Meteorological Analysis
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Iris originated from a tropical wave which left the coast of Africa in late
September. The wave was initially inhibited by shear from a trough near the
Lesser Antilles but, as the wave reached 50 W an anticyclone formed over the
wave and the wave began to organize. A surface circulation then formed and
by October 4th the wave had enough organization to be considered a tropical
depression, about 85 nm SE of Barbados. The depression brought squally
weather to the Lesser Antilles as it passed through, and strengthened into
tropical storm Iris on the 5th, about 240 nm SSE of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Iris continued to strengthen under favorable environmental conditions and
became a hurricane on the 6th near the Dominican Republic. Iris continued due
west under the subtropical ridge and passed just south of Jamaica on the 7th
with winds of 85 mph. The core of Iris was so small that Jamaica was almost
completely spared. Iris then passed over very warm waters in the southern
Caribbean and underwent rapid intensification. Iris became a category 4 with
winds of 145 mph and a pressure of 948 mb just before landfall, after a brief
weakening due to eye wall cycles. Iris made landfall in Monkey River Town,
Belize on the 9th. The small core of Iris brought catastrophic destruction to a
swath of southern Belize. Iris then dissipated on the 9th as it moved west over
extreme southern Mexico.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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A staggering 31 deaths are attributed to Iris. 20 of these are in Belize, with 8
more in Guatemala, and another 3 in the Dominican Republic. A catastrophic
15-20 foot surge came ashore in southern Belize and smashed the coastal
towns. Intense winds also caused mass destruction, especially to the Banana
crop. Flash flooding occurred in Central America and the Dominican Republic
from Iris. Total damage was $66.2 million in Belize.
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Iris Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Iris
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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12 GMT 10/04/01 12.3N 58.2W 30 1011 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 10/04/01 12.8N 59.9W 35 1010 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 10/05/01 13.4N 61.4W 35 1010 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 10/05/01 14.0N 63.0W 35 1010 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 10/05/01 14.8N 64.5W 40 1008 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 10/05/01 15.5N 66.0W 50 1005 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 10/06/01 15.7N 67.7W 60 1001 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 10/06/01 16.0N 69.0W 65 998 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 10/06/01 16.5N 70.5W 65 998 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 10/06/01 16.9N 72.2W 75 992 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/07/01 16.9N 74.0W 85 993 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 10/07/01 16.9N 75.3W 85 989 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 10/07/01 17.3N 77.0W 85 989 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 10/07/01 17.4N 78.9W 85 991 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/08/01 17.3N 80.6W 90 988 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 10/08/01 17.2N 82.3W 105 963 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 10/08/01 17.1N 84.0W 140 950 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 10/08/01 16.8N 86.0W 135 950 Category 4 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/09/01 16.5N 88.0W 145 948 Category 4 Hurricane
6 GMT 10/09/01 16.2N 89.9W 70 1005 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 10/09/01 16.2N 91.9W 35 1004 Tropical Depression
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Hurricane Research Division Radar Image
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Selected Satellite Image
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