Hurricane Tomas facts for kids

Hurricane Tomas was a powerful storm that hit the Caribbean in 2010. It was the nineteenth storm and the twelfth hurricane of that year's Atlantic hurricane season. Tomas brought strong winds, reaching up to 100 miles per hour. This made it a Category 2 hurricane. It caused a lot of damage and sadly, many people lost their lives.

How Hurricane Tomas Formed and Grew

Hurricane Tomas started as a tropical wave. This is a low-pressure area that moves across the ocean. It formed near the coast of Africa in late October 2010. As it moved west, it found warm ocean waters. Warm water is like fuel for hurricanes. The storm quickly grew stronger.

Tomas Becomes a Hurricane

By October 29, Tomas had become a hurricane. It passed through the Windward Islands. These islands include places like Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm brought very heavy rain and strong winds. It caused a lot of flooding and damage there.

Path and Impact of Tomas

After hitting the Windward Islands, Hurricane Tomas weakened a bit. It became a tropical storm. But it didn't stay weak for long! It moved into the central Caribbean Sea. Here, it found more warm water and became a hurricane again.

Damage in the Greater Antilles

Tomas then moved towards the Greater Antilles. These are bigger islands like Cuba and Hispaniola (where Haiti and the Dominican Republic are). The storm caused widespread flooding. Roads were blocked, and homes were damaged. Many people had to leave their homes to stay safe.

Lives Lost and Costs

Hurricane Tomas caused a lot of destruction. It led to the deaths of 65 people, mostly in Cuba and Haiti. The total cost of the damage was about $652 million. This money was needed to fix roads, buildings, and other things the storm destroyed.

Why Hurricane Tomas's Name Was Retired

When a hurricane causes a lot of damage or deaths, its name is "retired." This means the name will not be used again for another storm. This is done to remember the serious impact of that particular storm. It also helps avoid confusion if a future storm had the same name.

A New Name for the Future

Because Hurricane Tomas caused so much trouble, its name was retired. The name "Tobias" was chosen to replace it. This new name will be used for a storm in the future, starting with the 2016 season.

Images for kids

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  A weakening Tropical Storm Tomas over the Atlantic on November 6

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  Flood damage along the Cul de Sac River in Saint Lucia

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  Tropical Storm Tomas reorganizing over the Caribbean Sea on November 4

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  Hurricane Tomas as it tracks across the Greater Antilles on November 5

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  Flooding from Tomas in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, on November 6