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Hurricane Richard makes landfall in Belize

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:10:38 GMT

Tropical cyclones – 2010

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Latest 5 day track for Richard
Image: NHC.

	We already boarded up everything, and we already got everything, office equipment and everything, stored in a safe place. We got all the tourists out, and get the whole place secured down.
—Rafael Marin

Hurricane Richard made landfall in Belize about 20 mi (35 km) south-southeast of Belize City with winds of 90 mph (150 kph) at approximately 6:45 local time (0045 UTC) according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Richard is currently lashing the country with strong winds and heavy rain, which, officials have said, could cause life threatening floods and landslides.

Richard seven hours before landfall
Image: NASA.

Officials have revealed that 10,000 people are currently sheltering in schools and churches, while some have moved to Belmopan, as the country is battered by strong winds and heavy rains. Although tourists have been evacuated from vulnerable areas, some residents have decided to ride out the storm in their homes.

The area which Richard made landfall in is populated with neighborhoods made of wooden houses with zinc roofs. According to a clerk at a bed and breakfast, Fanny Llanos, "the winds are very strong [and are] getting stronger." She also said that palm trees were struggling in the winds and there were loud sounds all around.

It has also been reported that 3 foot (1 meter) waves were beginning to hit the docks. Local emergency officials have advised store owners not to increase prices as people tried to stock up for the impending arrival of the hurricane.

Landslides have blocked one of the countries highways in the Colon province, blocking access to 40 towns leaving 15,000 people trapped. Teams are trying to clear the highway. Residents have advised that they have taken adequate preparations for the storm with one man saying that "he expected only some beach erosion and minor damage to homes."

Full Wikinews coverage of the 2010 hurricane season

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Sources [edit]

Patrick E. Jones, AP. "Hurricane Richard nears landfall in Belize" — The Inquirer (Philadelphia), October 24, 2010
Brown/Berg. "Hurricane Richard Update Statement" — NHC, October 24, 2010

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Latest Public Advisory

Richard becomes a hurricane, threatens Belize

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:13:47 GMT

Tropical cyclones – 2010

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

A wind swath of Richard showing watches and warnings
Image: National Hurricane Center.

Richard has become a Category one hurricane with winds of 85 mph (155 kph) according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.It is heading west-northwestward and is expected to make landfall in Belize sometime this evening.

Richard is located 95 mi (155 km) east of Belize City, Belize, however it is still dumping heavy rains in Honduras. Sections of the north coast of Honduras, from Limón westward to Puerto Cortes and the Bay Islands including Rotan, Utila and Guanaja, as well as the entire country of Belize are still under a hurricane warning according to the Hurricane Center. A tropical storm warning is also up for east coast of Yucatán Peninsula from Punta Gruesa to Chetumal. The tropical storm warning and watch are discontinued for areas east of Limón eastward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

The Hurricane Center is warning people residing in hurricane warning areas to brace for hurricane conditions by this evening and to rush all preparations to completion. The first bands of Richard brining tropical storm forced winds are expected to arrive within twelve to eighteen hours. Hurricane force winds extend 15 mi (30 km) from the center, while topical storm force winds extend 105 mi (165 km).

The hurricane is expected to plow through Belize and Mexico before emerging into the Bay of Campeche as a depression. The depression could pose a threat to oil rigs in the Bay of Campeche.

Full Wikinews coverage of the 2010 hurricane season

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Sources [edit]

"UPDATE 1-Hurricane Richard forms, heading for Belize" — Reuters, October 24, 2010
Pasch and Roberts. "Richard public advisory #15" — NHC, October 24, 2010

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Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2010 Atlantic hurricane season

Latest public advisory

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Tropical storm Richard nears hurricane strength, soaks Honduras

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:56:06 GMT

Tropical cyclones – 2010

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Satellite image of Richard, which is expected to pass just north of Honduras and strike Belize and Mexico late Sunday as a hurricane.
Image: NASA.

Tropical storm Richard is nearing hurricane strength with winds of 70 mph (115 kph) as it lashes Honduras with heavy rains. Richard is expected to pass just north of Honduras and strike Belize and Mexico late Sunday as a hurricane.

Richard is about 85 mi (140 km) east of Isla Guanaja Honduras and is expected to move further westward paralleling the coast of Honduras. Honduras and Belize are currently under a hurricane warning and the Mexican government has begun to evacuate fishermen from the Yucatán Peninsula, which is under a tropical storm warning, as strong winds and rain are expected over the next 24 hours.

