Tropical Storm Cindy (1993)

On August 14, Cindy passed over Martinique with rough winds and particularly violent rain, amplified by the storm's interaction with the rising terrain.[3] The greatest quantities fell to the northeast of a line between Sainte-Marie and Fort-de-France, with day totals of more than 4 in (100 mm) recorded at every weather station in that region. The highest 1- and 24-hour rainfall rates were observed in Le Prêcheur, totaling 5.79 in (147 mm) and 12.0 in (305 mm), respectively.[26][27] These amounts were well above the September average of 9.29 in (236 mm), making Cindy one of the most extreme rain events in the island's history.[26][28] A maximum gust of 40 mph (65 km/h) was recorded during the storm, though sustained winds onshore did not reach tropical storm force.[22]

Initially, Cindy's brisk winds downed banana trees and power lines across northern Martinique.[29] After hours of continued rain, several rivers—such as the Rivière des Pères, Rivière Claire and Rivière Sèche—quickly swelled and overflowed.[30] Severe flooding and mudslides swept through northern villages, submerging homes and destroying roads and bridges.[29][31][32] News footage on national television showed "cars [being] swept away to sea and buried in mud".[11] The Prêcheur River, which normally flows at 18 ft³/s (0.5 m³/s), burst its banks upon attaining an exceptional discharge rate of nearly 25,000 ft³/s (700 m³/s). Large amounts of volcanic matter from the riverbed congealed into a massive debris flow, which struck the small commune of Le Prêcheur.[33][34] Reaching heights up to 10 ft (3 m), the sediment engulfed houses and roads, wreaking an estimated ₣15 million (1993 value; $2.7 million in 1993 USD) in structural damage.[34] Flash floods surged through the village of Grand'Rivière following the overflow of its river, devastating property and drowning one person.[29][35] Despite recent improvements to its flood defenses, the Rivière Roxelane rapidly topped its banks and inundated much of Saint-Pierre.[36] Farther south, a combination of torrential rainfall and poor storm drains resulted in flood damage to private property and an aquafarm in Le Morne-Vert.[37]

In all, Cindy killed 2 people, injured 11, and destroyed more than 150 homes across Martinique.[11][32] Monetary losses reached ₣107 million ($19 million), with road damage comprising ₣68 million ($12 million).[3] After the storm's passage, thousands of people on the island sought refuge in emergency shelters, and about 3,000 residents became homeless.[11][29] La Capricieuse, a French Navy ship stationed in French Guiana, delivered disaster relief supplies to Fort-de-France; the goods included 250 packages with clothing items, distributed by the Lions Club Association of Saint Barthélemy.[38] Unseasonable sea conditions in Cindy's wake hindered local fishers from selling their catch to trading vessels in Petite Martinique.[39] Due to the severity of the flooding in Martinique, waterways and harbors were dredged, and river banks and dykes were reinforced to prevent recurrence.[40]

Minimal effects were felt elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles. In Guadeloupe, the storm dropped rain across southern Basse-Terre Island through August 14–15; a peak total of 9.02 in (229 mm) was recorded at the summit of La Grande Soufrière.[3] Wind gusts at Raizet Airport reached 38 mph (61 km/h), just below tropical storm force.[41] A moderate breeze with 28 mph (44 km/h) gusts brushed Dominica, and 1.25 in (32 mm) of rain fell at Canefield Airport within 24 hours of Cindy's passage.[42] Farther south, a weather station in Saint Lucia recorded 1.88 in (48 mm) of precipitation, as well as light winds.[43] As Cindy passed south of the Virgin Islands, unsettled seas caused minor beach erosion along the islands' southern shores, with swells of 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) reported at Saint Croix.[12] Onshore, the island experienced wind gusts to 35 mph (55 km/h) and 1.48 in (38 mm) of rainfall.[22][44]

Puerto Rico rainfall map of Cindy from the WPC

On August 16, Cindy made its closest point of approach to Puerto Rico, although its center remained well south of the island.[6] Impact from the storm was therefore limited to intermittent downpours and 8 ft (2.4 m) waves along the southern coast.[45] The rough seas caused some minor erosion to beach facilities.[12] According to a report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a maximum of 5.54 in (141 mm) of rain fell near Río Cerrillos in Ponce; the highest measurement from the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) was 4.60 in (117 mm) at Puerto Real in Cabo Rojo.[12][44] Many other locations received rainfall amounts of 2.0–4.5 in (50–115 mm), which flooded some roads and low-lying areas.[12]

Cindy brought considerable rainfall to southern and eastern parts of the Dominican Republic, with totals of 4–10 in (100–255 mm).[14][22] Upon the storm's landfall in the country, winds reached 35 mph (55 km/h) in Barahona.[6] The rain filled rivers and caused scattered street flooding, affecting hundreds of houses.[13][14] In Villa Altagracia, one fatality occurred when a child drowned in flood waters; the final death toll for the country stood at two.[14][22] There were no reports of damage elsewhere after Cindy's rapid demise over Hispaniola, though its remnants likely produced localized showers in Haiti.[22]