&sq=&lang=&file=File:Brenda_73.png) Satellite image of Hurricane Brenda near Mexico | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 18, 1973 |
| Dissipated | August 22, 1973 |
| Category 1 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 90 mph (150 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 977 mbar (hPa); 28.85 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 10 |
| Areas affected | Cayman Islands, Mexico |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1973 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Brenda of August 1973 was the first tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in the Mexican state of Campeche.[1] The tropical wave that spawned Brenda moved off the west coast of Africa on August 9, and uneventfully traversed the Atlantic. By August 18, an associated area of low pressure developed sufficient convective activity to be declared a tropical depression. Later that day, the system intensified into a tropical storm before moving inland over the Yucatan Peninsula. Brenda had moved back over water by August 21 and began to quickly intensify, with an eye forming later that day. The storm peaked as an upper-end Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (140 km/h) before making landfall in Campeche. The hurricane rapidly weakened after moving over land and dissipated the following day.
Brenda made two landfalls in Mexico: first in the Yucatan and later in Campeche. Little damage resulted from the storm throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. However, severe damage took place in areas near Brenda's second landfall. A total of 10 people were killed by the hurricane and over 2,000 more were left homeless. Flooding caused by Brenda was considered to be the worst in over 25 years in some places.