Hurricane Dean

Summary

Hurricane Dean, a formidable Category 5 hurricane, emerged as one of the most intense hurricanes of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. Forming from a tropical wave on August 13, 2007, Dean rapidly intensified as it moved westward across the Caribbean, reaching its peak intensity with winds of 165 mph and a minimum central pressure of 905 mb just before making landfall near Costa Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula on August 21.

As it tracked across the Caribbean, Dean inflicted severe damage on several islands, notably Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, before impacting the Yucatán Peninsula. The hurricane brought destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and significant storm surges, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and agriculture. After crossing the Yucatán Peninsula, Dean entered the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Tecolutla, Mexico, still as a significant hurricane.

The storm caused extensive damage estimated at $1.66 billion and led to 45 recorded fatalities. Dean's impact was particularly severe in terms of agricultural losses and infrastructural damage, disrupting lives and economies across the Caribbean and Mexico. The hurricane highlighted the critical need for robust disaster preparedness and response strategies in hurricane-prone regions.

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