Hurricane Dolly (2008)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Dolly
Type=hurricane
Year=2008
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Dolly July 23, 2008.jpg


Formed=July 20, 2008
Dissipated=July 25, 2008
1-min winds=85
Pressure=964
Da

Damagespost=estimated
Fatalities=21 direct, 1 indirect, 3 missing
Areas=Guatemala, Yucatan Peninsula, northern Mexico, South Texas, New Mexico
Hurricane season=2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Dolly was a tropical cyclone that made landfall in extreme southern Texas in July of 2008. Dolly was the fourth tropical cyclone and second hurricane to form during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the first U.S. landfalling hurricane of the 2008 season. Dolly developed on July 20 from an area of disturbed weather in association with a strong tropical wave. It was named Dolly at the same time it formed—skipping the tropical depression phase entirely as the precursor wave already had tropical storm-force winds. This marked the earliest time a fourth named cyclone has formed since the 2005 season, which holds the record.cite web| author=National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Research Division| title=Atlantic hurricane best track ("HURDAT") | publisher = National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration | date=2006-02-17 | accessdate = 2008-07-21 | url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Data_Storm.html]

The tropical storm made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula near Cancún early on July 21, leaving at least 17 people dead in . The storm caused no deaths in Texas, though three were injured, and it caused an estimated $1.2 billion dollars in damage; The remnants of the storm caused two deaths in New Mexico.

Meteorological history

An area of disturbed weather formed over the tropical Atlantic about 1600 miles (2600 km) east of the southern Windward Islands on July 13 in association with a strong tropical wave. The wave tracked across the Caribbean Sea during the third week of July. Despite producing strong convection and tropical storm-force sustained winds, it failed to develop a low-level circulation until July 20. That morning, reconnaissance aircraft found a low-level circulation and the system was identified as a tropical cyclone by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The reconnaissance data showed that the storm had maximum sustained winds exceeding the 34-knot (39 mph; 63 km/h) threshold for tropical storm status. Additionally, buoy data corroborated that the system was producing speeds of this velocity at sea level, so the NHC declared the system to be a tropical storm—bypassing the tropical depression stage altogether—and giving it the name "Dolly".cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.discus.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Special Discussion Number 1|last=Knabb|first=Richard|date=2008-07-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-20]

At this point, Dolly was located 270 mi (435 km) east of Chetumal, and 230 mi (365 km) southeast of Cozumel;cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.public.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Special Advisory Number 1|last=Knabb|first=Richard|date=2008-07-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-20] the tropical storm was expected to make landfall later that day. At the time of Dolly's approach to Quintana Roo, 100,000 tourists were in the state, and 45,000 of them in Cancún. Originally, the storm was forecast by the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Mexico's national weather service) to make landfall between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.cite web|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5ZU88tlBl|title=Aviso de Ciclón Tropical: Océano Atlántico, Aviso No. 3|last=López Ortiz|first=Itzel|date=2008-07-20|publisher=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21 Accessed through WebCite.] However, as the storm approached the Quintana Roo coastline, it lost its organization and its surface circulation center disappeared.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.discus.003.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Discussion Number 3|last=Franklin|first=James|date=2008-07-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-21] When the storm was just offshore, it began reorganizing, and a new circulation center formed in the heavy convection on the northern sector of the storm.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.discus.004.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Discussion Number 4|last=Pasch|first=Richard|date=2008-07-21|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-21] In essence, this caused the storm to briefly move parallel to the coastline, shifting the point of Dolly's first landfall to north of Cancún. The northward shift also caused the bulk of the storm to stay over water, reducing its impact on the Yucatán Peninsula.cite news|url=http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=9$3403000000$3869894&f=20080721|title=Se restablece la normalidad en Quintana Roo|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Diario de Yucatán|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21]

