.jpg) Hurricane Otto at peak intensity shortly before landfall inNicaragua on November 24 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 20, 2016 |
| Dissipated | November 26, 2016 |
| Category 3 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 975mbar (hPa); 28.79 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 23 total |
| Damage | $192 million (2016USD) |
| Areas affected | Panama,Costa Rica,Nicaragua |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the2016 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons | |
Hurricane Otto was a strong late-seasontropical cyclone that impacted parts ofCentral America in November 2016. It was the firstAtlantic hurricane sinceCesar–Douglas in1996 to survive thecrossover from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Forming late on November 20 in the southwesternCaribbean Sea, Otto was the fifteenth and finalnamed storm, seventh hurricane and fourthmajor hurricane of the2016 Atlantic hurricane season. It quickly intensified into a strong tropical storm the next day, and on November 23–24, rapidly strengthened into aCategory 3 hurricane, the first in the month of November sinceHurricane Paloma in2008, and the latest date an Atlantic hurricane attained such intensity on record.[1] Otto madelandfall inNicaragua at peak intensity on November 24, thus becoming the latest hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin since 1851 when records began.[1] Traveling along theNicaragua–Costa Rica border, the system rapidly weakened to a tropical storm before emerging over the eastern Pacific Ocean, becoming the final storm of the2016 Pacific hurricane season as well. Hostile environmental conditions inhibited reorganization, and Otto subsequently degenerated into an elongatedtrough on November 26.
The hurricane's unusually southern formation in the Caribbean Sea led to impacts in countries rarely affected by tropical cyclones. In particular,Panama andCosta Rica suffered extensive damage. The storm claimed at least 23 lives: 10 in Costa Rica, 9 in Panama, and 4 in Nicaragua. Otto also dropped torrential rainfall across the affected regions; some areas received up towards a month's worth of rain in only a matter of a day, which led to life-threatening flooding, which in turn led tolandslides. After the storm had passed, recovery efforts began with the national mourning of the victims, followed by clean-up efforts. Overall, total economic losses from the hurricane exceeded US$190 million.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn November 12, theNational Hurricane Center (NHC) first noted the potential for alow pressure area to develop in the southwesternCaribbean Sea, assessing a low probability fortropical cyclone formation within five days.[2] After a convectively coupledKelvin wave and several nearbytropical waves interacted with each other in the aforementioned area,atmospheric pressure in that region began falling on November 14,[3] resulting in a broad low pressure area forming north ofColombia on November 15.[1] The low moved slowly and erratically, with a disorganized structure and light winds,[4] disrupted by unfavorable upper-level conditions.[5] On November 19, the convection increased and became better organized, amid marginally favorable conditions.[6] TheHurricane Hunters flew into the system on November 20, observing a well-defined circulation, and the system became a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC that day.[1]
The nascent depression meandered over the southwestern Caribbean Sea, its path to the north blocked by aridge.[7] Thunderstorm activity continued to pulse over the center,[8] and the inner core of convection became more organized. The depression intensified into a tropical storm by 06:00 UTC on November 21, receiving the nameOtto.[1] The storm had well-establishedoutflow to the northeast, fueled by warm water temperatures of around 84 °F (29 °C).[9] After the convection organized into acentral dense overcast, Otto became a strong tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds, and maintained that intensity for about a day. On November 23, the storm reached hurricane intensity, and began a period ofrapid intensification, reaching Category 2 intensity by 06:00 UTC the following day, with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h).[1] Six hours later, Otto reached its peak intensity as a Category 3 major hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), becoming the latest major hurricane on record in the satellite era.[1][10] At 17:30 UTC, Otto madelandfall over theIndio Maíz Biological Reserve in southeasternNicaragua, roughly 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the Nicaragua–Costa Rica border at peak intensity. This marked the southernmost landfall of a hurricane in Central America since reliable records began, eclipsingHurricane Irene–Olivia of1971 by 30 to 35 miles (50 to 55 km).[1]
After landfall, Otto's structure remained well-organized as it moved roughly parallel to the Costa Rica-Nicaraguan border, although cloud tops warmed, indicating diminishing convection.[11] Despite moving over land, the hurricane's eye remained well-defined and intact as it traversed Nicaragua and Costa Rica.[1] Otto was the first Atlantic hurricane on record to have itseye cross over Costa Rica,[10] and the first hurricane-force system to traverse the nation.[1] Around 03:30 UTC on November 25, the eye of Otto emerged over the Eastern Pacific near theGulf of Papagayo, completing a rarecrossover from the Atlantic to Eastern Pacific basin—the first such occurrence in which an Atlantic tropical cyclone retained its name, after a change inWMO naming policy in 2000.[1] Concurrently, the system weakened to a tropical storm. Continuing to move westwards due to the influence of asubtropical ridge to its north, Otto steadily weakened as it moved away from Central America. Unfavorable environmental conditions hastened the system's demise, and Otto weakened to a tropical depression on November 26. Soon thereafter, the system degraded into a trough roughly 490 mi (790 km) south ofSalina Cruz, Mexico. The remnant system continued to produce scattered convection for a few more days before dissipating entirely.[1]
