Hurricane Cesar-Douglas
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Cesar–Douglas was a devastating tropical cyclone
that killed 122 people throughout Central
and South America
in late-July 1996. The Category 1
hurricane formed in late July in the Caribbean Sea
and pounded Central America
with rain, killing 67 people and causing local governments to deem the region a disaster area
. After crossing Central America, the storm redeveloped in the eastern Pacific as Hurricane Douglas, which became part of the 1996 Pacific hurricane season
and reached Category 4 strength in the open ocean.
and an elongated area of low pressure
that emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on July 17. For several days, the wave moved westward without any organization, although an anticyclone
aloft provided conditions favorable for development
. On July 22, convection, or thunderstorms, increased along the wave as it approached the southern Windward Islands
. Surface pressure
steadily dropped as the system moved through the Lesser Antilles
, and a circulation
began developing near Trinidad and Tobago
. Based on surface and satellite data, it is estimated the system developed into Tropical Depression Three at 1800 UTC
on July 24 near Isla Margarita
, off the north coast of Venezuela
. Operationally, the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) did not consider it as a tropical depression until 18 hours later.
With an unusually strong high pressure area
located over The Bahamas
, the tropical depression moved westward through the southern Caribbean Sea
near the northern coast of South America. Around 1200 UTC on July 25, it struck the island of Curaçao
, which reported sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The observation indicated the depression attained tropical storm status, although operationally the depression wasn't upgraded until the next day, at which point the NHC named the storm Cesar. After crossing Curaçao, the storm moved near or over Guajira Peninsula
in extreme northern Colombia
. Its proximity to South America prevented significant strengthening, until late on July 26 when the storm reached the open waters of the southwest Caribbean Sea.
On July 27, Cesar attained hurricane status about halfway between Nicaragua and Colombia. Later that day, the hurricane passed over San Andrés
island, which is part of a small Colombian archipelago off the east coast of Nicaragua. As Cesar approached Central America, a 17 mile (19 km) eye
formed, surrounded by deep convection in the form of an eyewall. At about 0400 UTC on July 28, Hurricane Cesar made landfall
just north of Bluefields
, Nicaragua with winds of 75 mph (140 km/h). It moved quickly west-northward through the country, weakening to tropical storm status and emerging into the eastern Pacific Ocean by July 29. Upon reaching the Pacific, the system was renamed
Tropical Depression Seven-E, but in a post-analysis it was determined the cyclone maintained tropical storm status while crossing Central America. Once its status as a tropical storm was confirmed, it was renamed Tropical Storm Douglas. At the time, the agreement through the World Meteorological Organization
was for storms to be renamed if they cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
As the storm moved westward, it quickly intensified, with an eye-like feature developing by 0900 UTC on July 29. Shortly thereafter, Douglas attained hurricane status about 115 mi (185 km) southwest of the Guatemala/Mexico border. Around that time, tropical cyclone prediction model
s anticipated two scenarios for the future of Douglas; one was a northwest track to make landfall near Acapulco
, and the other was a continued west-northwest track while remaining offshore. Hurricane Douglas ultimately took the latter track. By late on July 29, the eye of the hurricane was well-defined on Mexican radar, and with favorable upper-level outflow
, warm sea surface temperature
s, and a climatologically favorable region for intense hurricanes, the NHC forecast Douglas to strengthen to winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). The next day, its structure became atypical of a strengthening hurricane, and the eye was briefly not seen on satellite imagery.
On July 31, Douglas became much better organized as it turned more west-northwestward, and it attained major hurricane status
, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale
, about 205 miles (330 km) southwest of Manzanillo
. By early on August 1, Douglas reached peak winds of 135 mph (215 km/h), a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Later that day, the hurricane attained its lowest pressure of 946 mbar
about 275 miles (440 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula
. Douglas maintained peak intensity for 36 hours, until August 2 when the eye became less-organized as the overall convection began to weaken. Weakening continued due to cooler waters as Douglas turned to the west, and on August 3 the hurricane deteriorated to tropical storm status. As a tropical storm, there was minimal deep convection, although the center remained very well-defined. On August 5, Douglas weakened to tropical depression status, and by the next day could no longer be classified as a tropical cyclone. The remnant circulation continued westward for several days.
as well as the islands of Aruba
and Curaçao
. These warnings were discontinued later that day after the storm's passage.
