List of South America hurricanes explained

A South American hurricane is a tropical cyclone that affects the continent of South America or its countries. The continent is rarely affected by tropical cyclones, though most storms to hit the area are formed in the North Atlantic Ocean. Typically, strong upper level winds and its proximity to the equator prevents North Atlantic impacts.[1] Cyclone Yaku is the only known tropical cyclone to have ever affected the Pacific side of South America on record, albeit its status as a tropical cyclone is unofficial. Although conditions are typically too hostile for many storms to hit the area from the South Atlantic Ocean, there have been a few tropical cyclones to affect land. Based on climatology, northern Venezuela and Colombia have a 1 to 5% chance of a hurricane strike in any given year, while all locations south of 10° N have less than a 1% chance of a direct hit.[2]

List of tropical cyclones

1588–1900

20th century

2000–2020

2021–present

Listed by month

44 tropical cyclones have affected South America in most months of the year.

MonthNumber of recorded storms
affecting South America
January 2
February 0
March 5
April 0
May 0
June 2
July 3
August 4
September 14
October 8
November 4
December 3
DateFormat=yyyyImageSize= width:350 height:auto barincrement:35Period = from:0 till:15TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalPlotArea = right:10 left:5 bottom:50 top:5

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Deadliest storms

Data from South American tropical cyclones is sparse and incomplete, though most tropical cyclones that struck the continent caused multiple deaths. Bret, Julia, Joan, and Cesar all caused their deaths through rainfall or flash flooding.

NameYearNumber of deaths
1993 174
1988 36
1996 17
2021 15
2009 14
2010 8
2023 8
2020 7
1988 5
2004 3
2004 3
2020 3
1999 2
2017 2
2022 2
1961 1
2016 1
"Trinidad" 1933 "Several"
1974 0 (47 indirect)
2022 0 (54 indirect)

Tropical cyclone warnings and watches

In the event an Atlantic hurricane threatens the northern coast of South America, the National Hurricane Center defines nine locations as tropical cyclone warning breakpoints. The westernmost is the border between Panama and Colombia, and the easternmost is Georgetown, Guyana, located at 6.82° N. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclone warning breakpoints extend eastward to the border of Panama and Colombia at 7.23° N.[72] No Atlantic hurricane has existed south of 6.82° N,[73] and no Pacific hurricane has existed east of 80° W,[74] though in the event a tropical cyclone threatens a region of South America without warnings, additional warning sites can be selected. In addition to warnings on the mainland of South America, the National Hurricane Center defines the entire island of San Andres as a tropical cyclone warning breakpoint.[72]

