page_title: Hurricane Alex (2010)
section_title: Meteorological history
hierarchical_section_title: Hurricane Alex (2010) / Meteorological history
caption_attribution_description: English: Tropical Storm Alex on June 26, 2010
context_page_description: Hurricane Alex was a rare June Atlantic hurricane and the first tropical cyclone to develop in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Originating from an area of disturbed weather on June 25, 2010, it slowly developed in the western Caribbean Sea and struck Belize as a strong tropical storm. After entering the Gulf of Mexico, Alex became very large and encountered conditions favorable for gradual development. Early on June 30, the cyclone attained hurricane status as it approached northeastern Mexico, the first June hurricane in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Allison in 1995, and the storm rapidly intensified just off the coast of Tamaulipas. Alex came ashore near Soto la Marina as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
  Alex caused the deaths of at least 51 people along its path, and produced over $1.5 billion in damage. The precursor of the hurricane produced substantial rainfall across the Greater Antilles, causing one death in the Dominican Republic. Fourteen people were killed in Central America as a result of flooding during the first landfall of Alex.
context_section_description: The weather system from which Hurricane Alex developed was first discernible as a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) on June 17, 2010. Over the next few days, most of its associated thunderstorm activity was embedded within the ITCZ. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first mentioned it as a candidate for tropical cyclone formation on June 20, while it was crossing the Windward Islands into the southeastern Caribbean Sea; at the time, some upper-level wind shear was present, leading to conditions only marginally favorable for development. The system moved through the Caribbean, and on June 21, it developed to the extent that the NHC assessed a 50% chance of development into a tropical depression within 48 hours. The next day, however, the feature deteriorated as thunderstorm activity spread across the Greater Antilles, although the upper-level regime remained favorable for eventual redevelopment.
  On June 24, a low-level circulation had gradually become better established to the south of Jamaica, although it was displaced from its poorly organized convection. By 1800 UTC, a surface low-pressure area had formed about 105 miles (165 km) to the northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua, but due to a lack of persistent thunderstorm activity, it was not yet considered a tropical cyclone.  Later that day, convection increased over the center of circulation, and atmospheric pressures dropped across the region. Late on June 25, Hurricane Hunters verified the development of a surface low pressure area, which, combined with the increase of thunderstorm activity, indicated the system was a tropical depression. Accordingly, the cyclone was classified as Tropical Depression One at 2200 UTC, while located about 345 miles (555 km) to the east-southeast of Chetumal, Quintana Roo. After the end of the hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center revised their analysis and estimated that the system had actually become a tropical depression at around 1800 UTC. At the time of its formation, the depression was moving to the west-northwest, steered by a high pressure system over the northern Gulf of Mexico. An anticyclone positioned over the storm created an environment of minimal wind shear, and the depression quickly intensified. At 0900 UTC on June 26, it obtained tropical storm status and was given the name Alex.
  As Tropical Storm Alex progressed through the western Caribbean Sea towards the Yucatán Peninsula, it developed a large field of clouds accompanied by well-established outflow throughout its circulation. Its inner structure was initially disorganized, although by late on June 26, it became better defined. At about 2100 UTC, as the tropical storm approached the Belize coast, a Hurricane Hunters flight reported winds of 65 mph (100 km/h); early on June 27, Alex made landfall just north of Belize City at this intensity. Upon moving ashore, an area of convection increased over the center, and the convection initially became better defined as it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula. While most tropical cyclones weaken and become disorganized after landfall, Alex seemed to become stronger when viewed on radar and satellite imagery—the National Hurricane Center noted in one of its forecast discussions that the cyclone's structure more closely resembled a hurricane than a deteriorating storm. Still, after enough time over land, convective activity markedly decreased, and Alex weakened to tropical depression status as it approached the peninsula's western coastline; although post-analysis determined that Alex remained a minimal tropical storm. Late on June 27, the storm emerged into the Gulf of Mexico with a large overall convective structure but  little thunderstorm activity near the center due to the interaction with land.
  When Alex was still located over the Yucatán Peninsula, the NHC remarked upon the potential for significant strengthening. Because of low wind shear and very warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, the possibility existed that Alex could intensify into a major hurricane—a Category 3 storm on
caption: Visible satellite image of Tropical Storm Alex near the Yucatán Peninsula
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