| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Chantal making landfall on August 1. | |
| Formed | July 30, 1989 |
| Dissipated | August 4, 1989 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 984 mbar (hPa; 29.06 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 13 direct |
| Damage | $100 million (1989 USD) |
| Areas affected | Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Midwestern United States |
| Part of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Chantal was one of three tropical cyclones to make landfall in Texas during the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season. The third named storm and the first hurricane of the season, Chantal slowly developed on July 30 in the southern Gulf of Mexico from a tropical disturbance that was previously within Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) while near Trinidad and Tobago. While heading north-northwestward, the depression steadily intensified and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Chantal on the following day. Thereafter, Chantal became to quickly strengthen and became a hurricane on August 1. After intensifying slightly further, Chantal made landfall near High Island, Texas later on that day. The storm quickly weakened upon moving inland and weakened to a tropical storm a few hours after landfall. Early on August 2, Chantal weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated over Oklahoma by August 4.
While making landfall in Texas, the storm produced relatively small tides, with most locations reporting waves less than 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. As a result, some locations experienced extensive beach erosion. In addition, there were numerous rescues made by the U.S. Coast Guard. Due to both rainfall and high winds at least 3,000 homes were damaged, and numerous trees and sign were knocked down. Two tornadoes were reported, with one causing the destruction of a shed in Crystal Beach, Texas, and the other knocking over several trees and mobile homes in Iota, Louisiana. Elsewhere, Chantal and its remnants brought light to moderate rainfall to several other states, although affects were minor in other states. Overall, 13 fatalities occurred, all of which due to drowning, and at least $100 million (1989 USD) in damage was reported.
Contents |
The origins of Hurricane Chantal can be tracked back to a tropical disturbance within the Intertropical Convergence Zone near Trinidad and Tobago on July 24. The system crossed westward over the Caribbean Sea, and there were no signs of organization until July 27 near the coast of Honduras. Despite the predictions for slow development from the tropical weather lookouts, it was possible that the system developed a surface low center near Belize City, Belize late on July 28. After the system moved inland over the Yucatán Peninsula, it became disorganized, although the National Hurricane Center indicated in the tropical weather outlook that once it moved into the Gulf of Mexico there was potential for development. Although the outflow of the system had appeared impressive on satellite images, the potential for development seemed uncertain, mostly due to the close proximity to land. The storm quickly became better organized based on satellite data and ship reports.[1]
Almost immediately after emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on July 30, the cloud pattern of system quickly became better organized. Later after emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, ships and satellite images confirmed that Tropical Depression Four had formed offshore of the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula; although it was likely that the depression formed 80 miles (129 km) north of the Yucatán Peninsula several hours earlier than confirmed.[1][2] The following morning after development occurred, the depression had intensified into a tropical storm 575 miles (920 km) southeast of Texas; the National Hurricane Center assigned it to the name Chantal.[1] Although it became a tropical storm early that morning, the system was not upgraded to a tropical storm until reconnaissance flight confirmed tropical storm force winds about six hours later, when sustained winds were already 50 mph (85 km/h). Tropical Storm Chantal rapidly strengthened thereafter, with the National Hurricane Center satellites using the Dvorak technique to indicate t-numbers range from 2.5 to 3.5 within just twelve hours. Chantal continued to intensify, and headed northwestward at 11 mph (18 km/h) due to weak ridging over Florida.[3]
Later on July 31, satellite imagery revealed better organization, and another reconnaissance flight found winds at 91 mph (151 km/h) while flying at 1500 feet (457 m). Based on these discoveries, it was estimated that Chantal had intensified into a hurricane early on August 1. Hurricane Chantal continued to intensify, slightly, and attained its peak intensity on August 1 at 1000 UTC, reaching maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 986 millibars. Only three hours thereafter, Hurricane Chantal made landfall near High Island, Texas with winds still at 80 mph (130 km/h). After landfall, Chantal rapidly weakened to a tropical storm just five hours after landfall, and quickly degenerating to tropical depression early on August 2. Tropical Depression continued its course and eventually dissipated over western Oklahoma on August 3. The remnants of Chantal then moved northward over the Great Plains and was tracked northward over New York, eventually reaching New England [3] and Newfoundland just before Hurricane Dean approached.[4]
Preparations for Hurricane Chantal began on July 31 at 1000 UTC, starting with a tropical storm watch being issued from Port O'Connor, Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River, meaning that tropical storm force winds were possible within 48 hours. Three hours thereafter, a hurricane warning was issued from Freeport, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana, signifying that hurricane force winds were likely in 24 hours or less. Simultaneous to the hurricane warning, a tropical storm warning was put into effect from Port O'Connor, Texas to Mobile, Alabama,significantly overlapping the existing hurricane warning.
Chantal produced an 82 mph (132 km/h) wind gust in Galveston and dropped 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 cm) of rain across eastern and southern Texas. Rainfall produced by Chantal in the city of Houston alone varied extensively, with 7.14 inches (181 mm) at William P. Hobby Airport after twenty-four hours, and only 1.21 inches (31 mm) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (then known as Houston Intercontinental Airport) in the same time lapse. Rainfall from Hurricane Chantal had peaked at 20 inches (508 mm) in Friendswood, Texas, although the measurement was unofficial. The highest "official" rainfall from Hurricane Chantal was recorded in Clear Lake, Texas at 16 inches (406 mm).[4]
Waves of seven feet (two m) in height were reported on High Island during Hurricane Chantal, while Kemah, Texas measured tides of 3.8 feet (1.1 m), and the Galveston Flagship pier reported 3.5 feet (one m). There was extensive beach erosion across the upper Texas coast and heavy rainfall well inland.[2][4] About 3,000 homes sustained wind or water damages and numerous trees and signs were knocked down by the storm. In addition, one tornado had touched down on Crystal Beach, Texas, completely destroying a boat shed. Two people in Texas drowned when their raft overturned during the floods and several motorists were stranded in the floodwaters.[4]
One fatality was reported during an oil rig evacuation. Ten other people perished when a lifeboat capsized south of Morgan City, Louisiana. Four others on the boat were rescued by the United States Coast Guard.
While moving inland, Chantal produced severe weather from Nebraska to the Great Lakes region. About three in (75 mm) of rain was reported in Nebraska while hail and 75 mph (120 km/h) wind gusts were reported in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Chicago, about three in (75 mm) of rain fell in just three hours causing isolated street flooding. The damage in the Midwest was minimal and there were no reported injuries or deaths.
