Hurricane Nana: A Close Call For Belize

Hurricane Nana made landfall in Belize in the early morning of Thursday, September 3, 2020, before dissipating over Guatemala. The hurricane hit a sparsely populated stretch of the Belize coast between the towns of Dangriga and Placencia, around 50 miles south of Belize City. Packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, Nana was barely a hurricane and caused relatively minor damage.

Hurricane Nana's path and impact on Belize

Hurricane Nana made landfall in Belize in the early morning of Thursday, September 3, 2020. The hurricane hit the coast of Belize between the towns of Dangriga and Placencia, around 45 to 50 miles south of Belize City, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.

Nana was a relatively small hurricane with hurricane-force winds extending just 10 miles out from its center and 70 miles from its center for tropical storm-force winds. This, combined with the fact that it missed Belize City, the country's most populous city, meant that wind and storm surge damage were limited. However, heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides, with rainfall accumulations reaching 3 to 5 inches in the Toledo District and peaking at 5.7 inches in Corazon. The strongest winds were recorded offshore on Carrie Bow Cay, with sustained winds of 61 mph and a gust of 75 mph. Belize City experienced winds of 47 mph and minimal rainfall of 0.69 inches. Large swells caused minor damage to piers in Placencia, and wind damage was confined to a small area of the Stann Creek District. Structural damage occurred in Georgetown, Hopkins, Independence, Silk Grass, and Sittee River, and residences in Dangriga, Hopkins, and Placencia lost power. A total of 24 homes were damaged by the storm: 13 in Silk Grass, 7 in Hopkins, and 4 in Dangriga.

The hurricane also caused significant agricultural damage in Belize, with more than 960 acres of banana and plantain crops worth BZ$20.5 million (US$10 million) destroyed. However, the nation's citrus industry escaped major losses. The total economic losses in Belize due to the hurricane exceeded US$20 million.

In preparation for the storm, thousands of Belize residents stocked up on food, water, and construction materials, and more than 4,000 people, primarily in the southern part of the country, evacuated to government shelters. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or deaths in Belize, and the damage was considered minimal.

Belize's hurricane history

Belize has a long history of hurricanes, with the nation averaging one hurricane every seven years. The country's hurricane history dates back to the 1800s, with records showing a hurricane hitting Belize in 1864. Since 1930, there have been 16 hurricanes, eight of which were major hurricanes (Category 3 or above). Additionally, 17 systems made landfall in Belize as tropical storms.

Some notable hurricanes to hit Belize include:

• Hurricane Nana (2020): A Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds that made landfall between the coastal towns of Dangriga and Placencia.
• Hurricane Earl (2016): A Category 1 hurricane with 80 mph winds that caused extensive damage to agriculture, with losses exceeding $100 million.
• Hurricane Richard (2010): A Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds that caused flooding in many homes in Belize City but resulted in no deaths.
• Hurricane Iris (2001): A powerful Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds that caused major damage to nearly 95% of buildings in Placencia. It resulted in 31 deaths and $66 million in damages.
• Hurricane Keith (2000): A Category 4 hurricane with 135 mph winds that lingered just offshore Ambergris Caye before slowly moving across Chetumal Bay. It caused heavy damage to the cayes.
• Hurricane Hattie (1961): A devastating Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds and a 13-foot storm surge that killed over 400 people and left thousands homeless. It led to the relocation of the capital city from Belize City to Belmopan.
• 1931 Hurricane (name unknown): A Category 4 hurricane with 130-135 mph winds that made landfall in Belize City, resulting in approximately 1,500-2,500 deaths. It remains the deadliest hurricane and natural disaster in Belize's history.

Preparation and impact of Hurricane Nana

Hurricane Nana was a small, short-lived tropical cyclone that caused minor damage in Belize and Mexico in early September 2020. The system originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of West Africa on 23 August and gradually developed into Tropical Storm Nana as it approached Jamaica. Nana intensified into a minimal hurricane on 3 September, with peak winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mbar (994 hPa; 29.4 inHg). Shortly after, it made landfall near Sittee Point, Belize, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Belize City.

Preparation

Ahead of Nana's arrival, multiple tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for parts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico between 1 and 3 September. On 2 September, hurricane warnings were issued for the coast of Belize between Belize City and the Guatemala border. Residents of Belize rushed to hardware and grocery stores in preparation for the storm, and a total of 4,085 people evacuated to government-provided shelters.

Impact

Hurricane Nana made landfall in a sparsely populated area of Belize, resulting in relatively minor damage. The hurricane produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall, with the most significant effects felt in Belize and Mexico. Belize experienced structural damage in several districts, with a total of 24 homes damaged and power outages in some areas. More than 960 acres of banana and plantain crops were destroyed, resulting in significant agricultural losses. However, the country's citrus industry escaped significant losses. Large swells caused minor damage to piers in Placencia, and a waterspout was observed offshore after Nana's landfall.

In terms of quantitative impact, the hurricane caused more than 2,500 homes to be flooded or otherwise damaged in Belize and Mexico combined. Economic losses across Central America and Mexico exceeded US$20 million, with Belize's losses valued at BZ$8–10 million (US$4–5 million). However, no fatalities were reported.

The formation of Hurricane Nana

Hurricane Nana, which hit Belize in 2020, was a small, short-lived tropical cyclone that caused relatively minor damage in Belize and Mexico. The cyclone was the sixteenth tropical cyclone, fourteenth named storm, and fifth hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

Nana originated from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of West Africa on 23 August 2020. The system progressed westward with little development for the next week before crossing into the Caribbean Sea. The wave gradually developed organised convection and a defined surface low on 1 September, signifying the formation of Tropical Storm Nana as it approached Jamaica. Persistent wind shear stifled the development of the storm, though following repeated bursts of deep convection, it intensified into a minimal hurricane on 3 September. Nana attained peak winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mbar shortly before striking Belize.

Once onshore, the hurricane rapidly degraded and its surface low dissipated over Guatemala on 4 September. The mid-level remnants of Nana later reorganised over the Gulf of Tehuantepec and became Tropical Storm Julio. Throughout the Caribbean, Nana produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall in several nations. Damage was largely limited to flooding and landslides, with the most significant effects felt in Belize and Mexico. More than 2,500 homes were flooded or otherwise damaged between the two nations. Belize also experienced significant agricultural damage.

Hurricane Nana's dissipation over Guatemala

Hurricane Nana, a Category 1 hurricane, made landfall in Belize on September 3, 2020, before weakening into a tropical depression as it crossed into Guatemala. Packing maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour (55 km/h), the storm continued to weaken as it moved towards the Pacific Ocean.

Nana made landfall between the coastal towns of Dangriga and Placencia, around 50 miles (80 km) south of Belize City, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120-121 km/h). The hurricane's small size and its avoidance of Belize City, the country's most populous city, meant that wind and storm surge damage were limited. However, heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides, with the worst impact on banana plantations.

As Nana moved inland over mountainous terrain and into Guatemala, it rapidly degraded. By the time it approached the Guatemala-Mexico border, it had weakened to a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). Nana's surface low dissipated over Guatemala on September 4, with the remnants reorganizing over the Gulf of Tehuantepec to become Tropical Storm Julio.

Guatemala reported heavy rains, especially along its border with Mexico, but no deaths or evacuations were reported. The storm's impact in Guatemala was relatively minor compared to the damage it caused in Belize and Mexico.

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