Tropical Storm Debra (1978)
landfall on August 28 | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | August 26, 1978 |
Dissipated | August 29, 1978 |
Tropical storm | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 60 mph (95 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 1000 mbar (hPa); 29.53 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 2 confirmed |
Damage | Minimal |
Areas affected | Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season |
Tropical Storm Debra was the second of two tropical storms to hit the United States in the
Meteorological history
Debra originated in an upper-level cold-core low pressure system that developed over southwestern Florida in late August 1978. The low moved southwest towards the Yucatán Peninsula over the next day, as a tropical wave drifted westwards from the Caribbean Sea.[1] The interaction between the upper-level system and the wave led to the formation of a tropical depression on August 26 around 460 miles (740 km) south of New Orleans.[1][2]
At first the depression drifted westward but, as the western periphery of a
The storm made landfall between
Preparations and impact
Louisiana
A
Louisiana had moderate flooding, especially in Rapides Parish.[19] Rainfall amounted to 6 inches (15 cm) at Lake Charles and Lafayette, 3 inches (7.6 cm) at Shreveport, and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) at Monroe.[20] Flash flood warnings were issued during the storm for Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee.[21] By dawn on August 29, all rainwater had receded from the streets and tides were back to normal levels.[20]
A confirmed tornado at the Ike settlement in Vernon Parish, knocked over a trailer.[4][17] The greatest amount of rainfall caused by Debra, 10.81 in (275 mm), was recorded in Freshwater Bayou Lock.[2][22] More than 6 in (150 mm) was recorded across Louisiana,[2][4][23] and tides between Atchafalaya Bay and Vermilion Bay were 5.7 ft (1.7 m) above normal.[2][4] At Grand Chenier, a wind gust of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) was recorded,[15][16] and there were reports of downed trees and damage to roofs in Lake Charles and New Orleans.[13] Tides at Lake Pontchartrain were 2 feet (0.61 m) to 3 feet (0.91 m) above normal.[24]
Elsewhere
Gale warnings were prompted from Galveston, Texas, through to Grand Isle, Louisiana, at 18:00 GMT on August 28.[1][25] A confirmed tornado in Hardin County, Texas,[26] damaged a trailer home and power lines. More than 6 inches (150 mm) of rainfall was recorded within Texas[4] and 7 inches (180 mm) in the Beaumont – Port Arthur area caused minor street flooding.[14][19] Tides were 1 ft (0.30 m) above normal at Corpus Christi, while tides at Galveston were 2.2 ft (0.67 m) above normal.[2][4]
A tornado spawned in Turkey Creek, Mississippi, destroyed three mobile homes and a house, killing one person and seriously injuring another; this tornado tracked on to Crystal Springs, Mississippi.[27][28] Many rice stands were knocked over because of the gusts of wind from Tropical Storm Debra.[29] Rainfall of more than 6 in (15 cm) was recorded in locations across Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois.[2][4][15] Tornadoes were reported in Memphis, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; Starkville, Springdale, Cedarbluff and Flora in Mississippi; Livingston and Ascension parishes[30] and north Lafayette in Louisiana.[11][31] One person was hurt in the Memphis tornado.[31] Power was knocked out at four blocks of the Memphis International Airport,[31] gas supplies were cut off in Memphis, and downed trees and power poles blocked many streets.[31] Overall damage caused by Debra was minimal.[17][32]
See also
- Tropical Storm Bill (2003)
- Tropical Storm Beryl (1988)
- Tropical Storm Barry (2001)
- Tropical Storm Matthew (2004)
- Tropical Storm Lee (2011)
- Tropical Storm Hermine (1998)
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Illinois
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Indiana
- Other storms with the same name
Notes
Footnotes
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Pelisser, Joseph M. (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 1. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ a b c "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1978. p. 4. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Pelisser, Joseph M. (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ "Tornado Climatology for Southeast Texas & Southwest Louisiana" (PDF). National Weather Service Central Region Headquarters. NWS Central Region Headquarters. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19780828.48.128". Storm Prediction Center. Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19780828.22.14". Storm Prediction Center. Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19780829.28.10". Storm Prediction Center. Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19780829.5.35". Storm Prediction Center. Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19780829.47.7". Storm Prediction Center. Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- ^ a b "Local Statement Number 2". National Weather Service New Orleans, Louisiana. National Weather Service. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ a b "Tropical Storm Debra Brings Battening Down". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ a b "Storm Hits Louisiana". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ a b c Pelisser, Joseph M. (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 3. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ a b c "Tropical Storm Debra Headed For Arkansas". The Evening Independent. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "Nation's weather". Daily News. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ Toledo Blade. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ Daily Union. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "'Debra' makes devastating exit". Bangor Daily News. 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
- Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ "Debra Produces Tornadoes, Rain". The Victoria Advocate. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ "Local Statement Number 4". National Weather Service New Orleans, Louisiana. National Weather Service. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ "Local Statement Number 6". National Hurricane Center tropical cyclone reports. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
- ^ "Preliminary Storm Report – Tropical Storm Debra 930AM CDT TUE AUG 29 1978". National Weather Service. National Weather Service. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- The News-Dispatch. 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "Debra lumbers inland, causes minor flooding". The Deseret News. 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "Mississippi Weather & Crop Report 1969-1978" (PDF). National Agricultural Statistics Service. United States Department of Agriculture. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-24. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana. National Weather Service.
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- St. Petersburg Times. 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
External links
- Hydrometeorological Prediction Center's archive on Tropical Storm Debra