After moving into the Gulf of Mexico, weather conditions became favorable for additional intensification, with low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures. Dolly strengthened steadily beginning on July 21, and by the afternoon of July 22, it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At this point, the storm was located about 165 mi (265 km) east-southeast of Brownsville, Texas.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.public.010.shtml?|title=Hurricane Dolly Avisory Number 10|last=Avila|first=Lixion|date=2008-07-22|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-22] Steady strengthening continued that evening and into the morning of July 23, at which point Dolly reached Category 2 intensity while just east of the Rio Grande Valley at 10:00 am that morning with winds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 964 mbar. At 1:00 pm CDT (1800 UTC) that same day, Dolly made landfall on South Padre Island, Texas, at peak strength as a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph (160 km/h) winds.cite web|last=Avila|first=Lixion|title=Hurricane Dolly Position Estimate, 1 p.m. CDT|date=2008-07-23|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-23|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.posest.07231753.shtml?] cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.public_b.013.shtml?|title=Hurricane Dolly Intermediate Advisory Number 13B|last=Avila|first=Lixion|date=2008-07-23|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-23] The circulation weakened into a remnant low over northern Mexico on the afternoon of July 25, then crossed back into the United States, passing through the Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua/El Paso, Texas metropolitan area on the morning of July 26 cite web|url=http://flhurricane.com/cyclone/showflat.php?Number=80994&gonew=1|title=Dolly's Remnant Low Holds Together: Causing West Texas/Desert SW Flooding|last=cieldumort |first=|date=2008-07-27|publisher=Central Florida Hurricane Center 2008|accessdate=2008-07-27] and then north across New Mexico. The remnant low of Dolly finally began to dissipate late in the evening of July 27 approximately convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on west-northwest of Dalhart, Texas. cite web|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/tcpat4.html|title=PUBLIC ADVISORY NUMBER 31 FOR REMNANTS OF DOLLY|last=Collins|first=|date=2008-07-27|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2008-07-27]

Preparations

First landfall

On July 20, the Mexican government issued a tropical storm warning for the Yucatán Peninsula from Campeche to the international border with Belize. A few hours later, Belize's government issued a tropical storm watch from Belize City to the Mexican border.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al04/al042008.public_a.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Intermediate Advisory Number 1A|last=Knabb|first=Richard|date=2008-07-20|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-07-20]

That same morning, the Quintana Roo Civil Protection authorities in Chetumal declared a "blue alert" for the entire state due to the storm's proximity.cite news|url=http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=9$3403000000$3869256&f=20080720|title=Nueva tormenta tropical, "Dolly", amenaza a la Península|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-20|publisher=Diario de Yucatán|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-20|accessdate=2008-07-20] This alert was upgraded to an "orange alert" that afternoon,cite news|url=http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=9$3403000000$3869256&f=20080720|title=Alerta naranja en Quintana Roo por "Dolly": mañana estará a 15 km al noreste de Mérida|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Diario de Yucatan|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21] and to a "red alert" that evening. On Cozumel, the ferry service connecting the island to the mainland was suspended, and local government oulawed sales of alcohol and asked residents to stay in their homes after 6:00 pm local time. The state government also ordered the evacuation of 1,000 peoplecite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/523910.html|title=Alerta en Cancún por tormenta Dolly|last=Notimex|date=2008-07-20|publisher=El Universal|accessdate=2008-07-21] from the islands of Banco Chinchorro and Punta Allen,cite news|url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jVhaz-8lTkPIvQ4CUqhe7qquE88w|title=Warnings as Dolly heads for Cancun|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=The Press Association|accessdate=2008-07-21] and evacuations were also ordered in Tulum.cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2036891720080720|title=Tropical storm Dolly heads for Yucatan|last=Cortazar|first=Jose|date=2008-07-20|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-07-21] Later, evacuation orders were also made for Holbox Island, causing the total number of evacuees to reach 2,000.cite news|url=http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=9$3403000000$3869716&f=20080721|title=Desalojo en la zona costera|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Diario de Yucatán|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21] In the Solidaridad municipality, 238 people were put in shelters to weather out the storm. Elsewhere, five shelters were made available to the population, but only one family of three used them.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524067.html|title=Levanta Quinta Roo alerta tras paso de "Dolly"|last=Varillas|first=Adriana|date=2008-07-21|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21] The Yucatán state government issued a blue alert, followed by an orange alert when the storm approached the state.cite news|url=http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=9$3403000000$3869896&f=20080721|title=La tormenta "Dolly", frente a las costas yucatecas|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Diario de Yucatán|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21]

Second landfall

accessdate=2008-07-22]

