text: tropical storm hermine ( 1980 ) tropical storm hermine caused significant flooding in mexico during september 1980 . the eleventh tropical cyclone and eight named storm of the 1980 atlantic hurricane season , hermine developed from a tropical wave that emerged into the atlantic from the west coast of africa on september 11 . after uneventfully crossing the atlantic ocean , the system developed a well - defined circulation while in the caribbean sea on september 20 and was then classified as a tropical depression . after becoming a tropical cyclone , the depression steadily strengthened as it tracked nearly due westward . by september 21 , it strengthened into tropical storm hermine and brushed the northern coast of honduras shortly thereafter . it nearly became a hurricane before it made landfall in belize on september 22 . after weakening over the yucatan peninsula , hermine restrengthened to near - hurricane status again over the gulf of mexico before making landfall in the mexican state of veracruz . hermine steadily weakened inland and eventually dissipated on september 26 . in belize , the storm knocked out communications , though damage in that country was minimal . heavy rainfall in guatemala triggered landslides , causing eight fatalities . additionally , portions of the pan - american highway were shut down due to flooding . in mexico , many areas reported at least 10 inches ( 250 mm ) of precipitation , while a few locations experience more than 30 inches ( 760 mm ) of rain . at the capital city of mexico city , ten districts reported significant street flooding . as a result of torrential rainfall , at least 30 fatalities occurred , with dozens more missing , and leaving 25 , 000 homeless . however , no estimates of damage associated with the storm were produced . meteorological history a tropical wave emerged into the atlantic from the west coast of africa on september 11 , though the system lacked a well - defined circulation . the tropical wave tracked westward for several days with minimal development , until reaching near the lesser antilles where a low - level cloud banding feature appeared , along with an increase in central convection . this suggested a possible low - level circulation , though an air force reserve flight on september 17 indicated little evidence of a circulation . on the following day , the system crossed the lesser antilles and entered the caribbean sea . as it passed near jamaica on september 20 , a low - level circulation became more apparent on satellite imagery . it is estimated that tropical depression eleven developed at 1200 utc on that day , while it was centered about 240 miles ( 385 km ) south of kingston , jamaica . however , the national hurricane center did not initiate advisories until 2200 utc on september 20 . the depression tracked just north of due west , and by september 21 , it was upgraded to tropical storm hermine . later on september 21 , hermine passed only 5 miles ( 8 km ) offshore of northeast honduras . an air force reserve flight investigated if landfall occurred , though hermine had remained offshore . after the storm moved to the northwest away from honduras , it began to significantly strengthen . by september 22 , maximum sustained winds had increased to 70 mph ( 110 km / h ) . shortly thereafter , hermine made landfall near belize city at the same intensity . the storm weakened somewhat over the yucatán peninsula , and sustained winds were 50 mph ( 80 km / h ) when hermine emerged into the bay of campeche on september 23 . the storm quickly began to re - strengthen as it tracked generally westward in the gulf of mexico . although several computer models suggested a northward turn , hermine drifted southwestward , possibly due to high terrain over mexico . hermine attained its peak intensity with winds of 70 mph ( 110 km / h ) and a minimum pressure of 993 mbar ( 29 . 3 inhg ) early on september 24 , as measured by reconnaissance aircraft . after peak intensity , hermine weakened slightly to a 65 mph ( 105 km / h ) tropical storm . at 1200 utc on september 24 , the storm made landfall near coatzacoalcos , veracruz , mexico . hermine steadily weakened inland and by late 1500 utc on september 25 , it was downgraded to a tropical depression . later that day , the national hurricane center noted that a low - level circulation could no longer be located , and by early on the following day , hermine dissipated over the mexican state of oaxaca . impact on september 21 , the government of belize issued a gale warning , as well as a hurricane watch , for most of the eastern coast of the country . it was canceled after tropical storm hermine had moved inland . in eastern mexico , an estimated 15 , 000 people evacuated from low - lying areas . additionally , the government of mexico sent " advices " to " interests " in the yucatan peninsula . officials in mexico urged numerous residents along the southern gulf of mexico coast and surrounding states to evacuate prior to the storm 's arrival . timely warnings were later credited for reducing the loss of life . while crossing the southern yucatán peninsula , hermine brought locally heavy rains and strong winds to eastern mexico and much of belize – then a colony of the united kingdom . between 9 and 10 inches ( 230 and 250 mm ) of rain fell at the philip s. w. goldson international airport . in quintana roo , more than 7 in ( 180 mm ) of precipitation fell in localized areas , leading to floods . the storm also temporarily knocked out communication to all of belize and chetumal , mexico . according to officials in the region , little damage took place during hermine 's passage . heavy rains in guatemala triggered landslides , killing at least eight people after crushing a bus . portions of the pan american highway were shut down due to debris . tropical storm hermine and the remnants caused heavy rainfall across along most of the southern and eastern parts of mexico . rainfall totals from hermine peaked at 31 . 15 in ( 791 mm ) in san pedro , oaxaca . when the remnants of hermine reached the pacific coast of mexico , several inches of rain were recorded . throughout the country , the hardest hit areas were veracruz , oaxaca , chiapas and guerrero . more than 30 people were killed by the storm and dozens more left missing . ten districts in mexico city were brought to a standstill as flood waters blocked off streets . in the small towns of and , flooding killed eight people and left twenty more missing . in addition to the loss of life , at least 25 , 000 residents were left homeless due to severe flooding . two small dams broke due to excessive rains near tuxtla gutiérrez , prompting the evacuation of 2 , 000 residents in nearby areas . in response to the storm , an estimated 15 , 000 personnel were deployed to assist in relief efforts .