Tropical Storm Chris (1988)
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| tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Tropical Storm Chris east of Florida. |
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| Formed | August 21, 1988 | |
| Dissipated | August 30, 1988 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 1006 mbar (hPa; 29.72 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 4 direct | |
| Damage | $1.5 million (1988 USD) $3 million (2008 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
Leeward Islands, Hispanola, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New England | |
| Part of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Chris was a weak tropical storm that made landfall in Georgia during the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season. The third storm of the season, Chris was one of five Atlantic storms in a year to make landfall on the United States coastline. Chris formed as a tropical depression in the central Atlantic Ocean on August 21 and did not reach tropical storm strength until August 28. Chris reached a peak intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a low pressure of 1006 millibars before weakening and hitting Georgia.
Chris dropped light rainfall along its path, and its winds were minimal. The rainfall killed three people in Puerto Rico and a tornado killed one in South Carolina. Overall, Chris left $1.5 million (1988 USD, $2.4 million 2005 USD) in damage.
Contents |
[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 15 where it became a tropical depression on the 21st, halfway between Africa and the eastern Caribbean. However, despite 13 separate flights conducted by the National Hurricane Center, the depression did not reach tropical storm strength as it crossed over the northern Leeward Islands and Hispanola. On August 28, a hurricane hunter plane detected a closed area of circulation and sustained winds of 46 mph (74 km/h). That prompted forecasters to upgrade the depression to tropical storm status.[1]
However, Chris maintained tropical storm status of 12 hours as the forward acceleration of the storm caused it to weaken as it made landfall near Savannah, Georgia. Chris then crossed over the East Coast of the United States before becoming extratropical on the 30th. [1] [2]
[edit] Preparations
In preparation of the tropical depression, officials in Puerto Rico closed public schools and sent federal workers home early.[3] Forecasters issued a tropical storm watch from South Carolina to the Outer Banks at 1000 UTC. Hours later the watches were changed to warnings and were extended for Savannah, Georgia. [1]
[edit] Impact
[edit] Leeward Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Winds up to 35 mph (56 km/h) were reported in the Leeward Islands, there were no reports of damage or injuries.[2] In the United States Virgin Islands, the depression dropped 1 inch (2.5 cm) of rain. Chris also dropped over 7-10 inches (17.9-25.4 cm) of rain over Puerto Rico, the highest was 14.5 inches (35.6 cm) in Hacienda Constanza. There were three fatalities in Puerto Rico, mainly from flooding. [4] [5]
[edit] Hispanola and Bahamas
Hispanola received heavy rain and 35 mph (56 km/h) winds but no deaths or damage was reported. In the Bahamas, the storm brought winds of 35 mph (56 km/h) but left no damage. [6] [2]
[edit] United States
In Florida, the outer bands of Chris produced 1-3 inches of rain. There were no reports of damage in Florida.[4] In Georgia, Chris produced 43 mph (69 km/h) sustained winds with a gust reaching up to 49 mph (80 km/h). Several other locations reported 17-35 mph (28-56 km/h) winds. [7] In South Carolina, the storm dropped over 2-3 inches of rain and spawned a tornado that caused one fatality , one injury and destroyed several mobile homes. Chris also produced tide levels of 0.5-1 feet (0.1-0.5 meters) above normal and 22-26 mph (35-43 km/h) winds were reported while winds of 44 mph (71 km/h) were reported near Charleston, South Carolina. The winds left 18,000 South Carolina residents without power.[8] In North Carolina, the storm produced rainfall of 2-4 inches (50-100 mm) and sustained winds of 16-23 mph (30-43 km/h), with gusts reaching 32 mph (52 km/h). Damage in North Carolina occurred from tornadoes that hit west of Statesville in Iredell County. [5] [7] In the Northeastern United States, the remnants of Chris dropped 1-5 inches (2.5-12.7 cm) of rain across Pennsylvania and New York. In Maine, high winds from the storm damaged power lines that left 10,000 people without electricity. The storm also damaged four houses and several automobiles near Crystal Lake.[4] [9] In all the storm left $1.5 million dollars (1988 USD, $2.4 million 2005 USD) in damage in the United States.
[edit] Canada
The extratropical remnants of Chris dropped heavy rains and produced winds of 25-30 mph (40-48 km/h). There were no reports of damage.[2] [10]
Because the damage was minimal as the result of Chris, the name was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 1989. It is currently on the list of names for the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c NOAA (1988) NHC Report on ChrisNational Hurricane Center URL Accessed: August 15, 2006
- ^ a b c d Weather Underground (2006)1988 Archive URL Accessed: August 15, 2006
- ^ United Press International. Tropical Depression is Heading Towards Florida. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b c HPC (1988) HPC Report on Chris URL Accessed: August 15, 2006
- ^ a b NOAA (1988) NHC Report on Chris National Hurricane Center URL Accessed: August 15, 2006
- ^ Longshore, David. Encyclopedia of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones. Facts on File (1998) ISBN 0-8160-3398-6, 168
- ^ a b NOAA (1988) NHC Report on Chris National Hurricane Center URL Accessed: August 15, 2006
- ^ Associated Press Chris Leaves 1 dead in South CarolinaThe Post Standard (August 29, 1988) URL Accessed:October 2, 2006
- ^ Unknown Hurricanes Affecting Maine URL Accessed: August 16, 2006
- ^ Canadian Hurricane Centre (2006) CHC Report on Chris URL Accessed: August 16, 2006
