Hurricane Marco (1996)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Marco
Type=hurricane
Year=1996
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Marco (1996).gif


Formed=November 16, 1996
Dissipated=November 26, 1996
1-min winds=65
Pressure=983
Da

Fatalities=14 directcite web |url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Tropical Storms section on Marco|accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=Steve Newman |date=December 3, 1996 |publisher=The Intelligencer]
Areas=Cuba, Hispaniola, Central America and Jamaica
Hurricane season=1996 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Marco was a Category 1 hurricane which caused flooding and mudslides in parts of the Caribbean. The 13th named storm of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season, Marco developed in the southwestern Caribbean between Jamaica and Honduras on November 16. It attained tropical storm strength on November 19 while slowly tracking south. Marco then turned to the east and briefly became a minimal hurricane on November 20. The storm turned to the northeast, and on November 23, it weakened rapidly to a tropical depression while located southeast of Jamaica. The depression tracked westward and re-strengthened into a tropical storm on November 24. Marco again weakened and degenerated into a remant low pressure area by November 26.Although Hurricane Marco never made landfall, it was a large storm, and it caused heavy rainfall in Central America and Hispaniola. Flooding and mudslides caused by the rain were responsible for 14 reported deaths. Property damage is unknown.

Meteorological history

On November 9, 1996, a cold front moved into the northwest Caribbean Sea. The front became stationary, and interacted with several tropical waves. In the southwest Caribbean Sea, the Intertropical Convergence Zone became active, as monsoonal southwesterly flow fed into the system from the eastern Pacific. On November 13, surface weather analysis indicated a closed circulation had developed north of Colombia. Although a low-level circulation had developed, the system was not organized sufficiently to be upgraded to a tropical depression. Several small centers of circulation formed, and the entire system drifted northward for a couple days. In combination with a high pressure area over the United States, the system produced gale-force winds on Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico. Convection gradually developed over the broad low pressure area, and a post-season analysis indicated a tropical depression had formed at 1800 UTC on November 19. The depression tracked generally southward, soon encountering a more favorable environment for tropical cyclone development. Although disorganized, the depression had developed sufficient convection to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Marco at 1600 UTC on November 19.cite web |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1996marco.html|title=Preliminary Report - Hurricane Marco |accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=Lixion A. Avila |date=December 3, 1996 |publisher=National Hurricane Center]

On November 20, Marco briefly attained hurricane status as it reached its peak intensity of 983 mb. Shortly thereafter, Marco was struck by strong upper-level westerly winds, and it subsequently weakened rapidly to a tropical depression at 1800 UTC on November 23 to the south of Jamaica. A mid-level ridge rebuilt over the Bahamas and Florida directing Marco towards the west, and then to the northwest. Re-organization occurred, and the cyclone regained tropical storm status on November 24. The storm maintained tropical storm status until 1200 UTC on November 26, when it weakened to a tropical depression once again. Marco degenerated into a remnant low pressure system, and the remnants tracked over western Cuba. On 1600 UTC on November 26, the remnants of Marco had completely dissipated.cite web |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1996marco.html|title=Preliminary Report - Hurricane Marco |accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=Lixion A. Avila |date=December 3, 1996 |publisher=National Hurricane Center]

Marco was characterized by its fluctuation in intensity. Lasting as a tropical cyclone for 324 hours, Marco was tied with Hurricane Gordon of 1994 as the longest lasting Atlantic tropical cyclone during the month of November.cite web| author=NHC Hurricane Research Division|title=Atlantic hurricane best track|publisher=NOAA|year=2007|accessdate=2007-10-04|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyhurdat_5106.html]

Preparations

On November 19, a tropical storm watch was released for Jamaica, which was upgraded to a hurricane watch the next day. A flash flood warning was released on November 20 and suggesting that sailors should not leave port.cite web |url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Hurricane Marco comes barreling towards Jamaica|accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=Syracuse Herald-Journal|date=November 23, 1996 |publisher=Syracuse Herald-Journal] for Jamaica as well A hurricane watch was issued for Cuba, Haiti and east of Camaguey on November 20, which was downgraded to a tropical storm watch on the same day. A tropical storm warning was issued on November 25 for Isle of Youth and Pinar del Rio province, Cuba. All watches and warnings were discontinued by November 26. In addition, in Jamaica, disaster committies were urging residents to stock up on batteries and canned food.Cite web|author=Reuters|title=Marco, downgraded to tropical storm, nears Jamaica|year=1996|publisher=Reliefweb|accessdate=2008-02-26|url=http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/OCHA-64DCKK?OpenDocument&query=Hurricane%20Marco]

Impact and naming

Although Hurricane Marco never made landfall, it was a large storm and as a result, it caused heavy rainfall throughout Central America and Hispaniola. Flooding and mudslides caused by the rain were responsible for 14 reported fatalities in total throughout the Caribbean. Nine of those deaths alone occurred in Honduras. Three deaths were also reported in the Dominican Republic, which were caused by drownings to the north of Santo Domingo.cite news|title=HAITI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MAY FACE FLOODS, MUDSLIDES |accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=News and Record |date=November 23, 1996 |publisher="The News & Record" (Piedmont Triad, NC)] In Jamaica, Marco's rainfall added to the previously heavy rain which caused $3 million (1996 USD) in damage to roads, and left 170 families without shelter.Cite web|author=Reuters|title=Marco, downgraded to tropical storm, nears Jamaica|year=1996|publisher=Reliefweb|accessdate=2008-02-26|url=http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/OCHA-64DCKK?OpenDocument&query=Hurricane%20Marco] During the formative stage of Marco, a high pressure area combined with the low pressure of Marco, resulted in a tight pressure gradient which led to beach erosion and gale force winds on the Florida coast. In Costa Rica, swollen rivers flooded several towns and numerous banana plantations. Parts of Honduras' Atlantic Coast were devastated by large amounts of rain, forcing 60,000 people from their homes. In addition, four thousand homes were destroyed, and 40 wooden bridges were washed away.cite news|title=Hurricane Marco weakens;Flooding Kills 9 In Honduras|accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=Syracuse Herald-Journal|date=November 23, 1996 |publisher=Syracuse Herald-Journal]

Marco was known for being a hurricane to enter the Caribbean and not make landfall, a rare occurrence. Also, hurricane hunter flights recorded volatile center structure with severe turbulence, extreme rainfall and hail during a flight into the storm.cite web |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1996marco.html|title=Preliminary Report - Hurricane Marco |accessdate=2007-12-16 |author=Lixion A. Avila |date=December 3, 1996 |publisher=National Hurricane Center]

Due to the lack of major effects, the World Meteorological Organization did not retire the name "Marco" in spring of 1997.

ee also

*List of notable tropical cyclones
*List of tropical cyclone names

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1996.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1996.html National Hurricane Center 1996 Atlantic hurricane season summary]