Tropical Storm Harvey (1999)
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Tropical Storm Harvey nearing landfall. |
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| Formed | September 19, 1999 | |
| Dissipated | September 22, 1999 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 994 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $15 million (1999 USD) $17.6 million (2006 USD) |
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| Fatalities | None reported | |
| Areas affected |
Florida, Atlantic Canada | |
| Part of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Harvey was a moderately strong tropical storm that caused extensive flooding across south Florida during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. The eleventh named storm of the season and the first of two tropical cyclones to make landfall in Florida in 1999, Harvey moved eastward before making landfall as a 60 mph (97 km/h) tropical storm. The flooding that resulted from Harvey left $15 million dollars (1999 USD, $17.6 million (2006 USD) in damage in South Florida but there were no deaths. The remnants of Harvey also affected Atlantic Canada.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave which later became Harvey formed of the coast of Africa on September 4. The wave then moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean where the outflow of Hurricane Floyd prevented the system from becoming a tropical depression. By September 16, the outflow from Floyd abaded as the storm turned northwest. This allowed the tropical wave to organize over the western Caribbean Sea and satellite observations indicated a broad area of circulation forming. [1]
For two days, the system drifted northward and by September 18, the center of circulation was over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The next day, the deep convection in the storm was increasing and a buoy reported sustained winds of 35 mph which later prompted National Hurricane Center officials to upgrade the system to tropical depression status at 0600 UTC. At the time of upgrade, the storm was centered 300 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, Florida. [1]
Westerly wind shear disrupted the storms center of circulation. As a result, the center was relocated to the northwest of the deep convection. In addition, the wind shear allowed dry air to enter the storm. Despite this, the storm did not weaken and reached a peak intensity of 60 mph and a low barometric pressure of 999 millibars before making landfall near Everglades City, Florida on September 21. Hours later the center of Harvey became disorganized and was absorbed by a nearby extratropical cyclone near South Carolina. The remnants of Harvey then merged with another extratropical storm on September 22. [1]
[edit] Preparations
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service began issuing advisories on September 19. At 11 p.m. EST, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch that extended from Bonita Beach to Suwannee River, Florida. [2] On September 20, the tropical storm watch was changed to a tropical storm warning as Harvey moved closer. Later the warning area was extended to include Cape Sable, Florida to the north and areas west of Florida City to the south.[3][4][5]Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center forecasted that Harvey's path will cross southern Florida and move up the East Coast of the United States and bring heavy rains to North Carolina which was hard hit by flooding from Hurricane Floyd days earlier. In anticipation of for Harvey's impact, Governor Jeb Bush put 56 counties in Florida under a state of emergency. In addition, schools in Collier County, Lee County and Fort Myers were closed due to the threat of street flooding. In Tampa, voluntary evacuations were called and residents living in mobile homes and low lying areas left for storm shelters. [6]
[edit] Impact
[edit] Florida
A wind speed of 37 mph (59 km/h) was recorded in Key West, Florida, the rest of the Florida Keys reported a storm surge of 1 foot (0.3 meters) and winds up to 54 mph (87 km/h). A wind gauge at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant reported winds of 53 mph (85 km/h) while Dade County reported winds gusting up to 55 mph (89 km/h). Harvey dropped 10.5 inches (254 mm) of rain across Collier County, Florida. Rainfall of 5.53-6.72 inches (127-152.4 mm) were reported in Immokalee and Everglades City with some areas. The heavy rain caused isolated street flooding in Lee County and two houses in Bonita Springs sustained flood damage. Harvey also produced a storm surge of 2-3 feet along the south Florida coast. The storm surge caused coastal flooding near Everglades City. In Escambia County, minor coastal flooding was reported near Highway 399 as the tropical storm caused tides to rise 2.6 feet above normal. In addition, the tropical storm spawned two weak tornadoes, one of which did minimal damage. Overall, Harvey left $15 million dollars (1999 USD) in damage in South Florida.[1][7][8]
[edit] Bahamas and Eastern North America
In the northern Bahamas, heavy rain from Harvey's remnants caused minor flooding.[9] In Georgia, the outer bands of Harvey dropped 1 inch of rain. In addition to the rainfall, the remnants dropped hail measuring 1-1.75 inches (25.4 mm) in diameter. Lightning from Harvey caused $150,000 dollars (1999 USD) in damage to two houses. [10][11][12][13] In Cobb County, Georgia, a thunderstorm embedded in Harvey's rain bands produced winds up to 78 mph (126 km/h). Elsewhere in Georgia, more thunderstorms caused tree damage totaling $18,000 (1999 USD) and one injury.[14][15][16][17] In South Carolina, heavy rain from Harvey caused reported flash floods in Camden County. Elsewhere in South Carolina, the storm dropped dime sized hail in Oconee County. [18][19] In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the remnants of Harvey dropped 9.8-11.9 inches (250-302 mm) of rain. In Labrador rainfall up to 3.9 inches (100 mm) was also reported. [20]
[edit] Lack of Retirement
Because the damage from Harvey was minimal the name was not retired. It was re-used again in 2005 and is on the list of for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Guiney, John L. NHC Report on Harvey National Hurricane Center URL Accessed: September 8, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (1999)NHC Advisory on Harvey URL Accessed: September 11, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (1999) NHC Advisory on Harvey URL Accessed: September 11, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (1999) NHC Advisory on Harvey URL Accessed: September 11, 2006
- ^ National Hurricane Center (1999)NHC Advisory on Harvey URL Accessed: September 11, 2006
- ^ Shaw, Karen Tropical Storm Churns Closer to Florida The Associated Press URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Florida Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Florida Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ Commonwealth of the Bahamas Bahamas Hurricane History URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ HPC (1999) HPC Report on Harvey URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) Georgia Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) South Carolina Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ NCDC (1999) South Carolina Event Details URL Accessed: September 12, 2006
- ^ Canadian Hurricane Centre (1999) CHC Report on Harvey URL Accessed: September 28, 2006
