Hurricane Katrina (1981)
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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
.JPG/235px-Hurricane_Katrina_(1981).JPG) Hurricane Katrina |
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| Formed | November 3, 1981 | |
| Dissipated | November 8, 1981 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 980 mbar (hPa; 28.95 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 2 direct | |
| Damage | Unknown | |
| Areas affected |
Cuba, Bahamas, Cayman Islands | |
| Part of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Katrina was the twenty-first tropical depression, eleventh named storm and seventh hurricane of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. During its lifetime, Katrina affected the Cayman Islands, Cuba and the Bahamas, causing the death of two people in Cuba as it passed over the island. The storm formed from an area of cloudiness on November 1 in the western Caribbean Sea; the cloudiness became Tropical Depression 21 two days later, and Tropical Storm Katrina the following day. After passing over Grand Cayman, Katrina moved to the northeast, grazing Cuba as a Category 1 hurricane; it later affected the Bahamas as a tropical storm, where it caused 14 in (360 mm) of rainfall. Katrina merged with a frontal trough on November 7.
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[edit] Storm history
An area of cloudiness and showers formed over the western Caribbean Sea on November 1. A low-level circulation began to form and the area of disturbed weather was declared Tropical Depression Twenty-One on November 3, while located 150 mi (240 km) south of the Cayman Islands.[1] The tropical depression strengthened overnight, becoming Tropical Storm Katrina, the eleventh storm of the season, on November 4. Within 24 hours of becoming a storm, Katrina's center was over Grand Cayman Island.
Katrina began accelerating in a northeasterly direction, and at 1224 UTC on November 5, a NOAA reconnaissance aircraft recorded a minimal central barometric pressure of 980 mbar (hPa; 28.93 inHg), as well as intensifying winds of 85 mph (135 km/h).[1] This meant that Cuba was now under the threat of a hurricane strike within 12 hours. However, track and intensity forecasts for tropical cyclones approaching land have an added degree of difficulty, as hard terrain disrupt the wind patterns that guide and fuel the storm. Consequently, Katrina started to weaken as it approached Cuba; by the time the system reached Cuba, it had weakened into a 70-mph (115-km/h) tropical storm, and the central pressure had risen to 995 mbar (29.38 inHg).[1] After passing through the Cuban mainland, Katrina moved eastward, and passed over the Bahamas during the afternoon of November 6 with winds of only 60 mph (95 km/h) and a forward speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).[1] Finally, reconnaissance aircraft could not define a circulation on the night of November 6, as the storm had gradually merged with a frontal system over the southwest Atlantic Ocean.[1]
[edit] Preparations
While Katrina was a 75-mph (120-km/h) hurricane, between 62 and 150 thousand residents, along with 120,000 heads of cattle in Cuba were evacuated. Additionally, the Bahamas posted a hurricane watch on their area. Shipping interests were told to keep cover in the Bahamas, as well as in the Florida Keys.[2][3]
[edit] Impact
In Grand Cayman, rough seas ripped out a grape tree and slammed it into the Brac Reef Hotel's Bar.[1] Cuba encountered some flash flooding in mountainous areas as Katrina moved across the country.[3] Cuban officials also reported that two people were killed. The Bahamas received a total of 14 in (360 mm) of rain; while no deaths or injuries were reported there, heavy rains in the Central area caused flood damage to watermelon, tomato and corn crops on Long Island. Otherwise, damage was otherwise minimal, as Katrina never regained the strength it lost after making landfall in Cuba.[4]
Bad weather from Hurricane Katrina caused the cancellation of the 15th running of the Bennon and Hedges Gold Cup Race.[5]
