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Tropical Storm Tammy (2005)

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Tropical Storm Tammy
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Tropical Storm Tammy off the coast of Florida
FormedOctober 5, 2005
DissipatedOctober 6, 2005
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 50 mph (85 km/h)
Lowest pressure1001 mbar (hPa); 29.56 inHg
Fatalities0 direct, 10 indirect
Damage$30 million (2005 USD)
(Paid losses from Fema only)
Areas affectedBahamas, Florida, Georgia
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Tammy was a short lived tropical storm during October in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season which caused minor damage to the southeastern United States. More significant, however were its remnants which contributed to the Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005.

Tropical Storm Tammy formed from a non-tropical system off the Florida coast on October 5. It moved north just offshore before making landfall later that day. The tropical storm rapidly weakened as it moved overland and dissipated the next day. Its remnant circulation moved south towards the Gulf of Mexico, while the moisture was absorbed by a northeasterly moving cold front. No one was killed, but paid losses from FEMA totaled US$44 million (2005).[1]

Meteorological history

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

A tropical wave left the African coast on September 24 and crossed the Atlantic without any development. The wave began to develop on October 2 north of the Lesser Antilles when it encountered an upper level trough. It strengthened as it passed through the Bahamas and early on October 5 a vigorous tropical disturbance formed.[2] As the system already had tropical-storm force winds, it was immediately named Tropical Storm Tammy.[3] Tropical Storm Tammy strengthened slightly to its peak strength with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds before making landfall near Atlantic Beach, Florida that same day.[4] The tropical storm then moved inland over Georgia[5] and into southeastern Alabama near Ozark,[6] where it lost its circulation on October 6.[2]

The remnant low drifted south towards the Gulf of Mexico before being absorbed by a cold front (which also picked remnants of Subtropical Depression Twenty-two), and moving northeast. This cold front, of which Tammy's remnants were a part, affected much of the Northeastern United States over the next few days.[2][7]

Preparations

Radar image of Tropical Storm Tammy, 1834Z 5 October 2005.

Tropical Storm Tammy surprised forecasters when it formed on October 5.[2] Because they had not expected the disturbance to develop, warnings were not issued until about 12 hours before the storm made landfall,[8][9] and preparations for the storm were minimal.[10] Upon the storm developing, a tropical storm warning was immediately issued for the coast from Cocoa Beach, Florida to the Santee River, South Carolina.[8]

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District issued an advisory to mariners, warning them to prepare for the storm and avoid the ocean if possible.[11] In Georgia, the National Park Service evacuated the residents of Cumberland Island and closed the ferry which services it. The Glynn County Emergency Operations Agency monitored and prepared for Tropical Storm Tammy's landfall, however the poor warning hampered their efforts. Residents all over the state expressed frustration at the lack of time they had to prepare.[10] When Tammy moved inland 12 hours later[9] the southern end of the warning zone moved north to Altamaha Sound, Georgia before all warnings were discontinued on October 6.[2]

Impact

File:Tammy2005filledrainblk.GIF
Rainfall totals from Tammy

Tropical Storm Tammy caused minor damage. Its highest sustained winds were 50 mph (80 km/h) and its strongest recorded wind gust was 60 mph (97 km/h).[2] The winds produced no significant damage, but did disrupt power to 16,500  utility customers[12] and delayed the Trysail College Regatta.[13]

To most areas in north Florida and southern Georgia, Tammy brought 3-5 inches of rain, though some isolated areas received 10 inches (250 mm).[14] In Georgia, flooding damaged over 30 homes in Brunswick.[15] Several dirt and coastal roads were washed out,[14] and sewers overflowed as far north as Baltimore County, Maryland.[16] Two small pond dams burst, including a 173-year-old wooden dam, but new stone dams were constructed in place before the old ones failed.[12] Conversely, Tammy's rains were beneficial in South Carolina, where they helped alleviate dry conditions[17] after a rainless September.[18]

Tammy's storm surge was approximately 2-4 ft and caused salt-water flooding along the coast of northeaster Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The surge damages boardwalks along the coast, and wave action causes over 2 feet (0.6 m) of beach erosion.[2] In addition to the flooding, Tropical Storm Tammy spawned one tornado.[19] Rated an F0 tornado, it touched down near Brunswick, Georgia were it snapped trees and caused moderate roof damage. The storm's total damage was estimated at around $30 million (2005 USD).[2]

