Meteorological history Hurricane Dean

map plotting track , intensity of storm, according saffir–simpson scale

on august 11, 2007, tropical wave moved off west coast of africa, and, encountering favorable conditions, developed tropical depression 4 520 miles (835 km) west-southwest of cape verde on august 13. depression moved briskly westward, , upgraded tropical storm dean @ 1500 utc on august 14. storm s intensity continued build although dry air , cooler air inflow north slowing structural development. ragged bands formed on august 15 , formation of partial eyewall observed later day.

image of hurricane dean @ category 5 hurricane strength on august 18, 2007

intensification continued , storm upgraded hurricane dean @ 5 am edt (0900 utc) august 16. deep-layered ridge north continued steer system west, towards caribbean sea. storm strengthened category 2 hurricane on saffir–simpson hurricane scale. storm s development slowed reconnaissance aircraft discovered closed eyewall on august 17 storm passed through lesser antilles. data aircraft indicated hurricane dean had strengthened category 3 hurricane , trailing bands still on lesser antilles. during evening of august 17, dean strengthened category 4 hurricane , continued steadily grow in both size , intensity through night. on august 18 presence of double eyewall noted, indicating eyewall replacement cycle , causing short term fluctuations in intensity. these fluctuations did not affect storm s defined satellite presentation. operationally, dean thought have been category 4 on 18th, post-storm analysis shows dean had become 165 miles per hour (265 km/h) category 5 day. dean weakened on morning of august 19 finished eyewall replacement cycle , began interact island of jamaica

hurricane dean passed south of jamaica on evening of august 19 , began intensify again night. eyewall replacement cycle thought completed. concentric eyewall briefly observed again on morning of august 20, did not last long. hurricane, still tracking west-northwest under influence of strengthening deep-layered high pressure system north, moved on waters extremely high heat content , began strengthen once again. eyewall became better defined during day, and, @ 8:35 pm ast on august 20 (0035 august 21, utc), dean restrengthened category 5 hurricane, highest rating on saffir–simpson hurricane scale. made landfall category 5 storm in quintana roo s costa maya region, 40 mi (65 km) northeast of border between mexico , belize, , weakened on way on land, reemerging on western side of yucatán category 1 storm. dean regained strength crossed gulf of mexico, , made second landfall category 2 storm on august 22, @ around 11:30 cdt, near tecolutla, veracruz, south of tuxpan, after moved westward, losing strength , disintegrating on central mexico. small remnant circulation reached pacific ocean, moving northwestward around anticyclone, parallel mexican coast , inland on southwestern united states, dissipated on august 27.