 Delta shortly before its initial peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane on October 6 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 4, 2020 |
| Extratropical | October 10, 2020 |
| Dissipated | October 12, 2020 |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 953mbar (hPa); 28.14 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 6 (2 direct, 4 indirect) |
| Damage | $3.09 billion (2020USD) |
| Areas affected | Jamaica,Nicaragua,Cayman Islands,Yucatán Peninsula,Gulf Coast of the United States,Eastern United States |
IBTrACS /[1] | |
Part of the2020 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Delta was a destructivetropical cyclone that became the record-tying fourthnamed storm of 2020 to makelandfall inLouisiana, as well as the record-breaking tenth named storm to strike the United States in that year. The twenty-sixthtropical cyclone, twenty-fifthnamed storm, tenth hurricane, and thirdmajor hurricane of the record-breaking2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Delta formed from atropical wave which was first monitored by theNational Hurricane Center (NHC) on October 1. Moving westward, the tropical wave began to quickly organize. A well-defined center of circulation formed with sufficiently organized deep convection on October 4, and was designated as Tropical Depression Twenty-six and soon thereafter, Tropical Storm Delta. Extremelyrapid intensification ensued throughout October 5 into October 6, with Delta becoming a Category 4 hurricane within 28 hours of attaining tropical storm status. The rate of intensification was the fastest in the Atlantic basin sinceHurricane Wilma in2005. After peaking in intensity however, an unexpected increase inwind shear and dry air quickly weakened the small storm before it made landfall inPuerto Morelos, Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph (169 km/h) winds. It weakened some more over land before emerging into theGulf of Mexico, where it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. After that, it began to restrengthen, regaining Category 3 status late on October 8. It then turned northward and reached a secondary peak intensity of 953 mbar (28.14 inHg) and winds of 120 mph early on October 9. Delta then began to turn more north-northeastward into an area of cooler waters, higher wind shear, and dry air, causing it to weaken back to Category 2 status. Delta then made landfall at 23:00 UTC nearCreole, Louisiana with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg). The storm began to weaken more rapidly after landfall, becomingpost-tropical just 22 hours later.
Widespreadtropical cyclone watches and warnings were issued throughout theWestern Caribbean and theMexican states ofYucatán andQuintana Roo, which had just been hit byHurricane Gamma, in preparation for the storm. As Delta moved out of the Gulf of Mexico, more watches were issued for theU.S. Gulf Coast, an area that had already seen multiple strong hurricanes such asLaura andSally earlier in the season.States of emergency were also declared in the U.S. states of Louisiana,Mississippi, andAlabama and several coastal and low-lying areas were ordered to evacuate. In Mexico, trees and power lines were blown down, and roofs were ripped off homes and other buildings. Louisiana andSoutheast Texas were again affected by heavy rain, high winds, andstorm surge, and 14 weaktornadoes were confirmed in Mississippi, Alabama,Georgia andthe Carolinas. Total insured losses resulting from the storm amounted to $3.09 billion, with $2.9 billion in the US and US$186 million in Mexico.[2]
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionHurricane Delta originated from atropical wave that departed off the west coast of Africa on September 26, 2020. It lacked deepatmospheric convection as it trekked across the tropical eastern Atlantic. With time, showers and thunderstorms began to increase within the wave, although no distinct circulation center was detected.[1] Early on October 1, theNational Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the tropical wave moving into theEastern Caribbean for potentialtropical cyclogenesis.[3] As the system moved across theLesser Antilles, thunderstorm activity fluctuated, inhibited from development by moderatevertical wind shear and dry air intrusion. At 18:00 UTC on October 4, analysis ofsatellite imagery andscatterometer data found a well-defined circulation center sustaining sufficiently-organized deep convection, marking the formation of Tropical Depression Twenty-Six about 100 mi (170 km) south ofKingston, Jamaica. Convection continued to increase after formation, but was initially confined to the southern portion of the circulation due to northerly wind shear. Once the shear lessened on October 5, convection became more symmetric around the center, and the system strengthened to become Tropical Storm Delta by 12:00 UTC that day about 150 mi (240 km) south-southwest ofMontego Bay, Jamaica.[1]
