The 1983 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual tropical cyclone season in the north Atlantic Ocean. It was the least active Atlantic hurricane season in 53 years, during which four storms formed.[1] The season officially began on June 1, 1983 and ended November 30, 1983. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most systems form.[2] The first named storm, Hurricane Alicia, formed on August 15. The last storm of the season, Tropical Storm Dean, dissipated on September 30.
This season produced seven tropical depressions, of which four became named storms; three attained hurricane status, of which one became a major hurricane, a storm that ranks as a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale.[3] The most notable storm in 1983 was Hurricane Alicia, which killed 21 people and caused $2.6 billion (1983 USD; $5.6 billion 2008 USD) in damages, making it the costliest storm, at the time, in Texas history.[4] As a result of its intensity, the name Alicia was subsequently retired from reuse in the North Atlantic by the World Meteorological Organization.[5] Another notable storm, Hurricane Barry, made landfall on Florida as a tropical storm, then, after crossing into the Gulf of Mexico crossing, strengthened into a weak Category 1 hurricane that traveled almost due west across the Gulf before making landfall in extreme northern Mexico.[6]
This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It includes information that was not released throughout the season, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not initially warned upon, has been included.
By convention, meteorologists one time zone when issuing forecasts and making observations: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and also use the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC).[7] In this time line, all information is listed by UTC first with the respective local time included in parentheses.
Timeline
June
June 1
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins.[8]
7 a.m. EDT (1100 UTC) – Tropical Storm Barry weakens to a tropical depression and makes landfall near Melbourne, Florida, with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[11]
August 26
2 a.m. EDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Barry emerges into the Gulf of Mexico.[11]
August 27
7 a.m. CDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Barry re-intensifies into a tropical storm.[11]
August 28
7 a.m. CDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Barry strengthens into a hurricane.[11]
12:25 CDT (1725 UTC) – Hurricane Barry makes landfall in northern Tamaulipas, Mexico with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).[11]
7 p.m. CDT (0000 UTC August 29) – Hurricane Barry weakens to a tropical storm.[11]
August 29
1 a.m. CDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Barry weakens to a tropical depression.[11]
1 p.m. CDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Barry dissipates over Mexico.[11]
September
September 10
8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five forms 145 miles (235 km) south-southeast of Bermuda.[12]
8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 11) – Tropical Depression Five strengthens into Tropical Storm Chantal.[12]
September 11
2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Chantal intensifies into a hurricane.[12]
September 12
8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 13) – Hurricane Chantal weakens to a tropical storm.[12]
September 14
8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 15) – Tropical Storm Chantal weakens to a tropical depression.[12]
September 15
8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Chantal dissipates over open waters.[12]
September 19
exact time unknown – Tropical Depression Six forms near the Lesser Antilles.[13]