Honduran officials have evacuated residents and tourists from coastal areas. "[We will] evacuate between 3,000 and 4,000 people that live in coastal zones where there could be a storm surge and heavy winds," a Honduran emergency response official, Randolfo Funez, said. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) released a statement, which said: "A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the northern coast of Honduras and Belize...and 1 to 3 feet in the bay islands. Near the coast...the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves." They also advised that life threatening flash floods and landslides are possible, especially in mountainous areas in the storm's path.

Richard is likely to plow through Belize and the Yucatán Peninsula before emerging into the Bay of Campeche as a tropical depression on Tuesday according to the Miami based National Hurricane Center. Some computer module forecasts have Richard affecting Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas rigs.

Full Wikinews coverage of the 2010 hurricane season

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Sources [edit]

"Richard public advisory #13" — National Hurricane Center, October 23, 2010
"UPDATE 2-Richard to become hurricane, dumps rain on Honduras" — Reuters, October 23, 2010
"Tropical Storm Richard brushes Honduran coast" — The Brownsville Herald, October 23, 2010

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First storm of Atlantic hurricane season forms off coast of Belize

Sat, 31 May 2008 23:47:50 GMT

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Tropical cyclones – 2008

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Tropical Storm Arthur is projected to weaken tonight, but it will likely regain strength after entering the Bay of Campeche on Sunday.

The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season got off to an early start today when a tropical storm formed off the coast of Belize, one day before the season officially begins.

Tropical Storm Arthur formed Saturday afternoon and quickly made landfall at the Yucatan Peninsula, near the border between Belize and Mexico. Both countries issued a tropical storm warning for the peninsula's eastern coastline. In the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, ports were closed to small boats, water sports were banned, and those living in coastal areas were encouraged to take precautions.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida says that Arthur had a maximum sustained wind speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/hr). These winds extend outward up to 260 miles (415 km) east of the storm's center. As of 5:00 pm EDT, the center of the storm is located 75 miles (125 km) northwest of Belize City.

The hurricane center is also expecting up to 10 inches of rain in parts of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, with isolated amounts of up to 15 inches. "These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, especially in mountainous terrain," the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm is projected to weaken into a tropical depression Saturday night. But the National Hurricane Center says it will likely strengthen back into a tropical storm after reemerging into the Bay of Campeche on Sunday. Several Mexican oil fields are located in the Bay of Campeche, including one operated by the state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a more active Atlantic hurricane season than normal, with up to 16 named storms and five hurricanes of Category 3 or above, which are classified as major hurricanes.

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Sources [edit]

"Tropical storm Arthur churns over Mexico's Yucatan" — Reuters, May 31, 2008
"Atlantic season's 1st tropical storm forms near Belize" — CNN, May 31, 2008
William Ysaguirre. "Tropical Storm Arthur hits Yucatan" — Associated Press, May 31, 2008
Kandy Ringer. "Tropical Storm Arthur Moving Slowly Over Yucatan" — BBSNews, May 31, 2008
Steven Bodzin and Andres R. Martinez. "Tropical Storm Arthur Passes Belize, Heads Into Gulf" — Bloomberg L.P., May 31, 2008

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Hurricane Felix now Category 5

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:39:02 GMT

Monday, September 3, 2007

Hurricane Felix has now been raised to a Category 5 hurricane. It has been moving through the warm Caribbean waters, and has already damaged many Dutch islands in the area. It is reported as having maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h), and is heading upwards towards Central America.

It is expected to skirt Honduras before hitting Belize. It is predicted to cause large scale destruction in Belize and surrounding areas. It has already affected Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. One Bonaire resident, Siomara Albertus, said "Thankfully we didn't get a very bad storm. My dog slept peacefully through the night".

It has already caused tens of thousands of tourists and residents to be stuck in their homes or places of residence, preparing for the worst. Many residents had installed storm shutters, and taken boats ashore, however there was very little wind damage.

It is currently moving at around 18mph (29 km/h), and is approximately 390 miles (628 km) off the coast of Jamaica.

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Sources [edit]

Margaret Wever. "Felix becomes Category 5 hurricane" — Associated Press, September 3, 2007
Randy Bynon. "Category 5 Hurricane Felix" — Wunder Blog, September 3, 2007
Dr. Jeff Masters. "Felix a possible catastrophe for Honduras" — Wunderground, September 2, 2007

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Hurricane Richard makes landfall in Belize

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Richard becomes a hurricane, threatens Belize

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Tropical storm Richard nears hurricane strength, soaks Honduras

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First storm of Atlantic hurricane season forms off coast of Belize

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Hurricane Felix now Category 5

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