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User:Yellow Evan/sandbox Tropical Storm Lowell(2008)

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Ike's storm total rainfall across the US. The part with the Central US on is was also due to Lowell.

Mexico

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Lowell made landfall as a tropical depression in Baja California. In Michoacan, Sonora, and Sinaloa, flooding from Lowell's remants left more than 26500 people homeless. No deaths were reported.[1]

Central Untied States

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This is the track map of Hurricane Ike. The system the caused the flodding in the US and Canada
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

Moisture from Lowell eventually joined with the remnants of Hurricane Ike and caused significant damage. As this conglamoration of moisture traveled through the United States it caused extensive flooding in Illinois. In Chicago it broke flooding records dating back to 1871.[2] A small number of residents were evacuated, some by boat and several area roads and railways were temporarily closed. The remnants also contributed to a one-day rainfall total being broken in South Bend, Indiana,[3] and, along with rainfall from remnants of Hurricane Ike, caused a portion of the Niles Dam at the Pucker Street Power House on the Dowagiac River in nearby Niles Charter Township, Michigan to collapse.[4][5] The hardest hit rivers were the DuPage, Des Plaines and Chicago Rivers. Many volunteers were called in to fill sandbags in an attempt to hold back the rising rivers. Dozens of people had to be rescued by boat. The corn and soybean crops were also threatened in many areas as a result of the heavy rainfall. A state of emergency was declared in Chicago and Cook County as a result of the floodwaters.[6] That was later extended statewide by Governor Rod Blagojevich.[7] About 49,000 customers lost power in Illinois.[8] Parts of Missouri, particularly around St. Louis, sustained major flooding. In St. Charles County, the Missouri River reached well above flood stage with forecasts as high as 11 feet (3.3 m) above flood stage, and seven private levees were threatened. Another hard-hit community was Arnold, where the Meramec River threatened to reach major flood stage for the third time in 2008, although sandbags were still up from the March flood there.[6] The high winds in southeastern Missouri, particularly the Bootheel, also blew corn stalks down and caused severe damage to crops.[9] The winds and rain knocked out power to about 85,000 customers in Missouri.[10]

A woman was also struck and killed by a large tree limb in Ladue, Missouri, and two bodies of a man and a woman who presumably drowned were found in University City, Missouri, outside of St. Louis.[11] Another drowning took place in floodwaters in Columbia, Missouri.[12] Parts of Missouri, particularly around St. Louis, sustained major flooding. In St. Charles County, the Missouri River reached well above flood stage with forecasts as high as 11 feet (3.3 m) above flood stage, and seven private levees were threatened. Another hard-hit community was Arnold, where the Meramec River threatened to reach major flood stage for the third time in 2008, although sandbags were still up from the March flood there.[6] The high winds in southeastern Missouri, particularly the Bootheel, also blew corn stalks down and caused severe damage to crops.[9] The winds and rain knocked out power to about 85,000 customers in Missouri.[10]

A woman was also struck and killed by a large tree limb in Ladue, Missouri, and two bodies of a man and a woman who presumably drowned were found in University City, Missouri, outside of St. Louis.[11] Another drowning took place in floodwaters in Columbia, Missouri.[12]

The northwestern part of Indiana was hard hit by flooding, which was partially related to the frontal boundary and partially related to Ike. One of the hardest-hit communities was Munster, where 5,000 residents had to be evacuated as a result of the Little Calumet River overflowing in many spots and breaking through the levee near the Calumet Avenue bridge. Several people had to be rescued by boat and there was a garage fire and a massive house explosion in the flooded area that leveled one house and damaged others. Parts of Interstates 80 and 94 were closed due to flooding, slowing traffic greatly in the region.[6]

A large tree down in front of a house in Wilmington, Ohio

In Cincinnati, the effects of this storm have become known as The Cincinnati Blackout. Wind gusts of over 75 miles per hour (121 km/h)* were recorded in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, which is equivalent to sustained wind levels found in a Category 1 hurricane.[13] Additionally, a state of emergency was declared in Ohio on Monday by Governor Ted Strickland.[14] On September 16 and 17, Governor Strickland took a tour of the heavily damaged areas, particularly in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton to survey the damage.[7]