On November 22, Colombian authorities issued atropical storm watch, later upgraded to a warning, forSan Andrés. Beginning on the same day, officials in Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua issued various tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings fromNargana, Panama to near the mouth of theRío Grande de Matagalpa in Nicaragua. After it became likely that Otto would survive its trek across Central America, authorities issued a tropical storm warning for along the Pacific coast fromPuntarenas, Costa Rica toPuerto Sandino, Nicaragua.[1]
As far south as Panama inBocas del Toro, preparations were made for the storm, even though Otto was not expected to make landfall in the region. Several patients were evacuated from hospitals. Panamanian presidentJuan Carlos Varela put the nation on "hurricane alert". In a press conference, Varela stated that up to 600 relief units had been prepared in advance. Classes were also suspended in all public and private schools nationwide.[12] Swimming activities in theCaribbean Sea were prohibited.[13]
In Costa Rica, the government declared a red alert for the northern portion of the national territory and the southern Pacific region. About 6,800 people were evacuated to safer locations.[14] Costa Rica presidentLuis Guillermo Solís also issued a state of emergency and advised all vehicles to stay off the roads, and thathospitals in the most at-risk areas were having their patients transferred somewhere else. He also advised that the hurricane could damage the agriculture supply in the nation.[15]
InNicaragua, a yellow alert was issued for theSouth Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, and the departments of Zeyala Central,Chontales, andRío San Juan.[13] schools were closed for the coming days as Otto approached, and about 10,000 were in the process of being evacuated. Officials also feared that Otto could damage the nation's coffee crops, which were close to being able to be harvested fully.[15]
The outer bands of Otto caused extensive damage in Panama; at least nine people died in various incidents related to the storm. High winds downed trees inPanama City, one of which fell on a car, killing a child. Landslides claimed three lives. Two people drowned while trying to cross a swollen, swift-moving river on the outskirts of Panama City. Offshore, the shipJessica sank with six crew; three perished while the other three were rescued after clinging to inflatable rafts.[16]
Rainfall across Nicaragua generally amounted to 3 to 6 in (76 to 152 mm) in southern and southwestern portions of the country; a peak value of 6.35 in (161 mm) was observed inEl Castillo.[1] Throughout the country, Otto damaged 857 houses, eight schools, and two health facilities. The storm passage caused 11,678 people to stay in 152 temporary shelters. After the storm, 248 people remained in the shelters while their damaged houses were rebuilt. Otto damaged 1,700 m (5,600 ft) of power lines, resulting in power and water outages. Officials deployed 12,000 people to help ensure public safety and rescue efforts.[17] There were four deaths in Nicaragua related to the hurricane, with five others missing as of November 26.[18]
The precursor to Otto affectedCosta Rica since November 16, bringing torrential rainfall. Flooding was reported inCorredores,Coto Brus,Golfito, andOsa. Streets and residences were damaged by the floods. At least 7 schools were forced to briefly shut down.[19]
Otto was the first hurricane to pass directly over Costa Rica since records began.[1] In Costa Rica, some areas near the border with Nicaragua observed over a month's worth of rainfall;[20] three-day accumulations exceeded 8 in (200 mm) in many areas. The highest recorded total was 12.11 in (308 mm) at theMiravalles Volcano.[1] The National Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica reported that Otto killed at least ten people in the country, mostly fromflash flooding and landslides,[1] including six inUpala, three inBagaces, and one inGuayabo.[21] Costa Rican presidentLuis Guillermo Solis described the situation as "chaotic and unprecedented," with the worst effects inUpala canton.[22] Authorities calculated at least₡106 billion (US$192.2 million) in damages across the country, including ₡38 billion (US$68.9 million) in Upala canton, and another ₡19 billion (US$34.4 million) in Bagaces.[23] The hurricane damaged 14 water systems.[17] The hurricane caused approximately ₡8.1 billion (US$15 million) in damage to the coffee industry.[24] The president declared three days ofnational mourning in the wake of the hurricane.[21][22] Officials opened 38 shelters that housed 3,370 people, mostly in Upala.[17]
About 10,000 people required humanitarian assistance following the storm. Local Red Cross volunteers, police officers, and firefighters brought food and other supplies to the 42 communities left isolated due to Otto. By November 29, roads were repaired and cleared in most areas.[17]
Because of the storm's significant impact in Central America, the nameOtto was retired in March 2017 by theWorld Meteorological Organization, and will never again be used as a storm name in the Atlantic basin. It was replaced withOwen for the2022 Atlantic hurricane season.[25][26]
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Tropical cyclones of the2016 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
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