As Cesar approached Central America
, hurricane warnings were posted in Nicaragua 31 hours before landfall, leaving ample time to prepare for the hurricane. With Hurricane Joan occurring only 8 years prior, 10,724 people were evacuated before and during the hurricane to take refuge at special camps.
On July 29, shortly after Cesar emerged into the Pacific Ocean and was reclassified Tropical Depression Seven-E, the government of Mexico
issued a tropical storm watch
from Puerto Madero to Acapulco
. About 12 hours later, after the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Douglas, the Mexican government canceled the watch and issued a new tropical storm warning from Salina Cruz
to Acapulco; this was due to the large extent of tropical storm force winds associated with Douglas and its proximity to the south coast of Mexico. Another tropical storm watch was briefly issued on July 30 from Acapulco to Manzanillo
.
Hurricane Cesar was a moisture-laden tropical cyclone that dropped heavy rains along its path through the southern Caribbean Sea
and Central America
. Damage was moderate to extreme due to mudslides and flooding, and over 65 people were killed.
, 45 people were left homeless as a result of the storm. Although the storm passed directly over the region, the ABC islands off the coast of Colombia and Venezuela received little rainfall, peaking at 0.15 in (3.8 mm) on Curaçao. Peak gusts were also measured at 60 mph (95 km/h) on the island. The winds caused minor damage to roofs and trees across all three islands, as well as rough surf that drowned one person in Curaçao.
As a tropical storm, Cesar struck the northern coastline of Colombia
, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds. At least three people were killed in storm related incidents, two of which occurred when an avalanche buried a house in Pueblo Bello
in the northern part of the country. Cesar brought torrential rains to the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina offshore eastern Nicaragua
. Eleven people were killed across the archipelago, including eight children who died in a landslide. Across the islands, 60 homes lost their roofs and numerous trees were felled due to high winds. The local governor stated that losses from Cesar reached 800 million COP
($440,00 USD).
where the water level was approaching dangerous levels. The storm wrought extensive damage throughout the country, leaving roughly $50.5 million in damage behind. Large portions of the country's crops were affected, resulting in a food shortage following the hurricane. According to Nicaraguan officials, more than 2,500 homes, 39 bridges and 40 km (24.9 mi) of road were destroyed by Cesar. In all, the storm killed 42 people and left an estimated 100,000 homeless.
received heavy rainfall from Cesar, leading to mudslides and widespread flooding. River flooding damaged 51 houses and washed away 213 more; 72 bridges were also destroyed. Contaminated drinking water across the country led to outbreaks of malaria
and cholera
. The road network was significantly damaged. Costa Rica requested international aid subsequent to the storm. At least 44 people were killed and crop damages amounted to $100 million. In all, the storm caused $177 million in damages.
, killing 9 in the community of Jose Cecilio del Valle
. Four others drowned in other parts of the country.
and resulted in a 4 foot (1.2 m) storm surge, but no deaths were reported.
. It was replaced with Cristobal in the 2002 season
.
Because it caused no effects on land, the name Douglas was not retired. It was reused in the 2002 Pacific hurricane season
, and the 2008 Pacific hurricane season
.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
that killed 122 people throughout Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in late-July 1996. The Category 1
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane formed in late July in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and pounded Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
with rain, killing 67 people and causing local governments to deem the region a disaster area
Disaster area
A disaster area is a region or a locale heavily damaged by either natural hazards, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, technological hazards including nuclear and radiation accidents, or sociological hazards like riots, terrorism or war. The population living there often...
