Tropical Storm Imelda

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Imelda.

Tropical Storm Imelda
Tropical Storm Imelda off the coast of Texas on September 17
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 17, 2019
DissipatedSeptember 19, 2019
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds45 mph (75 km/h)
Lowest pressure1003 mbar (hPa); 29.62 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities7
Damage$5 billion (2019 USD)
Areas affectedTexas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Imelda was a tropical cyclone which was the fourth-wettest storm on record in the U.S. state of Texas, causing devastating and record-breaking floods in southeast Texas. The eleventh tropical cyclone and ninth named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Imelda formed out of an upper-level low that developed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved westward. Little development occurred until the system was near the Texas coastline, where it rapidly developed into a tropical storm before moving ashore shortly afterward on September 17. Imelda weakened after landfall, but continued bringing large amounts of flooding rain to Texas and Louisiana, before dissipating on September 21.

Impacts began when Imelda made

Galveston and Beaumont) as its motion gradually slowed over land. Dozens of water rescues were needed by September 19 as areas became overwhelmed by the rainfall, with some areas experiencing over 43 inches (1,100 mm) of rain. Total damage is estimated in excess of $5 billion (2019 USD).[1] Despite the storm causing substantial damage, the name Imelda was not retired following the season, making Imelda the second-costliest Atlantic tropical cyclone name on record to not be retired, with the costliest being Hurricane Sally the following year.[2][3][4]

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

Imelda originated from a mid-to-upper level trough located over the Eastern United States. Between September 10–12, the low moved to the southwest towards the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Once over the Gulf, associated convection began to increase, as a weak surface trough formed within the upper—level low on September 14, traversing to the west—northwest.[5] That same day, the National Hurricane Center began to monitor the low for possible tropical cyclogenesis.[6] Although, the NHC only gave the disturbance a low chance of formation. By September 17, the system had reached the east coast of Texas.[7] Soon afterward, organization in the system rapidly increased, and at 17:00 UTC that day, the system organized into Tropical Depression Eleven, just off the coast of Texas.[8] At 17:45 UTC, an observation deck at Freeport, Texas recorded sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) with gusts of 47 mph (76 km/h), indicating that the depression had strengthened to Tropical Storm Imelda.[9]

Shortly thereafter, at 18:30 UTC, Imelda made landfall near Freeport, Texas at peak intensity, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 45 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1,003 millibars (29.6 inHg).[10] Imelda weakened after landfall, becoming a tropical depression at 03:00 UTC on the next day. At that time, the NHC passed on the responsibility for issuing advisories to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC).[11] Imelda retained status as a tropical depression over land for the next 2 days, gradually weakening and slowing its motion, before degenerating into a trough on September 19, as it began passing over Louisiana; Imelda's remnants continued producing heavy rain and a few isolated tornadoes.[12] Imelda's remnants persisted for another couple of days, before dissipating early on September 21.[13][14]

Preparations and impact

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Texas
Highest-known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
1 1538.7 60.58 Harvey 2017 Nederland [15]
2 1219.2 48.00 Amelia 1978 Medina [15]
3 1143.0 45.00 Claudette 1979 Alvin coop site [16]
4 1096 43.15 Imelda 2019 Jefferson County [17]
5 1033.3 40.68 Allison 2001 Moore Road Detention Pond [15]
6 1008.6 39.71 September Hurricane 1921 Thrall [18]
7 762.0 30.00 September T.S. 1936 Broome [18]
8 755.9 29.76 Unnamed 1960 Port Lavaca #2 [15]
9 695.5 27.38 Beulah 1967 Pettus [15]
10 688.3 27.10 Alice 1954 Pandale [18]