Intense Hurricane Flora in 1963 prompted officials to declare gale warnings for two islands off the north coast of Venezuela.[75] In 1974, the passage of Tropical Storm Alma warranted the issuance of Gale Warnings for the Paria and Paraguaná Peninsulas.[19] Hurricane Joan in 1988, Tropical Storm Bret in 1993, Hurricane Cesar in 1996, and Hurricane Felix in 2007 resulted in tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for several locations in South America.[76] [77] [78] [79] The threat of Hurricane Ivan prompted a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning for the northern coast of Venezuela.[80]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2004 . Ask Tom Why . WGN9 Chicago . 2006-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060427143006/http://wgntv.trb.com/news/weather/weblog/wgnweather/archives/000098.html . 2006-04-27 . dead .
  2. Web site: Pielke, Rubiera, Landsea, Fernández, and Klein. 2003. Hurricane Vulnerability in Latin America & The Caribbean. National Hazards Review. 2006-07-20.
  3. Web site: Ricardo . Garcia-Herrera . Luis . Gimeno . Pedro . Ribera . Emiliano . Hernandez . New records of Atlantic hurricanes from Spanish documentary sources. 2006-07-20.
  4. Web site: Michael Chenoweth. 2006. A Reassessment of Historical Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity, 1700–1855. 2006-07-20.
  5. Web site: NOAA. 2005. 1877 Atlantic hurricane season. 2006-07-20.
  6. Web site: NOAA. 2005. 1886 Atlantic hurricane season. 2006-07-20.
  7. Web site: NOAA. 2005. 1887 Atlantic hurricane season. 2006-07-20.
  8. Web site: NOAA. 2005. 1892 Atlantic hurricane season. 2006-07-20.
  9. Web site: National Weather Service. 1892. 1892 Monthly Weather Review. 2006-07-21.
  10. Web site: NOAA. 2005. 1911 Atlantic hurricane season. 2006-07-21.
  11. Web site: National Weather Service. 1932. 1932 Monthly Weather Review. 2006-07-21.
  12. Web site: National Weather Service. 1933. 1933 Monthly Weather Review. 2006-07-21.
  13. Web site: National Weather Service. 1954. 1954 Monthly Weather Review. 2006-07-21.
  14. Web site: National Weather Service . 1955 . 1955 Monthly Weather Review . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070629114604/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1955.pdf . 2007-06-29 .
  15. Web site: National Weather Service. 1961. 1961 Monthly Weather Review. 2006-07-21.
  16. Web site: National Weather Service . 1963 . 1963 Monthly Weather Review . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090507122057/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1963.pdf . 2009-05-07 .
  17. Web site: John Hope. 1971. Hurricane Edith Preliminary Report Page 1. National Hurricane Center. 2006-11-01.
  18. Web site: National Weather Service . 1971 . 1971 Monthly Weather Review . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080923015222/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1971.pdf . 2008-09-23 .
  19. Web site: National Hurricane Center. 1974. Tropical Storm Alma Tropical Cyclone Report. 2006-11-18.
  20. Web site: National Weather Service. 1978. 1978 Monthly Weather Review. 2006-07-21.
  21. Web site: National Weather Service . 1988 . 1988 Monthly Weather Review . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120214094031/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1988.pdf . 2012-02-14 .
  22. Web site: Harold P. Gerrish. 1988. Hurricane Joan Tropical Cyclone Report Page 3. National Hurricane Center. 2006-07-21.
  23. Web site: National Hurricane Center. 1990. Tropical Storm Fran Tropical Cyclone Report. 2006-07-21.
  24. Web site: National Weather Service . 1993 . 1993 Monthly Weather Review . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080923023541/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1993.pdf . 2008-09-23 .
  25. Web site: John Wade. 1993. Catastrophe in Caracas. The Herald. 2006-07-21.
  26. Web site: Associated Press . 1996 . Hurricane Douglas leaves at least 35 dead as it crosses from Caribbean to Pacific . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183033/http://wwwnotes.reliefweb.int/w/RWB.NSF/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/225921ce1d150f66c1256377003249a6?OpenDocument . 2007-09-27 .
  27. Web site: Agence France-Presse. 1999. One death blamed on Hurricane Lenny; still threatens Caribbean. 2006-07-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183528/http://wwwnotes.reliefweb.int/w/RWB.NSF/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/363875f0d9b2ff82c125683c0041097a?OpenDocument. 2007-09-27.
  28. Web site: John L. Guiney . 1999 . Hurricane Lenny Tropical Cyclone Report . National Hurricane Center . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110102121703/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999lenny.html . 2011-01-02 .