In the Gulf of Mexico, Royal Dutch Shell evacuated 125 personnel from its oil rigs on July 20, and evacuated another 60 on July 21. Diamond Offshore Drilling removed non-essential employees from some of its rigs,cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5899237.html|title=Offshore operators evacuate some workers|last=Clanton |first=Brett|coauthors=Hays, Kristen|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Houston Chronicle|accessdate=2008-07-21] and the Rowan Companies also evacuated one of their eight oil rigs in the Gulf.cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=azUd2TJBIDPg&refer=home|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Prompts Hurricane Watches in Texas, Mexico |last=McLean|first=Demian|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-07-21] Also on July 21, Chevron announced that it was evacuating some of its workers from its oil rigs in the Gulf, but did not disclose how many were removed.cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807211702DOWJONESDJONLINE000500_FORTUNE5.htm|title=Chevron: Gulf Storm Evacuation Won't Impact Production|last=Daker|first=Susan|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Dow Jones Newswires|accessdate=2008-07-21] On July 22, BP announced the evacuation of non-essential personnel from two of its rigs,cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aDQJuV6TzPzM&refer=uk|title=BP Evacuates Two Rigs in Gulf of Mexico as Dolly Approaches |last=Carroll|first=Joe|date=2008-07-22|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-07-22] and on July 23, Petróleos Mexicanos evacuated 66 people from one of its rigs.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524658.html|title=Evacua Pemex a 66 trabajadores por Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-23|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-23] In spite of this, oil production was not expected to be affected by Dolly.

In Texas, Governor Rick Perry activated 1,200 members of the Texas Military Forces, among other emergency personnel. Perry also ordered 250 buses to be placed in San Antonio, so they could be used if evacuations became necessary.cite news|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5ZULsQJnb|title=Texas, Mexico prepare for Tropical Storm Dolly|last=Sherman|first=Christopher|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-21 Accessed through WebCite.] Perry declared 14 counties of the state as disaster areas on July 22.cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5901432.html|title=Governor issues Dolly disaster declaration |author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-22|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-22] The Texas Department of Transportation put construction contractors in the Rio Grande Valley on notice of a possible storm.cite news | author=Staff writer | title=TxDOT prepares for Tropical Storm Dolly|date=2008-07-21|publisher=KRGV-TV|accessdate=2008-07-21|url=http://www.newschannel5.tv/2008/7/21/994891/TxDOT-prepares-for-Tropical-Storm-Dolly-] Cameron County emergency officials urged residents living along the Rio Grande to evacuate, for fear of the levees alongside the river bursting.cite news|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/county_88552___article.html/officials_levees.html|title=Officials: Levees may not hold up to Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-22|publisher=The Brownsville Herald|accessdate=2008-07-22] Port of Brownsville officials also decided to close the port at midnight Wednesday, July 23, through midnight Friday, July 25.cite news|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/afternoon_88554___article.html/down_port.html|title=Truck traffic at Port to shut down this afternoon|last=Perez-Trevino|first=Emma|date=2008-07-22|publisher=The Brownsville Herald|accessdate=2008-07-22] The United States Navy removed 104 airplanes from Truax Field and flew them to bases further inland, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement evacuated its detention facility in Port Isabel.cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gVWjsPEiqe1tEu2mhBIRaxxGi8owD9235C000|title=Dolly now a hurricane, set to hit Texas coast|last=Sherman|first=Christopher|date=2008-07-22|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-23]

