Tropical Storm Barry (2001)

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This article is about the tropical storm of 2001. For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Barry.

Tropical Storm Barry

Tropical storm (SSHS)

Tropical Storm Barry nearing Florida Panhandle

Formed

August 2, 2001

Dissipated

August 7, 2001

Highest
winds

70 mph (110 km/h) (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

990 mbar (hPa; 29.25 inHg)

Fatalities

2 direct, 7 indirect

Damage

$30 million (2001 USD)
$34.2 million (2006 USD)

Areas
affected

Cuba, Florida, Alabama

Part of the
2001 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Barry was the second named storm of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season and the second tropical storm to make landfall on the United States mainland. Barry formed on August 2 and moved northward where it reached a peak intensity of 70 mph (105 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 990 millibars before making landfall along the Florida Panhandle on August 6, the storm then crossed over Alabama as a tropical depression and dissipated on the 7th over the eastern Midwest. A strong tropical storm, Barry, caused $30 million (2001 USD, $33 million 2006 USD) in damage along the U.S. Gulf Coast and 9 deaths (two of them directly related to the storm). The remnants of the storm then brought heavy rain to the eastern Midwest.

1 Storm history
2 Preparations
3 Impact
- 3.1 Cuba and Florida
- 3.2 Rest of the United States
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Storm history

Storm path

A tropical wave moved off the east coast of Africa on July 24 and moved across the Atlantic Ocean without tropical development. On July 28, convection increased as the system was located east of the Leeward Islands. On July 29, the tropical wave entered the Caribbean Sea still poorly organized. However, the convection still increased on July 30 and 31st as the system moved westward through the Caribbean Sea. On August 1, the system entered the Gulf of Mexico where it strengthened into Tropical Storm Barry on August 2.

Because of an interaction with a subtropical ridge to the north, the storm may have reached tropical depression status six hours earlier over the Florida Keys. In addition, Barry may have been sub-tropical in its formation as the storm moved northeastward where strong wind shear caused the storm to briefly weaken back to a tropical depression. Barry then slowly moved west-northwest though the unfavorable environment until August 5 when the ridge began to weaken, causing the steering currents to dissipate. This allowed Barry to drift west-southwest before finally turning northwest. Interacting with a nearby upper level low pressure system, Tropical Storm Barry began to accelerate to the northwest. The pressure dropped to 990 millibars and the winds increased to 70 mph (105 km/h).

Barry maintained that intensity before making landfall near Santa Rosa Beach, Florida on August 6. Radar and satellite images revealed that Barry was developing a small eye before making landfall. After making landfall, Barry accelerated to the northwest and quickly weakened back to tropical depression status. The storm then became extratropical and dissipated over Missouri.^[1]

Radar image of Barry making landfall

[edit] Preparations

Forecasters issued tropical storm watches and warnings for much of the U.S. Gulf Coast, which were upgraded to a hurricane warning as the storm was predicted to reach hurricane strength. However, when that strengthening did not occur, the hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning shortly before landfall. Westward, the warnings for Louisiana and Mississippi were discontinued. After Tropical Storm Barry made landfall, all tropical storm warnings for the Florida Panhandle were discontinued.^[1] When Barry approached the Florida Panhandle, voluntary evacuations took place on the low lying barrier islands and two shelters were opened on August 5. In addition, authorities closed the mid bay bridge toll station in Okaloosa County.^[2] Forecasters also anticipated inland flooding from Barry and predicted that the flooding would be confined to a small area. In addition, officials forecasted the storm to bring a storm surge of 3-5 feet and winds gusting to 55-65 mph (89-105 km/h).^[3]

[edit] Impact

Rainfall totals from Tropical Storm Barry

Unlike Tropical Storm Allison a month earlier, Barry's impact on the United States was moderate. The storm left and $30 million dollars (2001 USD, $33 million (2006 USD) and because of well executed warnings and rapid forward speed of the storm, there were only six fatalities. Most of the damage was along the Florida Panhandle which took the brunt of the storm.

[edit] Cuba and Florida

Barry produced heavy rains across western Cuba but there were no reports of damage. Offshore, the storm sank a Cuban refugee boat, drowning six of the twenty eight passengers. In Florida, storm surge of 2-3 feet and rainfall of 5-9 inches (125-230 mm) were reported along the Florida Panhandle, a weather station in Tallahassee recorded rainfall of 8.9 inches while Panama City received 11 inches (120 mm) of rain. In South Florida, the tropical wave that became Barry produced rainfall of 3-8 inches. The rainfall was beneficial as it relieved a long term drought in South Florida. Two weak tornadoes spawned by Barry were reported in South Florida and the Florida Panhandle.^[1] Barry's strong winds and heavy rains produced moderate damage in Florida. In Okaloosa County, the storm caused sporadic power outages, damaged a high rise condo and knocked down several trees.^[4] In Walton County , an elementary school and five houses sustained minor damage. and 15,000 residences were left without power. In Bay County, there was reported minor structural and tree damage.^[5]^[6] The rainfall from Barry also caused the water levels to rise in Leon County.^[7] Sporadic reports of flooding were also reported in Franklin County and Wakulla County.^[8] There were three fatalities in Florida, two were direct and one was indirect. One was from a lightning strike while another was from drowning. The indirect death was from a traffic accident.^[1]

[edit] Rest of the United States

Barry produced tides 2-3 feet above normal in eastern Louisiana. Gale force winds caused minimal tree damage in Morgan City, Louisiana.^[9] The storm also dropped 4 inches (100 mm) of rain across Mississippi and Georgia. There were no reports of damage or fatalities in Mississippi or Georgia.^[1] In Alabama, the storm caused minor tree and structural damage and a football game in Birmingham was cancelled.^[10]^[11] Despite localized flooding, the rain from Barry was beneficial as it affected a prolonged drought in Alabama.^[12] Elsewhere, the remnants of Barry dropped 1-3 inches (25-76 mm) of rain across, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri.^[13] In St Louis, Missouri, the outer rainbands of Barry produced a 71 mph wind gust which caused minor tree damage. ^[14] In Greene County,Missouri, another thunderstorm embedded in Barry's rainbands blew a tree onto a house causing $10,000 dollars (2002 USD) in damage. ^[15] In Tennessee, Barry's remnants produced a ball lightning that damaged a tree and injured two people. ^[16] A day later lighting from Barry destroyed a storage building which resulted in $5,000 dollars (2001 USD) in damage. ^[17] In Wilson County,Tennessee a thunderstorm embedded in Barry's rain bands produced gale force winds that damaged trees and knocked part of a building onto a car. There were no deaths or injuries. ^[18] In Georgia, several trees were blown down and there were $5,000 dollars (2001 USD) in damage. ^[19] In Illinois, the extratropical remnants of Barry dropped heavy rain that caused minor street flooding. ^[20]

In all, Barry left nine fatalities and $30 million (2001 USD, $33 million 2005 USD). Because the damage was moderate, the World Meteorological Organization did not retire the name Barry, so it is on the list for the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season.