  29. Web site: Miles B. Lawrence . 2000 . Hurricane Joyce Tropical Cyclone Report . National Hurricane Center . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110102121703/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999lenny.html . 2011-01-02 .
  30. Web site: Lixion A. Avila. 2002. Hurricane Isidore Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. 2006-07-21.
  31. Web site: World Meteorological Organization . 2004 . Final Report of the 2003 Atlantic Hurricane Season . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051029215601/http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/Reports/HC26-English.pdf . October 29, 2005 .
  32. Web site: Gary Padgett . 2004 . January 2004 Tropical cyclone summary . 2006-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060616151919/http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0401.txt . 2006-06-16 . dead .
  33. D. H. Levinson. 2004. State of the Climate in 2004. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 86. 6. S1–S86. American Meteorological Society. 10.1175/BAMS-86-6-Levinson. 2006-07-21.
  34. News: Associated Press. First South Atlantic hurricane hits Brazil. 2006-07-21. USA Today . 2004-03-30.
  35. Web site: Agence France-Presse. 2004. Hurricane Ivan kills at least 14 in Caribbean. 2006-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192649/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SZIE-64NKFE?OpenDocument&rc=2&cc=ven. dead. September 27, 2007.
  36. Web site: Stacy R. Stewart . 2004 . Hurricane Ivan Tropical Cyclone Report . National Hurricane Center . 2006-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070911070938/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml . 2007-09-11 .
  37. Web site: International Federation of the Red Cross. 2004. Caribbean:Hurricane Ivan. 2006-07-21.
  38. News: News from Russia. 2005. Emily passed Venezuela. 2006-07-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060327153538/http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/07/15/60604.html. 2006-03-27.
  39. Web site: Adventist News Network. Adventist News Network. 2005 . Colombia: Adventists Aid Hurricane Beta Relief Effort on Tiny Island . 2010-09-26 .
  40. Web site: Agence French-Presse . 2007 . Maximum strength Hurricane Felix aims for Central America . 2007-09-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090707142638/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jqK-v2ow8GjpYjB3tHUvxe5-pNbw . 2009-07-07 .
  41. Web site: Brazilian Meteorological Service . March 2010 . Monitoramento – Ciclone tropical na costa gaúcha . pt . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100309131205/http://www.metsul.com/blog/ . March 9, 2010 .
  42. Web site: The Associated Press: Mexico: Mudslide proves less deadly than feared . 2010-10-05 . 2010-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101005005756/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hl_pDxsnzNXUg2xSAHZJeJMgbvqgD9IHIF7O0?docId=D9IHIF7O0 . dead .
  43. News: September 26, 2010 . September 26, 2010 . Fourteen dead in tropical storm . AFP . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100928042209/http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/fourteen-dead-in-tropical-storm/story-e6frfku0-1225929464883 . September 28, 2010 .
  44. News: Staff Writer . Agence France-Presse . 2010-10-30 . Montreal Gazette . Hurricane Tomas forms in eastern Caribbean . 2010-10-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101102154105/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Hurricane%2BTomas%2Bforms%2Beastern%2BCaribbean/3752405/story.html . dead . November 2, 2010 .
  45. Web site: Unattributed. Climatempo. March 16, 2011. March 19, 2011. Arani – tempestade subtropical afasta-se da costa do ES. pt.
  46. Web site: Cari é rebaixado ao enfraquecer e ciclone se afasta do continente. Metsul. March 14, 2015. March 12, 2015. pt. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150322070735/http://www.metsul.com/blog2012/Home/home/843/Cari_%C3%A9_rebaixado_ao_enfraquecer_e_ciclone_se_afasta_do_continente. March 22, 2015.
  47. News: es. Juan David Umaña Gallego. El Colombiano. October 3, 2016. October 3, 2016. "Matthew" provocó estragos en la Costa.
  48. News: es. Sandra Guerrero Barriga. El Heraldo. October 1, 2016. October 1, 2016. 'Matthew' coge fuerza en su avance frente a la Costa.
  49. News: RJR News. June 21, 2017. June 21, 2017. Tropical Storm Bret blamed for at least one death.
  50. News: Williams. Elizabeth. Man injured when Bret destroyed home, has died. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630164638/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170630/news/man-injured-when-bret-destroyed-home-has-died. dead. June 30, 2017. July 1, 2017. Trinidad Express. June 30, 2017.
