Meteorological Analysis
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Keith originated from a tropical wave which moved off the African coast on
September 16th. The wave raised little suspicion as it crossed the Atlantic under
the subtropical ridge. The wave began to organize though as it reached the
Western Caribbean on the 27th, and by the 28th the wave became a tropical
depression. The depression was located 60 nm NNE of Cape Gracias a Dios,
Nicaragua at formation. The depression strengthened gradually after formation
and became tropical storm Keith on the 29th. Keith was located in a very
favorable environment for strengthening, and Keith underwent rapid
intensification. Keith reached its maximum strength of 140 mph with a pressure
of 939 mb on October 1st as the storm slowly crawled west towards Belize.
Keith then began to weaken due to cooler up welled water and some shear.
Keith moved over the coastal islands of Belize on the 1st as a cat 3 hurricane.
Keith then underwent rapid weakening and made landfall in Belize on the 3rd
near Belize City with winds of 70 mph. Keith then moved inland over the
Yucatan and weakened into a depression. Keith began to accelerate WNW and
entered the Bay of Campeche on the 4th. Keith strengthened back into a
90 mph hurricane on the 5th as it traversed the Bay of Campeche. Keith then made
landfall with 90 mph winds near Tampico, Mexico on the 5th. Keith finally
dissipated over Mexico on the 6th.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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24 deaths are attributed to Keith, with 12 in Nicaragua, 6 in Honduras, 5 in
Belize, and 1 in Mexico. There was extensive damage in Belize, especially
on the coastal islands. The damage totaled $225 million in Belize. Damage
totals are not available for other nations however.
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Keith Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Keith
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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18 GMT 09/28/00 16.1N 82.9W 30 1005 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/29/00 16.2N 83.3W 30 1004 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/29/00 16.6N 83.6W 35 1003 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/29/00 16.9N 84.0W 35 1002 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/29/00 17.4N 84.8W 45 1000 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/30/00 17.7N 85.4W 50 993 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/30/00 17.9N 86.0W 65 987 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/30/00 17.9N 86.4W 75 982 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/30/00 17.9N 86.7W 85 977 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/01/00 17.9N 86.9W 115 955 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 10/01/00 17.9N 87.2W 140 941 Category 4 Hurricane
12 GMT 10/01/00 17.9N 87.4W 135 944 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 10/01/00 17.9N 87.7W 125 950 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/02/00 17.8N 87.9W 115 959 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 10/02/00 17.6N 87.8W 90 974 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 10/02/00 17.7N 87.8W 80 980 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 10/02/00 17.7N 87.9W 75 987 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/03/00 17.9N 88.0W 70 989 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 10/03/00 18.0N 88.4W 50 990 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 10/03/00 18.3N 88.8W 35 995 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 10/03/00 18.6N 89.5W 35 998 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 10/04/00 19.0N 90.4W 30 1000 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 10/04/00 19.5N 91.4W 35 1000 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 10/04/00 19.9N 92.5W 40 999 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 10/04/00 20.3N 93.5W 45 996 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 10/05/00 20.7N 94.8W 70 988 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 10/05/00 21.2N 96.1W 75 987 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 10/05/00 21.8N 97.0W 85 983 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 10/05/00 22.6N 97.9W 90 980 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 10/06/00 23.2N 99.0W 50 988 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 10/06/00 23.5N 100.0W 35 1002 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 10/06/00 23.8N 101.0W 25 1007 Tropical Depression
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Satellite Image
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