing any initial strengthening. Additionally, the circulation became elongated as the thunderstorms deteriorated, due to the continued presence of dry air and wind shear. After turning westward, Richard moved parallel just offshore the Honduras coast, and its circulation became difficult to locate on satellite imagery.
On October 23, Tropical Storm Richard began strengthening again, after the shear diminished and the storm took advantage of the warm waters of the western Caribbean. Later that day, a mid-level eye feature
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
became evident on satellite imagery. Additionally, the outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
gradually improved and became more symmetrical throughout the circulation. On October 24, Hurricane Hunters indicated that Richard attained hurricane status, based on surface winds of 85 mph (137 km/h). In addition, radar from Belize at the time indicated a nearly-closed eyewall. The hurricane continued intensifying to peak winds of 100 mph (150 km/h), and the minimum central pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
dropped to 977 millibars (28.9 inHg), making it a category 2 hurricane, even though officially measured at 90 mph winds and 981mbar pressure.
At around 0045 UTC on October 25, Hurricane Richard made landfall about 20 miles (35 km/h) south-southeast of Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
, 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...
at peak intensity, and just after moving ashore, the eye briefly became better defined. Within a few hours however, the inner core lost definition as the eye dissipated. The winds rapidly diminished, and Richard weakened to tropical depression status after crossing into northern Guatemala. By then, there was little deep convection remaining, and after emerging 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...
Richard degenerated into a remnant low on October 26, but then turned back east as the system was forced to because of the strong wind shear. After the storm reached the 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...
, the system began turning north until it reached the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. The remnants of Hurricane Richard continued to move north over the Gulf of Mexico as it weakened, until the system dissipated completely, late on October 27.
Honduras
Starting late on October 21, the Government of HondurasPolitics of Honduras
Politics of Honduras takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Honduras is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the...
issued a tropical storm watch for then-Tropical Storm Richard, which covered the north coast of Honduras from Limón to the border with 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...
. When Richard finally began to head westward on October 22, the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warnings; a hurricane watch was also issued for the same location. By 1500 UTC on October 23, the Government of Honduras had issued a tropical storm warning from Limón heading westward toward Puerto Cortés
Puerto Cortés
-Geography:It is on the Caribbean Sea coast, north of San Pedro Sula and east of Omoa, at 15.85° N, 87.94° W. It has a natural bay.It is Honduras's main sea port and it is considered the most important seaport in Central America...
; the tropical storm warning also included the three Bay Islands of Guanaja
Guanaja
Guanaja is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras, and is in the Caribbean. It is about 70 km off the north coast of Honduras, and 12 km from the island of Roatan. One of the cays off Guanaja, also called Guanaja or Bonnaca or Low Cay , is near the main island, and contains most of the...
, Roatán
Roatán
Roatán, located between the islands of Útila and Guanaja, is the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands. The island was formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan...
, and Útila
Útila
Utila is the third largest of Honduras' Bay Islands, after Roatán and Guanaja, in a region that marks the south end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest in the world...
. As Richard was predicted to brush the coast of Honduras just offshore, the tropical storm warning was upgraded to a hurricane warning.
At the time Richard had intensified into a hurricane, it had moved away from eastern Honduras, and the tropical storm warning and hurricane watch was discontinued from Limón to the border with Nicaragua. While Hurricane Richard was approaching Belize on October 24, the Government of Honduras discontinued all watches and warning that had been issued in association with the storm as was no longer considered a possible threat for landfall.
Belize
The Government of Belize began warning of the threat of Richard on October 22, starting with a tropical storm watch issued for the entire east coast of the country. As Tropical Storm Richard was rapidly intensifying, the tropical storm watch on the coast of Belize was replaced with a tropical storm warning, which had been upgraded at 1500 UTC October 23. Only three hours after the replacement of the tropical storm watch to warning, Richard was nearing hurricane status, and the tropical storm warning in place on the east coast of Belize upgraded to a hurricane warning. The hurricane warning associated with Hurricane Richard remained in place for the east coast of Belize as landfall was occurring, since the storm made landfall to the south-southeast of Belize City as a lower-end category 2 hurricane.Throughout Belize, Hurricane Richard damaged thousands of homes and leaving many without power. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, a major attraction for ecotourists and Belizeans, was in the path and heavily damaged forcing it to close 6 weeks to remove debris and repair their animal exhibits. According to the Prime Minister of Belize, damage was likely to run into the millions of dollars. Overall damage was BZ$
Belize dollar
The Belize dollar is the official currency in Belize, formerly known as British Honduras; is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively BZ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents...
33.8 million ($17.4 million 2010 USD), most of which from crop damage. The entire grapefruit harvest was lost, and several large trees were downed. In addition, about 200 homes were destroyed.
Mexico
The Government of Mexico also gave warnings of the approaching Richard, first issuing a hurricane watch also the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula from Punta Gruesa southward to the city of Chetumal, which is on the border with Belize. In addition to the hurricane watch issued for that portion for the Yucatán Peninsula, a tropical storm warning was set in effect for the same area. Although Hurricane Richard approached closely to the Mexican portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, there were no changes to the watches and warning from 1500 UTC October 23 to the time of landfall in Belize. Even though at least tropical storm conditions were possible in Guatemala, there were no tropical storm watches or warnings issued in association with Richard.After Hurricane Richard made landfall in Belize, the Government of Mexico discontinued the hurricane watch from Punta Gruesa southward to Chetumal, although the tropical storm warnings have been cancelled.
See also
- Timeline of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive year in which nineteen tropical storms formed, the most since 2005. Although Hurricane Alex formed on June 25, 2010, the season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30...
- 2010 Atlantic hurricane season2010 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, tying with the 1887 Atlantic hurricane season, 1995 Atlantic hurricane season and the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It had the most number of named storms since the 2005 season and also ties with the...
- List of tropical cyclone names