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Hurricane Allen

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Hurricane Allen
Allen shortly before its record peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico on August 7
Meteorological history
FormedJuly 31, 1980
DissipatedAugust 11, 1980
Category 5 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds190 mph (305 km/h)
Lowest pressure899 mbar (hPa); 26.55 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities269
Missing25
Damage$1.57 billion (1980 USD)
Areas affectedLesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Yucatán Peninsula, Northern Mexico, Southern Texas
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Allen was the strongest Atlantic hurricane by wind speed on record. An extremely powerful tropical cyclone, Allen affected the Caribbean, eastern and northern Mexico, and South Texas in August 1980. The second tropical depression, first named storm, and first hurricane of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season, Allen was the sixth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of barometric pressure. It was one of the few hurricanes to reach Category 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale on three occasions, and spent more time at Category 5 status than all but two other Atlantic hurricanes. Allen is the only hurricane in the recorded history of the Atlantic basin to achieve sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h),[nb 1] Until Hurricane Patricia in 2015, these were also the highest sustained winds in the Western Hemisphere. Hurricane Allen was also the third strongest tropical cyclone to exist in the Gulf of Mexico in terms of pressure, behind hurricanes Milton and Rita.

Throughout its life, Allen moved through the deep tropics on a westerly to northwesterly course through the tropical Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico before making its final landfall near the United States–Mexico border. At peak strength, it passed near Haiti, causing hundreds of deaths and heavy damage. After crossing the Gulf of Mexico, Allen weakened as it struck the lower Texas coast, causing high winds, a significant storm surge, and heavy rainfall, which caused damage to South Texas. Overall, Allen killed at least 269 people and left $1.57 billion in damages (1980 US dollars), mostly within Haiti and the United States. Due to the hurricane's impact, the name Allen was retired from the six-year revolving list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names in 1981 and replaced by Andrew. The remnants of the storm caused a brief lapse in the heat wave of 1980 in places like Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, which had recorded 69 days of 100 °F (38 °C) heat.

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Allen was an early-season Cape Verde-type hurricane, originating from a tropical wave that left the African coastline on July 30. The system developed quickly as it moved westward, becoming a tropical depression the following day. However, the National Hurricane Center did not initiate advisories on Allen until almost 24 hours later, when it was centered 1,300 mi (2,100 km) east of the Windward Islands.[1] Early on August 2, as the depression moved quickly westward towards the Caribbean, it intensified into the first named storm of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. Allen rapidly strengthened as it continued westward. By the time an aircraft reconnaissance plane entered the tropical cyclone's center late on August 3, it had already achieved major hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 967 mbar (28.6 inHg), making Allen a Category 3 hurricane. The storm's central pressure dropped to 951 mbar (28.1 inHg) that night as its eye passed north of Barbados on August 4.[2][3]

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes (
)
Rank Hurricane Season Pressure
hPa inHg
1 Wilma 2005 882 26.05
2 Gilbert 1988 888 26.23
3 "Labor Day" 1935 892 26.34
4 Rita 2005 895 26.43
5 Milton 2024 897 26.49
6 Allen 1980 899 26.55
7 Camille 1969 900 26.58
8 Katrina 2005 902 26.64
9 Mitch 1998 905 26.73
Dean 2007
Source: HURDAT[4]

Allen continued to move quickly westward and entered the Caribbean Sea shortly after passing south of St. Lucia. Allen's rapid intensification continued during this time, as it was steered by a mid- to upper-level ridge to its north. Shortly before 0000 UTC on August 5, the hurricane's minimum pressure decreased to 924 mbar (924 hPa; 27.3 inHg), which was noted as equivalent to Hurricane David in the previous season.[5] Another reconnaissance aircraft shortly thereafter discovered Allen had become an extremely strong Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 911 mbar (26.9 inHg) the following day. This was the lowest central pressure ever recorded in the eastern Caribbean Sea.[3] Allen maintained its extreme intensity for most of the day. However, late on August 5, the storm began to weaken as it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle and interacted with the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola, with the storm taking a northwestward jog south of the island, a common track deviation for most hurricanes that have passed through the area.[3][2]

