Hurricane Debby (1982)

{{storm path|Debby 1982 track.png}}

A weather system moved off the coast of Africa on September 3. The disturbance was small and became unidentifiable within 24 hours of formation. Satellite imagery indicated that the disturbance may have acquired a circulation on September 7, but the circulation was gone by the next day. The remaining tropical wave moved into the Lesser Antilles on September 11 and a reconnaissance aircraft was deployed. The aircraft found circulation; however, by the next day, only a strong wave was detected. Atmospheric conditions became more favorable for development, yielding lower wind shear near Hispaniola for several days. The system moved into this area as the latest reconnaissance aircraft was deployed, declaring it a tropical depression on September 13 near the Dominican Republic.{{cite report|year=1982|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Debby 13-20 September 1982|page=1|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=2024-08-05|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1982-prelim/debby/prelim01.gif}}

The next reconnaissance aircraft that investigated the system discovered a minimal pressure of 1005 mbar (28.67 inHg) and winds of {{convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in the depression's center, prompting an upgrade to Tropical Storm Debby on the morning of September 14. Uncertainty arose as to whether Debby would interact with an approaching trough or enter the influence of a ridge over the southeastern United States. The storm was later picked up by the trough, moving generally northward and away from the United States. Debby strengthened further, becoming a minimal hurricane late on September 14. The hurricane deepened further, reaching maximum winds of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, a Category 2 storm. Debby approached Bermuda in this time, and on September 16, Debby passed {{convert|80|mi|km}} west of the island and continued north.

File:Debby 1982-09-17 1830Z.png

Debby briefly decelerated to as slow as {{convert|5|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} early on September 17 as another trough in the westerlies arrived and the system entered it. As the hurricane entered the trough, its forward speed picked up from {{convert|5|to|30|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. During this time, Debby strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane, peaking with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|130|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and a minimal atmospheric pressure of {{convert|950|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}} around 00:00 UTC on September 18.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Consequently, the cyclone became the most intense of the 1982 season.{{cite journal|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1982|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1982.pdf|date=May 1983|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1983)111<1071:AHSO>2.0.CO;2|author=Gilbert B. Clark|page=1073|bibcode=1983MWRv..111.1071C|doi-access=free|journal=Monthly Weather Review|accessdate=2024-08-05}} Early on September 19, Debby passed roughly {{convert|30|to|40|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, before accelerating to the east as fast as about {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on the following day.{{cite report|year=1982|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Debby 13-20 September 1982|page=2|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=2024-08-05|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1982-prelim/debby/prelim02.gif}} Debby weakened to a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC September 20, but remained a tropical cyclone while crossing the North Atlantic Ocean for most of that day. However, about 12 hours later, as the system rapidly approached the British Isles, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone approximately {{convert|580|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of Ireland.{{cite report|year=1982|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Debby 13-20 September 1982|chapter=Hurricane Debby – Best Track: September 13 – September 20, 1982|page=5|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=2024-08-05|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1982-prelim/debby/prelim05.gif}} Shortly thereafter, the extratropical system was absorbed into a major storm system situated over the British Isles. However, meteorologists noted that the major storm system, which included the remnants of Debby, re-intensified over Ireland and later crossed Scandinavia, reaching northern Finland on September 22.

Starting in the 1982 season (with 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%.{{cite web|author=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=2007|title=NOAA's Gulfstream-IV Jet Takes Hurricane Track Predictions to New Heights|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=2012-01-01|url=http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/transformations/aircraft/welcome.html#path}}

File:Debby_1982_rainfall.png

Rainfalls from Debby in Puerto Rico ranged between {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}} around the northern end of the island to {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on}} in the southern ridge of the island. Rains on the island peaked at {{convert|12.86|in|mm|abbr=on}} in Penuelas. Consequently, flooding occurred across the southern portion of the island, while landslides damaged many roads in the interior. The Guayanilla River overflowed, causing floodwaters to enter many businesses and homes in the town of Guayanilla. In turn, this led to about 600 families, mostly from Guayanilla or Humacao, to seek shelter. One person drowned near Naguabo after the car he was a passenger of drove into an overflowing stream. Additionally, winds downed a number of trees and inflicted minor losses to crops.{{cite journal|volume=24|number=9|page=21|journal=Storm Data|title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena|date=September 1982|issn=0039-1972|access-date=2024-08-06|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-7EBF194E-47A9-4A66-90C2-E1B88A41C95A.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806041602/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-7EBF194E-47A9-4A66-90C2-E1B88A41C95A.pdf|archive-date=2024-08-06}} The United States Virgin Islands reported rain of about {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}, while about {{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation fell over far eastern Dominican Republic.{{cite web|author=David M. Roth|date=2007-06-20|title=Incipient Stage of Debby - September 12–14, 1982|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|access-date=2012-01-01|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/debby1982.html}}

