The Modern era in Meteorology is considered 1950-Present. The Satellite era is from 1960-Present. Hurricane Season covers all the summer and autumn months. Basically, June-November. 40 years ago the Atlantic had record low activity in the year of 1983.
1983 had the lowest number of named storms in the modern and satellite era with only 4 named storms developing. So, what caused this record low activity. I will be answering that in this post.
In 1982 a strong El Nino developed. In fact, it was one of the strongest EL Nino's recorded at that time. Temperatures in the ENSO region of the Equatorial Pacific was 2.3 degrees Celsius above average. This strong El Nino was the reason the 1982 season was way below average with only 6 named storms, 2 became hurricanes and 1 became a major hurricane. The average season in the 1980's would normally have 10 named storms, 6 becoming hurricanes and 2 become major hurricanes. This El Nino continued well into 1983. By the time the 1983 season started water temperatures in the ENSO where still 1.8 degrees Celsius above average. La Nina did not start showing signs of developing until December 1983, but by that time hurricane season was other with.
The very strong El Nino caused below average water temperatures across the Atlantic. Especially in the far Atlantic. The Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Gulf Stream where the only areas of the Atlantic that had near average temperatures. In addition, the El Nino caused strong wind shear that kept tropical lows from developing.
Another factor that could have been enhanced by the Strong El Nino was a terrible drought in the Sub-Sahara region of Africa. In the late summer and fall normally. This is one reason there was severe famine in that region. Due to being in a drought the wind carried lots of Sahara Dust. Also the monsoon which is the origin of tropical waves was inactive. Once again, this allowed more dust to be pushed in the Atlantic. The Saharan Dust causes very dry air.
Here are the storms from 1983.
*Means the hurricane was a major hurricane category 3, 4, and 5.
*Hurricane Alicia. Alicia developed from a tropical low in the Gulf of Mexico. The tropical low started to rapidly developed. It was named tropical storm Alicia. Alicia continued to rapidly strengthen until its landfall near Houston Texas. Alicia peaked as a 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Alicia did severe damage in Texas. Overall, Alicia caused 22 deaths and $3 Billion dollars worth of damage.
Hurricane Barry. A tropical low developed off the Florida coast. This low was named Tropical Storm Barry. Barry moved over the coast of Florida before emerging in the Gulf. Once in the Gulf Barry redeveloped. It continued to steadily intensify. Eventually Barry became a category 1 hurricane before striking Mexico at peak intensity. However, impacts where unknown.
Hurricane Chantal. Chantal emerged from a tropical low on the Gulf Stream. The low intensified into Tropical Storm Chantal. Chantal would became a category 1 hurricane over the open waters of the Atlantic. Chantal had no impacts.
Tropical Storm Dean. Tropical Storm Dean developed over the Gulf Stream. It reached a peak of 65 mph. Dean made landfall in the Northeast part of the United States as a weakening tropical storm. Only minor impacts where reported.
Even though the 1983 season had record low activity. The 1983 season proved it only takes one storm to make it a bad year. That storm was Alicia. Alicia causing $3 Billion in damages was the costliest USA hurricane until it was passed in 1989 by Hugo. Here it is 40 years later and this season still ranks lowest in activity.
The Modern era in Meteorology is considered 1950-Present. The Satellite era is from 1960-Present. Hurricane Season covers all the summer and autumn months. Basically, June-November. 40 years ago the Atlantic had record low activity in the year of 1983.
1983 had the lowest number of named storms in the modern and satellite era with only 4 named storms developing. So, what caused this record low activity. I will be answering that in this post.
In 1982 a strong El Nino developed. In fact, it was one of the strongest EL Nino's recorded at that time. Temperatures in the ENSO region of the Equatorial Pacific was 2.3 degrees Celsius above average. This strong El Nino was the reason the 1982 season was way below average with only 6 named storms, 2 became hurricanes and 1 became a major hurricane. The average season in the 1980's would normally have 10 named storms, 6 becoming hurricanes and 2 become major hurricanes. This El Nino continued well into 1983. By the time the 1983 season started water temperatures in the ENSO where still 1.8 degrees Celsius above average. La Nina did not start showing signs of developing until December 1983, but by that time hurricane season was other with.
The very strong El Nino caused below average water temperatures across the Atlantic. Especially in the far Atlantic. The Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Gulf Stream where the only areas of the Atlantic that had near average temperatures. In addition, the El Nino caused strong wind shear that kept tropical lows from developing.
Another factor that could have been enhanced by the Strong El Nino was a terrible drought in the Sub-Sahara region of Africa. In the late summer and fall normally. This is one reason there was severe famine in that region. Due to being in a drought the wind carried lots of Sahara Dust. Also the monsoon which is the origin of tropical waves was inactive. Once again, this allowed more dust to be pushed in the Atlantic. The Saharan Dust causes very dry air.
Here are the storms from 1983.
*Means the hurricane was a major hurricane category 3, 4, and 5.
*Hurricane Alicia. Alicia developed from a tropical low in the Gulf of Mexico. The tropical low started to rapidly developed. It was named tropical storm Alicia. Alicia continued to rapidly strengthen until its landfall near Houston Texas. Alicia peaked as a 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Alicia did severe damage in Texas. Overall, Alicia caused 22 deaths and $3 Billion dollars worth of damage.
Hurricane Barry. A tropical low developed off the Florida coast. This low was named Tropical Storm Barry. Barry moved over the coast of Florida before emerging in the Gulf. Once in the Gulf Barry redeveloped. It continued to steadily intensify. Eventually Barry became a category 1 hurricane before striking Mexico at peak intensity. However, impacts where unknown.
Hurricane Chantal. Chantal emerged from a tropical low on the Gulf Stream. The low intensified into Tropical Storm Chantal. Chantal would became a category 1 hurricane over the open waters of the Atlantic. Chantal had no impacts.
Tropical Storm Dean. Tropical Storm Dean developed over the Gulf Stream. It reached a peak of 65 mph. Dean made landfall in the Northeast part of the United States as a weakening tropical storm. Only minor impacts where reported.
Even though the 1983 season had record low activity. The 1983 season proved it only takes one storm to make it a bad year. That storm was Alicia. Alicia causing $3 Billion in damages was the costliest USA hurricane until it was passed in 1989 by Hugo. Here it is 40 years later and this season still ranks lowest in activity.
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