Texas

Imelda's slow movement over

seventh-wettest tropical cyclone in U.S. history, fifth-wettest in the contiguous U.S., and fourth-wettest in Texas history.[5] The same station recorded 31 in (790 mm) of rain in 12 hours.[20] Rain fell at over 5 in (130 mm) per hour in several places.[21] Flood depths in some locations exceeded those recorded in Hurricane Harvey due to the high rainfall rates.[22] Where rainfall was heaviest, the rainfall total represented a 1-in-1000-year rainfall event.[20] Destructive flooding occurred along Interstate 10 between Winnie and Orange, Texas, where over 42 in (1,100 mm) of rain fell. Over one thousand vehicles were caught in flood waters. Many homes and businesses were also flooded, resulting in numerous high-water rescues. Approximately 8,200 homes were flooded in Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, and Montgomery counties in Texas.[5] Five deaths were directly attributed to the floods, of which three occurred in Jefferson, while two occurred in Harris County.[5][23][24][25] The National Centers for Environmental Information estimated Imelda inflicted $5 billion in damage.[5]

Aerial view of flooding in Roman Forest, Texas

Jefferson County, Texas, was the county most heavily impacted by Imelda.[5] An estimated 5,100 homes were flooded in the county, suffering $14 million in damage.[5][20] Major street flooding occurred in Beaumont where the Jefferson County flooding first began.[22] Over 38 inches (97 cm) of rain fell in the city.[26] Encroaching floodwaters prompted the evacuation of Riceland Medical Center in Chambers County, Texas.[5][27] Stream flooding persisted for days in Hardin County, Texas, where 10–40 in (250–1,020 mm) of rain was measured. Many buildings and roads were rendered impassable.[28][5] Sixty homes were flooded in the county, resulting in $2.3 million in damage. In Orange County, Texas, Imelda flooded 2,679 homes, resulting in $12 million in damage. Near Mauriceville, Cow Bayou reached its second-highest crest on record. In Jasper and Newton counties in Texas, an estimated $2.4 million in damage was incurred following the flooding of 15 homes.[20]

In Houston, Imelda's rainfall caused many of the local

U.S. 59, as well as gas pumps at a filling station.[34]

Within the weeks following Imelda, aid from

FEMA was not received. This left some residents uncertain if any would come.[35]

Elsewhere

Contour map of Imelda's rainfall
The heaviest rains from Imelda, exceeding 40 in (1,000 mm), were concentrated in a small area in southeastern Texas while lighter rainfall extended to nearby states.

Flooding from Imelda in southwestern Louisiana was relatively minor. Freshwater flooding in Johnson Bayou inundated most secondary roads and was augmented by the elevated tide levels caused by the tropical storm.[5][36] The remnants of Imelda produced up to 7.6 in (190 mm) of rain in southeastern Oklahoma between September 6–7.[5] Heavy rainfall also occurred in portions of Arkansas.[37]

In addition to the rain, weather stations reported winds between 37 and 44 mph (59–70 km/h) as Imelda made landfall. At

