Hurricane Gamma
Gamma making landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula at peak intensity on October 3
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 2, 2020
DissipatedOctober 6, 2020
Category 1 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds75 mph (120 km/h)
Lowest pressure978 mbar (hPa); 28.88 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities6
Damage$100 million (2020 USD)
Areas affectedHonduras, Yucatán Peninsula, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida
IBTrACS
Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Gamma was a Category 1 hurricane that brought heavy rains, flooding, and landslides to the Yucatán Peninsula in early October 2020. The twenty-fifth depression, twenty-fourth named storm and ninth hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Gamma developed from a vigorous tropical wave that had been monitored as it was entering the Eastern Caribbean on September 29. The wave moved westward and slowed down as it moved into the Western Caribbean, where it began to interact with a dissipating cold front. A low formed within the disturbance on October 1 and the next day, it organized into a tropical depression. It further organized into Tropical Storm Gamma early the next day. It continued to intensify and made landfall as a minimal hurricane near Tulum, Mexico, on October 3. It weakened over land before reemerging in the Gulf of Mexico. Gamma then briefly restrengthened some before being blasted by high amounts of wind shear, causing it to weaken again. It made a second landfall as a tropical depression in Nichili, Mexico on October 6 before dissipating as it was absorbed by the approaching Hurricane Delta.

Numerous tropical cyclone watches and warnings were issued for parts of Mexico in the Yucatán Peninsula following the formation of Gamma and thousands of people were evacuated. Gamma produced strong winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, landslides, and mudslides to the region. At least seven fatalities have been confirmed so far. The areas affected by Gamma were affected by stronger Hurricane Delta four days after the former made landfall.

Meteorological history

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

On September 29, the National Hurricane Center began to monitor a tropical wave over the Lesser Antilles for potential development as it moved into the Western Caribbean.[1] It drifted slowly westward and remained very broad and disorganized for a couple of days.[2] As it neared the coast of Honduras on October 1, the wave spawned a broad low pressure area and began to quickly organize over the unusually warm waters of the Western Caribbean.[3] By 15:00 UTC on October 2, the low had become sufficiently organized to be designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-Five.[4] The system continued to organize, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Gamma at 00:00 UTC on October 3,[5] becoming the earliest 24th tropical or subtropical Atlantic storm on record, surpassing the old mark of October 27, set by Hurricane Beta in 2005.[6] Gamma began to quickly intensify afterward, reaching just below hurricane strength as an eye began to form at 15:00 UTC on October 3.[7] By 16:45 UTC that same day, Gamma had reached minimal Category 1 hurricane status and made landfall near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, at peak intensity, with 1-minute sustained winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 978 mbar (28.9 inHg).[8] Operationally, the NHC noted that Gamma was very near hurricane strength at the time of landfall, but kept it at high-end tropical storm status.[9]

After making landfall, Gamma weakened before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) winds and a central pressure of 995 mb (29.4 inHg) on October 4.[10] Its forward motion then slowed as a ridge developed to the north. Gamma then subsequently restrengthened to 60 mph (97 km/h) around mid-day, although this proved to be brief, as its central pressure increased and winds decreased in speed.[11] As Gamma stalled a rapid increase in wind shear decoupled central convection by that evening, causing it to move further east than originally forecast.[12][13] Gamma began to weaken shortly thereafter as it turned southwestward.[14] Though strongly sheared, there was vigorous convection located 60 miles north of Gamma's center.[15] Operationally, Gamma was declared post tropical at 03:00 UTC on October 5 as the convection being produced around the cyclone was assessed as being due to a sea breeze boundary.[16][17] However, post-storm analysis determined that this was premature as Gamma was still producing enough convection in its northeastern quadrant to remain a tropical storm. The storm weakened to a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on October 5 and began moving southwestward due to a building mid-level ridge to its north as well as a binary interaction with the circulation of soon-to-be Hurricane Delta. Gamma then made its final landfall at Nichili, Mexico at 03:00 UTC on October 6. Although convection redeveloped over the center at landfall, Gamma became increasingly enveloped in the circulation of nearby Hurricane Delta and it low-level circulation dissipated at 18:00 UTC as its remnants were absorbed by Delta as it passed over the Yucatán Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico.[8][18]

