The 1982 Atlantic hurricane season was a well-below average Atlantic hurricane season with five named tropical storms and one subtropical storm. Two storms became hurricanes, one of which reached major hurricane status. The season officially began on June 1, 1982, and lasted until November 30, 1982. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. Activity started early with Hurricane Alberto forming on the second day of the season. Alberto threatened the Southwestern Florida coast as a tropical storm, meadering offshore in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and causing 23 fatalities in Cuba. The next system, a subtropical storm, formed later in June and affected the same area as Alberto, causing $10 million in damage.
Tropical Storm Beryl formed on August 28, after a quiet July in the open Atlantic Ocean. Beryl grazed Cape Verde, killing 3 people. Tropical Depression Three formed just behind Beryl, tracking east and north of the Caribbean sea in early September. Soon after the dissipation of Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris hit Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Debby was the next storm and the strongest of the season. The formative stage of Debby produced rainfall in Puerto Rico, causing one death on the island, and soon strengthened into a Category 4 major hurricane. Debby passed by Newfoundland on September 18 and merged with a non-tropical low on September 20. In mid-September, Tropical Depression Six formed west of Africa, and tracked west-northwest, dissipating before reaching the Leeward Islands on September 20. Its remnant thunderstorm activity continued moving west-northwest, forming Tropical Depression Seven which moved near Bermuda on September 25 before dissipating offshore Nova Scotia. The final storm of the season, Tropical Storm Ernesto, was the shortest-lasting system and stayed out to sea, dissipating on October 3.
Season summary
The 1982 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30. The season was very inactive because of strong vertical wind shear due to stronger than normal westerly winds aloft. The wind shear was contributed by a variety of factors including a very strong El Niño. Vertical wind shear was strong enough to disrupt convection in areas of disturbed weather so they could not develop further. The El Niño which affected this hurricane season extended into the 1983 Atlantic hurricane season. Higher than average values of African mineral dust during the most active portion of the hurricane season could have also suppressed tropical cyclone activity.
Starting in the 1982 season with Hurricane Debby, the Hurricane Hunter Aircraft (also known as P-3s) began running a new mission for NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. The mission was to drop dropsondes that deployed very-low Omega frequency signals. These signals were to estimate the dropsonde's motion compared to the aircraft in certain areas in a storm. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted in retrospect that "The P-3s were not optimal for this experiment; nevertheless, the flights added an extra dimension to the art and science of hurricane forecasting", improving the accuracy of tropical cyclone forecast tracks by about 15%.
The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 32, which is classified as "below normal". ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph; 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Although officially, subtropical cyclones are excluded from the total, the figure above includes periods when fully tropical storms were in a subtropical phase.
Systems
Hurricane Alberto
In late May, a tropical disturbance developed over the northwestern portion of the Caribbean, which moved over the Yucatán Peninsula. The convection, or thunderstorms, organized around a low pressure area on June 1. Emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, the low developed into Tropical Depression One on June 2 about 40 mi (65 km) north-northwest of Cancún. It continued to the northeast and intensified off the northwest coast of Cuba. By 06:00 UTC on June 3, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Alberto, based on a ship report, and it continued strengthening. At 15:45 UTC, Alberto attained hurricane status and soon reached peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h), and a minimum pressure of 985 mbar (29.1 inHg), as observed by airplanes. At the time, the hurricane was located about 120 miles (190 km) west-southwest of Key West, Florida. Soon after reaching peak intensity, Alberto weakened due to strong upper-level wind shear, which displaced the convection. Early on June 4, it weakened to tropical storm status as the circulation turned sharply westward. On the next day, Alberto fell to tropical depression status while it drifted back to the northeast. The circulation dissipated on June 6 about 70 miles (110 km) off southwest Florida.
The rainbands of Alberto produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding across western Cuba. The rainfall peaked at 39.84 inches (1,012 mm), the fourth highest rainfall total in the country since 1963. More than 50,000 were forced to evacuate from the resulting floods, which were described as the worst flooding in the northwestern portion of the country since 1950. Overall, Alberto caused 23 deaths and an estimated $85 million in damage in Cuba. The floods damaged 8,745 houses in the country, leaving hundreds of people homeless. In Pinar del Río Province, 71 homes were destroyed, while 83 buildings collapsed in the capital city of Havana. Six factories in Havana Province received damage. The passage of Alberto left several districts in Havana without electricity, telegraph, telephone, and mail service. The military was deployed to rescue those trapped in flooded homes and also to remove fallen trees. Agricultural damage included about 250,000 downed banana trees and 400 drowned cattle.
The NHC issued a hurricane warning from the Dry Tortugas to Marathon in the Florida Keys, and along the southwestern coastline northward to Fort Myers. A hurricane watch was also issued from Marathon to Jupiter Inlet. Officials ordered mandatory evacuations along the southwest coast of Florida. More than 1,000 left their homes to stay in nine emergency shelters. Air Florida canceled all flights from Miami to Key West. Officials closed schools in Monroe County at midday on June 3 and also sent all nonessential city and county employees home. Gale-force winds and heavy rainfall were reported in the lower Florida Keys; Key West reported 6.25 inches (159 mm) during a 24-hour period, with the maximum reported winds at a land station being 70 mph (110 km/h) in the Dry Tortugas. Rainfall peaked at 16.47 inches (418 mm) at Tavernier. Alberto spawned three tornadoes and a waterspout in the Florida Keys, one of which at Stock Island which damaged several boats. One of the three tornadoes picked up a moving car and lightly injured the driver. Another knocked down two telephone poles on the Overseas Highway, which resulted in an hour traffic delay. Damage from the tornadoes totaled US$275,000.