On July 21, the state of Veracruz put 166 municipalities in preventive alert, and expected that the storm would exacerbate existing flooding.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524069.html|title=Prevén que Dolly impacte hoy en Veracruz como huracán|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21] In Tamaulipas, state authorities put the municipalities of Soto la Marina, San Fernando, Matamoros, Valle Hermoso, Río Bravo and Reynosa on alert and prepared shelters.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/69108.html|title=‘Dolly’ intensifica su fuerza|author=Varillas, A. et al.|date=2008-07-22|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-22] Later, on July 22, 23,000 people were planned to be evacuated from Matamoros, Soto la Marina and San Fernando;cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524383.html|title=Declaran alerta máxima en Tamaulipas por Dolly|last=Aguilar Grimaldo|first=Roberto|date=2008-07-22|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-22] however, of those, only about 13,000 followed the evacuation order, and were placed in 21 shelters.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524829.html|title=Se degrada Dolly a tormenta tropical|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-24|publisher=Associated Press|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-25] 15 shelters—with a capacity to hold 4,500 people—were activated in Reynosa.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524358.html|title=Activan en Reynosa albergues por paso de Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-22|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-22] On the night of July 22, the federal government, through the Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB), declared a state of emergency in 17 municipalities, making them eligible to receive federal assistance funding.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524526.html|title=Declara Segob emergencia en 17 municipios de Tamaulipas por Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-22|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-23] SEGOB also ordered 600 Army troops and 350 Marines deployed to Tamaulipas,cite news|url=http://www2.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/mexico/005895/envian-600-soldados-tamaulipas-huracan-dolly|title=Envían 600 soldados a Tamaulipas por huracán 'Dolly'|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-22|publisher=Noticieros Televisa|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-23] a number that later grew to 4,800 military and police. Further inland, on July 21, the Nuevo León state government began to prepare 300 shelters throughout the state,cite news|url=http://www2.milenio.com/node/50450|title=Decreta gobierno de Nuevo León alerta ante posible llegada de Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Milenio|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21] and the Coahuila state government announced a state of alert the next day. On July 23, Coahuila authorities emitted an orange alert due to the risk of flooding from Dolly's remnants, and activated 2,000 military and police to the state.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524805.html|title=Declaran 'Alerta naranja' en Coahuila por Dolly|last=Fernández Valverde|first=Hilda|date=2008-08-23|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-25]

Impact

First landfall

In Guatemala, the rain caused landslides and at least 17 deaths, with 12 members of one family killed near La Unión in the department of Zacapa and four from another family in San Pedro Soloma, Huehuetenango. One more person drowned after trying to cross the flooded Punilá River in La Unión.Before it made landfall, Dolly caused heavy rain in western Cuba, primarily in the provinces of Isla de la Juventud, Pinar del Río and La Habana.cite web|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5ZSzkZ7Oq|title=Aviso de Ciclón Tropical No. 2|last=Centro de Pronósticos|date=2008-07-20|publisher=Instituto de Meteorlogía de la República de Cuba|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-21 Accessed through WebCite.] In Mexico, the state of Quintana Roo reported no deaths from the storm, and no major damage was reported in Cancún;cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2133460320080721|title=Storm Dolly to become hurricane, expected to hit Texas|last=Cortazar|first=Jose|date=2008-07-21|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-07-21] however, the city reported significant beach erosion.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/69114.html|title=Tormenta ‘Dolly’ se llevó la arena de playas de Cancún|last=Varillas|first=Adriana|date=2008-07-23|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-23] Four fisherman were reported missing after Dolly passed over the Yucatán peninsula, and one of them was found dead on the beach near Puerto Progreso, Yucatán.cite news|url=http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2008/07/23/hallan-muerto-a-pescador-extraviado-en-yucatan-tras-paso-de-dolly|title=Hallan muerto a pescador extraviado en Yucatán tras paso de Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-24|publisher=La Jornada|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-25]

econd landfall

The storm contributed to a $2.16 price increase in oil futures in the New York Mercantile Exchange in July 21,cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121664370370270061.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=Storm Stirs Gains for Oil Prices|last=Baskin|first=Brian|date=2008-07-21|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-07-21] although prices fell again after Dolly missed most of the oil rigs in the Gulf.cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwRexKxpNNnEe28gc_uYRL9i2nig|title=Oil prices shrink as Dolly set to miss refineries|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-22|publisher=Agence France-Presse|accessdate=2008-07-22] The Minerals Management Service indicated that Dolly caused 4.66% of the total oil production and 5.13% of the natural gas production to be shut in.cite web|url=http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2008/press0722.htm|title=Tropical Storm Dolly Activity Statistics Update|last=Minerals Management Service|date=2008-07-22|publisher=United States Department of the Interior|accessdate=2008-07-22]

