Tropical Storm Danielle (1980)
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
.JPG) Tropical Storm Danielle making landfall |
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| Formed | September 4, 1980 | |
| Dissipated | September 7, 1980 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 1004 mbar (hPa; 29.66 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 2 direct | |
| Damage | Unknown | |
| Areas affected |
Texas, western Louisiana | |
| Part of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Danielle was a strong tropical storm that formed in the Gulf of Mexico and dissipated after making landfall in western Texas. The fourth tropical cyclone of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. Danielle formed as a tropical depression off the Louisiana coast on September 4 and moved westward where it reached tropical storm intensity the following day. After reaching a peak intensity of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h/52 kn), Danielle made landfall a few hours later before dissipating on September 7 over central Texas.
Danielle produced heavy rainfall across eastern and central Texas and much of southern Louisiana. A record 17.16 inches (436 mm) of rain was reported near Port Arthur, setting a new 24 hour record.[1] The heavy rainfall resulted in moderate flash flooding and two fatalities Damage estimates from the storm is unknown.
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[edit] Storm history
The origins of Danielle can be traced back to a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 22 and became a tropical depression in the Atlantic Ocean on August 27 before dissipating. The remnants of the depression then interacted with a mid-level low pressure system over southern Florida.[2] As a result a low level circulation developed in the Gulf of Mexico[3] as the combined system moved off Florida on September 2.[2] Organization continued and a tropical depression formed on September 4 off the southeastern Louisiana coast. Moving west-northwest, the depression slowly intensified where it became a tropical storm on September 5 and was named Danielle by the National Hurricane Center.[2]
Danielle was a tropical storm for only 11 hours before making landfall, the winds of Danielle peaked at 60 mph and its barometric pressure fell to 1004 millibars before the storm made landfall near Galveston, Texas. Danielle was then downgraded to tropical depression as the storm moved inland on its westerly track. Danielle then dissipated on September 7 near Del Rio, Texas and the moisture associated with the remnants of the storm continued westward for the next two days.[2]
[edit] Preparations and impact
The National Weather Service forecasted the storm to produce 3 inches (76 mm)-5 inches (130 mm) of rain and issued flash flood watches from Freeport to Sabine Pass.[4] Offshore, an oil rig reported winds of 60 mph with gusts reaching up to 81 miles per hour (130 km/h/70 kn) and a barometric pressure of 1004 millibars (which was the storms overall lowest pressure).[2] In the Gulf of Mexico, rough seas from Danielle caused a maintenance barge to capsize, spilling all 11 crewmen overboard. All but one crewman were rescued by the United States Coast Guard. Danielle also caused a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crashed into the sea due to high winds and lack of fuel. All twelve crew men were rescued.[4] Offshore, a barge encountered winds of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h/50 kn) with gusts up to 92 miles per hour (148 km/h/80 kn) and light rainfall.[2]
Danielle’s effects on southern and eastern Louisiana was minimal. The state received moderate to heavy rainfall[5] the highest rainfall total there was 2.23 inches (57 mm) in Houma.[6] In Texas, a weather station near Port Arthur reported a record 17.16 inches (436 mm) of rainfall for that city.[1] Elsewhere, the town of Nederland reported 18.29 inches (465 mm) of rain.[5] The heavy rainfall caused considerable flash flooding in eastern Texas causing residents to evacuate their homes. Floodwaters also forced the shutdown of Interstate 10.[1] Floodwaters also damaged a sewer system in Roscoe leaving 1,500 residents without running water.[7] In Port Arthur, twelve homes were reported flooded and in Orange County two people were injured in automobile accidents.[4] In Beaumont, one person died in another automobile accident. Danielle also produced tides 2 feet (61 cm)-3 feet (91 cm) above normal and minor beach erosion along the Texas coast and damaged several boats and docks on Lake Buchanan.[1] Elsewhere in Texas, Danielle spawned three tornadoes, one was reported in Alvin another near Galveston which damaged a barn and the third was reported southwest of Houston but did no damage.[8] Two more tornadoes were also reported.[9] After the storm, the American Red Cross opened storm shelters for residents forced out of their homes because of the flooding[8] and President Jimmy Carter also declared eastern Texas a disaster area making the state eligible for federal aid.[10]
The name Danielle was not retired from the list of Atlantic hurricane names in the spring of 1981 and was re-used again for future storms and is currently on the list of Atlantic hurricane names for the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d National Hurricane Center (1980). Tropical Storm Danielle 1980 Report page 2. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- ^ a b c d e f National Hurricane Center (1980). Tropical Storm Danielle Report Page 1. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- ^ Miles B. Lawrence and Joseph M. Pelisser (1981). Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1980. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- ^ a b c Associated Press (1980). Tropical Storm Danielle strikes Texas. Indiana Gazette. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- ^ a b David Roth (2007). HPC Rainfall Data on Danielle. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
- ^ National Hurricane Center (1980). Tropical Storm Danielle Report Page 3. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
- ^ Associated Press (1980). Flooding Closes Sewer System. New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
- ^ a b United Press International (1980). Danielle Spawns Flooding. Syracuse Herald Journal. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
- ^ Tom Grazulis and Bill McCaul (2005). List of Known Tropical Cyclones Which Have Spawned Tornadoes. The Tornado Projet/USRA. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
- ^ Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Danielle. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
