Hurricane Alberto (1982)
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Page Template:Infobox weather event/style.css has no content. Alberto at peak intensity in the Straits of Florida on June 3 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 1, 1982 |
| Dissipated | June 6, 1982 |
| Category 1 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 985 mbar (hPa); 29.09 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 23 direct |
| Damage | $85 million (1982 USD) |
| Areas affected | Cuba, Florida |
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Part of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Alberto was a Category 1 hurricane that caused the worst flooding in western Cuba in 32 years. The first tropical storm and hurricane of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season, Alberto developed from a tropical disturbance on June 2 in the southern Gulf of Mexico. It rapidly organized and attained hurricane status the following day, the earliest date for a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean since Hurricane Alma in May 1970.Template:Hurdat Shortly after reaching peak winds off 85 mph (137 km/h), Alberto rapidly weakened due to approaching upper-level winds. Initial forecasts predicted the hurricane would continue northeastward into Florida; it turned sharply westward and drifted erratically for several days across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, before dissipating on June 6.
Alberto produced heavy rainfall in western Cuba, causing flash flooding and severe damage. The storm damaged 8,745 houses and destroyed 154 buildings, leaving hundreds homeless. Heavy rainfall continued in the country for several weeks after the storm, and damage from Alberto totaled about $85 million (1982 USD$, NaN 2018 USD). At least 23 people were killed in the country. Initially, Alberto was forecast to continue northeastward and strike Florida, though it turned and rapidly weakened, resulting in minor effects in the state.
Meteorological history
In late May, a tropical disturbance developed over the northwestern portion of the Caribbean, which moved over the Yucatán Peninsula. The convection, or thunderstorms, organized around a low pressure area on June 1. Emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, the low developed into Tropical Depression One on June 2 about 40 mi (65 km) north-northwest of Cancún. It continued to the northeast and intensified off the northwest coast of Cuba. By 06:00 UTC on June 3, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Alberto, based on a ship report, and it continued strengthening. At 15:45 UTC, Alberto attained hurricane status and soon reached peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h), and a minimum pressure of 985 mbar (29.1 inHg), as observed by airplanes. At the time, the hurricane was located about 120 miles (190 km) west-southwest of Key West, Florida. Soon after reaching peak intensity, Alberto weakened due to strong upper-level wind shear, which displaced the convection. Early on June 4, it weakened to tropical storm status as the circulation turned sharply westward. On the next day, Alberto fell to tropical depression status while it drifted back to the northeast. The circulation dissipated on June 6 about 70 miles (110 km) off southwest Florida.[1][2]
Preparations and impact
The rainbands of Alberto produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding across western Cuba. The rainfall peaked at 39.84 inches (1,012 mm), the fourth highest rainfall total in the country since 1963.[3] More than 50,000 were forced to evacuate from the resulting floods,[4] which were described as the worst flooding in the northwestern portion of the country since 1950.[5] There were at least 23 deaths in the country, possibly 24.[1][3] Damage was estimated at US$85 million.[6] The floods damaged 8,745 houses in the country,[7] leaving hundreds of people homeless.[8] In Pinar del Río Province, 71 homes were destroyed,[4] while 83 buildings collapsed in the capital city of Havana.[4] Six factories in Havana Province received damage.[9] The passage of Alberto left several districts in Havana without electricity, telegraph, telephone, and mail service. The Cuban military was deployed to rescue those trapped in flooded homes and also to remove fallen trees.[4] Agricultural damage included about 250,000 downed banana trees[9] and 400 drowned cattle.[10] Heavy rainfall continued for weeks after the passage of Alberto, resulting in severe damage to the tobacco crop. Subsequent winds and rains destroyed storage sheds which ruined 1.8 million lb. (900,000 kg) of the recently finished harvest; 2.6 million lb. (1.3 million kg) of tobacco leaves were also damaged.[10]
The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning from the Dry Tortugas to Marathon in the Florida Keys, and along the southwestern coastline northward to Fort Myers. A hurricane watch was also issued from Marathon to Jupiter Inlet. The NHC based their forecast on computer models anticipating that the storm would move across south Florida.[2][11] Officials ordered mandatory evacuations along the southwest coast of Florida. More than 1,000 left their homes to stay in nine emergency shelters.[12] Air Florida canceled all flights from Miami to Key West. Officials closed schools in Monroe County at midday on June 3 and also sent all nonessential city and county employees home.[13] Gale-force winds and heavy rainfall were reported in the lower Florida Keys;[1] Key West reported 6.25 inches (159 mm) during a 24-hour period, with the maximum reported winds at a land station being 70 mph (110 km/h) in the Dry Tortugas.[11] Rainfall peaked at 16.47 inches (418 mm) at Tavernier.[14] Alberto spawned three tornadoes and a waterspout in the Florida Keys,[15] one of which at Stock Island which damaged several boats.[12] One of the three tornadoes picked up a moving car and lightly injured the driver. Another knocked down two telephone poles on the Overseas Highway, which resulted in an hour traffic delay.[13] Damage from the tornadoes totaled US$275,000.[16][17]
See also
- Other storms of the same name
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Cuba since 1963
- List of Florida hurricanes
- Tropical cyclone rainfall climatology
- Timeline of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gilbert Clark (1983). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1982" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Hurricane Center (1982). "Hurricane Alberto Preliminary Report". Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidráulicos (2003). "Lluvias intensas observadas y grandes inundaciones reportadas" (in español). Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2007-02-10. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Alberto termed tropical depression". The Indiana Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. 1982-06-05. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-08-06 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ↑ Latin America Weekly Report (1982-06-11). "Cuba/Hurricane".
- ↑ EM-DAT: the International Disaster Database (2007). "Disaster List for Cuba". Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. Archived from the original on 2007-05-13. Retrieved 2007-03-08. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "News Report on Hurricane Alberto (2)". Associated Press. 1982-06-05.
- ↑ "23 Cubans Die in Hurricane Alberto". Washington Post. 1982-06-06. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Les Kjos (1982-06-05). "Alberto, the season's first hurricane that killed at least..." United Press International. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Latin America Commodities Report (1982-07-02). "CUBA: Tobacco crop hit by bad weather".
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 National Hurricane Center (1982). "Hurricane Alberto Preliminary Report (Page 2)". Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Florida Spared as Hurricane Alberto Fizzles". Washington Post. 1982-06-05. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Randall Hackley (1982-06-04). "Hurricane Alberto forces mass evacuations". Panama City News Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-08-06 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ↑ David Roth (2006). "Rainfall summary for Hurricane Alberto (1982)". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ↑ Tom Grazulis and Bill McCaul (2006). "Every Hurricane that has Spawned a Tornado". The Tornado Project. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ↑ National Climatic Data Center (1982). Event Report for Florida (Report). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ↑ National Climatic Data Center (1982). Event Report for Florida (Report). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
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