United States

In the United States, President George W. Bush declared 15 counties of Texas as a federal disaster area.cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/07/20080724-5.html|title=Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Texas |author=Office of the Press Secretary|date=2008-07-24|publisher=The White House|accessdate=2008-07-25] Hurricane Dolly is considered to be the most destructive hurricane to hit the Rio Grande Valley in 41 years; the last such storm was Beulah in 1967, but Beulah was not more damaging; it was just deadlier. It was the worst hurricane to hit Brownsville since 1980's Allen. No deaths were reported as a result of the storm, but one boy was injured after falling seven floors from a condominium balcony in South Padre Island.cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2227871720080725?sp=true|title=Flooding feared along U.S.-Mexico border from Dolly|last=Mitchell|first=Joe|date=2008-07-24|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-07-25] Early on July 23, an apartment complex roof partially collapsed in South Padre Island. Power was knocked out to more than 13,000 customers in Cameron County, Texas. Sustained winds were estimated at 100 mph with gusts of 120 mph when Dolly made landfall. Dolly's strongest winds and heaviest rains were generally on the left or south side of the eyewall. The winds blew a sign off a hotel.cite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_re_us/tropical_weather_75|title=Hurricane Dolly front edge hits Texas-Mexico coast|last=White|first=Elizabeth|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-23] Residents of Brownsville reported downed tree limbs, among other small damages.cite web|first=Demian|last=McLean|title=Hurricane Dolly, Now Category 2, Slams Texas Coast (Update2)|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Bloomberg |accessdate=2008-07-23|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aLzFelkg17W0&refer=latin_america] In addition, at least two tornadoes were reported in San Patricio County, well to the north of the landfall location. One of them uprooted trees and knocked over several roofs and weak structures.cite web|title=Storm Prediction Center Reports - 07/23/08|date=2008-07-23|author=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate=2008-07-23|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/080723_rpts.html] By noon on July 23, the storm had left 36,000 customers in south Texas without electric power, a number that rose to 61,000 by 3:00 p.m,cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPBFIvVpm43k&refer=home|title=Hurricane Dolly Makes Landfall on South Texas Coast (Update1) |last=McLean|first=Demian|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-07-23] and to 122,800 by 6:00 p.m.cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN2344514220080723|title=UPDATE 2-Dolly power outages jump to 122,800|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-07-24] At the height of the disaster, some 155,000 homes were without electricity.The Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, declared 14 counties in South Texas a disaster area.cite news|url=http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7034613&version=30&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1|title=Hurricane Dolly Makes Headlines in SW Texas, Galveston Under Flood Advisory|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-23|publisher=KRIV|accessdate=2008-07-23] Initial insured property damage estimates are near $600 million (2008 USD)cite news|url=http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=13505|title=Hurricane Dolly loss estimated at $600 million|last=Collins|first=Stuart|date=2008-07-24|publisher=Business Insurance|accessdate=2008-07-24] with total property damage estimates (based on a 2–1 ratio of total damage to insured damage) near $1.2 billion (2008 USD) in the state (with a large proportion of the losses being agricultural), and the Rio Grande cotton crop was expected to be a complete loss.cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPBFIvVpm43k&refer=home|title=Dolly Makes Landfall in Texas; Downgraded to Storm (Update3) |last=McLean|first=Demian|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-07-24] After weakening to a tropical storm, Dolly spun off another tornado near Poth early on July 24 with minor damage.cite web|title=Storm Prediction Center Reports - 07/24/08|date=2008-07-24|author=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | accessdate=2008-07-23|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/080724_rpts.html] Near noon on July 24, an EF0 tornado touched down in the southern edge of downtown San Antonio near the Interstate 10–Interstate 37 interchange. Significant damage was reported in the area, with several commercial buildings losing their roofs and numerous houses damaged. Damage was also reported at the Windcrest Tower. About 1,500 customers lost power as a result.cite news|url=http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=9dcb8eab-b7f6-49be-8a30-3f5b8fef3a9e|title=National Weather Service Confirms S.A Damage Caused By Tornado|last= |first= Jennifer|date=2008-07-24|publisher=WOAI-TV|accessdate=2008-07-25] Flash flooding from the remnant low of Dolly occurred in El Paso, Texas on July 26:cite news|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_10027639|title=Home repair companies inundated with calls |last=Sanchez|first= Stephanie|date=2008-07-29|publisher=El Paso Times|accessdate=2008-07-29] one person was killed in an adjacent portion of New Mexico from a weather-related traffic accident.cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWwbp01l9PsqfiJ8aR2w5qS-CZFAD925TJQO0|title=Hurricane Dolly remnants bring downpour to El Paso |last=Staff Writer|first= |date=2008-07-26|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-26] Additional flash flooding and river flooding on the Rio Ruidoso in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico occurred on the morning of July 27, after more than convert|6|in|mm|abbr=on of rainfall from Dolly's remnants: hundreds of tourists, campers and residents were evacuatedcite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5BEUHOEnKgo0y3Ti8_OBvyMK-4QD926CGP80|title=300 evacuated from flooding in Ruidoso, NM, area|last=Staff Writer|first= |date=2008-07-27|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-27] and the storm caused damage at the Ruidoso Downs racetrack.cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10014565|title=300 evacuated from flooding in Ruidoso, N.M., area|last=Staff Writer|first= |date=2008-07-27|publisher=San Jose Mercury News|accessdate=2008-07-27] One person was killed in the Rio Ruidoso flooding,cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jl9G1owq89d46IoWx2i_mGFIhQpgD9275NO80|title=Body found in debris from N.M. flash flooding|last=Caldwell|first= Alicia|date=2008-07-28|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-07-28] approximately 900 persons required rescue, approximately 500 structures were damaged, and initial damage estimates for Ruidoso, New Mexico were in the range of $15–20 million.cite news|url=http://www.koat.com/news/17019853/detail.html|title=Rescue Workers Reach Last Stranded Victims|last=Staff Writer|first= |date=2008-07-30|publisher=KOAT-TV|accessdate=2008-07-30] Distant effects included high waves and rip currents throughout the Gulf of Mexico. One person was killed and at least nine others had to be rescued from Panama City Beach, Florida, as a result of rip currents caused by Dolly.cite news|author=Staff writer | url=http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/25818979.html|title=Beach Visitors Ignore Double Red Warning Flags|date=2008-07-23|publisher=WJHG|accessdate=2008-07-23] The remnants of Dolly also impacted the south and middle of the midwest including the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois, Indiana, Tennesse, and some parts of southern Missouri causing severe weather reports and some damage of property.

