Hurricane Tico (1983)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Tico
Type=hurricane
Year=1983
Basin=EPac
Image location=Hurricane Tico (1983).jpg


Formed=October 11, 1983
Dissipated=October 19, 1983
1-min winds=115
Pressure=
Da

Inflated=1
Fatalities=9 direct, 114 missing
Areas=Mexico, inland United States
Hurricane season=1983 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Tico was a Category 4 hurricane of the 1983 Pacific hurricane season. Tico was a late-season major hurricane, existing in early-to-mid October, 1983. It made landfall in western Mexico, before its remnants headed northwest over the North American continent.

Tico was the most destructive and deadliest of the season. At least 9 people, and possibly up to 114, were killed. The damage amounted to $66 million (1983 USD). After losing tropical characteristics, Tico's remnants moved into the United States, where they caused heavy rains and flooding.

Meteorological history

On October 7, a weak area of disturbed weather emerged into the Pacific Ocean from Costa Rica. After moving slowly westward, it passed over an isotherm of very warm waters, started organizing, and became Tropical Depression 21 on October 11. A trough tugged the system slowly to the north, and the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center upgraded the system into Tropical Storm Tico on October 13.cite web|title=Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1983|authors=E.B. Gunther & R. L. Cross|url=http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/112/7/pdf/i1520-0493-112-7-1419.pdf|date=July 1984|work=Monthly Weather Review|publisher=American Meteorological Society|pages=1419-20, 1436-37|accessdate=2006-11-19|format=PDF]

The trough broke down, and Tico headed out to sea under the influence of a ridge. It strengthened into a hurricane on October 14.cite web|title=Hurricane TICO|url=http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1983/TICO/track.dat|accessdate=2006-11-19] Its slow intensification increased until October 17, at which point it was at Category 3 intensity.

On October 18, another trough formed over Mexico. This caused Tico to curve and sent it accelerating towards landfall. On October 19, the hurricane made landfall near Mazatlán. It quickly lost tropical characteristics. Its remnants continued heading northwest and entered the United States as a frontal wave. The wave was eventually occluded, turned to the southeast while just south of Lake Michigan, and was lost track of on October 24.cite web|author=Roth, David|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tico1983.html|title=Hurricane Tico - October 18-24, 1983|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2006-11-19]

Observations

Hurricane Tico is one of the few Pacific hurricanes to be investigated by Hurricane Hunter flights. On October 13, an airplane flew into the system and discovered an eye.

Several ships encountered Tico while the hurricane was at sea. In particular, the container ship "Scandinavian Highway" was especially close to the center of the storm at one time. It observations were of particular value.

Impact

Hurricane Tico killed at least nine people, all of them Mexican fishers. Another 105 people were missing. Throughout the area of worst devastation, approximately 25000 people were homeless. The total cost of damage was $66 million (1984 USD). In the United States, Tico's remnants caused heavy flooding.

Mexico

The area around Mazatlán was extensively damaged. Nine fishers were killed. Another 105 people were missing and unaccounted for. Nine ships were sunk. Tico also left 25000 people homeless. If all of the missing people were killed, Tico could be as high as sixth on the list of deadliest Pacific hurricanes.

Flooding was extensive as nearly 9 inches (229 mm) of rainfall fell at Pueblo Laredo in the mountains inland of its point of landfall. [cite web|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tico1983filledrainblk.gif|title=Hurricane Tico Rainfall Image.] Retrieved on 2007-05-04|last=Roth|first=David|accessdate=2007-05-07] In Sinaloa, agriculture, especially to beans and corn, with 19000 acres (77 km²) of those crops being totally destroyed. In Mexico, the total cost of damage was $66 million (1984 USD).

United States

Rain from Tico's remnants was heavy and flooding occurred in parts of southern Kansas, Texas, and especially Oklahoma. Oklahoma had the worst flooding, with the Red River reaching 40-60 year highs. Total precipitation of 16.95 inches (430.5 mm), at a site just south of Chickasha was attributed to Tico. Oklahoma City, reported 8.95 inches (227.3 mm) of rain from the weather system, the one-day record for that location.cite web|title=Oklahoma's Top 10 Weather Events of the 20th Century|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/news/toptenweather.php|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=2007-05-02]

In Oklahoma, the total total damage was $84 million USD (year unknown), of which $77 million USD (year unknown) was to agriculture.cite web|url=http://climate.ocs.ou.edu/weathertimeline/Oklahoma_Weather_Timeline.pdf|title=Weather Time Line: Oklahoma 1900-2000|publisher=Oklahoma Climatological Survey|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-11-19]

ee also

* List of Pacific hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1983/TICO/track.gifStorm path]