Hurricane Martha

Meteorological history

Winds aloft in the vicinity of San Andrés, Colombia and the Panama Canal Zone indicated that a low-level circulation developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 20. According to the Best Track, Tropical Storm Martha formed at 1200 UTC on November 21, with an initial wind speed of 50 mph. Thus, Martha skipped tropical depression status. Centered about 100 mi northeast of Bocas Town, Bocas del Toro, the storm remained stationary for 24 hours after tropical cyclogenesis. Martha immediately began deepening, becoming a hurricane at 0000 UTC on November 22. Operationally, the National Hurricane Center initiated advisories at 0300 UTC and erroneously indicated that it was a tropical depression and noted that conditions did not favor significant intensification. Later on November 22, a reconnaissance flight indicated Martha deepened to a compact hurricane, and the tropical cyclone attained a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 mph. Reconnaissance aircraft measured a minimum barometric pressure of 980 mbar, though it was later corrected to 979 mbar in the post-season analysis.

The eye feature was about 46 mi wide and it was described as poorly organized, although convection was increasing. After reaching peak intensity, Martha began drifting due south and slowly weakened. At 1200 UTC on November 23, the tropical cyclone diminished to a tropical storm, after winds decreased to 70 mph and a reconnaissance flight recorded an increased barometric pressure of 999 mbar. The storm maintained that intensity, and shortly before 1800 UTC on November 24, Martha made landfall in rural Veraguas Province, Panama, about 10 mi east of the mouth of the Calovebora River. Operationally, winds were thought to be only 50 mph when the storm moved inland. Martha was the only tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in Panama, although it is possible that other Panama tropical cyclones were not detected. The storm rapidly weakened inland, deteriorating to tropical depression status early on November 25, twelve hours before dissipating over southern Ngöbe-Buglé Comarca.

Preparations and impact

Residents were warned to anticipate tides 5 ft above normal near the expected point of landfall. Later, the forecast was decreased to 3 ft above normal and pertained to tides in the Mosquito Gulf and Chiriqui Lagoon. Since Martha was a relatively weak tropical cyclone, flash floods were emphasized as the greatest threat. The National Hurricane Center stated that rainfall could exceed 10 in. Additionally, Arnold Sugg of National Hurricane Center warned residents of gale-force winds and heavy precipitation, advising people living between Bluefields, Nicaragua and Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama to take precautions.

In Panama, the storm dropped at least 13 in of precipitation, especially in the western portions of the country. As a result, at least half of agricultural land in Almirante, Bocas del Toro was flooded, causing extensive crop damage. In Puerto Armuelles, Chiriquí, persistent rainfall led to street flooding and inundated other areas. Similar conditions were reported in Golfito, Costa Rica. The effects of Martha resulted in five deaths, all of which occurred in Costa Rica. The nation incurred flooding from heavy rainfall, which caused significant destruction. The capital city of San José received flooding. In all, damages were estimated near $30 million (1969 USD).

References

References

1. Jeff Masters. (November 16, 2009). "The Atlantic hurricane season is effectively over; heavy rains in the Northwest". [[Weather Underground (weather service).
2. [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]. (2008). "Atlantic hurricane best track (1851–2007)". [[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]].
3. [[Neil Frank. (November 22, 1969). "Tropical Depression Bulletin". [[National Hurricane Center]].
4. (November 22, 1969). "Gull 30 Cyclone (Martha) II". National Hurricane Center.
5. [[Robert Simpson (meteorologist). (April 1970). "The Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1969". [[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]].
6. (November 24, 1969). "Gull Three Martha Post Flight Summary". National Hurricane Center.
7. (November 23, 1969). "Navy 1 Martha 17". National Hurricane Center.
8. [[John Hope (meteorologist). (November 24, 1969). "Tropical Storm Advisory Number 9 Martha". National Hurricane Center.
9. (November 25, 1969). "Tropical Storm Martha puts ashore in Panama for 'first'". [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]].
10. Raymond H. Kraft. (November 23, 1969). "National Hurricane Center Tropical Storm Advisory Number 6 Martha". National Hurricane Center.
11. Neil L. Frank. (November 23, 1969). "National Hurricane Center Tropical Storm Advisory Number 7 Martha". National Hurricane Center.
12. (November 23, 1969). "Martha Blusters Belatedly". [[The Palm Beach Post]].
13. I. V. Chapman, Jr.. (May 28, 1970). "1969". United Fruit Company.