Path of Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch formed a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on October 8, 1998. The wave gradually developed over the next few days as it moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean. By October 22, the system had developed into a tropical depression and was named Tropical Depression Thirteen. It quickly strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Mitch.
Mitch continued to strengthen as it moved through the Caribbean Sea, becoming a hurricane on October 24. It then rapidly intensified, before making landfall in Honduras on October 29.
Category of Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch was a Category 5 hurricane, the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. It had maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 905 mbar. It is one of only a few hurricanes on record to have reached Category 5 status in the Atlantic basin.
Damage Caused by Mitch
Mitch caused widespread devastation throughout Central America, particularly in Honduras and Nicaragua. Heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding and landslides, destroying entire towns and villages. The storm surge also caused significant coastal flooding.
The exact death toll from Hurricane Mitch is difficult to determine, but it is estimated to have caused over 11,000 deaths, with many more people missing and presumed dead. The majority of the deaths occurred in Honduras and Nicaragua.
The hurricane also caused significant economic damage, with estimates suggesting that the total cost of the damage was over $6 billion. The infrastructure of many of the affected countries was severely damaged, with roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure destroyed. The agricultural sector was also severely affected, with many crops destroyed and livestock killed.
The effects of Hurricane Mitch were felt for many years after the storm had passed. The countries affected by the hurricane faced significant challenges in rebuilding their infrastructure and economy, and many people were displaced from their homes and communities.