The United States Navy removed its 700 personnel on Bermuda's Air Force Base, placing them in a gymnasium nearby. Thousands of tourists took last-minute flights out of Bermuda on September 16 as Debby drew near. Some of the airlines had pulled back the number of flights going in and out of the island. Eastern Airlines dropped from five flights to two, with them going to only New York City, Newark, New Jersey, and Boston, Massachusetts.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=1982-09-16|title=Debby passes Bermuda isles|newspaper=The Prescott Courier|access-date=2012-01-01|page=6A|location=Prescott, Arizona|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xKIKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6858,47468&dq=hurricane+debby+bermuda}} The storm had sustained winds of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds, and forecasters were predicting that the hurricane's eye would be Bermuda on September 16.{{cite news|agency=United Press International|date=1982-09-16|title=Crowds Flee Bermuda With Hurricane Near|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2012-01-01|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E6DA1338F935A2575AC0A964948260|author-link=United Press International}} Airlines canceled flights, buildings boarded up, and cruise liners were hurried out of their harbors in the time before Debby arrived.{{cite news|date=1982-09-16|title=Hurricane Debby Gains Strength|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Daily Intelligencer|location=Doylestown, Pennsylvania|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-sep-16-1982-4609831/|page=10|accessdate=2024-08-05}} Rescue teams evacuated workers from Mobil oil rigs in Debby's path as it neared.{{cite web|agency=United Press International|date=1982-09-19|title=Newfoundland battered|newspaper=Syracuse Herald-Journal|page=A1|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-sep-19-1982-4609834/|accessdate=2024-08-05}} Bermuda experienced heavy gusts of wind, which caused minor damage with no injuries or fatalities. Power outages were reported on the island, though electricity was quickly restored.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=1982-09-17|title=A Wandering Hurricane Brushes Past Bermuda|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2012-01-01|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E0D81338F934A2575AC0A964948260&n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fBermuda}} Numerous trees were knocked down on the island due to high winds.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|work=New York Times|date=1982-09-18|access-date=2012-01-01|title=Hurricane Debby Heads North After Brushing by Bermuda|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/18/world/hurricane-debby-heads-north-after-brushing-by-bermuda.html}} As the storm was approaching Canada, some oil rigs offshore of Newfoundland were evacuated and a science expedition off Grand Banks was discontinued. Onshore, Debby produced light rainfall in the southeastern portions of Newfoundland, with precipitation peaking at approximately {{convert|3.5|in|mm}}. In addition, a few areas experienced tropical storm forces winds, though damage was minimal.{{cite web|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/Hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=2AFDDF8B-1|title=1982-Debby|date=2010-09-14|publisher=Environment Canada|access-date=2024-08-05|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313111238/http://www.ec.gc.ca/Hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=2AFDDF8B-1|archivedate=2013-03-13}}

The remains of Debby maintained plenty of intensity over northern Europe, and on September 21 it struck northern parts of Finland (where it was named Storm Mauri){{cite news|title=Mauri-hirmumyrsky riehui Lapissa 1982|url=http://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2009/09/22/mauri-hirmumyrsky-riehui-lapissa-1982|access-date=2024-08-05|work=Yle|date=2009-09-22|author=Shirpa Yegorow|language=fi}}{{cite journal |author=Terhi K. Laurila|author2=Victoria A. Sinclair|author3=Hilppa Gregow|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/148/1/mwr-d-19-0035.1.xml|title=The Extratropical Transition of Hurricane Debby (1982) and the Subsequent Development of an Intense Windstorm over Finland |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=January 2020|volume=148 |pages=377–401 |doi=10.1175/MWR-D-19-0035.1|hdl=10138/313867 |s2cid=209964645 |hdl-access=free|accessdate=2024-08-05}} as one of the most powerful windstorms in the country's recorded history. Winds over {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} felled millions of cubic metres of forest, and a storm surge severely damaged the cities of Kemi and Tornio, claiming two lives.{{cite news|date=2012-10-30|title=Is Finland hurricane-proof?

| work=Yle|access-date=2024-08-05|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/is_finland_hurricane-proof/6356639}}

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• List of storms of the same name
• List of Bermuda hurricanes

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1982.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
• [ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/atlantic/prelimat/atl1982/ Detailed information on all storms from 1982]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes}}

{{1982 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}

Debby

Debby (1982)

Debby (1982)

Debby (1982)

Debby