  51. News: Carolyn Kissoon. Barrackpore after Bret: $millions in damage. https://web.archive.org/web/20170620212842/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170620/news/barrackpore-after-bret-millions-in-damage. dead. June 20, 2017. June 23, 2017. Daily Express. June 20, 2017.
  52. News: Severe flooding hits Trinidad and Tobago, Karen heading toward Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. Julie Celestial. September 23, 2019. The Watchers. February 29, 2020.
  53. News: Tropical Storm Karen Floods Streets, Traps People in Homes in Tobago. September 22, 2019. The Weather Channel. Ron Brackett. February 29, 2020.
  54. News: No school on Monday. September 22, 2019. Trinidad Express. Carolyn Kissoon. February 29, 2020.
  55. News: Tormenta Tropical Karen provocó inundaciones en Caracas y La Guaira. September 22, 2019. Descifrado. February 29, 2020. es.
  56. News: Heavy rains cause casualties, damage in southeast Brazilian region. https://web.archive.org/web/20200125162136/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-01/25/c_138732892.htm. dead. January 25, 2020. January 24, 2020. Xinhua News. February 1, 2020.
  57. News: Cappucci . Matthew . Brazilian city experiences deadly flooding after 32 inches of rain falls in just 27 days . October 16, 2020 . The Washington Post . January 29, 2020.
  58. News: es. Turkish Radio. November 15, 2020. November 15, 2020. Inundaciones en Colombia: 3 muertos.
  59. News: es. El País. November 17, 2020. November 17, 2020. Dos muertos y un desaparecido, el balance del paso de Iota por Providencia.
  60. News: es. Vanguardia. November 19, 2020. November 19, 2020. $150 mil millones invertirán inicialmente para atender emergencia en Providencia.
  61. Web site: Após semana com tempestade subtropical, litoral de SC registra alagamentos com maré alta. G1.
  62. News: Sobe para 32 número de cidades em situação de emergência por causa das fortes chuvas na Bahia. 2021-12-13 . g1. 2021-12-13 . Portuguese .
  63. News: Em 24 horas número de desabrigados pela chuva aumenta quase cinco vezes em MG. 12 December 2021 . g1. 11 December 2021. pt-br.
  64. News: CICLONE SE FORMA NA COSTA DO SUL DO BRASIL E PROVOCA CALAMIDADE NA BAHIA. 12 December 2021 . MetSul Meteorologia. 10 December 2021 . Portuguese .
  65. Web site: No Uruguai, Yakecan provoca transtornos e causa pelo menos uma morte . 17 May 2022 .
  66. Web site: Corpo é encontrado no Guaíba após barco afundar durante passagem de tempestade Yakecan no RS; suspeita é que seja de pescador desaparecido .
  67. News: Landslides Leave at Least 22 Dead, and Dozens Missing in Venezuela. Glatsky. Genevieve. Romero. Tibisay. October 9, 2022. The New York Times. October 10, 2022. en-US.
  68. Web site: Delacroix . Matias . Hurricane Julia 22 dead in landslide in Venezuela . All News Press.com . October 10, 2022.
  69. Web site: Petley . Dave . The 8-9 October 2022 disaster at Las Tejerías in Venezuela . The Landslide Blog . 10 October 2022.
  70. Web site: GESTIÓN . NOTICIAS . 2023-03-11 . Emergencia en el norte: huaicos, inundaciones y desbordes hoy 10 de marzo . 2023-03-13 . Gestión . es.
  71. Web site: Associated Press . 2023-03-08 . Ecuador: crecidas dejan tres muertos y miles de damnificados . 2023-03-13 . San Diego Union-Tribune en Español . en.
  72. Web site: National Hurricane Center . 2006 . Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watch/Warning Breakpoints . 2006-11-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070708223310/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/breakpoints_list.shtml . July 8, 2007 .
  73. Web site: Hurricane Research Division . 2006 . Hurdat Data for Tropical Cyclones 1851–2005 . . 2006-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060705190625/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2005_atl.txt . 2006-07-05 . dead .
  74. Web site: Hurricane Research Division . 2006 . Hurricane Data for Pacific Hurricanes 1949–2005 . NOAA . 2006-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060614182321/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2005_epa.txt . 2006-06-14 . dead .
  75. Web site: Hoose. 1963. Hurricane Flora Advisory 4. San Juan Weather Bureau. 2006-11-18.
  76. Web site: NHC. 2006-11-18. Hurricane Joan Tropical Cyclone Report Page 8. 1988.
  77. Web site: NHC. 2006-11-18. Tropical Storm Bret Tropical Cyclone Report Page 10. 1993.
  78. Web site: Avila . 1996 . Hurricane Cesar Tropical Cyclone Report . 2006-11-18 . NHC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130802021117/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1996cesar.html . 2013-08-02 .
  79. Web site: Blake & Avila. 2007. Tropical Depression Six Public Advisory One. NHC. 2007-09-03.
  80. Web site: Stewart . 2004 . Hurricane Ivan Tropical Cyclone Report . NHC . 2006-11-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070911070938/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml . 2007-09-11 .