. After crossing Central America, the storm redeveloped in the eastern Pacific as Hurricane Douglas, which became part of the 1996 Pacific hurricane season
1996 Pacific hurricane season
The 1996 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone formation and the third least active Pacific hurricane season in recorded history, behind 1977 and 2010. It officially began May 15, 1996 in the eastern north Pacific and on June 1, 1996 in the central north Pacific. It ended on...
and reached Category 4 strength in the open ocean.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Cesar were from a tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
and an elongated area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
that emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on July 17. For several days, the wave moved westward without any organization, although an anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
aloft provided conditions favorable for development
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
. On July 22, convection, or thunderstorms, increased along the wave as it approached the southern Windward Islands
Windward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
. Surface pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
steadily dropped as the system moved through the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
, and a circulation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means by which thermal energy is distributed on the surface of the Earth....
began developing near Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. Based on surface and satellite data, it is estimated the system developed into Tropical Depression Three at 1800 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on July 24 near Isla Margarita
Isla Margarita
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción, located in a river...
, off the north coast of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Operationally, the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
(NHC) did not consider it as a tropical depression until 18 hours later.
With an unusually strong high pressure area
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
located over The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, the tropical depression moved westward through the southern Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
near the northern coast of South America. Around 1200 UTC on July 25, it struck the island of Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, which reported sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). The observation indicated the depression attained tropical storm status, although operationally the depression wasn't upgraded until the next day, at which point the NHC named the storm Cesar. After crossing Curaçao, the storm moved near or over Guajira Peninsula
Guajira Peninsula
Guajira Peninsula , is a peninsula in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea...
in extreme northern Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. Its proximity to South America prevented significant strengthening, until late on July 26 when the storm reached the open waters of the southwest Caribbean Sea.
San Andrés (island)
San Andrés is a coral island among the Colombian islands in the Caribbean Sea; it is the largest island of the southern group of islands. Together with the nearby island of Providencia and some smaller islands of the southern group of the Colombian archipelago, San Andrés forms the department of...
island, which is part of a small Colombian archipelago off the east coast of Nicaragua. As Cesar approached Central America, a 17 mile (19 km) eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
formed, surrounded by deep convection in the form of an eyewall. At about 0400 UTC on July 28, Hurricane Cesar made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
just north of Bluefields
Bluefields
Bluefields is the capital of the municipality of the same name, and of Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur in Nicaragua. It was also capital of the former Zelaya Department, which was divided into North and South Atlantic Autonomous Regions...
, Nicaragua with winds of 75 mph (140 km/h). It moved quickly west-northward through the country, weakening to tropical storm status and emerging into the eastern Pacific Ocean by July 29. Upon reaching the Pacific, the system was renamed
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
Tropical Depression Seven-E, but in a post-analysis it was determined the cyclone maintained tropical storm status while crossing Central America. Once its status as a tropical storm was confirmed, it was renamed Tropical Storm Douglas. At the time, the agreement through the World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
was for storms to be renamed if they cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
As the storm moved westward, it quickly intensified, with an eye-like feature developing by 0900 UTC on July 29. Shortly thereafter, Douglas attained hurricane status about 115 mi (185 km) southwest of the Guatemala/Mexico border. Around that time, tropical cyclone prediction model
Tropical cyclone prediction model
A tropical cyclone forecast model is a computer program that uses meteorological data to forecast aspects of the future state of tropical cyclones. There are three types of models: statistical, dynamical, or combined statistical-dynamic...
s anticipated two scenarios for the future of Douglas; one was a northwest track to make landfall near Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, and the other was a continued west-northwest track while remaining offshore. Hurricane Douglas ultimately took the latter track. By late on July 29, the eye of the hurricane was well-defined on Mexican radar, and with favorable upper-level outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
, warm sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
s, and a climatologically favorable region for intense hurricanes, the NHC forecast Douglas to strengthen to winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). The next day, its structure became atypical of a strengthening hurricane, and the eye was briefly not seen on satellite imagery.