Subtropical Storm One
On June 15, a tropical disturbance moved across the northwest Caribbean Sea and onto the Yucatán Peninsula, where it interacted with an upper-level trough. The system produced a low pressure area that moved northeast into the Gulf of Mexico. A reconnaissance flight on June 17 reported that there were multiple transient circulations at the surface, but no well-defined center. By the next day, a surface circulation developed. At 00:00 UTC on June 18, a subtropical depression formed about 285 mi (460 km) west-southwest of Naples, Florida. Twelve hours later, the system intensified into a subtropical storm, and shortly thereafter it made landfall near Homosassa, Florida. Moving quickly northeastward, the subtropical storm crossed the peninsula in only about four hours and emerged into the Atlantic from the First Coast. Late on June 18, sustained winds associated with the storm peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h). The system crossed the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the following day, although the circulation became large and distorted. Paralleling the coast of Nova Scotia on June 20, the storm's minimum pressure fell to 984 mbar (29.1 inHg), shortly before becoming extratropical about 100 mi (160 km) south of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
The storm produced heavy rainfall over Cuba, peaking at 28.66 inches (728 mm) were recorded. Rains in Florida peaked at 10.72 in (272 mm) in DeSoto County. The storm killed three people in Florida. A Brevard County woman died when a canoe overturned, and an Orange County child was killed when he was swept into a drainage ditch. A tornado destroyed a mobile home, killing a man in Hendry County. It was one of 12 tornadoes across the state, including two that were rated F2 on the Fujita Scale. Damage in Florida totaled $10 million (1982 USD), including 25 homes that were destroyed. In Arcadia, 130 families were evacuated after the Peace River rose significantly. Some buildings, boats, and marinas from Naples to the Tampa Bay area suffered damage. From Naples to the Tampa Bay area, high tides and waves caused floods, beach erosion, and damage to coastal structures and buildings. Outside of Florida, rainfall reached as far north as Virginia. Wind gusts reached 66 miles per hour (106 km/h) at the Oak Island Coast Guard Station. High waves sank a fishing trawler off Cape Fear, North Carolina, but the crew was rescued by the United States Coast Guard. Tides 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) above normal caused flooding in the Carolinas.
Tropical Storm Beryl
A tropical wave exited western Africa on August 27, and continued to the west-northwest. It developed into Tropical Depression Two early on August 28, which quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Beryl. Early on August 29, Beryl passed about 35 mi (55 km) south of the island of Brava. After passing by the Cape Verde Islands, Beryl strengthened further, and it developed an eye feature on August 31. The NHC estimated peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 millibars (29.2 inHg). Soon after the storm peaked, strong wind shear stripped the convection from the center. Beryl weakened to a tropical depression on September 2, after its circulation became exposed. Although it produced gale-force winds in squall lines, Beryl failed to restrengthen, and it dissipated on September 6.
Beryl produced heavy rains and gusty winds on the Cabo Verde Islands. The storm rendered approximately 2,100 people homeless and caused about $3 million in damage. Additionally, at least 3 people died and another 122 others suffered injuries. In the period after the storm's passage, the United States provided humanitarian aid and economic assistance to the country, helping the archipelago to reverse the effects of Beryl.
Tropical Depression Three
This system formed about 525 mi (845 km) east of the Lesser Antilles on September 6 and to the southeast of Tropical Storm Beryl. Due to unfavorable conditions, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) did not expect the cyclone to intensify significantly. The depression failed to strengthen beyond maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and moved northwestward to west-northwestward until dissipating about 380 mi (610 km) north of Puerto Rico on September 9.
Tropical Storm Chris
An upper-low pressure system formed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 6, with the circulation heading westward. On September 8, a surface low pressure area formed. Early the next day, it developed into a subtropical depression. Over the next 24 hours, the low began acquiring tropical characteristics, mainly from developing deep convection on its north and east sides. Early on September 10, it transitioned into a tropical depression. Soon after, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Chris. A large trough over the Southwestern United States turned the storm northward. On September 11, Chris made landfall near Sabine Pass, Texas, with peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). Its minimum pressure was 994 mbar (29.4 inHg). Chris weakened quickly into a tropical depression, before dissipating over Arkansas on September 13.
Prior to Chris making landfall, thousands of people evacuated from southern Louisiana, including offshore oil workers. The storm produced heavy rainfall along the gulf coast, peaking at 16 in (410 mm) in Delhi, Louisiana. The storm spawned nine tornadoes, of which four were F2 or stronger on the Fujita scale. In Louisiana, two of the tornadoes collectively destroyed 16 buildings and damaged 7 others. A tornado in Mississippi damaged several homes and businesses in Cleveland, injuring four people. Another tornado overturned a mobile home in Eden. Several boats in the Gulf of Mexico sustained heavy damage, and a boat sank southeast of Sabine Pass. In Texas, a restaurant was damaged, and there were numerous power outages and flooded roads. In Louisiana, the storm produced 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2.1 m) high tides, causing coastal and street flooding. Farther inland, the storm's rains produced river flooding in Tennessee and Kentucky.