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==Impact==
==Impact==
[[Image:Leslie2000rain.gif|right|thumb|alt=A map showing that rainfall in Florida Subtropical Depression Leslie was highest in the southeast and in an area in interior southern Florida.|Rainfall totals from Leslie]]
[[Image:Leslie2000rain.gif|right|thumb|alt=In southern Florida, Subtropical Depression Leslie rained the most in the southeast and in an area equidistant from the coasts.|Rainfall totals from Leslie]]
The precursor disturbance of Leslie dropped heavy rainfall across central and western [[Cuba]], peaking at 8.25&nbsp;inches (210&nbsp;mm) in the province of [[Havana]]. Numerous other areas reported over 4&nbsp;inches (100&nbsp;mm), as well.<ref name="cubrain">{{cite web|author=Rubiera and Ballester|year=2000|title=Temporada ciclónica de 2000 en el Atlántico Norte|language=Spanish|publisher=Instituto de Meteorología de la República de Cuba|accessdate=2006-06-20|url=http://www.met.inf.cu/asp/genesis.asp?TB0=PLANTILLAS&TB1=TEMPORADA&TB2=/Temporadas/temporada2000.htm#Leslie}}</ref> In southern [[Florida]], the disturbance produced torrential rainfall, including a peak observation of 17.5&nbsp;inches (440&nbsp;mm) in [[South Miami, Florida|South Miami]].<ref name="tcr"/> Two areas, one to the south of [[Lake Okeechobee]] and the other being the Miami area, received over 10&nbsp;inches (255&nbsp;mm) of rain.<ref name="rain">{{cite web|author=David Roth|year=2006|title=Rainfall Summary for Tropical Storm Leslie|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2006-06-21|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/leslie2000.html}}</ref> The system produced two weak [[Fujita scale|F0]] tornadoes in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]],<ref name="tcr"/> one of which tore off a roof of a fire station in [[Hialeah, Florida|Hialeah]].<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|author=Susan Candiotti|year=2000|title=Miami bails out after floods take city by storm|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=2006-06-21|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070204110503/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WEATHER/10/04/miami.flooding.01/index.html}}</ref>
The precursor disturbance of Leslie dropped heavy rainfall across central and western [[Cuba]], peaking at 8.25&nbsp;inches (210&nbsp;mm) in the province of [[Havana]]. Numerous other areas reported over 4&nbsp;inches (100&nbsp;mm), as well.<ref name="cubrain">{{cite web|author=Rubiera and Ballester|year=2000|title=Temporada ciclónica de 2000 en el Atlántico Norte|language=Spanish|publisher=Instituto de Meteorología de la República de Cuba|accessdate=2006-06-20|url=http://www.met.inf.cu/asp/genesis.asp?TB0=PLANTILLAS&TB1=TEMPORADA&TB2=/Temporadas/temporada2000.htm#Leslie}}</ref> In southern [[Florida]], the disturbance produced torrential rainfall, including a peak observation of 17.5&nbsp;inches (440&nbsp;mm) in [[South Miami, Florida|South Miami]].<ref name="tcr"/> Two areas, one to the south of [[Lake Okeechobee]] and the other being the Miami area, received over 10&nbsp;inches (255&nbsp;mm) of rain.<ref name="rain">{{cite web|author=David Roth|year=2006|title=Rainfall Summary for Tropical Storm Leslie|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2006-06-21|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/leslie2000.html}}</ref> The system produced two weak [[Fujita scale|F0]] tornadoes in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]],<ref name="tcr"/> one of which tore off a roof of a fire station in [[Hialeah, Florida|Hialeah]].<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|author=Susan Candiotti|year=2000|title=Miami bails out after floods take city by storm|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=2006-06-21|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070204110503/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WEATHER/10/04/miami.flooding.01/index.html}}</ref>


Revision as of 06:13, 15 March 2010

Tropical Storm Leslie
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
A satellite photo shows a large cloud to the southwest of Bermuda
Tropical Storm Leslie off the Florida coast
FormedOctober 4, 2000
DissipatedOctober 7, 2000
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 45 mph (75 km/h)
Lowest pressure1006 mbar (hPa); 29.71 inHg
Fatalities3 indirect
Damage$950 million (2000 USD)
Areas affectedCuba, Florida, Bermuda, Newfoundland
Part of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Leslie was the costliest tropical cyclone of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. The twelfth named storm of the season, Leslie formed out of a trough of low pressure on October 4 to the east of Florida. Initially a subtropical cyclone, it strengthened and attained enough tropical characteristics to be reclassified as Tropical Storm Leslie on October 5. Leslie reached peak winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) before wind shear weakened it, and on October 7 it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the open Atlantic Ocean. It lasted three more days before losing its identity.

