A tropical low that formed from a tropical wave over the Yucatan Peninsula developed into a tropical depression on September 1, 2014, about 295 nautical miles east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico. The system became Tropical Storm Dolly early on September 2 and moved generally west-northwestward to westward in the Bay of Campeche. Dolly was disorganized and featured multiple competing centers; it weakened slightly after its peak on September 2 and moved ashore Mexico, then dissipated over the mountains on September 4.
Dolly made landfall on the Mexican Gulf coast just south of Tampico in the state of Tamaulipas around 0400–0500 UTC on September 3, 2014. The circulation center observed in Mexican radar made landfall near Altamira at about 0500 UTC. At landfall the storm’s maximum sustained winds were about 40 kt (45 mph), and it weakened while moving inland.
The storm’s peak intensity was 45 kt (about 52 mph) with a minimum central pressure near 1000 mb, reached near 0600 UTC on September 2. Those values represent Dolly’s strongest measured winds and lowest pressure during its short life as a tropical cyclone.
There were no reports of storm surge from Dolly. Heavy rain caused the main impacts: widespread totals of 4–8 inches were reported across parts of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, and Nuevo León from September 1–4. Some locations received more than 10 inches, with the highest reported total 15.23 inches at La Encantada in Tamaulipas. A NOAA buoy (42055) measured sustained winds of 37 kt with a 41 kt gust on September 2; the Mexican station at Barra del Tordo reported a 42 kt gust on September 3.
No direct deaths were confirmed. Media reports indicate one indirect fatality (a man who died of “natural causes” during the storm). Damage reports included wind damage to homes near Cabo Rojo and freshwater-flood damage in parts of Veracruz; no reliable overall monetary damage estimate was available. Forecasts correctly anticipated a landfall in eastern Mexico but had difficulty with Dolly’s erratic changes in forward motion and the timing of its structural reorganizations.
Paid members can generate summaries tailored to the counties of their choice. The Dolly TCR covers impacts across many counties and states — a Pinellas County resident doesn't need the Asheville detail, and a Buncombe County resident doesn't need the Tampa surge data.
Upgrade for county-specific summariesSummary above produced from the National Hurricane Center's official post-storm Tropical Cyclone Report. Read the full report for casualty lists, damage estimates by area, forecast critique, and detailed meteorological discussion:
📄 Read NHC's full report on Dolly → (opens at nhc.noaa.gov)| Time (UTC) | Status | Lat | Lon | Winds (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-09-01 12:00 | LO | 19.20 | -92.30 | 25 | 1009 | |
| 2014-09-01 18:00 | TD | 20.00 | -93.20 | 30 | 1009 | |
| 2014-09-02 00:00 | TS | 21.30 | -93.40 | 35 | 1007 | |
| 2014-09-02 06:00 | TS | 22.30 | -94.30 | 40 | 1005 | |
| 2014-09-02 12:00 | TS | 22.80 | -95.60 | 45 | 1005 | |
| 2014-09-02 18:00 | TS | 22.20 | -96.70 | 40 | 1003 | |
| 2014-09-03 00:00 | TS | 22.00 | -97.30 | 40 | 1001 | |
| 2014-09-03 01:00 | TS | 22.00 | -97.40 | 40 | 1000 | P |
| 2014-09-03 04:00 | TS | 22.00 | -97.70 | 40 | 1002 | Landfall |
| 2014-09-03 06:00 | TS | 21.90 | -98.00 | 35 | 1004 | |
| 2014-09-03 12:00 | LO | 21.80 | -98.80 | 25 | 1005 | |
| 2014-09-03 18:00 | LO | 21.70 | -99.80 | 20 | 1005 | |
| 2014-09-04 00:00 | LO | 21.60 | -101.00 | 15 | 1002 |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 best-track database (nhc.noaa.gov/data). Data is in the public domain. Best-track positions and intensities are post-storm reanalysis estimates and may differ from real-time advisories.