While accelerating west-northwestward over the Western Caribbean along a buildingsubtropical ridge to its north and northeast, Delta commenced a phase ofrapid intensification over ideal environmental conditions encompassing warm seas, low wind shear, and high levels of moisture aloft, becoming a Category 1 hurricane 12 hours after being named.[1] As it finally began to turn northwestward early on October 6, Delta reached Category 2 status just nine hours later at 09:00 UTC,[4] before becoming a Category 3 major hurricane three hours later at 12:00 UTC.[1] Delta's intensification was described as the fastest in a 24-hour period sinceHurricane Wilma of2005.[5] The storm was characterized as a very symmetric and compact system as a pinholeeye began to form.[6] At 15:20 UTC, anNOAA hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that the storm's 1-minute sustained wind speed was at 130 mph (210 km/h), making Delta a Category 4 hurricane.[7] Delta intensified from a tropical depression to Category 4 hurricane in just over 36 hours, breaking the record of 42 hours thatHurricane Keith set in2000.[8] Measured at 4 nautical miles (4.6 mi; 7.4 km) in width, the eye was slightly larger than the smallest eye ever observed in Hurricane Wilma in 2005.[9]
Delta attained its peak intensity by 18:00 UTC withmaximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and abarometric pressure of 953 mbar (28.14 inHg). Delta had intensified by 105 mph (165 km/h) in over 36 hours, which only four other tropical cyclones had been able to achieve since the satellite era. At this time, Delta exhibited its pinhole eye surrounded by very intense deep convection.[1] Its pressure was unusually high for a storm this strong, which indicated that Delta's circulation did not extend as far into the uppertroposphere as would be expected for a storm of its intensity. Additionally, the storm's eye was barely visible on visiblesatellite imagery, although it was seen onmicrowave images. Delta did not keep this intensity for very long as an increase in mid-levelwind shear and dry airentrainment significantly disrupted Delta's small core, and the storm abruptly weakened with itsbanding features becoming less defined and its eye completely disappearing.[10] The storm accelerated northwestward and at around 05:45 UTC on October 7, madelandfall atPuerto Morelos,Quintana Roo, Mexico, as a high-end Category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph (180 km/h). It subsequently weakened some more as it moved over theYucatán Peninsula and into theGulf of Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm remained well-organized throughout its passage over the peninsula, situating over conducive atmospheric and oceanic conditions; as such, Delta again intensified.[1]
Satellite imagery revealed acentral dense overcast as the system gradually intensifies into a Category 2 hurricane at 06:00 UTC of October 8.[11] Delta steadily became more organized, with an eye occasionally becoming evident on satellite imagery and a lowering minimum central pressure as it turned northward ahead of an approachingtrough to its northwest.[12] Delta regained Category 3 status by 18:00 UTC about 230 mi (370 km) south of the Texas–Louisiana border. Early on October 9, Delta attained its secondary peak intensity with sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a central pressure of 953 mbar (28.14 inHg). The storm held the intensity overnight until an increase of southwesterly wind shear and a decrease inocean heat weakened it over the northern Gulf of Mexico into a Category 2 hurricane at 18:00 UTC. As an asymmetrical storm, Delta made another landfall nearCreole, Louisiana at 23:00 UTC with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). After that, Delta began to weaken more rapidly, dropping to Category 1 status an hour after landfall at 00:00 UTC on October 10 and a tropical storm six hours later. It accelerated northeastward and transitioned into anextratropical cyclone overWestern Mississippi by 18:00 UTC. The system continued to weaken and its circulation broadened through the day on October 11, and by 00:00 on October 12, it opened into atrough of low pressure over thesoutheastern United States.[1]
