Tropical Storm Cristobal (2020)

Tropical cyclone that crossed over from the East Pacific to the North Atlantic in 2020

Tropical Storm Cristobal was a devastating storm that formed from the remnants of Tropical Storm Amanda. The storm formed over the Bay of Campeche on June 1, and devastated Mexico in the following days. It then made landfall in Louisiana on June 7. The storm weakened into a tropical depression shortly after, and became post-tropical over Wisconsin.

Tropical Storm Cristobal
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Tropical Storm Cristobal at peak intensity shortly after landfall in Campeche on June 3
FormedJune 1, 2020
DissipatedJune 12, 2020
(Extratropical after June 10)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure992 mbar (hPa); 29.29 inHg
Fatalities15 total
Damage≥ $665 million (2020 USD)
Areas affectedCentral America, Mexico, Central United States, Great Lakes Region, Eastern Canada
Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season

The impact of the storm was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was rapidly growing at that time. This impacted the ability of medical staff, who were at the time dealing with the pandemic. The storm caused 15 deaths and $665 million.

Storm history

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On May 31, the National Hurricane Center began to watch Tropical Storm Amanda in the Eastern Pacific for possible development in the Atlantic.[1] Tropical Storm Amanda then made landfall in Guatemala,[2] dissipating shortly after.[3][4]

 
Tropical Storm Cristobal strengthening to the north of the Yutactán Peninsula

However, some of its remains survived, and on June 1, they moved over the Bay of Campeche, and started to reorganize shortly after. At this time, they were given a 90% chance of formation.[5] Shortly after, it organized into a tropical depression.[6] On July 2, it strengthened into a tropical storm, as the system started to turn toward the south.[7] On June 3, it reached its peak intensity, with winds of 60 mph, as it made landfall in Mexico.[8] It then stalled near Ciudad del Carmen,[9] as it weakened to a tropical depression.[10]

However, as it weakened, it started to speed towards the north,[11] and on June 5, it intensified into a tropical storm again, despite being over the Yutactán Peninsula.[8] It started to reintensify again, reaching its second peak intensity of 50 mph.[12] However, the system did not look like a tropical cyclone,[13] but despite this, it made a second landfall in Louisiana, on June 6, at peak intensity.[14] The storm moved to the east-north-east, weakening,[15] and on June 10, the storm became post-tropical, over Wisconsin.[16]

References

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  1. "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  2. "Tropical Storm AMANDA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  3. "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  4. "Remnants of AMANDA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  5. "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  6. "Tropical Depression THREE". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  7. "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  9. "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  10. "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  11. "Tropical Depression CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  12. "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  13. "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  14. "Tropical Storm CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  15. "Tropical Depression CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  16. "Post-Tropical Cyclone CRISTOBAL". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-07.

Other websites

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