Tropical Storm Claudette (1979)
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Tropical Storm Claudette | |
| Formed | July 15, 1979 |
| Dissipated | July 29, 1979 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 997 mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg |
| Fatalities | 2 direct |
| Damage | $400 million (1979 USD) |
| Areas affected | Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio Valley, Kentucky, Virginia |
| Part of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Claudette was a long living tropical storm that produced heavy rain across Puerto Rico and Texas in late July 1979. The storm killed 2 people and left $1.1 billion (2005 USD) in damage. Claudette was one of three destructive storms of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season.
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[edit] Meteorological history
The origins of Tropical Storm Claudette have been traced back to a very intense tropical wave emerging from the coast of Africa in early July 1979. In Dakar, Senegal, winds were as high as 100 mph (155 km/h) in the 550 mbar level of the atmosphere.[1] This system traced westward for four days before a surface circulation was evident, which is when it formed as a tropical depression, situated 450 miles (724 km) east of the Leeward Islands on July 15 at 1600 UTC.[2] The new tropical depression gradually intensified, and about 24 hours later, the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm the following day; the National Hurricane Center assigned the name Claudette.[3]
As the storm moved westward, it encountered wind shear, weakening it back to depression status when it hit Puerto Rico. Claudette moved across islands of Hispaniola and Cuba as a tropical wave before reforming in the Gulf of Mexico on July 21. Fluctuating between tropical depression and tropical storm status, the disorganized storm drifted slowly westward before making landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border on July 24. The storm stalled over Alvin, Texas on the evening of the 25th. The storm then weakened and continued northeastward through the Ohio Valley before dissipating on July 29.
[edit] Impact
Tropical Storm Claudette killed 2 people and left $400 million dollars (1979 USD, $1.1 billion 2005 USD).
[edit] Eastern Caribbean
About 7-9 inches of rain fell on Guadeloupe causing minor flooding while rainfall totals above 9 inches (230 mm) were reported in Puerto Rico. One person was killed and there was $750,000 dollars in damage. This all took place Puerto Rico.[4]
[edit] U.S. Gulf Coast
Claudette produced torrential rains in both Texas and Louisiana when it made landfall. The highest one-day total was reported near Alvin, Texas where 42 inches (1,100 mm) of rain fell. This remains the twenty-four hour rainfall record for any location in the United States.[4] Two other towns also reported rainfall totals exceeding 30 inches.[4] There was only one death from drowning and Louisiana received only minor damage from up to 15 inches (381 mm) of rainfall.[5] Texas was hard hit by Claudette, with flooding reported in southeast Texas from up to 45 inches (1143 mm) of rainfall. Many residents had to be rescued from low lying areas that were flooded.[4]
As the remnants of Claudette moved inland, it dumped heavy rains across the Midwest and Ohio Valley. Flooding was reported in Missouri, where heavy rains caused significant flooding near St. Louis.[6] In Indiana, about 9 inches of rain fell and isolated flooding was reported.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Tropical Storm Claudette Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. 1979. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1979-prelim/claudett/prelim01.gif. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ^ Pelissier (1979). "Tropical Depression Advisory [#1"]. National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0087-jpg/1979/atlantic/claudette/public/pub07161600z.jpg. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ Hope (1979). "Tropical Storm Advisory, [#2"]. National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0087-jpg/1979/atlantic/claudette/public/pub07171600z.jpg. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d Paul J. Hebert (March 26, 1980). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1979" (pdf). National Weather Service. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1979.pdf. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ^ Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Claudette (1979) Rainfall. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ^ NOAA Data
- ^ Kansas Water Publication
[edit] External links
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