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Hurricane Delta Slams Yucatan Peninsula; Heads Towards U.S. Gulf Coast

Written by Team Morecast

Hurricane Delta, the 25th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall in Puerto Morelos, Mexico early on Wednesday morning. The Category 2 storm contained winds of 110 mph (177 kph) as it came ashore in the popular resort region. Before weakening upon landfall, Delta became the fastest intensifying storm on record in the Atlantic Basin, morphing from a tropical depression to Category 4 hurricane in just over 36 hours. Delta is on track to break another record by becoming the 10th named storm to make landfall in the United States in one season, as it is poised to strike the Louisiana coastline later on Friday. A Louisiana landfall also would break a record for the state, by becoming the 4th named storm to do so this year, an occurrence that has never been recorded so far.

Although not as intense as initially forecasted, Delta did manage to leave its mark across the Yucatan Peninsula from Cozumel to Cancun. Heavy rain falling over soils saturated by Tropical Storm Gamma this past weekend, led to widespread street flooding in many downtown districts. Thousands of tourists were evacuated from hotels and sent to shelters to wait out the storm.

The strong winds managed to topple trees and power lines, which lead to power outages for thousands of residents. Around half the cities in the state of Quintana Roo were without power as of Wednesday morning. Despite structural damage to some buildings in the form of blown out windows and damaged roofs, the damage is considered minor, compared to what was expected. Thankfully, no injuries or deaths have been reported so far.

Next stop for Delta is the hurricane ravaged state of Louisiana, where the storm is forecasted to make its second landfall. Storm weary residents, still reeling from Hurricane Laura in late August, are anxiously awaiting Delta’s arrival. Hurricane warnings are already in place and preparations are underway. Delta has begun to restrengthen after emerging over the Gulf of Mexico, and is forecast to grow in size as it approaches the Gulf Coast. A bigger storm would lead to more widespread damage in the form of storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains. Landfall is anticipated to occur either late Friday night or early Saturday morning as a high-end Category 2 storm, with winds of 110 mph (177 kph).

Beta Drenches Houston While Massive Teddy Rolls Toward Maritime Canada

Written by Team Morecast

 

An extremely active tropical cyclone period seems to be winding down. As of tonight (Tuesday, 22-Sept) there are no more active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin, and none expected in the next several days. However, two post-tropical storms will continue to cause major issues through Wednesday.

 

 

Post-tropical storm Beta has been drifting slowly near or along the western Gulf Coast for the past several days. When it made landfall on Monday night, it was the ninth named storm of the season to do so, tying a record for the most active season with plenty of time to break it. Although damage due to wind or storm surge has generally been slight, Beta has dumped torrential rain across much of southeast Texas. Parts of the Houston metro have seen 7-14 inches (175-350 mm) of rain since the weekend (see map above). Serious flash flooding has been result, closing down major highways and interstates and requiring numerous water rescues of stranded vehicles. This excess rainfall has already and will continue to cause dangerous rises in area creeks and rivers. Fortunately, Beta is beginning to weaken and move more quickly, reducing the flash flood threat going forward.

 

 

Hurricane Teddy peaked at Category Four intensity last week while moving over the open Atlantic. Fortunately, Teddy has thus far managed to avoid any serious direct impacts to land, although it brushed the island of Bermuda with gusty winds and rain. Teddy has, however, pushed high waves and elevated tides far ahead of its circulation. The entire eastern seaboard of the U.S. has seen this kind of rough surf over the past few days (see tweet video below from Maine). Teddy has transitioned to a post-tropical storm, but an extremely large and powerful one. Hurricane-like conditions are affecting portions of coastal Nova Scotia with Newfoundland likely the next target on Wednesday. Lead photo courtesy flickr users Lee and Chantelle McArthur.

 

Hurricane Sally Slams Into Gulf Coast, Bringing Damaging Winds and Historic Flooding

Written by Team Morecast

 

Sally finally came ashore on Wednesday morning near Gulf Shores, Alabama after hovering near the coast for the better part of two days. At landfall, Sally was a Category Two on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained winds of 105 mph (170 kph). Sally has weakened significantly as it moves further inland through the Southeast. However, serious flash flooding will continue to be an issue as the cyclone approaches the Carolinas.

 

 

Sally produced severe wind and tidal surge damage over portions of southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle (see tweets below). The barrier islands in southern Alabama were particularly hard-hit with gusts well over 100 mph (160 kph). The marina on Dauphin Island was almost completely destroyed. A larger region of southern Alabama and adjacent Florida saw gusts in the 80-100 mph (130-160 kph) range (see map above), leading to numerous trees and powerlines down. Power outages in this area will likely last for days or weeks.

 

 

 

 

Sally is now a minimal tropical storm located over southeast Alabama. The cyclone is accelerating and will move into Georgia on Thursday. The main threat going forward will be freshwater flooding. The last few days have seen record rainfall along the Gulf Coast from southern Alabama into southwest Georgia and the Florida panhandle (see map above). Amounts of 18 inches (450 mm) or more were common with a few locations seeing 24-30 inches (610-760 mm)! With the storm weakening and picking up speed, those staggering rainfall amounts won’t be repeated further north. However, locations from central Georgia into the Piedmont of South and North Carolina could still have major issues. Totals of 3-6 inches (75-150 mm) will lead to significant flash flooding in spots (see map below). Streams and rivers will also be on the rise across the region over the coming days. Lead photo courtesy flickr user Tobin.

 

Sally Intensifies Rapidly, Landfall Late Tonight or Early Wednesday in Mississippi

Written by Team Morecast

 

Sally started the day as a tropical storm but has undergone rapid intensification due to very warm waters and favorable upper level winds. Now a dangerous Category Two, Sally could intensify further before landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Deadly storm surge, destructive winds, and torrential rainfall will hammer the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle.

 

 

For the first time since 1971, five named cyclones occupied the tropical Atlantic basin simultaneously Monday (see map above). Rene has weakened to a remnant low. Tropical Storms Teddy and Vicky pose no immediate threat to land. Paulette passed directly over the island nation of Bermuda on Sunday night into Monday morning as a Category One hurricane. It’s only the tenth time in recorded history that a mature hurricane’s eye passed directly over the island. Some residents reported damage to their homes, but for the most part it seems the island escaped significant impacts.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, Hurricane Sally won’t be so passive. Significant surge flooding is already being reported along the Alabama coast with torrential rainfall over parts of the Florida Panhandle. Sally is moving slowly west-northwest and may slow down even more into Tuesday. The very warm waters over the northeastern Gulf will continue to provide fuel for intensification. Sally may even approach major hurricane status as it approaches the coast. Regardless, locations along the coast from southeast Louisiana to the Florida-Alabama border will be inundated by a deadly storm surge up to nine feet (2.75 m). Destructive winds gusting to 120 mph (190 kph) will bring down numerous trees and powerlines and tear roofs from homes. The slow storm motion will also translate into prodigious rainfall totals up to 18 inches (450 mm) in spots, leading to major freshwater flooding. Conditions will continue to deteriorate through Tuesday in the target zone with landfall expected on Wednesday morning.