On July 31, Douglas became much better organized as it turned more west-northwestward, and it attained major hurricane status
Tropical cyclone scales
Tropical systems are officially ranked on one of several tropical cyclone scales according to their maximum sustained winds and in what oceanic basin they are located...
, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
, about 205 miles (330 km) southwest of Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Colima
The name Manzanillo refers to the city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. Manzanillo was the third port created by the Spanish in the Pacific during the New Spain period...
. By early on August 1, Douglas reached peak winds of 135 mph (215 km/h), a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Later that day, the hurricane attained its lowest pressure of 946 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
about 275 miles (440 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. Douglas maintained peak intensity for 36 hours, until August 2 when the eye became less-organized as the overall convection began to weaken. Weakening continued due to cooler waters as Douglas turned to the west, and on August 3 the hurricane deteriorated to tropical storm status. As a tropical storm, there was minimal deep convection, although the center remained very well-defined. On August 5, Douglas weakened to tropical depression status, and by the next day could no longer be classified as a tropical cyclone. The remnant circulation continued westward for several days.
Preparations
Prior to Cesar's arrival in Venezuela, a tropical storm warning was issued for areas west of Vela del Coro to the border with Colombia; the warning was discontinued later that day. The government of Colombia issued a tropical storm warning on July 25 from the border with Venezuela to BarranquillaBarranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
as well as the islands of Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
and Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. These warnings were discontinued later that day after the storm's passage.
As Cesar approached Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, hurricane warnings were posted in Nicaragua 31 hours before landfall, leaving ample time to prepare for the hurricane. With Hurricane Joan occurring only 8 years prior, 10,724 people were evacuated before and during the hurricane to take refuge at special camps.
On July 29, shortly after Cesar emerged into the Pacific Ocean and was reclassified Tropical Depression Seven-E, the government of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
issued a tropical storm watch
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
from Puerto Madero to Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
. About 12 hours later, after the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Douglas, the Mexican government canceled the watch and issued a new tropical storm warning from Salina Cruz
Salina Cruz
Salina Cruz is a major seaport on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is the state's third-largest city and is municipal seat of the municipality of the same name.It is part of the Tehuantepec District in the west of the Istmo Region....
to Acapulco; this was due to the large extent of tropical storm force winds associated with Douglas and its proximity to the south coast of Mexico. Another tropical storm watch was briefly issued on July 30 from Acapulco to Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Colima
The name Manzanillo refers to the city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. Manzanillo was the third port created by the Spanish in the Pacific during the New Spain period...
.
Impact
| Country | Deaths | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the... |
14 | $440,000 |
| Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south... |
5 | Unknown |
| Curaçao Curaçao Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands... |
1 | Unknown |
| Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean... |
42 | $50.5 million |
| Costa Rica Costa Rica Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.... |
44 | $200 million |
| El Salvador El Salvador El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America... |
13 | $10,000 |
| Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
0 | $10,000 |
| Honduras Honduras Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize... |
0 | $500,000 |
| Guatemala Guatemala Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast... |
0 | $500,000 |
| Total | 117 | $253 million |
Hurricane Cesar was a moisture-laden tropical cyclone that dropped heavy rains along its path through the southern Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Damage was moderate to extreme due to mudslides and flooding, and over 65 people were killed.
Lesser Antilles and South America
The precursor tropical wave to Cesar produced rains and gusty winds through a large portion of the Lesser Antilles. In Venezuela, heavy rains from the storm triggered flooding and landslides that killed at least five people. In the capital city of CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, 45 people were left homeless as a result of the storm. Although the storm passed directly over the region, the ABC islands off the coast of Colombia and Venezuela received little rainfall, peaking at 0.15 in (3.8 mm) on Curaçao. Peak gusts were also measured at 60 mph (95 km/h) on the island. The winds caused minor damage to roofs and trees across all three islands, as well as rough surf that drowned one person in Curaçao.