Allen resumed a more westward course as it left behind Hispaniola and passed north of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on August 6. The very warm waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea allowed the storm to begin another phase of rapid intensification. Allen reached its second and greatest peak intensity on the afternoon of August 7, with maximum sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 899 mbar (26.5 inHg).[2] Allen had the highest maximum sustained winds ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane.[4] Its minimum pressure of 899 millibars was the second-lowest pressure on record for the basin at the time. The major hurricane was also very large at this time, with hurricane-force winds extending 144 mi (232 km) from its center and tropical-storm-force winds extending 345 miles. Continuing westward, the southern portion of Allen's circulation passed over the Yucatán Peninsula, causing the cyclone to weaken again. Allen bottomed out with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) on August 8.[3] Continued movement west over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico allowed Allen to restrengthen into a Category 5 hurricane for a third time as it moved over the open waters of the Gulf. The hurricane's central pressure dropped back to a tertiary low of 909 mbar (909 hPa; 26.8 inHg). Pressure falls over the southern United States at this time indicated Allen would soon slow its forward motion as it approached Texas.[2] Allen's forward speed slowed considerably in the hours before it made landfall near Brownsville as a low-end Category 3 major hurricane on August 10.[3] The storm rapidly weakened as it moved inland, eventually dissipating over the mountainous terrain of northern Mexico the following day.[2]

Preparations

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Hurricane Allen in the Gulf of Mexico on August 8.

As Allen approached the Caribbean Sea, gale warnings and a hurricane watch were issued for the islands of Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, and Guadeloupe during the daylight hours of August 3. Gale warnings were in effect for Antigua from 11 am on August 3 until 11 am on August 4. Hurricane warnings were raised for Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica from the early afternoon of August 3 until the late morning of August 4. As Allen moved into the Caribbean sea, hurricane watches were issued for southeastern sections of the Dominican Republic and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from 11 am on August 4 until the morning of August 5. Gale warnings were then in effect for the southern Dominican Republic from the night of August 4 into the night of August 5, while southern Haiti maintained the warnings from the night of August 4 into the morning of August 5. The hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica during the morning hours of August 5, while hurricane warnings were raised for the southwest peninsula of Haiti from the late morning of August 5 into the morning of August 6.[6] Hurricane warnings went into effect for Jamaica from around noon on August 5 until late in the afternoon of August 6. The Cayman Islands saw hurricane watches issued from the afternoon of August 5 into the morning of August 6 before the watches were upgraded to hurricane warnings from the morning until late afternoon of August 6.[7]

As Allen approached the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane warnings were raised for the northeast Yucatán peninsula of Mexico from the afternoon of August 6 into the morning of August 8. Gale warnings were in effect for the Florida Keys from the evening of August 6 into the early morning of August 8. As Allen approached its final landfall, the northeast Mexican coast and Texas coast were placed under a hurricane watch from the morning of August 8 until the morning of August 9 for Mexico and the afternoon of August 9 for Texas. Hurricane warnings were posted for the Texas coast during the afternoon of August 8, and were lowered north of Freeport, Texas during the afternoon of August 9 and south of Freeport during the afternoon of August 10. Gale warnings and a hurricane watch were issued for the Louisiana coast from Vermilion Bay westward from the afternoon of August 8 into the afternoon of August 9. Hurricane warnings were in effect for northeast Mexico from the early afternoon of August 9 into the late afternoon of August 10. Hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings between High Island, Texas and Freeport, Texas between the late afternoon of August 9 and the late afternoon of August 10. Hurricane watches were dropped for the Louisiana coast during the late afternoon of August 9. Hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings for the lower Texas coast south of Freeport from the late afternoon of August 10 into the early morning of August 11.[7]

In addition to the various watches and warnings put in place ahead of Allen's arrival, various international governments took measures to prepare for the hurricane in Haiti. A disaster committee and executive committee to address the aftermath of the storm was formed by Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier, the latter of which was headed by members of the Haitian Ministry of Health and Hatian Red Cross, while members of the committees included representatives from the army, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and others. Emergency instructions were issued by the Haitian government to prevent possible increases in malaria cases following Allen's passage. The United States government made preparations to send personnel, as well as financial and aerial assistance, to Haiti.[8]

Tens of thousands of people evacuated the Texas coast before Allen's landfall, and forecasters advised that all areas within one mile of the coastline be cleared. The American Red Cross opened 109 shelters across Hidalgo County and in the city of Corpus Christi.[9] Access to Padre Island National Seashore was cut off, and all visitors there and residents of Galveston Island were ordered to evacuate the respective areas. Six thousand people in lower Cameron Parish, Louisiana and low-lying suburbs of Houston, Texas were ordered to evacuate as well. A total of 2,500 troops were put on alert in Texas prior to the storm's passage.[10]

