Harvey (2011)

A tropical wave that left the coast of Africa on August 10 gradually organized while crossing the Caribbean and became a tropical depression at 0000 UTC 19 August about 70 n mi northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios (the Nicaragua–Honduras border). It strengthened to Tropical Storm Harvey later that day and moved west-northwest north of mainland Honduras. Harvey reached peak intensity just before its first landfall near Dangriga, Belize on 20 August, weakened over Guatemala, re-emerged and re-strengthened over the southern Bay of Campeche, then made a second landfall on the Mexican coast and dissipated over Mexico on 22 August.

Harvey made its first landfall near Dangriga, Belize around 1730 UTC 20 August with maximum sustained winds estimated at 55 kt (about 63 mph). The storm weakened to a depression while crossing northwestern Guatemala, moved into the Bay of Campeche, regained tropical-storm strength, and made a second landfall near Punta Roca Partida, Mexico around 0200 UTC 22 August with sustained winds near 35 kt (about 40 mph). It fell below tropical-storm strength within hours and dissipated over the high terrain of Mexico by shortly after 1200 UTC 22 August.

The peak intensity was estimated at 55 kt (roughly 63 mph) with a minimum central pressure near 994–995 mb, putting Harvey at the upper end of the tropical storm range at its strongest. That peak is supported by aircraft SFMR surface wind measurements (52 kt) and satellite estimates; a center dropsonde measured 997 mb with 32 kt at the surface.

Storm surge reports were limited; observed tropical-storm-force winds on land were scarce because the cyclone was small. The only onshore report of tropical-storm-force sustained wind was 33 kt at Sacrifice Island near Veracruz at 0100 UTC 22 August with a gust to 40 kt. Heavy rains caused significant flooding in parts of southeastern Mexico; in the municipality of Veracruz, 334 homes were reported damaged. Specific point rainfall totals are not available in the report.

Harvey was blamed for five fatalities in Mexico: three people killed by a landslide in San Lucas Zoquiapam, Oaxaca, and two others who died from unknown causes. Damage was concentrated in parts of southeastern Mexico where flooding and landslides occurred; no casualties or significant damage were reported in Dangriga, Belize. Forecasts initially missed the system’s early development off Africa, but NHC’s later genesis, track, and intensity forecasts performed reasonably well overall; official track forecasts tended to place the center too far south and few models showed the re-emergence over the Bay of Campeche before it occurred.