After Tropical Storm Lee became extratropical over the southeast U.S., an extension of its associated frontal boundary dipped into the southern Gulf of Mexico. On September 6, the interaction of this front with a trough of low pressure caused a low pressure system to form in the Bay of Campeche. Over the next day, the low hardly moved, and organized rapidly. On September 7, the low-level circulation of the low became more well-defined and the system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Nate.
Nate formed with a very slow motion to the southeast, and did not move significantly overnight. Despite a low shear environment, there was one inhibiting factor to strengthening: a large area of dry air to the system's northwest, occupying the entire northern Gulf. During the day of September 8, the center drifted further southeast, becoming closer to the convection, which had been displaced to the southwest of the center by moderate wind shear. Nate was sheltered somewhat, and strengthening commenced. By the evening of that day, Nate was completely stationary, and at its peak intensity of 75 mph and a pressure of 994 mb*.
Dry air entered the system during the early morning of September 9, however, and weakening took place. Later that day, Nate began to move slowly northwest, away from the Yucatan Peninsula, as further weakening occurred. By the morning of September 10, rainbands had recovered somewhat on the periphery of the cyclone, but the center remained devoid of convection, giving Nate a hollow appearance. The tropical storm finally adopted a definite motion later that day, moving due west. As it did so, conditions improved slightly and re-strengthening occurred afternoon. Nate reached its secondary peak intensity of 65 mph winds before convection decreased once again early on September 11.
The position of the center became very uncertain as Nate approached the Mexican coast, and the definition of the circulation decreased, lowering Nate's intensity to only 45 mph as it made landfall in Veracruz. The cyclone quickly weakened to a remnant low that night. Not much convection was associated with Nate over its lifetime, but its slow movement still allowed prolonged periods of gusty winds and rain along many parts of the coast of the Bay of Campeche. 7 fatalities were the result of Nate.
*Nate was upgraded to a hurricane during the 2011 postseason analysis, its maximum winds having previously been recorded as only 70 mph.
Tropical Storm Nate at peak intensity on September 8. At this time, Nate was nearly stationary.
Track of Nate.
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