Impact

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Deaths and damage by area
Country Deaths Damage Source
Barbados None $6 million [11]
Cayman Islands None [12]
Cuba 3 [13]
Dominican Republic 7 $47 million [13]
Grenada None $5.3 million [13]
Guadeloupe 1 Unknown [12]
Haiti 220 $400 million [11][14]
Jamaica 8 $100 million [11]
Martinique None $68 million [13]
Mexico None None [14]
St. Lucia 6 $235 million [11]
St Vincent and The Grenadines None $16.3 million [13]
United States 6 $630 million [14][15]
Offshore 17 $60 million [14]
Total 269 $1.57 billion

Allen caused just over $1 billion (1980 USD) in damages and killed at least 269 people throughout its course (including indirect deaths).[12][14]

Caribbean

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In Barbados, damages were estimated to be $6 million (1980 USD) by local officials, mostly to agriculture, housing and the local fishing industry.[16] The highest recorded winds on the island were 68 knots (78 mph (126 km/h)) on its south side, though Allen likely brought much stronger winds of greater than 100 knots (115 mph (185 km/h)) on the northern part of Barbados under the eyewall of the hurricane. About 500 houses were either damaged or destroyed. No deaths were reported. St. Lucia sustained catastrophic damage from the strong category 3 hurricane. Sustained winds of 90 knots (170 km/h) and a sea level pressure as low as 967 millibars (28.6 inHg) were reported at Hewanorra. A total of $235 million in damage was incurred on the island.[16] Eighteen people lost their lives as a result of the storm's passage. One death in Guadeloupe was attributed to Allen.[12] In Martinique, damage was extensive as the storm passed 50 miles (80 km) south of the island. Waves 6 metres (20 ft) high battered the coast of the island during the storm.[17] Torrential rainfall caused damage to agriculture on Saint Vincent.[16]

In the central Caribbean, Cayman Brac was hit by winds in excess of 115 mph (185 km/h) which caused considerable property damage. A coral reef at Discovery Bay, Jamaica was devastated by the wave action from the storm.[18] Offshore Jamaica, greater numbers of smaller-sized Damselfishes was witnessed in the wake of Allen.[19] Storm surge and strong waves along Jamaica's northeastern coast damaged buildings, and 10 in (250 mm) to 20 in (510 mm) inches of rainfall was recorded. Eight deaths in Jamaica occurred due to Allen.[16] Three additional deaths were attributed to Allen in Cuba.[14]

Extensive damage occurred in Haiti due to high winds and flash flooding. Total costs for that country were estimated to be at more than $400 million (1980 USD). 2.5 million people were affected by the storm, with an estimated 333,000 people considered at risk for food shortage.[8] Roughly 60% of the nation's coffee crop was destroyed. In Port-au-Prince, Allen caused many fallen trees, local flooding, and temporary disruptions to electric power and telephone services.[8] 41 deaths were caused by tin roofs flying off homes and around 1,200 became homeless due to the flooding.[20][better source needed] The island of Île-à-Vache had its food supply depleted and its entire water supply contaminated with salt water. [8] Another 140 people were reported dead from flooding.[21] In all, 220 people were killed and 835,000 were left homeless by catastrophic flooding and wind damage from Allen.[16]

United States

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Hurricane Allen's rainfall across Texas and Mexico

In Texas, the storm surge was reported as high as 12 feet (3.7 m) at Port Mansfield, though it may have been higher elsewhere along the Texas coast. A peak wind gust of 129 mph (208 km/h) was also measured at Port Mansfield. Tropical storm-force winds in Corpus Christi, Texas blew roof gravel through the city, which led to substantial glass breakage to the 18-story Guarantee Bank Building and a 12-story wing of Spohn hospital.[22] Allen dumped 15 to 20 inches (380 to 510 mm) of rain in south Texas along a 50 to 100 mile swath of land from the coast inland, ending a summer-long drought during the Heat Wave of 1980.[11][23]

The ruins of several buildings in Corpus Christi after Hurricane Allen.

