hurricane hurricane rare tropical cyclone entered gulf_of_mexico having landfall second times occurred 20th century eighth named storm fifth hurricane atlantic hurricane season formed september northwestern caribbean_sea duration moved initially maintained general westward track september attained tropical storm status day later reached hurricane status days later experiencing hostile conditions weakened tropical depression status turned northeast september merged frontal low northeast gulf_of_mexico slow erratic motion hurricane forced evacuations mexican coastline remnants brought rainfall flooding florida panhandle meteorological history hurricane developed tropical depression eighteen extreme northwestern caribbean_sea september tropical wave previously moved coast africa formation tropical depression confirmed reports hurricane_hunters depression tracked northward eastern portion yucatán_peninsula reaching gulf_of_mexico turned sharply westward ridge preventing northward movement depression turned southwestward intensified tropical storm september tropical continued intensify tracked bay september storm turned northwestward ridge north weakened later day reached hurricane status hours later reached peak winds mph miles northeast veracruz subsequently broad low pressure area developed western gulf_of_mexico causing motion erratic september cyclone began steady weakening trend believed caused land interaction moisture developing disturbance near texas coast turned eastward september weakened tropical depression status failed regain significant convection turned northeastward extended cold september merged frontal trough northeastern gulf_of_mexico tropical cyclones enter gulf_of_mexico making landfall 20th century preparations impact affect land way hurricane developing system threatened states southwestern coastline mexico mexican officials issued advisory gulf coast towns veracruz evacuate higher ground government veracruz issued warnings radio television possible flooding oil rich coastlines storm affected cleanup operations oil spill passed spill area damaging ton steel cap designed stop caused driving rains strong winds floods forcing people homes waters town inches sea level maximum rainfall recorded mexico association inches remnants brought showers thunderstorms west central florida causing river flooding evacuations
Hurricane Henri (1979)