Hurricane Amanda

Hurricane Amanda was the strongest Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone ever recorded in the month of May.[1] The first named storm, hurricane and major hurricane of the 2014 Pacific hurricane season, Amanda originated from a tropical wave that had entered the Eastern Pacific on May 16. Slow development occurred as it tracked westward, and development into a tropical depression occurred on May 22. The depression later strengthened into a tropical storm on May 23. Amid very favorable conditions, Amanda then rapidly intensified late on May 23, eventually reaching its peak intensity on May 25 as a high-end Category 4 hurricane. Afterwards, steady weakening occurred due to upwelling beneath the storm, and Amanda fell below major hurricane intensity on May 26. Rapid weakening occurred and the cyclone eventually dissipated on May 29.

For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Amanda.
Hurricane Amanda
Amanda at peak intensity in the open Pacific Ocean on May 25
Meteorological history
FormedMay 22, 2014
DissipatedMay 29, 2014
Category 4 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds155 mph (250 km/h)
Lowest pressure932 mbar (hPa); 27.52 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities3
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedSouthwestern and Western Mexico
IBTrACS
Part of the 2014 Pacific hurricane season

The tropical cyclone did not directly impact landmasses, however it had indirect impacts along the coast of Mexico. Heavy rains caused flooding in the towns of Guerrero and Manzanillo, Mexico, resulting in 2 fatalities. A third occurred after a tree fell on a car in Acapulco. Landslides and high surf were also reported along the Mexican coastline, causing minor damage.

Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On May 16, a tropical wave emerged into the Eastern Pacific. Moving westward, the wave changed little in organization until May 19, when a broad surface low formed about 500 mi (805 km) south of Acapulco.[1] The system failed to organize further over the next two days as thunderstorm activity oscillated as it continued to track westward and eventually west-northwestward. By May 22, however, scatterometer data began to indicate that the system was becoming better defined, with deep convection persisting near the center, which was getting better organized.[1] Based on this data, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the disturbance to Tropical Depression One-E at 18:00 UTC that day while located about 550 miles (890 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, although it was not operationally classified until three hours later.[1][2] The depression gradually organized, with banding features developing near the center, and eventually was upgraded to a tropical storm on May 23, being assigned the name Amanda.[3]

Steered by a subtropical ridge over central Mexico,[1] Amanda slowly moved westward against the southern periphery of the ridge. With very warm sea surface temperatures of near 30 °C (86 °F), a moist environment, and light wind shear, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center predicted that Amanda had the potential to rapidly intensify.[4][1] Indeed, Amanda then began a period of rapid intensification late on May 23, becoming a hurricane by 15:00 UTC on May 24. Banding features and a central dense overcast (CDO) continued to become better organized, and a pinhole eye was seen to develop in microwave imagery.[5] The Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) rapid intensification index predicted a 60 percent chance that Amanda's wind speeds would increase by 45 mph (72 km/h) in 24 hours, which was about 15 times higher than the average possibility. The small eye of the cyclone continued to quickly clear, and Amanda became a major hurricane by 03:00 UTC on May 25, making it the second-earliest such storm within the National Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, only to be surpassed by Hurricane Bud from 2012. The rapid intensification eventually leveled off with Amanda reaching its peak intensity at 12:00 UTC that day as a high-end Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Winds were estimated at 155 mph (250 km/h) and the minimum pressure at 932 mbar (hPa; 27.52 inHg).[1]

Because Amanda had been moving slowly over nearly the same areas as it had before, the hurricane began upwelling waters from below, with sea surface temperatures dropping by 6 °C underneath it.[1] Amanda maintained its peak intensity for 6 hours before it began to steadily weaken due to the upwelled waters. However, a more rapid phase of weakening began due to increasing wind shear and decreasing sea surface temperatures of less than 24 °C (75 °F). By May 27, Amanda had fallen below major hurricane intensity, and despite slightly redeveloping its CDO, Amanda continued to rapidly weaken due to dry air, degrading to a tropical storm on May 28. The circulation then became elongated, and Amanda later dissipated the next day.[1]

Impact and records

Under the anticipation of heavy rains[6] and landslides, a "blue" alert was declared for Guerrero.[7] An alert was issued for Manzanillo.[8] Thirty-four shelters opened in Michoacán while 80 opened in Guerrero.[9] Heavy rains occurred in Guerrero, resulting in flooding.[10]

A river near Coyuca de Benítez overflowed its banks. Three trees were brought down and a vehicle in Acapulco was destroyed.[11] Statewide, one person was killed when a tree that had fallen on the road resulted in a fatal car wreck.[10] In Colima, minor landslides occurred, resulting in the closure of Federal Highway 200.[9] Much of Michoacán was battered by large waves and heavy rains, resulting in two casualties.[12] Several roads were destroyed in Zitácuaro.[13]

On May 25, Amanda became the second-earliest East Pacific major hurricane on record, behind 2012's Hurricane Bud.[14] Later that day, it also became the strongest May tropical cyclone in the Eastern Pacific basin in the satellite era,[15] eclipsing the previous record set by Hurricane Adolph in 2001, which had peak winds of 145 mph (230 km/h).[16]

See also

References
  1. Stacy R. Stewart (June 24, 2014). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Amanda" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  2. Robbie Berg (May 22, 2014). Tropical Depression One-E Discussion Number 1. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  3. Robbie Berg (May 23, 2014). Tropical Storm Amanda Discussion Number 4. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  4. Michael Brennan (May 23, 2014). Tropical Storm Amanda Discussion Number 6. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  5. Robbie Berg (May 24, 2014). Hurricane Amanda Discussion Number 8. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  6. "'Amanda' provocará lluvias fuertes en Jalisco, Colima y Michoacán" [Amanda causes heavy rains in Jalisco, Colima and Michoacan]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  7. "Guerrero emite alerta azul por tormenta Amanda" [Guerrero issues blue storm warning for Amanda]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  8. ""Amanda" podría convertirse en huracán el domingo" ["Amanda" could become hurricane Sunday]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  9. "Huracán Amanda causa derrumbes en Colima" [Hurricane Amanda cause landslides in Colima]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  10. "Causa Amanda un muerto en Guerrero" [Cause Amanda dead in Guerrero]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  11. "Amanda alcanza categoría 4; mantienen alerta" [Amanda reached category 4; remain alert]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  12. "Lluvias de Amanda dejan dos muertos en Michoacán" [Amanda Rains leave two dead in Michoacan]. El Universal (in Spanish). May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  13. "Heavy rains caused by storm Amanda left three dead in Mexico" [Amanda Rains leave two dead in Michoacan]. Terra Noticas (in Spanish). May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  14. Michael J. Brennan (May 24, 2014). Hurricane Amanda Discussion Number 10. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  15. Stacy R. Stewart (May 25, 2014). Hurricane Amanda Public Advisory Number 12. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  16. Stacy R. Stewart (June 18, 2001). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Adolph". National Hurricane Center. Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
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