Mexico

In Matamoros, Tamaulipas, downed power lines fell on floodwaters and electrocuted one man to death. The hurricane caused 19 colonias to lose electric power, and about 125,000 users lost power the night after Dolly's second landfall.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524923.html|title=Reportan un muerto por Dolly en Matamoros|last=Aguilar Grimaldo|first=Roberto|date=2008-07-24|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-25] 111 colonias were flooded, and 50 of those suffered severe flooding. The storm also knocked down trees, billboards and traffic signals in the city.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524713.html|title=Mantiene Tamaulipas alerta máxima ante paso de Dolly|last=Loya|first=Julio M. |date=2008-07-23|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-23] Soldiers rescued a family trapped in their home near the mouth of the Rio Grande.cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/524657.html|title=Rescatan soldados a familia varada por Dolly|author=Staff writer|date=2008-07-23|publisher=Associated Press|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-23] On July 26, the remnant low of Dolly dropped heavy rains on Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, causing landslides, flooding, the collapse of a historic churchcite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5911976.html|title=Mexico colonial church falls after rains|author=Staff Writer|date=2008-07-28|publisher=Houston Chronicle|language=English|accessdate=2008-07-29] and evacuation of numerous colonias.cite news|url=http://www.diario.com.mx/nota.php?notaid=4371ca43cf66d14b95b3de1f0cc522d7|title=‘Es alto el peligro’|author=Juan de Dios Olivas/P. Sánchez|date=2008-07-27|publisher=El Diario de Mexico Edicion Ciudad Juarez|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-07-27] Damage estimates in Mexico are around $300 million (2008 USD).

Records

Hurricane Dolly was the third most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. in the month of July in recorded history, behind a storm in 1916 and Dennis in 2005. Dolly was also the second most destructive U.S. hurricane in July, behind Dennis. It also marked the fastest start of a hurricane season since 2005. Dolly was the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas before the month of August on record, and was the strongest hurricane to hit Texas since Hurricane Bret in 1999. Dolly's estimated damage in Texas was 1.2 billion; if this is accurate, it would be the 4th most destructive Texas hurricane on record, behind Hurricane Alicia, Hurricane Rita, and Hurricane Ike later in 2008. When Tropical Storm Dolly formed on July 20, it marked the 7th time the name "Dolly" had been used to name an Atlantic storm, and the 5th "Hurricane" to be named Dolly in the Atlantic.

ee also

*Tropical cyclone
*2008 Atlantic hurricane season
*List of Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdPxiYfIwgM&eurl=http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn Footage of the storm in Texas]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/video/DOLLY.mp4 High resolution satellite imagery of Dolly's landfall]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/dolly2008.html HPC rainfall page for Dolly]