Hector formed southwest of Mexico, moved westward and dissipated over colder
water southwest of Baja California. The remnants of Hector passed over the
Hawaiian Islands several days later, producing heavy rain over most of the
island chain.
a. Synoptic history
Hector developed from a tropical wave that moved off the African coast late
on 29 July, accompanied by 24-h pressure falls of about 4.0 mb. The wave
maintained little deep convection as it moved across the central Atlantic
Ocean at about 15 knots. Convection increased when the wave interacted with
an upper-level trough in the central Caribbean Sea on 4 August, but the
upper-level winds remained unfavorable for tropical cyclone formation while
the wave moved into Central America.
The tropical wave slowed and moved across Mexico, emerging into the eastern
Pacific Ocean on 9 August. Deep convection increased significantly when the
wave moved off the coast and cloud-banding features began to develop on the
morning of 10 August. It is estimated that a tropical depression formed at
1800 UTC 10 August about 160 n mi southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The
system developed under northeasterly shear. However, banding features became
more distinct on the evening of 11 August and satellite estimates indicated
that the depression had reached tropical storm status.
Hector slowly became more organized except the outflow which remained
restricted in the northern semicircle. A strong ridge to the north steered
the storm generally westward about 10 knots into a more favorable
upper-level environment for strengthening. It developed a Central Dense
Overcast and a "ragged eye" began to appear on visible satellite pictures.
The storm became a hurricane at 0000 UTC 14 August and it is estimated that
the hurricane peaked in intensity around 1200 UTC 14 August while crossing
the 26 C sea surface temperature isotherm. Hector rapidly weakened after it
took a brief northwest track into much cooler water and less favorable
upper-level winds. Most of the deep convection associated with Hector had
weakened by 1800 UTC 15 August. Hector dissipated the next day and its
remnants moved westward. On 20 August, the remnants interacted with an
upper-trough near the Hawaiian Islands producing locally heavy rain and some
thunderstorms.
The best track is listed in Table 1
and is plotted in Fig. 1.
b. Meteorological statistics
Figure 2 and
Figure 3
shows the best track curves and maximum sustained 1-min surface
winds and minimum central pressure data, respectively, as functions of time.
These plots include Dvorak satellite classification estimates and early
pressure estimates from synoptic analyses. SSM/I and TRMM microwave data
were included in the analyses. The storm's remnants produced locally heavy
rainfall over the Hawaiian Islands.
c. Casualties and damages
No casualties or damages were associated with Hector.
d. Forecast and warning critique
The official average track forecast error for Hector ranged from 74 n mi at
24 hours to 183 n mi at 48 hours to 290 n mi at 72 hours (5 cases only). The
error at 24 hours is near the most recent ten-year average error, while the
forecast error at 48 and 72 hours is considerably above the average error.
However, this average is over five cases only and might not be
representative.
Table 1.
Best track for Hurricane Hector, 10-16 August 2000.
Date/Time (UTC) | Position |
Pressure (mb) |
Wind Speed (kt) | Stage |
Lat. (°N) | Lon. (°W) |
10/1800 | 17.8 | 106.6 | 1006 | 25 | tropical depression |
11/0000 | 17.7 | 108.1 | 1005 | 25 | " |
11/0600 | 17.9 | 109.2 | 1003 | 25 | " |
11/1200 | 18.1 | 110.4 | 1003 | 30 | " |
11/1800 | 18.3 | 111.7 | 1003 | 30 | " |
12/0000 | 18.5 | 112.9 | 1002 | 35 | tropical storm |
12/0600 | 18.5 | 114.1 | 1001 | 40 | " |
12/1200 | 18.4 | 115.1 | 999 | 45 | " |
12/1800 | 18.2 | 115.8 | 997 | 50 | " |
13/0000 | 18.1 | 116.5 | 996 | 50 | " |
13/0600 | 18.2 | 117.2 | 994 | 55 | " |
13/1200 | 18.2 | 117.7 | 993 | 55 | " |
13/1800 | 18.3 | 118.1 | 990 | 60 | " |
14/0000 | 18.4 | 118.4 | 986 | 65 | hurricane |
14/0600 | 18.7 | 118.9 | 985 | 65 | " |
14/1200 | 19.1 | 119.3 | 983 | 70 | " |
14/1800 | 19.5 | 119.9 | 984 | 70 | " |
15/0000 | 20.0 | 120.5 | 987 | 65 | " |
15/0600 | 20.3 | 121.2 | 990 | 60 | tropical storm |
15/1200 | 20.3 | 122.1 | 994 | 55 | " |
15/1800 | 20.2 | 123.0 | 998 | 45 | " |
16/0000 | 20.0 | 123.9 | 1000 | 35 | " |
16/0600 | 20.0 | 125.0 | 1004 | 30 | tropical depression |
16/1200 | 20.0 | 126.6 | 1005 | 25 | " |
16/1800 | 20.0 | 128.0 | 1006 | 25 | " |
|
14/1200 | 19.1 | 119.3 | 983 | 70 | minimum pressure |
Figure 1.
Best track positions for Hurricane Hector, 10-16 August 2000.
Figure 2.
Best track maximum sustained surface wind speed curve for Hurricane Hector,
10-16 August 2000.
Figure 3.
Best track minimum central pressure curve for Hurricane Hector, 10-16 August
2000.