Aftermath, naming and records

A Red Cross shelter at Seldon Park, Brunswick, Georgia, opened for two days following the storm to temporarily house those whose houses were flooded.[20] Tammy's remnant low was absorbed a larger extratropical low which tracked north and Tammy's moisture contributed to the Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005, which killed ten people and caused significant damage.[2]

Shrimpers in the Carolinas blamed high fuel prices and the disruption of Tropical Storm Tammy for some of the troubles facing the shrimping industry in 2005. Rising fuel prices and dwindling demand has already created tough conditions that year, but the disruption of several days fishing due to Tammy's turbulent weather did nothing to help the local industry.[21]

When Tropical Storm Tammy formed on October 5, it was the earliest ever in the season that the twentieth storm formed,[22] beating the previous record held by Storm 20 of the 1933 season by 21 days.[23] Tammy was only the second Atlantic storm to be named with the letter 'T', after Tanya in 1995.[24] This was also the first time Tammy had been used to name any tropical cyclone worldwide. Due to the lack of any major effects from Tropical Storm Tammy, the name was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization and will be on the list of names for the 2011 Season.[25]

See also

Template:Tcportal

References

  1. ^ FEMA (2008-08-11). "FEMA: Significant Flood Events". FEMA. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stacy R. Stewart (2006-01-28). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Tammy" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  3. ^ National Hurricane Center. "Discussion for Tropical Storm Tammy, 7:30 a.m. EDT, October 5 2005". NOAA. Retrieved May 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Avila (2005-10-05). "Tropical Storm Tammy Intermediate Advisory Number 3a". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  5. ^ Knabb (2005-10-06). "Tropical Storm Tammy Advisory Number 5". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  6. ^ Franklin (2005-10-06). "Tropical Storm Tammy Advisory Number 6". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  7. ^ National Hurricane Center. "Discussion for Tropical Storm Tammy, 11 a.m. EDT, October 6 2005". NOAA. Retrieved May 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Knabb (2005-10-05). "Tropical Storm Tammy Special Advisory Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  9. ^ a b Avila (2005-10-05). "Tropical Storm Tammy Intermediate Advisory Number 3A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  10. ^ a b Staff Writer (2005-10-05). "Ga. Residents, Officials Brace For Tammy". News 4 Georgia. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  11. ^ Petty Officer Bobby Nash (2005-10-05). "Coast Guard Urges Mariners to Prepare for Tammy". Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  12. ^ a b Staff Writers (2008-10-22). "Tammy recap". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  13. ^ Marcy Trenholm (2008-10-11). "Tropical Storm Tammy Challenges Trysail College Regatta". Larchmont Gazette. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  14. ^ a b Russ Bynum (2005-10-06). "Tropical Storm Tammy brings heavy rain, gusts to Georgia". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  15. ^ Associated Press (2005-10-07). "Tammy causes flooding in south Georgia". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  16. ^ Staff Writer (2008-10-09). "Sewers Overwhelmed by Tropical Storm Tammy". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  17. ^ Rowland Alston (2005-10-16). "Dry Gardens Finally get a Soaking". The State. p. G3. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  18. ^ Computer Generated (2005-10-01). "History for KSCCLEMS1". Weather Underground. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  19. ^ Tom Grazulis (2007). "List of Known Tropical Cyclones Which Have Spawned Tornadoes". The Tornado Project. Retrieved 2008-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Associated Press (2005-10-07). "Flooding Continues Two Days After Tropical Storm Moves On". News4Jax. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  21. ^ Kelly Marshall (2008-10-09). "Experts: Local shrimpers face another tough year". The Sun News. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  22. ^ Staff Writer (2005-10-12). "National Weather: Heavy Snow Dropped On Northern Plains". Vance Publishing. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  23. ^ Richard J. Pasch (1993-06-02). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1993" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ NHC Hurricane Research Division (2008-01-01). "Atlantic hurricane best track ("HURDAT")". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  25. ^ Chris Vaccaro (2006-04-06). "Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan and Wilma "Retired" from List of Storm Names". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
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