Hurricane Diana facts for kids
Hurricane Diana was a powerful storm that hit Mexico in August of 1990 Atlantic hurricane season. Even though its winds were about 100 miles per hour, this hurricane caused a lot of damage and sadly led to the deaths of over 130 people. It also caused more than $100 million in damage back in 1990. Because of how much damage and loss of life it caused, the name Diana was later removed from the list of hurricane names in the spring of 1991 and was replaced with the name Dolly.
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What Was Hurricane Diana?
Hurricane Diana was a tropical cyclone that formed in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones are huge spinning storms that form over warm ocean waters. They bring very strong winds, heavy rain, and can cause big waves and flooding. Diana was one of these powerful storms during the 1990 hurricane season.
Diana's Journey and Strength
Hurricane Diana started as a tropical depression, which is like a baby hurricane, on August 4, 1990. It grew stronger as it moved across the Caribbean Sea. By August 7, it had become a full hurricane. When it hit Mexico, its winds were around 100 miles per hour. This made it a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.
Impact on Mexico
When Hurricane Diana reached Mexico, it brought heavy rainfall and strong winds. Even though it wasn't the strongest hurricane ever, the amount of rain it dumped caused severe flooding and mudslides. These floods and mudslides were the main reasons for the many deaths and the huge amount of damage. Homes, roads, and farms were destroyed, and many people were left without shelter.
Why Was Diana's Name Retired?
Hurricane names are chosen from a list that repeats every six years. However, if a hurricane causes a lot of deaths or damage, its name is "retired." This means the name will never be used again for another hurricane. This is done to honor the victims and to avoid using a name that brings back sad memories. Because of the serious impact Diana had on Mexico, its name was retired in 1991 and replaced with Dolly for future hurricane seasons.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Rainfall from Diana in Mexico
See also
In Spanish: Huracán Diana (1990) para niños