Leslie had little impact as a tropical cyclone. The precursor trough of low pressure produced torrential rainfall across Florida, peaking at 17.5 inches (440 mm). The flooding damaged thousands of houses and caused three indirect deaths. Damage in southern Florida totaled $950 million (2000 USD, $1.68 billion 2024 USD), of which around half was from agricultural damage. After the flooding, portions of south Florida were declared a disaster area.

Meteorological history

The track of a tropical storm, it starts over central Florida, moves out to the Atlantic Ocean and becomes extratropical
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On September 27, a tropical wave entered the eastern Caribbean Sea, likely the same wave that spawned Hurricane Isaac. It moved generally westward, and remained weak with only sporadic thunderstorm activity. The wave traversed around the periphery of Hurricane Keith, and developed a mid-level circulation just south of western Cuba by October 2. It continued to organize as it moved to the northwest, prompting a Reconnaissance Aircraft into the area. However, the system lacked a surface circulation center, and remained an elongated trough of low pressure. The tropical wave interacted with an approaching frontal trough, while its mid-level center turned to the northeast and made landfall near Sarasota, Florida on October 4. While over land, a surface circulation developed near Orlando, and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Subtropical Depression One. The subtropical designation occurred due to deep convection far removed from the center,[1] as well as an upper level trough instead of an anticyclone providing support for the system.[2]

A satellite picture shows a large area of clouds over Florida
Precursor Trough over Florida

The subtropical depression moved to the east-northeast, and steadily organized as deep convection developed closer to the center. Peak winds in the system, which were 175 miles (280 km) from the center when it first formed, were only 85 miles (135 km) from the center by the morning of October 5. Based on its organization and winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), the system was redesignated as Tropical Storm Leslie. As Leslie moved to the east-northeast, it strengthened slightly to reach winds of 45 mph (70 km/h). The storm interacted with an approaching cold front, and became extratropical on October 7 while 375 miles (600 km) north of Bermuda. The extratropical storm accelerated to the northeast and passed over Newfoundland on the 8th. It turned to the east then southeast, strengthening to near-hurricane force winds before losing its identity near Ireland on the 10th.[1]

Preparations

The National Hurricane Center predicted the trough of low pressure to drop very heavy rainfall across western Cuba and Florida.[3] The National Weather Service in Miami issued a flood watch for southern Florida, stating that the system could produce flooding on roads and low-lying areas.[4] As a pre-emptive measure, water managers moved water out of canals.[5] In general, however, there was little warning for the flooding in Florida.[6] While Leslie was moving east-northeastward, it posed a threat to Bermuda, prompting officials to issue a Tropical Storm Warning. However, the storm passed well to the west, and the warnings were quickly dropped.[1]

Impact

In southern Florida, Subtropical Depression Leslie rained the most in the southeast and in an area equidistant from the coasts.
Rainfall totals from Leslie

The precursor disturbance of Leslie dropped heavy rainfall across central and western Cuba, peaking at 8.25 inches (210 mm) in the province of Havana. Numerous other areas reported over 4 inches (100 mm), as well.[7] In southern Florida, the disturbance produced torrential rainfall, including a peak observation of 17.5 inches (440 mm) in South Miami.[1] Two areas, one to the south of Lake Okeechobee and the other being the Miami area, received over 10 inches (255 mm) of rain.[8] The system produced two weak F0 tornadoes in Miami-Dade County,[1] one of which tore off a roof of a fire station in Hialeah.[9]

A house with flooding that surrounds the house like a river
Flooded house in Miami-Dade County

The torrential rainfall in Florida, similar to Hurricane Irene a year earlier, flooded about 93,000 homes with 214,000 residents in Miami-Dade County.[10] An incomplete damage survey of Miami-Dade County indicated the flooding destroyed 1,005 houses, severely damaged 1,358, and caused minor damage to 3,443.[11] The floodwaters, which were 4 feet (1.2 m) deep in places, also flooded thousands of cars. Many were stranded in their houses, forcing them to use canoes or inflatable rafts to move to higher grounds. All schools in the Miami area were closed, and all nonessential Miami-Dade County employees were asked to stay home. Numerous flights in Miami International Airport were cancelled or delayed, though the airport remained opened.[9] The flooding, which was greatest in Sweetwater, West Miami, Hialeah, Opa-Locka, and Pembroke Park, lasted for up to a week in areas.[12] The extreme flooding damaged electrical stations, leaving more than 27,000 without power.[10] The flooding indirectly killed three people; two from drowning as a result of driving vehicles into deep water,[1] and one when a man fell from a tall building while trying to unclog a roof drain.[9] Property damage totaled $450 million (2000 USD, $796 million 2024 USD). [12]

