| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Andrew off the East Coast of the United States on June 6. | |
| Formed | June 5, 1986 |
| Dissipated | June 8, 1986 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 50 mph (85 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 999 mbar (hPa; 29.5 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 1 direct, 49 indirect |
| Areas affected | Jamaica, North Carolina |
| Part of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Andrew was a small, moderate tropical storm that formed in early June 1986. The first named storm of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season, Andrew developed from a large, northward bound area of disturbed weather. Although it reached its peak intensity as a tropical storm, the initial depression was subtropical. After being named, Andrew briefly threatened the Carolinas before recurving out to sea at a forward speed of 23 mph (37 km/h), being absorbed by an area of low pressure over east Canada.
Despite moving in close proximity to Cape Hatteras, no reports of storm conditions were received, largely due to the highest concentration of activity being on the east side of the storm. The storm was responsible for one death due to undertow while active. However, the area of disturbed weather that ultimately developed into Andrew was responsible for landslides and flooding that claimed 49 lives in Jamaica. With a total of 50 deaths, both direct and indirect, Andrew was the deadliest storm of the season. Despite the death toll, there is no known damage total from the storm.
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In early June, a large area of disturbed weather persisted over the Greater Antilles, bringing heavy rains to the islands. The area moved northward until, on June 5, satellite imagery showed a circulation developing over the Bahamas. Observations from the islands indicated that a depression had formed, and upper-level winds nearby indicated cyclonic flow, a characteristic typical of subtropical cyclones.[1] As a result, the system was determined to have become a subtropical depression early that day.[2] The depression continued generally northward, eventually turning to the northwest and strengthening into a tropical storm on June 6 while 258 mi (415 km) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.[1]
After being named, the tropical storm moved closer towards the South Carolina coast, eventually coming within 115 mi (185 km) of making landfall before recurving to the northeast on June 7. The storm moved in close range to Cape Hatteras while recurving, coming closer to landfall there, at 69 mi (111 km) away, than it did near South Carolina. During the period when it threatened the East Coast of the United States, the storm had sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a pressure of 999 mbar. The storm accelerated to the northeast, briefly crossing into the forecasting territory of Environment Canada, the first of three storms of the season to do so,[3] before ultimately being absorbed by a low pressure system over Canada on June 8.[1]
While active, Andrew posed a threat to the Carolinas. Gale warnings were posted from an area ranging from Cape Lookout to south of Virginia Beach, Virginia on June 7.[4] Probability charts showing possible locations Andrew could pass near gave the highest probabilities to Cape Hatteras and Morehead City at 40% and 30% respectively. In South Carolina, Myrtle Beach and Charleston had 28% and 21% respectively. Outside the Carolinas, the only locations to have probabilities 10% or higher were Savannah, Georgia at 15%, Norfolk, Virginia at 14%, Ocean City, Maryland at 11%, and Sable Island at 10%.[5] The main threat expected from the tropical storm was heavy waves.[6]
While off the Carolina coast, the storm triggered waves of 6-foot (1.8 m) to 8-foot (2.4 m), sometimes as high as 12-foot (3.7 m); the most that any location on land experienced from the storm.[7][8] South Carolina also reported slight rains associated with the storm, but little else.[6] The storm also caused undertow, which claimed its only life as tropical storm when a swimmer, Jeanne Doane, was swept into the ocean at Ocracoke Island. Three companions were also swept out, all of whom made it back to shore. An additional sixteen swimmers at Wrightsville Beach were reported as getting caught in the currents, two of which ended up having to be treated at Cape Fear Memorial Hospital and were later discharged. All of the swimmers were rescued. Carolina Beach also recorded that twenty-five to thirty others were rescued there, with two being hospitalized when their lungs contracted water.[9] Unusually, despite gale warnings being in place, no reports of sustained winds of that strength were received by the National Hurricane Center, due to the majority of high winds and rain being concentrated on the east side of the circulation.[1]
While the storm did not affect Jamaica while active, the precursor disturbance to Andrew brought heavy rains to the island, causing landslides and flooding. A total of 49 people were reported to have been killed by the disturbance, and more were driven from their homes by the flooding. A total of one thousand people had to be evacuated from the storm.[10] Heavy rains also caused the disruption of many water supplies across the island. The damaged water supplies also caused contamination in Westmoreland, Clarendon, and locations in St. Catherine. The hardest hit area for pollution was St. Mary, which had cases of typhoid due to contaminated water. Lightning was responsible for causing problems for power supplies and power lines and poles were reported destroyed. Some utility stations around the island were either flooded, broken, and in one case, damaged by lightning. Other utilities, including transport, sewage, and communications were also affected, but to less of an extent.[11]
With a total of 50 deaths caused by the cyclone, Andrew was the deadliest named storm of the season.[9][10] This was the first time that an Atlantic tropical cyclone was named Andrew, following the retirement of Allen.[12]
