Meteorological Analysis
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Isidore originated from a tropical wave which moved off the coast of Africa on
September 9th. The wave initially lost convection but, it maintained structure.
The wave then headed west under the subtropical ridge and raised little
suspicion until it reached 50 W. Convective activity increased at that point, and
the wave organized enough by September 14th to be considered a tropical
depression. The depression was very far south though and on a collision course
with Venezuela and Trinidad. The depression lost its closed circulation as it
moved over land and degenerated into a tropical wave over the Caribbean on
the 15th. The wave soon reorganized though and developed a closed circulation.
On September 17th the tropical wave became a depression again about 120 nm
south of Kingston, Jamaica. The depression continued to strengthen and became
tropical storm Isidore on the 18th. Isidore was embedded in a very weak
steering flow under the subtropical ridge. This caused the storm
to move very slowly WNW. Isidore passed just west of Jamaica on the 18th and
19th. Isidore exhibited the 'Jamaican Jog' at this time, in that it hopped around
Jamaica like so many tropical cyclones do. Isidore then moved WNW through
the Cayman Islands on the 19th and 20th, and became a hurricane under
favorable environmental conditions. Isidore's winds increased to 105 mph on
the 20th, before a pre-landfall weakening tend ensued. Isidore made landfall
in Cabo Frances, Cuba on the 20th with winds of 85 mph. Isidore then moved
into the Yucatan Channel, and due to its slow movement it had plenty of time
to strengthen. Isidore reached its max intensity of 125 mph while moving
through the channel on the 21st. Isidore reached its minimum pressure of
934 mb before landfall on the 22nd in Puerto Telchac, Mexico. Isidore stayed
over the Yucatan for a day and a half after landfall, weakening all the way to
a 40 mph tropical storm. A trough finally induced Isidore into the Gulf of
Mexico on the 24th, and Isidore strengthened into a 65 mph tropical storm by
the 26th. Isidore's structure never recovered from the Yucatan landfall though.
Isidore made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana on the 26th with 65 mph winds.
Isidore weakened over land and brought heavy rains up the east coast. Isidore
finally became extra-tropical on the 27th and was absorbed by a front over Pennsylvania.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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There are 4 deaths attributed to Isidore, all in the U.S. There are also 3 deaths
indirectly attributed to Isidore, 2 in Mexico and 1 in the U.S. Rain damage
occurred across Isidore's path in the western Caribbean due to the storms slow
movement. There was also plenty of wind damage in Cuba and the Yucatan.
Agriculture and cattle took the brunt of the damage in the Caribbean. In the
U.S. there was widespread damage totaling $330 million.
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Isidore Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Isidore
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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18 GMT 09/14/02 10.0N 60.5W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/15/02 10.2N 62.4W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/15/02 10.6N 64.3W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/15/02 11.2N 66.4W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/15/02 12.3N 68.5W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/16/02 14.2N 70.5W 25 1009 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/16/02 15.0N 71.9W 25 1008 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/16/02 15.5N 73.2W 25 1008 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/16/02 15.7N 74.5W 25 1008 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/17/02 15.8N 75.3W 30 1008 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/17/02 15.8N 76.1W 30 1008 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/17/02 15.9N 76.8W 35 1008 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/17/02 16.3N 77.4W 35 1006 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/18/02 16.7N 77.7W 35 1006 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/18/02 17.1N 78.1W 40 1006 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/18/02 17.7N 78.5W 45 1004 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/18/02 18.7N 78.6W 50 1001 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/19/02 19.3N 79.3W 60 998 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/19/02 19.7N 80.4W 60 990 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/19/02 19.9N 80.9W 70 990 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/19/02 20.4N 81.7W 75 983 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/20/02 20.7N 82.3W 85 979 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/20/02 21.1N 83.0W 105 967 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/20/02 21.5N 83.5W 100 966 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/20/02 21.8N 84.0W 85 965 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/21/02 22.1N 84.3W 85 964 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/21/02 22.3N 85.1W 100 964 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/21/02 22.0N 85.8W 115 955 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/21/02 21.9N 86.1W 125 946 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/22/02 22.1N 86.5W 125 947 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/22/02 22.0N 87.4W 125 936 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/22/02 21.9N 88.2W 125 934 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/22/02 21.6N 88.9W 125 935 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/23/02 21.0N 89.4W 115 950 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/23/02 20.6N 89.6W 80 952 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/23/02 20.1N 89.6W 70 960 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/23/02 20.3N 89.4W 60 968 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/24/02 20.5N 89.3W 40 980 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/24/02 21.0N 89.5W 50 985 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/24/02 21.7N 89.7W 60 987 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/24/02 22.1N 89.8W 60 988 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/25/02 23.0N 89.7W 60 987 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/25/02 24.2N 89.7W 60 987 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/25/02 25.4N 90.2W 60 990 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/25/02 26.3N 90.4W 65 988 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/26/02 27.5N 90.3W 65 989 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/26/02 29.1N 90.3W 65 984 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/26/02 30.0N 89.9W 65 985 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/26/02 32.2N 89.8W 45 988 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/27/02 33.0N 89.0W 25 992 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/27/02 35.0N 86.5W 25 995 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/27/02 39.1N 82.9W 25 998 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/27/02 40.9N 79.5W 25 999 Extratropical Storm
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Isidore Radar Image
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Selected Satellite Image
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Selected Hurricane Research Division Radar Image
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