Flood waters in Miami-Dade County covered about 40,000 acres (160 km²) of agricultural land, causing severe problems for farmers. The flooding occurred at the beginning of the planting period for the winter season. Flooded nurseries and fields resulted in about $500 million (2000 USD, $885 million 2024 USD) in agricultural damage, including $60 million (2000 USD, $106 million 2024 USD) in tropical fruit and $397 million (2000 USD, $702 million 2024 USD) in ornamental crops.[13] The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 16 Florida counties, including Miami-Dade, Collier, and Palm Beach, as primary disaster areas due to flooding or freeze, making farmers and their families there eligible for USDA emergency farm loans. 22 other counties, including Broward, were also eligible due to their proximity to the disaster areas.[14]

As an extratropical storm, Leslie produced winds of around 40 mph (65 km/h) while making landfall in Newfoundland. It also produced waves of up to 16 feet (5 m) in height, along with rainfall totals of around 1 inch (30 mm). The overall impact in this region was minor.[15]

Aftermath

In the immediate aftermath, cleanup workers could not work until the floodwaters receded. In addition, abandoned cars blocked the path of utility workers.[10] Following the storm, President Bill Clinton declared Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties as disaster areas, allowing for the use of federal funds for the disaster victims.[16] In addition, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties were declared eligible for Federal Infrastructure Assistance, including providing 75% of the debris removal cost and repairing or replacing public roads, buildings, parks, and treatment plants.[17] By ten days after the storm, government agencies distributed 105,000 meals, 141,000 gallons (534,000 l) of water, and 357,000 pounds (162,000 kg) of ice.[18] Thousands visited five Disaster Recovery Centers, where information on disaster-related issues was given.[19] By around two months after the flooding, over 51,000 applied for federal aid, with assistance totaling to more than $170 million (2000 USD, $301 million 2024 USD).[20]

See also

Template:Tcportal

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f James L. Franklin and Daniel P. Brown (2000). "Tropical Storm Leslie Tropical Cyclone Report". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-06-19.
  2. ^ James L. Franklin (2000). "Subtropical Depression One Tropical Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-06-19.
  3. ^ Franklin/Brown (2000). "October 2, 2000 Tropical Weather Outlook". National hurricane Center. Retrieved 2006-06-20.
  4. ^ Keith and Joyce (2000). "Flood Watch of most of South Florida through Tuesday". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2006-06-20.
  5. ^ Miami-Dade Emergency Management (2005). "Local Mitigation Strategy" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  6. ^ "Pre-Storm / Storm / and Storm Recovery Operations for the South Dade Conveyance System". South Dade Conveyance System. Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  7. ^ Rubiera and Ballester (2000). "Temporada ciclónica de 2000 en el Atlántico Norte" (in Spanish). Instituto de Meteorología de la República de Cuba. Retrieved 2006-06-20.
  8. ^ David Roth (2006). "Rainfall Summary for Tropical Storm Leslie". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  9. ^ a b c Susan Candiotti (2000). "Miami bails out after floods take city by storm". CNN.com. Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  10. ^ a b c Christina Ward (2000). "Flooding Kills Two in South Florida". Redcross.org. Retrieved 2006-06-21.
  11. ^ Tom Ross (2000). "Weather Log October 1–10th, 2000". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  12. ^ a b Stuart Hinson (2000). "Event Report for Florida". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  13. ^ Bob Blankenship (2000). "Crawford Seeks Federal Assistance For Dade County Farmers Hit By Flooding". Florida-Agriculture.com. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  14. ^ Dann Stuart (2001). "Thirty-Eight Florida Counties Eligible for USDA Emergency Farm Loans". Farm Service Agency. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  15. ^ Peter Bowyer (2000). "2000 Tropical Cyclone Season Summary". Canadian Hurricane Centre. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  16. ^ "President Orders Disaster Aid For Florida Storm Victims". Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2000. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  17. ^ "Miami-Dade, Broward Declared Eligible For Federal Infrastructure Assistance". Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2000. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  18. ^ "Florida Flood Disaster Update". Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2000. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  19. ^ "Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Moves To North Miami Beach; Broward County Disaster Recovery Center To Close Saturday". Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2000. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  20. ^ "South Florida Disaster Update: More Than $170 Million Approved; Applications Top 51,000 Mark as Dec. 4 Deadline Approaches". Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2000. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
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