Tropical storm warnings were issued for the islands ofGrand Cayman andCayman Brac when advisories were first initiated onPotential Tropical Cyclone Twenty-Six.[13] In theCayman Islands, all public schools were closed from October 5 to October 6 as therainbands were forecast to bring high winds andflooding to the islands. All government offices were on the afternoon of October 5 and remained closed for the entire day on October 6.Cayman Airways reported cancellation of its flights. TheRed Crossshelter on Huldah Avenue was on stand-by in the event of flooding. Thegovernment set up facilities forshelter with proper protocol forCOVID-19 for people with the virus isolating at home. AllGovernment events on October 5–6 were cancelled, including Older Person's Month activities.[14]
When the initial advisory was issued forPotential Tropical Cyclone Twenty-Six, a hurricanewatch was issued for the provincesPinar del Río,Artemisa and theIsle of Youth while atropical storm watch was issued forLa Habana.[13] Three hours after the storm was upgraded toTropical Storm Delta, the watch for Pinar del Río was upgraded to ahurricane warning while a Tropical Storm Warning was issued for theIsle of Youth.[15] This, however, was downgraded to a tropical storm warning when Hurricane Delta jogged south and put less of the area in harm's way.[16]
As Delta was nearing landfall in Quintana Roo, many communities were still being impacted by theremnants ofHurricane Gamma, which caused six deaths and left thousands of people homeless.[17][18] Just minutes aftertropical storm watches and warnings for Gamma were dropped from the Yucatán Peninsula, a hurricane warning was issued for the northeastern part of the peninsula after Delta jogged south, putting more of the region in the line of potential impact.[19][20] Moretropical storm warnings were put up shortly thereafter.[16]PresidentAndrés Manuel López Obrador reported on October 6 that Admiral José Rafael Ojeda Durán,Secretary of the Navy, and Laura Velázquez, National Coordinator of Civil Protection, were traveling to Quintana Roo to help with preparations for Hurricane Delta. Thefederal government also had been communicating with Governor ofQuintana RooCarlos Joaquín González since October 5.[21] In addition, the president announced on October 6 the activation of theDN-III-E emergency plan and the mobilization of 5,000 soldiers of theArmed Forces to the southeast of the country, to help with the evacuation of sheltering of people still recovering from Gamma.[18] More than 4,000 people, including tourists and residents, were evacuated fromHolbox due to the threat of life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Delta. Seven of the 59 shelters that exist in themunicipality of Lázaro Cárdenas with a capacity of 1,800 people have been enabled.[22] A total of 41,000 tourists were evacuated from the state ofQuintana Roo, and a red alert was declared for the state. Many hotels andarchaeological sites in the Yucatán Peninsula were closed, including the busy historical sites ofChichen Itzá andTulum.[18] InCancún, 160 shelters were opened for tourists and residents. In addition, around 400 tourists were sheltering at the Cancún Convention Center, and some 300 guests and 200 staff from the Fiesta Americana Condesa hotel were taking shelter, at the Technological Institute of Cancún campus.[23] One lower divisionsoccer match was postponed on October 8.[24]
Tourists and visitors were ordered to leaveAlabama'sbarrier islands as of October 6 while astate of emergency was also declared for the state.[25]
Governor of MississippiTate Reeves declared astate of emergency on October 7 ahead of the storm. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency distributed 160,000 sandbags toHancock,Harrison, andJackson Counties.[26] On October 8, PresidentDonald Trump approvedGovernor Reeves' request for a federal emergency declaration in anticipation of Hurricane Delta.[27] On October 8, theGulfport MunicipalMarina advisedvessels to evacuate by 1:00 p.m. CDT (18:00 UTC).[28]
The area that Delta threatened was the same area affected by the strongerHurricane Laura a little over one month earlier. Many residents were still traumatized due to significant damage from Hurricane Laura still evident in coastal areas. Around 5,600 residents were still located in hotels six weeks after Laura struck because their homes were destroyed by thehurricane.[29] Additionally, 6,000 homes still hadtarps on them.[30]
On October 6,Governor of Louisiana,John Bel Edwards, declared astate of emergency ahead of Hurricane Delta.[31] The Houston SPCA evacuated 15 cats from a shelter inLouisiana to their shelter inHouston.[32] A group offirefighters fromTulsa, Oklahoma traveled toMonroe to set-up a shelter for evacuees and help withswift water rescues along the coast.[33]Waitr offered free grocery delivery inLafayette for those unable or choosing not to go out in public to prepare for the storm.[34] On October 7, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards conferred withPresident of the United StatesDonald Trump, who agreed to sign a disaster declaration for the entire state ahead of the storm.[35]
