REPORTS OF HURRICANES, TROPICAL STORMS,
TROPICAL DISTURBANCES AND RELATED FLOODING DURING 2011
(Submitted by Belize)
Report on Tropical Storm Harvey
At 9:00 pm on Thursday 18th August 2011 the 8th tropical depression of the 2011 hurricane
season formed off the northeast coast of Honduras. At the time of formation the depression was
located some miles 420 miles east southeast of Belize City. At that time the depression was
moving towards the west at 12 miles per hour and had maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per
hour.
At .9:00 am (1500 UTC) on Friday 19th August the Government of Belize declared tropical
storm watch for coast of Belize from Dangriga Town southwards to the border with Guatemala.
At that time the depression was located at latitude .16.1 N and longitude 83.7 W or about 310 mile
east-southeast of Belize City and had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Movement was still
towards the west at 10 mph.
At 12:00 pm (1800 UTC) this tropical watch was upgraded to a warning for the entire coast of
Belize as tropical depression #8 was upgraded to tropical storm Harvey. At that time Harvey was
located at approximately 280 miles east-southeast of Belize City. Maximum sustained winds had
increased to 40 mph and Harvey was heading in a westerly direction at 10 mph.
During the next 24 hours TS Harvey continued its steady approach to Belize. Landfall
occurred shortly after midday on Saturday 20th August just to the north of Dangriga town as a
tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. There winds were confined to a small
swath 5 to 10 miles to north and east of the center. Harvey exited Belize territory and all tropical
storm conditions subsided. As a result of the latter all watches and warnings were lifted at 6:00
p.m. (0000 UTC) by the Government of Belize.
Wind damage from TS Harvey was minimal besides those caused by the tornado in a couple
villages in the northern sections of the country. Rainfall measured for the duration of the event
which basically occurred during Saturday 20th August showed as much as 85.7 mm (3.4 inches) at
the capital, Belmopan, There were no reports of flooding around the country.
Figure 1. NMS (Belize) radar image of TS Harvey
Figure 2. Pressure and wind speed measurements recorded at the Caribbean Community Climate
Change Center offices in Belmopan during the inland passage of TS Harvey.
Figure 3. Track of Tropical Strom Harvey (courtesy National Hurricane Center)
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