The Cincinnati metropolitan area was very hard hit, with over 927,000 customers losing power in that region (approximately 2.1 million people).[15] A Duke Energy spokesperson said “We have never seen anything like this. Never. We’re talking about 90 percent of our customers without power"[16] On September 15, 16 and 17, most of the schools in Hamilton County and Butler County had classes cancelled because of power outages.[17][18] In the Dayton, Ohio area 300,000 of 515,000 Dayton Power & Light Co. customers lost power at some point following severe wind storms on the afternoon of Sept. 14, according to a company spokesperson. As of Thursday morning, Sept. 18, 90,000 DP&L customers remained without power.[19] Also hard hit were central Ohio (with over 350,000 customers losing power) and northeastern Ohio (with over 310,000 customers losing power).[20] A water emergency was also declared in Butler County as the water supply diminished due to the lack of power, and a "Level One" emergency was declared in the county to encourage people to remain at home, although stopping short of a curfew.[21] A curfew was implemented on September 17 in Carlisle due to increased looting activity as a result of the lengthy power outage and damage.[22]

Agricultural damage was severe, with as much as 20% of the state's total corn crop lost as a result of winds blowing down corn stalks. Some fields were nearly flattened by the hurricane-force wind gusts.[9] Tens of thousands of people also lost power in northwest Ohio where widespread outages and damage were reported in the Lima and Findlay areas as the center of the storm tracked just to the north and west. Some of the most significant damage there included a radio tower that collapsed and a church that was heavily damaged.[23]

In Mount Healthy, a tree crushing a house resulted in one fatality, and two others died when a tree crashed onto a motorcycle parade in Hueston Woods State Park near Oxford.[16] A similar incident in Lorain County also resulted in the death of a young boy who was hit by a fallen tree limb.[24] An indirect death in Hilliard was caused by electrocution while working on a generator,[25] and another in St. Bernard was caused by a candle fire while power was out.[26]

The southern part of Michigan sustained heavy rainfall resulting in many houses being flooded, partially due to Ike and partially due to the frontal boundary.[27] Two deaths were reported in Michigan - both drownings, one in a ditch and one in a vehicle.[28] In Indiana, about 350,000 customers lost power statewide, mostly in the southern part.[29] The fields of southern Indiana were heavily impacted, and a spokesman the state's Natural Resource Conservation Service described the situation as a "severe crop loss" and the "worst wind damage I have ever seen".[9] A state of emergency was later declared by Governor Mitch Daniels.[7]


Flooding near a pedestrian bridge in Shorwood, Illinois

Seven deaths were reported in Indiana. Two deaths took place in Chesterton as a result of flooding,[30] and five deaths due to fallen trees in other parts of Indiana - two in Clark County and one each in Crawford, Perry and Ohio Counties.[31] Two deaths were reported in Illinois, both of which were drownings.[28]

In Arkansas, about 200,000 customers lost power as a result of the winds, the worst power loss in that state since an ice storm in 2000.[32] Damage was widespread, with trees and power lines knocked down in many areas. At least five tornadoes—all rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale—were reported, in Garland, Hot Spring, Lonoke, Perry and Saline Counties.[33] The Lonoke County tornado caused some structural damage near Cabot, including a storage unit and several metal buildings at a lumber mill that were destroyed, a strip mall that was heavily damaged and many signs blown down.[34] Arkansas was spared the significant rainfall that areas farther north saw though.[33] One person was killed when a tree fell onto a mobile home near Fisher, Arkansas.[35]

Along with Ike heavey rains alowed it to become one of the wettest tropical cyclones in states history.

Wettest tropical cyclones, and their remnants, to affect Illinois
Highest known recorded totals
Precipitation Storm Measurement
station
Rank (mm) (in)
1 207.8 mm 8.18 inches Carla 1961 Mount Carroll[36]
2 108.5 mm 7.64 inches Claudette 1979 Hutsonville Power Plant[36]
3 192.5 mm 7.58 inches Paine 1986 Avon 5 NE[36]
4 178.6 mm 7.03 inches Tico 1983 New Athenas[36]
5 151.4 mm 5.96 inches Lester 1992 Mattoon[36]
6 146.1 mm 5.75 inches Chantal 1989 Fulton Dam 13[36]
7 135.9 mm 5.35 inches Debra 1978 Carbondale Sewage Plant[36]
8 127.0 mm 5.00 inches Lowell 2008 Decatur [37]
9 118.9 mm 4.68 inches Allison 1989 Rosiclare 5 NW[36]
10 117.4 mm 4.62 inches Unnamed 1960 Cairo[36]
10 117.4 mm 4.62 inches Gustav 2008 Monticello 6.5 WSW[36]
Wettest tropical cyclones, and their remnants, to affect Kansas
Highest known recorded totals
Precipitation Storm Measurement
station
Rank (mm) (in)
1 317.5 mm 12.50 inches Frances 1998 Fort Scott[36]
2 290.6 mm 11.44 inches Lowell 2008 Maize [38]
3 288.3 mm 11.35 inches Paine 1986 Fort Scott[36]
4 216.4 mm 8.52 inches Carla 1961 Haddam[36]
5 170.4 mm 6.71 inches Tico 1983 Independence[36]
6 147.1 mm 5.79 inches Newton 1986 Tonganoxie 5 SE[36]
7 138.4 mm 5.45 inches Waldo 1985 Burns[36]
8 127.0 mm 5.00 inches Gilbert 1988 Cedar Vale[36]
9 117.6 mm 4.63 inches Norma 1981 Iola 1 W[36]
10 114.6 mm 4.51 inches Matthew 2004 Hale[36]
11 104.4 mm 4.11 inches Gustav 2008 Pittsburg[36]