Incollege football, a matchup betweenLouisiana-Lafayette andCoastal Carolina was postponed to October 14.[36] The matchup betweenLSU andMissouri was relocated toFaurot Field inColumbia,Missouri as well.[37] More than 1,000Louisiana National Guardsmen, 7,500 utility workers, and dozens of high water rescue vehicles, boats, and aircraft were put on standby. Another 8,000 utility workers were waiting outside the state.[30]
On October 5, theoil drilling companies ofBP andBHP began evacuating non-essential personnel from their offshore platforms in theGulf of Mexico.[38]
The storm broughtpower outages and uprooted trees inCancún andCozumel.[39] A peak wind gust of 110 mph (175 km/h) was reported inPuerto Morelos,Quintana Roo, where the hurricane madelandfall. Anotherwind gust of 106 mph (171 km/h) was reported in nearby Cancún.[40] Civil defense official Luís Alberto Vázquez said there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, but reported that Delta downed about 95 trees and caused more than 266,000 customers to lose power in parts of theYucatán Peninsula.[41] Many hotels andresorts lost electricity andair conditioning.[42]Street flooding was reported in Cozumel.[43] Manypiers were destroyed due tostorm surge, and several buildings near thecoast were also destroyed.[40] Roughly 2,500 hectares of crops were damaged by the storm.[44] Before the arrival of thehurricane, a 65-year-old man inTizimin,Yucatán, lost his life after falling from the second floor of his house while preparing for the storm.[45] Following the storm a woman lost her life inMérida after touching a downedpole and thus beingelectrocuted.[46] Damage inCancún stood atMX$4 billion (US$186 million).[47]
25,000 customers in Texas andLouisiana lost power before Delta made landfall.[30] That number soon rose to 740,000 as Delta pulled inland.[48]
Street flooding was reported inBaton Rouge on October 8.[49] TheBaton Rouge Metropolitan Airport reported 8 inches (200 mm) of rain, which prompted aflash flood warning issued by theNational Weather Service. At least 25 motorists were stuck in high water in Baton Rouge.[30] The next day,Lake Charles Regional Airport reported a wind gust of 60 mph (97 km/h) as the storm approached at around 18:00 UTC, while another station in Lake Charles recorded a peak gust of 88 mph (142 km/h).[50][51] In the following hours, a WeatherFlow observing site nearCameron reported a wind gust of 51 mph (82 km/h) and aNational Ocean Servicestation atCalcasieu Pass reported sustained winds of 53 mph (85 km/h), a wind gust of 64 mph (103 km/h), and apressure of 983.8 mbar (29.05 inHg).[52][53][54] Around the time of landfall, a Florida Coastal Monitoring Tower nearLake Arthur reported a sustained wind of 77 mph (124 km/h) and a gust to 96 mph (154 km/h) while a NOAA National Weather Service water level gauge at Freshwater Canal Locks reported 8 feet (2.4 m) ofstorm surge.[55] Shortly after that, the Lake Charles Regional Airport reported sustained winds of 64 mph (103 km/h) with gusts to 95 mph (153 km/h).[56][57]
Delta made landfall just 12 miles (19 km) east of whereHurricane Laura did six weeks earlier.[30] Across the state, tarps and debris from Laura were blown away.[58] Many areas in hard-hitLake Charles were damaged again and some homes were flooded inMoss Bluff.[59] Additional damage occurred inJennings and widespread power outages were reported.[30] InCalcasieu Parish, several vehicles were overturned onI-10.[60] Due to multiple car accidents on theCalcasieu River Bridge, both directions of the bridge, carrying I-10 andUS 90, were closed to traffic.[61] The Bank Hotel inLake Arthur had its roof damaged when many of the shingles on top were torn off.[62] InSt. Martinville, a generator related fire caused the death of an 86-year-old man.[63] In addition, a 70-year-old woman inIberia Parish died in a fire likely caused by a natural gas leak following damage from Hurricane Delta.[64]
