Tropical Storm Marco (2008)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Marco
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2008
Basin=Atl
Image location=Marco 6 oct 2008.jpg


Formed=October 6, 2008
Dissipated=October 8, 2008
1-min winds=55
Pressure=998
Da

Fatalities=None reported
Areas=Mexico
Hurricane season=2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Marco was the thirteenth named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.

While at tropical storm strength Marco was an extremely small storm; tropical storm-force winds extended out only up to 10 mi (20 km) from the center of Marco.cite web|author=Franklin|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-07|title=Tropical Storm Marco Advisory Number 4|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.public.004.shtml] This is likely to make it the smallest tropical cyclone on record in any basin;cite web| author=NHC Hurricane Research Division| title=Atlantic hurricane best track ("HURDAT")| publisher=NOAA| date=2008-01-01|accessdate=2008-10-08| url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/tracks1851to2007-apr08.txt] the previous record holder was Cyclone Tracy in 1974, which featured tropical storm force winds 30 mi (50 km) from the center. However, this fact will require confirmation by a final report on this storm.cite web|author=Atlantic hurricane research division|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E5.html|title=Subject: E5) Which are the largest and smallest tropical cyclones on record?|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-10-07]

Meteorological history

On October 3, a broad area of low pressure developed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200810030550.txt|title=Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook for October 3, 2008 at 0600 UTC|last=Beven|date=2008-10-03|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08] Over the next few days, the system slowly drifted westward towards the Yucatan Peninsula and remained disorganized.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200810041145.txt|title=Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook for October 4, 2008 at 1200 UTC|last=Avila|date=2008-10-04|publisher=National Hurricane Center
accessdate=2008-10-08] Thunderstorm activity increased as the system crossed the Yucatan Peninsula before emerging in the southern Bay of Campeche on October 6.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWOAT/TWOAT.200810061153.txt|title=Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook for October 6, 2008 at 1200 UTC|last=Rhome|date=2008-10-06|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08] Organization continued and later that morning, it was upgraded to Tropical Depression Thirteen.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.discus.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion number 1|coauthors=Rhome and Pasch|date=2008-10-06|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08] That evening, a Hurricane Hunter mission into the system found that the depression had become a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and was given the name Marco.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.discus.002.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Marco Discussion number 2|coauthors=Rhome and Pasch|date=2008-10-06|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08]

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that Marco was an extremely small tropical cyclone and that its size was making it difficult to use satellite estimates for its intensity.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.discus.003.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Marco Discussion number 3|last=Stewart|date=2008-10-07|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08] Without a new flight from the Hurricane Hunters into Marco to find its intensity, the NHC estimated that Marco made landfall in Veracruz with 65 mph (100 km/h) winds on October 7.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.discus.004.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Marco discussion number 4|last=Franklin|date=2008-10-07|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08] cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.discus.005.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Marco Discussion number 5|coauthors=Rhome/Pasch|date=2008-10-07|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08] Marco quickly dissipated over Central Mexico and the NHC issued its final advisory early on October 8.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.discus.007.shtml?|title=Tropical Depression Marco discussion number 7|last=Blake|date=2008-10-08|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-10-08]

Preparations and impact

Upon the storm's formation, the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for the Gulf of Mexico from Tuxpan to Punta El Lagarto.cite web|author=Rhome/Pasch|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2008-10-06|accessdate=2008-10-06|title=Tropical Depression Thirteen Advisory Number 1|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.public.001.shtml] That afternoon the government issued a hurricane watch between Cabo Rojo and Veracruz, and extended the tropical storm warning northward to Cabo Rojo.cite web|author=Rhome/Pasch|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2008-10-06|accessdate=2008-10-06|title=Tropical Storm Marco Advisory Number 2|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2008/al13/al132008.public.002.shtml] Marco formed in the area of Mexico's main oil-facilites, but there were no disruptions.cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE49582320081006|title=Tropical storm Marco forms near Mexico oil fields|last=Campbell|first=Robert|date=2008-10-06|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-10-08] Heavy rainfall caused some flooding in coastal towns near Veracruz as people fled to higher ground.cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-35845720081007|title=Tropical Storm Marco lashes Mexico's Gulf coast|date=2008-10-07|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-10-08]

ee also

*2008 Atlantic hurricane season

References