Hurricane Erika (2003)

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

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone / Remnant low / Tropical disturbance / Monsoon depression

A weak surface area of low pressure detached from a frontal system on August 8, while located 1,150 miles (1,850 km) to the east of Bermuda. It moved southwestward, and on August 9, it generated convection as it passed beneath a cold-core upper-level low. The surface low and the upper-level low turned westward as it revolved around a common center, and by August 11, the surface low developed into a trough while 440 miles (700 km) south of Bermuda. As the system rapidly continued westward, much of the convection remained near the center of the upper-level low, preventing development of a closed surface circulation. On August 13, while located near the northwestern Bahamas, a substantial increase in convection resulted in the upper-level low building downwards to the middle levels of the troposphere, coinciding with the development of an upper level anticyclone.[1]

A closed low-level circulation nearly developed on August 14 to the east of Key Largo, Florida, but it weakened due to the deep convection remaining to the north over the mid-level center. The mid-level storm continued westward and moved across Florida.[1] After crossing Florida, Hurricane Hunters indicated a poorly defined circulation, but with winds exceeding tropical storm strength, and the system was designated as Tropical Storm Erika late on August 14 while located 85 miles (135 km) west of Fort Myers.[2]

NEXRAD image of Erika making landfall on northeastern Mexico.

With well-established outflow and low levels of wind shear,[2] Erika strengthened as the circulation became better defined. A high pressure system persisted over the south-central United States, forcing the storm to move just south of due west at 25 mph (40 km/h). On August 15, convection organized into bands, and as its winds approached hurricane strength, an eye developed within the storm. Erika turned to the west-southwest on August 16, and attained hurricane status just prior to making landfall near Boca San Rafael, Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico, or about 40 miles (70 km) south of the United States–Mexico border. The storm rapidly weakened over the mountainous Sierra Madre Oriental, and Erika's low-level circulation center dissipated early on August 17.[1] The mid-level circulation maintained integrity as it crossed Mexico, and led to the formation of a tropical disturbance after entering the Gulf of California on August 18. It turned to the northwest and weakened on August 20, before dissipating soon afterward.[3]

Operationally, Erika was never upgraded to hurricane status. However, based on a persistent eye feature on radar and Doppler weather radar-estimated surface winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), the National Hurricane Center posthumously upgraded Erika to a hurricane.[1]

Tropical Storm Erika approaching Mexico on August 15

The threat of Erika's onslaught prompted the evacuation of 51 oil platforms and 3 oil rigs in the western Gulf of Mexico. The lack of production led to a loss of production of 8,708 barrels (1,384.5 m³) of oil per day and 173.14 million cubic feet (4,903,000 m³) of natural gas per day. On the day of its landfall, the lack of production led to 1,979 less barrels of oil for the day, or about 0.12% of the total daily production for the Gulf of Mexico, while the loss of 32 million cubic feet (910,000 m³) of gas for the day was equivalent to 0.23% of the total production.[4] However, due to its rapid motion, the passage of the storm resulted in minimal effects on operations.[5]

While the storm was located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on August 15, the National Hurricane Center issued a Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning from Brownsville to Baffin Bay, Texas. The center also recommended a Hurricane Watch spanning from Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas to the international border. Late that same day, when strengthening was underway, a Hurricane Warning was either issued or recommended from La Pesca, Mexico to Baffin Bay, Texas, though the warnings for south Texas were dropped when a more southward motion occurred.[1] Just one month after Hurricane Claudette caused millions in damage in south Texas, the fast movement of Erika caught citizens by surprise as it was forecast to make landfall near Brownsville. Citizens and business owners boarded up for the storm.[6] About 10,000 were evacuated from northeastern Mexico due to the threat for flooding,[7] including 2,000 in Matamoros.[5]

Rainfall data for Erika

The precursor disturbance was expected to bring heavy, yet needed rainfall to the Bahamas.[8] The precursor disturbance dropped heavy precipitation while moving across Florida, including in Indian River County,[9] and also produced 6–8 ft (1.8–2.4 m) waves with moderate wind gusts.[10]

Erika produced light rainfall across southern Texas, peaking at 3.83 inches (97 mm) in Sabinal,[11] though most locations reported less than two inches (50 mm) of precipitation. In addition, weather radar estimated isolated accumulations of 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm) of precipitation in Kenedy and Brooks Counties. Sustained winds from Erika in south Texas peaked at 39 mph (62 km/h) in Brownsville, where a gust of 47 mph (75 km/h) was also recorded.[1] Strong waves were reported northwards to Corpus Christi.[12] The storm caused minor flooding and beach erosion along South Padre Island.[1] Strong wind gusts of up to 60 mph (95 km/h) caused isolated, minor wind damage in south Texas, including in South Padre Island, where the winds damaged the roof of a business. The winds also uprooted a large tree and caused limb damage to several small- to medium-sized trees in Brownsville. In Texas, damage totaled to $10,000 (2003 USD, $14,730 2022 USD).[13]

In Mexico, Hurricane Erika primarily affected the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, but also had effects on Coahuila as well. Rainfall peaked at 6.71 inches (170.5 mm) in Magueyes in Tamaulipas.[14] Several other locations reported over 3 inches (76 mm),[1] including 4.02 inches (102 mm) in Cerro Prieto, which was the maximum amount in the state of Nuevo León,[14] and 3.42 inches (86.8 mm) in Monterrey,[1] where 30 people were injured.[7] Sustained winds peaked at 40 mph (65 km/h) in San Fernando, where a gust of 65 mph (105 km/h) was also reported.[1] The heavy rainfall resulted in severe flooding and mudslides, blocking several highways in northeastern Mexico.[14] In Matamoros, the storm damaged roofs and cars.[7] Moderate winds snapped tree branches and spread debris across roads, though locals considered the storm minor.[5] In the Nuevo León city of Montemorelos, two people died when they were swept away after they drove their truck across a partially flooded bridge.[1] Throughout Mexico, 20,000 people were left without power due to the storm.[7] The remnant circulation produced heavy amounts of precipitation in western Mexico and Baja California.[3]

• Tropical cyclones in 2003
• List of Texas hurricanes (1980–present)
• List of Category 1 Atlantic hurricanes
• Hurricane Barry (1983) – A Category 1 hurricane that took a similar path
• Hurricane Hanna (2020) – A Category 1 hurricane that took a similar path

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Erika (2003).

• Erika's Tropical Cyclone Report