Northeast Untied States

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In total, over 180,000 customers lost power as a result of the high winds in western Pennsylvania.[39] The damage eventually resulted in a state of emergency declaration by Governor Ed Rendell.[7] In Oil City, one death took place as a result of a fallen tree limb while outdoors.[40]

The Northern Panhandle of West Virginia also sustained high winds as a result of the storm with widespread tree damage. About 32,000 customers in the region lost power, particularly around Wheeling.[41]

The high winds continued northward into Upstate New York late in the evening of September 14. Widespread damage, mostly to trees and power lines, was reported.[42] In New York State, over 100,000 customers were reported without power.[43] The hardest hit area was around Rochester, where over half of the outages were reported.[42]

Atlantic Canada

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Accumulations in Canada

In Ontario, Ike's remnants brought a record amount of rain on Sunday, September 14, in the Windsor region. It was closely following a slow-moving frontal system that had drenched the city the day before, dumping 75.2 mm (2.96 in) of rain and braking the old record of 39.1 mm (1.54 in) in 1979, according to Environment Canada. Most damage in the Windsor area with Ike was confined to downed power lines and toppled tree branches with the wind gusts reaching 80 km/h (49.71 mph), with spotty street flooding that made driving completely treacherous in some areas.[44] Highways were washed out in the Bruce Peninsula, and trees were uprooted in London, Ontario. The storm continued to cause wind and rain damage as it continues east along the St. Lawrence River leaving around 25,000 customers without electricity, especially in Belleville, Brockville, Bancroft, Peterborough, Bowmanville, Huntsville and Timmins.[45]

In Quebec province, regions to the north of the Saint Lawrence River received 50 mm (1.97 in) to 70 mm (2.76 in) of rainfall (Hautes-Laurentides, Haute-Mauricie, Réserve faunique des Laurentides, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Charlevoix and Côte-Nord). Maximum rainfall was recorded between Lac-St-Jean and the Réserve faunique des Laurentides with a station recording more than 90 mm (3.54 in) of rain[46] Along the river, the amount were more in the 10 mm (0.39 in) and 30 mm (1.18 in) range, except in Quebec City area which received almost 50 mm (1.97 in) , most of it between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.[46] This rain caused small inundations, storm drain overflows, and closed one major highway closed.[47] In Montreal, high humidity levels pushed by the system caused electrical malfunction one of the lines of the subway, stranding commuters.[48] High winds up to 78 km/h (48.47 mph) caused, at their worst, over 25,000 households to lose electricity in Montreal, Laval, Estrie and Montérégie [49] and when it reached the Magdalen Islands, it had enough strength to cause a sail boat, the Océan, to sink. Its six passengers were rescued by a helicopter of the Canadian Coast Guard.[46][49]

The "Ike Spike" in gasoline prices was quite severe in Canada, with gas prices rising anywhere from 15 to 20 cents per liter.[50][51]

Aftermath

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There were a number of relief efforts set up to help those caught up in Lowell. Including one set up by Portlight and Weather Underground. Most of them raised at least $10,000 dollars to help out. However the Portlight/Wunderground effort created controversy.[52]