Cameron Parish on September 19.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2010-2019: A landmark decade of U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Jeff Masters (March 19, 2021). "WMO: Atlantic hurricanes no longer to receive names from Greek alphabet". Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Amanda Cochran; Frank Billingsly (March 19, 2021). "No Retirement for "Imelda"". Click2Houston. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "These 2019 and 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Names Were Not Retired, But Were Strong Candidates | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com". The Weather Channel. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Latto, Andy; Berg, Robbie (February 7, 2020). Tropical Storm Imelda (PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Jack Beven (September 14, 2019). "Two-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Stacy R. Stewart (September 17, 2019). "Two=Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Daniel Brown (September 17, 2019). "Tropical Depression Eleven Special Discussion Number 1". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  9. ^ Michael Brennan; Daniel Brown (September 17, 2019). "Tropical Storm Imelda Tropical Cyclone Update". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  10. ^ David Zelinsky; Daniel Brown (September 17, 2019). "Tropical Storm Imelda Tropical Cyclone Update". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  11. ^ Richard Pasch (September 18, 2019). "Tropical Depression Imelda Discussion Number 3". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  12. ^ Gregg Gallina; Frank Pereira (September 19, 2019). "Remnants Of Imelda Advisory Number 10". wpc.ncep.noaa.gov. Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Peter Mullinax (September 20, 2019). "Storm Summary Number 11 for Heavy Rainfall Associated With Imelda". wpc.ncep.noaa.gov. Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Tropical Storm Imelda - September 16-20, 2019. www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov (Report). Weather Prediction Center. January 25, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e Roth, David M. (January 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ^ Roth, David M; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. "Tropical Storm Claudette". Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  17. ^ Meg Wagner, Paul P. Murphy, Mike Hayes and Fernando Alfonso III (September 19, 2019). "Serious flooding in Texas". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved September 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ a b c Schoner, Robert W; Molansky, Sydney; National Hurricane Research Project (1956). Rainfall associated with Hurricanes and other Tropical Disturbances (PDF) (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "Upper Texas Coast Tropical Cyclones in the 2010s". National Weather Service Houston/Galveston, TX. Dickinson, Texas: National Weather Service. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d "Tropical Storm Imelda". National Weather Service Lake Charles, LA. Lake Charles, Louisiana: National Weather Service. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  21. ^ Brian Kahn (September 19, 2019). "Tropical Depression Imelda Has Dumped More Than 40 Inches of Rain on the Texas Gulf Coast". Gizmodo. G/O Media Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  22. ^ a b "Event Report for Flash Flood in Jefferson County, Texas, on September 18, 2019". Storm Events. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  23. ^ Ron Brackett; Jan Wesner Childs. "Barges Hit Bridge on Interstate 10 in Texas; Portions of Roadway Remain Flooded". The Weather Channel. Web. Retrieved September 20, 2019. Hunter Morrison was electrocuted by a downed power line in nearby floodwaters while he and his father were trying to save one of their horses on their property in Beaumont, Jefferson County Emergency Management confirmed to The Weather Channel.
  24. ^ Ed Gonzalez [@SheriffEd_HCSO] (September 19, 2019). "We're sad to report that an adult occupant, extracted from the submerged van, has been pronounced deceased at the hospital. It remains unknown if the male was the only occupant in the van. #HouNews" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Iracheta, Michelle (September 19, 2019). "2 deaths linked to Imelda as hundreds flooded throughout Southeast Texas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  26. ^ David K. Li; Annie Rose Ramos (September 19, 2019). "Imelda slams southeast Texas, bringing flash floods and mandatory evacuations". NBC News. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  27. ^ Juan A. Lozano (September 20, 2019). "Houston area sees relief, rescues after Imelda leaves 4 dead". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  28. ^ "Event Report for Flash Flood in Hardin County, Texas, on September 18, 2019". Storm Events. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  29. ^ Deerwester, Jayme (September 19, 2019). "Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport reopens: Rains prompt 650+ canceled flights". USA Today. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  30. ^ James Leggate (September 21, 2019). "Imelda's death toll in Houston rises to 5 as damage assessments begin". Fox Business. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  31. ^ Brackett, Ron; Childs, Jan Wesner (September 20, 2019). "Barges Hit Bridge on Interstate 10 in Texas; Portions of Roadway Remain Flooded". The Weather Channel. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  32. ^ FOX 26 Houston staff (September 20, 2019). "Barges strike bridge over San Jacinto River; I-10 shutdown in both directions". KRIV. Retrieved September 21, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "Interstate 10 bridge near Houston closed after being hit by barges during Imelda". NOLA.com. The Associated Press. September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  34. ^ "Flash Flood in Splendora, Texas". National Centers for Environmental Information. September 19, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  35. ^ Stacy Fernández, Davis Rich (September 27, 2019). "Texans still don't know if they qualify for FEMA aid after Imelda. But some say the potential help may not be worth the wait". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  36. ^ "Event Report for Flash Flooding in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on September 19, 2019". Storm Events. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  37. ^ Elisha Fieldstadt, Alex Johnson, Annie Rose Ramos (September 19, 2019). "Imelda swamps parts of Texas with more than 3 feet of rain, leaves 3 dead". nbcnews.com. NBC News. Retrieved January 14, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ "Event Report for Thunderstorm Wind in East Baton Rouge on September 17, 2019". Storm Events. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

External links

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