Preparations and impact

Tropical Depression Twenty-Five shortly after formation over the Gulf of Honduras on October 2

Mexico

Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for the northeastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula when advisories were first initiated on October 2. When Gamma intensified more than originally predicted, hurricane warnings were issued from north of Punta Allen to Cancun in preparation for Gamma to become a hurricane at landfall.[19][20] In Quintana Roo, 40 people in Tulum evacuated to shelters. Numerous flights were affected at the Cancun International Airport and in Cozumel.[21] In Tabasco, roughly 3,400 people evacuated to shelters.[22]

A weather station at Xel-Ha Park just north of the landfall point at Tulum, reported a sustained wind of 55 mph (89 km/h) and a gust to 68 mph (109 km/h) around the time of landfall.[9] Some areas received more than 12 inches of rainfall, with over 15 inches of rain falling at Tizimin.[8] At least 6 people died and thousands were evacuated in southeastern Mexico after Tropical Storm Gamma lashed the Yucatán Peninsula. Four of the deaths, which included two children, occurred in Chiapas after a landslide buried a home. Two other deaths occurred in Tabasco after a person was swept away by floodwaters and another drowned.[23] Another death's cause was not specified, bringing the total number of deaths to seven. In addition, a total number of 5,000 people in Tabasco were displaced due to the storm.[24]

More than 41,000 tourists were present in Quintana Roo at the time, with the area only recently reopened to tourism after a pandemic shutdown.[22] 39 flights to Cancun were cancelled, and another 20 were delayed. Ferry routes were "suspended until further notice", and nearly 30 vessels were completely or partially sunk due to high waves.[21] Fishermen and tourism service providers guarded boats to prevent further damage.[25]

Elsewhere

Moisture associated with Gamma moved over the US state of Florida where 7 in (180 mm) of rain had fallen in the days previous to Gamma. Moderate to heavy rainfall affected the Cayman Islands, causing some flooding in some low-lying areas. Heavy rainfall also affected western Cuba where isolated spots received 6 in (150 mm) of total rainfall.[26]

Naming

The 2020 season was the second (along with 2005) in which an alphabetic list of 21 storm names had been exhausted, necessitating use of the Greek alphabet auxiliary list. In March 2021, the World Meteorological Organization replaced that auxiliary list with a new 21-name supplemental list. As a result, the name Gamma will not be used to name another Atlantic hurricane.[27]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stacy Stewart (30 September 2020). "Two-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Richard Pasch (30 September 2020). "Two-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  3. ↑ Robbie Berg (1 October 2020). "Two-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Robbie Berg (2 October 2020). "Tropical Depression Twenty-Five Discussion Number 1". nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Discher, Emma (2 October 2020). "Tropical Storm Gamma develops over Caribbean Sea; here's the latest forecast". nola.com. New Orleans, Louisiana. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Andrew Latto (17 April 2021). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Gamma (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Post-Tropical Cyclone GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "Tropical Depression GAMMA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  18. ↑ Jeff Masters (7 October 2020). "Hurricane Delta takes aim at U.S. Gulf Coast". yaleclimateconnections.com. Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "Tropical Storm GAMMA Advisory Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "Weather Alert- Tropical Storm Gamma". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  21. 1 2 "Tropical Storm Gamma leaves Cancun, Riviera Maya behind with only minor damage". Riviera Maya News. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Tropical Storm Gamma leaves 6 dead in southern Mexico". foxnews.com. Fox News. Associated Press. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  23. ↑ Staff (4 October 2020). "Tropical storm Gamma leaves 6 dead as thousands evacuate in southeastern Mexico". Q107. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  24. ↑ "Desalojos masivos de hoteles y alerta roja en México ante la proximidad del huracán Delta, ahora de categoría 3". Univision. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  25. ↑ EDICIÓN (3 October 2020). "Tormenta tropical 'Gamma' provoca inundaciones, caída de árboles y apagones en Playa del Carmen, donde se ha decretado alerta roja | Noticaribe" (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  26. ↑ Travis Fedschun (4 October 2020). "Tropical Storm Gamma meanders off Mexico, bringing flooding and storm surge". foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  27. ↑ "WMO Hurricane Committee retires tropical cyclone names and ends the use of Greek alphabet". Geneva, Switzerland: World Meteorological Organization. 17 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
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