The storm caused seven deaths in Texas and 17 in Louisiana (most resulting from the crash of a helicopter evacuating workers from an offshore platform). Allen spawned several tornadoes in Texas; a total of 29 were reported in association with the hurricane.[11] One tornado caused $100 million in damage when it hit Austin, Texas, making it the costliest tropical cyclone-spawned tornado in recorded history. Two offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed by Allen, and 13 people died in a helicopter crash during the evacuation of a rig. A total of $300 million in damage was recorded in Texas due to Allen.[11] Overall, however, the storm caused less damage than initially feared in the United States due to its suddenly diminished power, as well as its highest tides and winds hitting a sparsely populated portion of the Texas coast.[14][24]

Elsewhere

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Areas of northeastern Mexico saw heavy rains with the passage of Allen, with the highest totals exceeding 7 inches (180 mm).[25] The hurricane earlier brushed the Yucatán Peninsula. As Allen only affected sparsely populated regions of Mexico, there were no reports of significant damage.[14]

The Panamanian freighter Georgios G went missing on August 5 on the way to Belize City with 25 people on board. While information on the ship's fate is incomplete, it was likely intercepted by Allen on its course.[16]

Retirement

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See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

Because of the hurricane's destructive impacts, the name Allen was retired from the Atlantic tropical storm name list by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 1981, and will never again be used for a future Atlantic hurricane.[26] It was replaced with Andrew for the 1986 season.[27][28]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ All wind speeds in the article are maximum sustained winds sustained for one minute, unless otherwise noted.

References

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  1. ^ Gilbert Clark (August 1, 1980). "Tropical Depression Advisory Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e "1980 Allen-NHC Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Donovan Landreneau. "Hurricane Allen July 31-August 11, 1980". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Miles Lawrence (August 4, 1980). "Discussion for Hurricane Allen, 5 p.m. EDT, August 4, 1980". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  6. ^ National Hurricane Center (1980). "Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 3". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  7. ^ a b National Hurricane Center (1980). "Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 4". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d Disaster Case Report:Haiti - Hurricane Allen (PDF) (Report). Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. August 5, 1980. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Killer Hurricane Heads for Area of Texas Coast". The Press-Courier. August 9, 1980. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Texans flee before rampaging Allen". The Morning Record and Journal. August 9, 1980. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Lawrence, Miles B; Pelissier, Joseph M (July 1, 1981). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1980". Monthly Weather Review. 109 (7). American Meteorological Society: 1567–1582. Bibcode:1981MWRv..109.1567L. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1981)109<1567:AHSO>2.0.CO;2.
  12. ^ a b c d National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 5 (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  13. ^ a b c d e Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. "EM-DAT: The Emergency Events Database". Université catholique de Louvain.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h National Hurricane Center. "Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 6". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  15. ^ Hebert, Paul J; Taylor, Glenn; National Hurricane Center (January 1983). The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes of This Century (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) (PDF) (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-18). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Miles B. Lawrence; Joseph M. Pellisier (July 1981). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1980" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 109 (7). American Meteorological Society: 1567–1572. Bibcode:1981MWRv..109.1567L. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1981)109<1567:AHSO>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  17. ^ K. Bosser; F. Levoy; J. C. Flageollet; O. Monfort; H. Rousset (Summer 2000). "Trade Wind Intensification and Hurricanes on a Caribbean Beach, Martinique Island: A Comparison of their Morphological Effects From Field Experiments and Numerical Simulations". Journal of Coastal Research. 15 (3). Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Inc.: 877–899. JSTOR 4300098.
  18. ^ Richard B. Aronson; Kenneth P. Sebens; John P. Ebersole (2003). "Hurricane Hugo's Impact on Salt River Submarine Canyon, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands" (PDF). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  19. ^ Robert K. Turpin; Stephen A. Bortone (2002). "Pre- and post-hurricane assessment of artificial reefs: evidence for potential use as refugia in a fishery management strategy". ICES Journal of Marine Science. 59: S75. Bibcode:2002ICJMS..59S..74T. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2002.1191.
  20. ^ Jim Williams (2010). Port au prince, Haiti's history with tropical systems. Hurricanecity.com. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  21. ^ "Allen Leaves Flooding In Its Wake; 140 New Deaths Reported". Saint Petersburg Times. Associated Press. August 12, 1980. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  22. ^ Joseph E.; Minor P.E.; William L. Beason; Timothy P. Marshall (1981). "Effects of Hurricane Allen on Buildings and Coastal Construction" (PDF). Fourth National Conference on Wind Engineering Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  23. ^ David M. Roth (January 27, 2007). "Hurricane Allen". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  24. ^ "Allen Floods Texas, Fizzles Over Mexico". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. August 12, 1980. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  25. ^ David M. Roth (January 15, 2007). "Storm Total Rainfall From Hurricane Allen (1980)". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  26. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  27. ^ National Hurricane Operations Plan (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: NOAA Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. May 1986. p. 3-7. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  28. ^ "Andrew, Agatha, top 1986 list". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, Alabama. Associated Press. May 23, 1986. Retrieved April 5, 2024.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Allen.
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