Delta uprooted many trees across Mississippi. One tree landed on a news vehicle while its crew was inside inJackson. No one was seriously injured.[60] A gust of 54 mph was reported in Jackson. In the Jackson metro area, damage was minimal, with power outages, a few uprooted trees, and a traffic signal damaged. InWarren County, emergency management reported 36 downed trees, including one that fell on a home inVicksburg. In the state, a total of 95,700 customers lost power. Major highways such asUS 61,US 84, andUS 51 were closed due to uprooted trees and debris.[65] InNatchez, a home was destroyed by a large uprooted tree, and several other homes, apartments, and businesses were damaged.[66] An extremely brief EF0 tornado inMcCall Creek also snapped or uprooted trees near a home on October 9.[67]
Widespreadtornado warnings were issued throughout the rest of theSoutheast and 13 other tornadoes were confirmed on October 10-11.[68][69][70][71] On October 10 inGeorgia, an EF1 tornado damaged a homeless shelter inCovington, injuring two people and displacing 30 others.[72][73][74] The next day, an EF1 tornado inLatta, South Carolina, destroyed a storage shed and damaged a billboard, mobile home, home, and trees. Later, another EF1 tornado inConway, South Carolina snapped and uprooted trees, significantly damaged a home and old barn, and caused minor damage to a storage shed and another home, injuring one person. An EF1 tornado inNakina, North Carolina damaged the roof and carport of a home as well as an outbuilding.[75]
The precursor to Delta brought squally weather in theLesser Antilles,ABC Islands,Virgin Islands,Puerto Rico, andHispaniola.[76][77] Tropical-storm force winds from Delta were first reported in Texas, where a Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network station at theGalveston Bay North Jetty reported sustained winds of 42 mph (68 km/h) and a wind gust of 49 mph (79 km/h) at around 16:00 UTC on October 9.[78] In the following hours, a wind gust of 55 mph (89 km/h) was reported at theJack Brooks Regional Airport nearPort Arthur, a wind gust of 60 mph (97 km/h) was observed atNederland, and a Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network station atTexas Point reported sustained winds of 62 mph (100 km/h) with agust of 78 mph (126 km/h).[52][53][54] InGalveston, about 100 miles (160 km) from where the center made landfall, winds toppled trees, street signs and two homes under construction. Due to sanddunes flattened by earlier storms, storm surge reached beneath raised houses. Large swells and rip currents prompted beach closures as far west as the mouth of theRio Grande River.[60] Two people drowned in Florida as a result of Hurricane Delta. One drowning occurred inPensacola where a 49-year-old man was caught in strongrip currents and another drowning occurred inDestin where a 19-year-old tourist drowned and another was rescued after they were caught in a rip current produced by Hurricane Delta.[79] The remnants of Delta also affected parts of theNortheastern United States. In New Jersey, a peak rainfall amount of 3.67 inches (93 mm) was recorded inWest Creek, and a top wind gust of 42 miles per hour (68 km/h) was recorded inSea Girt.[80] The rainfall inNew England also helped to ease thedrought in the region.[81]
InCancun, within a week of Delta's passage, electrical and water services were restored throughout the area.[82] TheConvoy of Hope handed out relief supplies to families affected by the hurricane.[83]
In the immediate aftermath of Delta, Louisiana GovernorJohn Bel Edwards stated that tens of thousands would need help recovering after the storm's destruction.[84] He also surveyed damage in areas hard-hit by the hurricane.[85]
Delta was the earliest 25th tropical or subtropical storm on record in an Atlantic hurricane season, surpassing the old mark of November 15, set byTropical Storm Gamma in2005.[86][87] Deltarapidly intensified from a 35 mph (55 km/h) tropical depression to a 130 mph (210 km/h) Category 4 hurricane in twenty-four hours, the fastest such occurrence on record in the Atlantic Basin.[87] Delta was the record-setting tenth named storm of the year to make landfall in the continental U.S., surpassing the previous record of nine set in1916. Delta was also the record-tying fourth named storm to hit Louisiana in 2020, tying the record set in2002; this record was surpassed byHurricane Zeta later in the month.[30][88][89]
The 2020 season was the second (along with 2005) in which an alphabetic list of 21storm names had been exhausted, necessitating use of theGreek alphabet auxiliary list. In March 2021, theWorld Meteorological Organization replaced that auxiliary list with a new 21-name supplemental list. As a result, the letterDelta will not be used to name anotherAtlantic hurricane for the foreseeable future.[90]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
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Tropical cyclones of the2020 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
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