References

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  1. ^ "Monthly Tropical Weather Summary". National Hurricane Center. 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  2. ^ "Chicago seeks aid after worst rain in at least 137 years". CNN. 2008-09-14.
  3. ^ Jackson, Adam (2008-09-14). "South Bend sets new one-day rain record". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-15. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Sieff, Jessica (2008-09-16). "Dam at risk: residents evacuated after eight foot section fails". Niles Daily Star. Retrieved 2008-09-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Sieff, Jessica (2008-09-17). "Dam holds". Niles Daily Star. Retrieved 2008-09-18. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Daniel J. Yovich (2008-09-15). "Hurricane Ike remnants blamed for Midwest deaths, blackouts". Argus Observer. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  7. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference CBS2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Associated Press (2008-09-15). "Thousands Still Without Power in Illinois". WTHI. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  9. ^ a b c d Rebecca Townsend (2008-09-16). "Ike Flattens Corn, Floods Soybeans, Delays Wheat Planting". Cattle Network. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  10. ^ a b STLAmerican (2008-09-14). "Remnants of Ike Leave Thousands Without Power in Missouri". STLAmerican. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  11. ^ a b "Authorities identify body of woman swept away in flash flooding". KMOV. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  12. ^ a b "Woman Found Dead". KOMU. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  13. ^ http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/sept14wind.html
  14. ^ http://www.governor.ohio.gov/News/PressReleases/2008/September2008/News91508/tabid/831/Default.aspx
  15. ^ Duke Power (2008-09-15). "Duke Current Power Outages - Ohio". Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  16. ^ a b Amber Ellis and Scott Wartman (2008-09-14). "High winds knock out power". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  17. ^ The Business Courier of Cincinnati, September 16, 2008
  18. ^ Krantz, Cindy, Cincinnati Enquirer, September 17, 2008
  19. ^ Staff Reports (2008-09-18). "More DP&L customers get power; about 90,000 still in dark". Dayton Daily News.
  20. ^ Associated Press (2008-09-14). "1 dead from Ike when tree falls on mobile home". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  21. ^ Deb Silverman (2008-09-15). "Water Emergency Declared In Butler County". WCPO. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  22. ^ "Curfew Order In Effect For Carlisle". WLWT. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  23. ^ Ronald Lederman Jr. (2008-09-15). "Ike wreaks havoc on region". LimaOhio.com. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  24. ^ Associated Press (2008-09-15). "Wind storm leaves 1M without power in Ohio, at least 4 dead". WTOL. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  25. ^ News Staff (2008-09-15). "Hilliard Man Electrocuted While Fixing Generator". WBNS-TV. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  26. ^ Jay Warren (2008-09-15). "Five Deaths Blamed On High Winds". WCPO. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  27. ^ 58 homes flooded in Livingston County
  28. ^ a b CBS/AP (2008-09-18). "Millions Still In Dark Over Ike Recovery". CBS News. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  29. ^ Staff Report (2008-09-15). "Power Trouble Lingers After Ike Strikes Indiana". WRTV. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference KCStar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ Tom Coyne (2008-09-15). "Indiana storm death toll up to 7". Journal and Courier. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  32. ^ Betsey Martin (2008-09-14). "5:34 p.m. Update - Power Outages Reported Statewide". KARK. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  33. ^ a b "Severe Weather/Wind on September 13-14, 2008". National Weather Service Little Rock. 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  34. ^ "Public Information Statement". National Weather Service Little Rock. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  35. ^ Associated Press (2008-09-14). "1 dead from Ike when tree falls on mobile home". KFSM. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t David M. Roth. "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Midwest". Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  37. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIAHPCAT4+shtml/142048.shtml
  38. ^ http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/tcpat4.html
  39. ^ News Staff (2008-09-14). "Lowell's Strong Winds, Power Outages Plague Pittsburgh Area". WTAE. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  40. ^ News Staff (2008-09-15). "More than 140,000 in region still without power". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  41. ^ News Staff (2008-09-15). "Ike's Winds Blow Through Valley". Wheeling News-Register. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  42. ^ a b Gary McLendon and Victoria E. Freile (2008-09-16). "Wind storm power outages may last into tomorrow for some". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  43. ^ "Heavy winds lead to power outages". WCAX. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  44. ^ Canwest Media (2008-09-15). "Windsor storm topples trees". Windsor Star. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  45. ^ Canwest Media (2008-09-15). "Ike's fury keeps 25,000 Ontarians in the dark". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  46. ^ a b c CRIACC and Environment Canada (September 25, 2008). "Remnants of Tropical Storm "Ike" - September 14-15, 2008". Centre des Ressources en Impacts et Adaptations au Climat et à ses Chamgements (CRIACC). Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  47. ^ (in French)Staff Journalist (September 15, 2008). "Fortes pluies sur Québec". Radio-Canada (Quebec City). Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  48. ^ (in French)Staff Journalis t (September 15, 2008). "Les restes d'Ike touchent le pays". Radio-Canada. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  49. ^ a b (in French)Staff Journalist (September 16, 2008). "L'Océan coule à pic". Radio-Canada (Est du Quebec). Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  50. ^ "Gas prices skyrocket again as Ike touches down". Canwest News Service. September 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  51. ^ "Gas prices soar as hurricane Ike shuts down refineries". The Edmonton Sun. September 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  52. ^ WUBA Hurricane Ike Relief Effort
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