Tropical Storm Norman (2000)

Infobox Hurricane
Name= Tropical Storm Norman
Basin = EPac
Year = 2000
Type=Tropical storm
Image location=TS Norman 2000.jpg


Formed=September 20, 2000
Dissipated=September 22, 2000
1-min winds=45
Pressure=998
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=None reported
Areas=Mexico
Hurricane season= 2000 Pacific hurricane seasonTropical Storm Norman was a moderate tropical storm that hit Mexico in mid September, 2000.

Meteorological history

The origins of Tropical Storm Norman were from the same tropical wave that spawned Atlantic Hurricane Gordon,cite web|author=Lixion A. Avila and Eric S. Blake|date=2000-10-13|title=Tropical Storm Norman Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000norman.html] which emerged off the coast of Africa on September 4. The wave moved westward, [cite web|author=Stacy R. Stewart|date=2001-05-21|title=Hurricane Gordon Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000gordon.html] with the southern portion of the wave crossing Central America while Gordon formed in the northwest Caribbean Sea. When the wave reached the eastern Pacific Ocean on September 16, it interacted with a pre-existing low-level circulation, which produced a large area of disturbed weather. On September 18 the convection began contracting and organizing, gradually developing a circular area of thunderstorms with well-defined outflow. At 0000 UTC on September 20, it is estimated the system developed into Tropical Depression Sixteen-E, about 205 miles (335 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima.

Upon first becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was located within an area of weak steering currents. Initially it was forecast to remain offshore; with warm waters and light wind shear, the depression was forecast to intensify into a strong tropical storm, and possibly attain hurricane status.cite web|author=Stacy Stewart|date=2000-09-20|title=Tropical Depression Sixteen-E Discussion One|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NEP1600.001.html] However, the circulation was difficult to locate, and as such its exact motion was uncertain. [cite web|author=Lixion Avila|date=2000-09-20|title=Tropical Depression Sixteen-E Discussion Two|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NEP1600.002.html] Ships in the region confirmed the center of the storm as further northeast than previously thought, but also confirmed tropical storm force winds; as a result, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Norman. [cite web|author=Jack Beven|date=2000-09-20|title=Tropical Storm Norman Discussion Three|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NEP1600.003.html] Strengthening continued, and Norman attained peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h), shortly prior to making landfall west of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, late on September 20.

Initially, the storm was forecast to dissipate quickly over land, although the possibility was noted for a westward turn, due to an anticyclone located over central Mexico. [cite web|author=Jack Beven|date=2000-09-20|title=Tropical Storm Norman Discussion Four|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NEP1600.004.html] About 10 hours after moving ashore, Norman weakened to tropical depression status, and while moving further inland its track turned to the northwest. The center became very ill-defined over the mountainous terrain of southwest Mexico, although stronger rainbands persisted offshore. [cite web|author=Lixion Avila|date=2000-09-21|title=Tropical Depression Norman Discussion Six|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NEP1600.006.html] Late on September 21, the poorly-defined center of Norman emerged into open waters near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and subsequently turned northward. At first, the depression was forecast to re-intensify into a minimal tropical storm; [cite web|author=Stacy Stewart|date=2000-09-22|title=Tropical Depression Norman Discussion Nine|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-09-28|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NEP1600.009.html] however, its previous land interaction prevented it from ever re-strengthening. The circulation remained close to the coastline, and at 1500 UTC on September 22, Norman made landfall near Mazatlán, Sinaloa, as a weak tropical depression. Within a few hours, the cyclone dissipated over land.

Impact

Norman produced heavy rainfall across western Mexico, officially peaking at convert|14|in|mm|abbr=on at Callejones, Colima. At La Villita, Michoacan, total rainfall reached convert|9.5|in|mm|abbr=on. The rainfall caused severe flooding and mudslides, which killed about nine people. [cite web|author=Staff Writer|title=TROPICAL STORM NORMAN FORMS OFF SOUTHWEST COAST|year=2000|publisher=San Jose Mercury News|accessdate=2008-09-29|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB715AE1711E5EF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM] Four of the deaths occurred in the State of Chiapas as a result of a mudslide. Two more were swept away by raging rivers in the State of Veracruz, and another two people drowned in the State of Guerrero. In Chiapas, authorities evacuated about 300 families due to the flooding. [cite web|author=Staff Writer|title=Killer rains hit Mexico|year=2000|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2008-09-29|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2000/09/21/mexico_rains000921.html]

ee also

*Other tropical cyclones named Norman

References