Hurricane Madeline (1998)

Infobox Hurricane
Name = Hurricane Madeline
Type = Hurricane
Year = 1998
Basin = EPac
Image location = Hurricane Madeline 18 oct 1998 2203Z.jpg


Formed = October 16, 2007
Dissipated = October 20, 2007
1-min winds = 75
Pressure = 979
Damages =
Fatalities = 31 (All from Texas flooding)
Areas = Mexico, Baja California Peninsula, Texas
Hurricane season = 1998 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Madeline was the final tropical cyclone of the 1998 Pacific hurricane season. Madeline originated from a tropical wave that emerged off the coast of Africa on September 25, 1998. The wave traversed the Atlantic Ocean and crossed over Central America on October 5 or 6. Gradually, the system intensified and was classified as a tropical depression on October 16, a tropical storm later that day, and a hurricane on October 17. The storm reached peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) about 95 miles (150 km) southwest of San Blas, Nayarit, and after 18 hours it subsequently began to weaken. Although Madeline never made landfall, numerous rainbands affected the Mexican coast causing no known damage or fatalities. The remnant moisture moved north and contributed to flooding in central Texas, which killed 31 people and caused $750 million (1998 USD) in damage.

Meteorological history

On September 25, 1998 a tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa, producing intermittent concentrated clusters of convective activity. The wave traversed the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea before crossing Central America on October 5 or October 6. After several days, onvection increased, and Dvorak classifications initiated. Satellite imagery indicated that the system dissipated on October 11, although an area of cloudiness persisted off the coast of Mexico. After four days, the system regenerated and under diffluent flow aloft, deep convection became more concentrated;cite web|author=Lixion A. Avila|title=Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 1998|year=1998|publisher=American Meteorological Society|accessdate=2008-05-22|url=http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0493(2000)128%3C2990%3AENPHSO%3E2.0.CO%3B2] it is estimated that a tropical depression formed at 0000 UTC on October 16, about convert|230|mi|km|abbr=on|lk=on west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.cite web|author=Max Mayfield|title=Hurricane Madeline Preliminary Report|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998madeline.html] Initially, due to disorganization, determining the forward movement of depression was difficult, [cite web|author=Avile|title=Tropical Depression Fifteen-E Discussion Number 1|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.001] although a few hours later it was estimated that the system was tracking to the north-northwest.Cite web|author=Rappaport|title=Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Numbr 2|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.002] With favorable conditions aloft, the deep convection became more concentrated, and 12 hours after first developing, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Madeline about convert|170|mi|km southwest of Cabo Corrientes.

During the afternoon, convective cloud tops warmed slightly although the storm continued to intensify. [Cite web|author=Rappaport|title=Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Number 3|year=1998|accessdate=2008-04-26|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.003] Soon after, thunderstorm activity became limited as Madeline remained generally stationary in movement. [cite web|author=Avila|title=Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion number 5|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.005] An approaching mid-level trough turned Madeline to the northeast. Banding features gradually improved in organization, and late on October 17 the storm attained hurricane status. However, satellite imagery indicated that convective activity was confined to the western portion of the storm, and at the same time an eye began to form. [cite web|author=Rappaport|title=Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Number 6|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.006] Early on October 18, data from a Reconnaissance aircraft flight into the storm found a minimum central pressure of 985 mb, as the storm was drifting to the northeast at around convert|4|mph|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on near the western edge of a large-scale east–west ridge axis. [cite web|author=Jarvinen|title=Hurricane Madeline Discussion Number 8|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.008] The apparent eye became cloud-filled shortly thereafter, and a slight increase in temperature was discovered near the center. Despite this, upper-level outflow was favorable, leading to predictions of slight intensification. [Cite web|author=Pasch|title=Hurricane Madeline Dicussion Number 9|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.009]

Shortly thereafter, Madeline attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) about 95 miles (150 km) southwest of San Blas, Nayarit. The hurricane maintained peak winds for about 18 hours while curving again to the northwest. With evidence of southern wind shear, only a small area of deep thunderstorm activity existed on October 19, and the system began to appear ill-defined of satellite imagery. [Cite web|author=Pasch|title=Hurricane Madeline Discussion Number 13|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.012] The hurricane quickly weakened into a tropical storm, and by later that day, the storm became void of convection due to strong wind shear. [Cite web|author=Guiney|title=Tropical Storm Madeline Discussion Number 16|year=1998|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-04-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/dis/NEP1598.016] On October 19, the storm was downgraded to a tropical depression, leaving just a swirl of low clouds midway between the southern tip of Baja California and mainland Mexico. By 0600 UTC on October 20, the remnants of Madeline had completely dissipated.

Preparations and impact

In anticipation of Madeline, the government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for the Baja California Peninsula southward from La Paz, and a hurricane warning from San Patricio, Jalisco to El Dorado, Sinaloa, including the Islas Marías. The storm was initially forecast to move ashore near Mazatlán, promting officials to close the city's port. President Ernesto Zedillo advised potentially affected residents to stay indoors or seek refuge in shelters.cite news|author=Reuters|date=1998-10-19|title=Mexico braces for Hurricane Madeline|accessdate=2007-02-11] Also, the threat of the hurricane canceled a fishing expedition in the Sea of Cortez due to rough surf. The expedition was to provide a new aquarium in downtown Denver, Colorado with about 8,500 fish.cite news|author=Bill Scanlon|date=1998-10-20|title=Storms Skunk Aquarium's Fish Catchers; Biologists leave Baja sans 8,500 Specimens|accessdate=2007-02-11] Mexican authorities deployed 2,000 soldiers in remote areas of the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa to prepare for the hurricane. Several thousand residents and tourists at the resorts of Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan were put on standby to evacuate their homes. [Cite web|author=BBC News|title=World: Americas Hurricane Madeline threatening Mexico|year=1998|publisher=|accessdate=2008-04-28|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/196272.stm] Authorities along the coast in the state of Nayarit went house to house, advising people about the oncoming storm. [cite news|author=Associated Press|title=Mexicans Bracing for Hurricane|year=1998|publisher="The Daily Register"|accessdate=2008-05-22] In addition, ships from Salina Cruz to Acapulco were advised to stay in port. [Cite news|author=Greg Bull|title=Hurricane Madeline Closing in on Mexico|year=1998|publisher="The Philadelphia Inquirer"|accessdate=2008-05-22]

Although Madeline never crossed the coast, numerous rainbands affected the Mexican coast, dropping up to convert|9.8|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on. [cite web|author=David Roth|title=Hurricane Madeline Rainfall Summary|year=1998|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2008-04-28|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/madeline1998.html] Despite this, no damage or fatalities were reported in Mexico. After the storm had dissipated, the remnant plume of moisture contributed to severe flooding in central Texas. [Citation| first= | last=| coauthors=| contribution=South Texas Floods, October 17-22, 1998| title=Service Assessment| editor-first=John J., Jr| editor-last=Kelly| coeditors=| publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Dpt of Commerce| place=Silver Spring, Maryland| pages=| date=February 1999| year=1999 | id= | contribution-url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/txflood.pdf| format=PDF| accessdate=2008-03-06 ] Rainfall in Texas reached 22 inches (560 mm) in some locations. Thirty-one people died due to the flooding, and damage totaled to $750 million (1998 USD).cite web|author=United States Department of Commerce|year=1999|title=South Texas Floods- October 17 – 22, 1998|accessdate=2007-02-11|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/txflood.pdf]

ee also

* Other tropical cyclones name Madeline
* List of Pacific hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/txflood.pdf Information on Texas flooding]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1998madeline.html NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report]