Preliminary Report
Tropical Storm Kyle
11 - 12 October 1996

1996 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

Tropical Storm Arthur (TS)
Hurricane Bertha (3)
Hurricane Cesar (1)
Hurricane Dolly (1)
Hurricane Edouard (4)
Hurricane Fran (3)
Tropical Storm Gustav (TS)
Hurricane Hortense (4)
Hurricane Isidore (3)
Tropical Storm Josephine (TS)
Tropical Storm Kyle (TS)
Hurricane Lili (3)
Hurricane Marco (1)

Kyle was a small, short-lived tropical storm that formed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea in mid-October. It moved onshore near the border of Guatemala and Honduras as a weakening tropical depression and quickly dissipated. There were no significant effects on land associated with this system.

 

a. Synoptic History

Satellite imagery and rawinsonde data show that a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on 27 September. The wave was tracked in satellite imagery to the Lesser Antilles on 5 October and to the western Caribbean Sea on the 9th where it interacted with a frontal cloud band. Surface analysis indicated a broad 1010 mb low over the northwest Caribbean Sea at 0000 UTC 11 October. At this time, anticyclonic flow aloft was seen in animation of satellite imagery above disorganized convective activity.

A well-defined convective cloud band developed and post-analysis suggests that a tropical depression formed from the disturbance near 1200 UTC 11 October while centered about midway between Swan Island and the coast of Belize. Steering currents were weak and the depression began drifting toward the southwest.

The tropical cyclone quickly intensified and is estimated to have become a tropical storm at 1800 UTC on the 11th. A small central dense overcast was evident in satellite imagery by the time the first reconnaissance aircraft investigated the cyclone during the afternoon. Maximum sustained surface winds of 52 mph are estimated to have occurred from 1800 UTC on the 11th to 0000 UTC on the 12th. The minimum central pressure of 1001 mb occurred near this time.

Upper-level southwesterly shear soon increased, resulting in a decrease of the deep convection. It is estimated that Kyle weakened to a tropical depression by 1200 UTC 12 October. The center of the rapidly dissipating depression moved onshore near the border between Guatemala and Honduras six hours later.

b. Meteorological Statistics

The limited aircraft data on 11 October were supplied by the Hurricane Hunters of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. The satellite estimates were provided by the NESDIS Synoptic Analysis Branch, the TPC's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch and the Air Force Global Weather Center.

The maximum wind speed recorded from aircraft in Kyle was 56 mph from a flight level of 1500 feet at 1908 UTC 11 October. The minimum observed central pressure was 1001 mb at 2145 UTC on the 11th, and was extrapolated from 1500 feet.

Satellite estimates never exceeded T2.5 (40 mph) on the Dvorak scale.

c. Casualty and Damage Statistics

No reports of casualties or damages were received by the NHC.