As a tropical storm, Cesar struck the northern coastline of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds. At least three people were killed in storm related incidents, two of which occurred when an avalanche buried a house in Pueblo Bello
Pueblo Bello
Pueblo Bello , is a village and municipality in the northern region of the Department of Cesar, Colombia. It is located in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and is home to amerindians pertaining to the Arhuaco ethnicity, whom consider Pueblo Bello a sanctuary but by the name of...
in the northern part of the country. Cesar brought torrential rains to the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina offshore eastern Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Eleven people were killed across the archipelago, including eight children who died in a landslide. Across the islands, 60 homes lost their roofs and numerous trees were felled due to high winds. The local governor stated that losses from Cesar reached 800 million COP
Colombian peso
The peso is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP and it is also informally abbreviated as COL$. However, the official peso symbol is $. As 20 July 2011, the exchange rate of the Colombian peso is 1750 Colombian pesos to 1 U.S. dollar.-History:The peso has been the currency of Colombia...
($440,00 USD).
Nicaragua
Torrential rainfall was the immediate effect of Cesar, peaking at 10.7 inches (271 mm) at Bluefields, Nicaragua with many other locations reporting over 6 inches (150 mm). The intense precipitation led to widespread mudslides and overflown rivers across the mountainous country. The most affected region was Lake ManaguaLake Managua
Lake Managua is a lake in Nicaragua. The Spanish name is Lago de Managua or Lago Xolotlán. At 1,042 km², it is approximately long and wide. Similarly to the name of Lake Nicaragua, its name was coined by the Spanish conquerors from "Mangue" and agua...
where the water level was approaching dangerous levels. The storm wrought extensive damage throughout the country, leaving roughly $50.5 million in damage behind. Large portions of the country's crops were affected, resulting in a food shortage following the hurricane. According to Nicaraguan officials, more than 2,500 homes, 39 bridges and 40 km (24.9 mi) of road were destroyed by Cesar. In all, the storm killed 42 people and left an estimated 100,000 homeless.
Costa Rica
Like Nicaragua, Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
received heavy rainfall from Cesar, leading to mudslides and widespread flooding. River flooding damaged 51 houses and washed away 213 more; 72 bridges were also destroyed. Contaminated drinking water across the country led to outbreaks of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. The road network was significantly damaged. Costa Rica requested international aid subsequent to the storm. At least 44 people were killed and crop damages amounted to $100 million. In all, the storm caused $177 million in damages.
El Salvador
As Cesar continued westward, it produced heavy flooding and mudslides in western El SalvadorEl Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, killing 9 in the community of Jose Cecilio del Valle
José Cecilio del Valle
José Cecilio Diaz del Valle was a philosopher, politician, lawyer, and journalist and one of the most important figures in Central America during the transition from colonial government to independence, displaying a wide-ranging expertise in public administration management.Valle nicknmed 'The...
. Four others drowned in other parts of the country.
Mexico
Hurricane Douglas brought up to 6 inches (150 mm) of rain on the south coast of MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and resulted in a 4 foot (1.2 m) storm surge, but no deaths were reported.
Aftermath
The name Cesar was retired in the spring of 1997 and will never be used again in the Atlantic basinAtlantic Basin
The Atlantic Basin is the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Basin may also refer to:* Atlantic Basin Iron Works, an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century...
. It was replaced with Cristobal in the 2002 season
2002 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2002 Atlantic hurricane season was an average Atlantic hurricane season, officially starting on June 1, 2002 and ending on November 30, dates which conventionally limit the period of each year when tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean tend to form...
.
Because it caused no effects on land, the name Douglas was not retired. It was reused in the 2002 Pacific hurricane season
2002 Pacific hurricane season
The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...
, and the 2008 Pacific hurricane season
2008 Pacific hurricane season
The 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008....
.
See also
- List of South America cyclones
- List of Atlantic–Pacific crossover hurricanes
- Other storms named CesarHurricane Cesar (disambiguation)The name Cesar was used for three tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean.* 1984's Tropical Storm Cesar - moved northeast parallel to the East Coast of the United States, losing tropical characteristics near Newfoundland....
- Other storms named Douglas