Tropical Storm Helene (2000)
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- For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Helene.
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Helene at its secondary peak intensity |
||
| Formed | September 15, 2000 | |
| Dissipated | September 25, 2000 | |
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 986 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $16 million (2000 USD) $17.8 million (2005 USD) |
|
| Fatalities | 1 direct, 1 indirect | |
| Areas affected |
Southeast United States | |
| Part of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season |
||
Tropical Storm Helene was a strong tropical storm that made landfall in the United States as a minimal tropical storm. The tropical system was the twelfth tropical cyclone and eighth tropical storm of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical Depression Twelve formed east of the Windward Islands on September 15. It weakened, and traveled across the Caribbean. Late on the 19th, it regained tropical depression status, and on the 21st was named Tropical Storm Helene while in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The storm turned north, and made landfall at Fort Walton Beach, Florida on September 22. The system weakened to a tropical depression, but stayed intact as it moved across the southern US and passed over the North Carolina coast and back over water. Helene regained tropical storm strength and headed rapidly east-northeast. It merged with a cold front on the 25th.
One person was directly killed by a tornado generated as the tropical depression moved through South Carolina while another was indirectly killed in a car accident in North Carolina. Flooding up to 9 inches (229 mm) was reported in Tallahassee, Florida. But the maximum rainfall from Helene was 10.32 inches (262 mm) in Apalachicola. Total damage was estimated at $16 million (2000 USD, $17.8 million 2005 USD). President Clinton declared the state of Florida a major disaster area, therefore making nine counties eligible for federal disaster relief.
Contents |
[edit] Storm history
A well-defined tropical wave moved off the African coast on September 10. But shortly after, it lost most of its convection. There were few signs of redevelopment until September 14, when convection formed near the center. Tropical Depression Twelve formed east of the Windward Islands on September 15. But before the reconnaissance planes could fly to the system, it had already lost its closed circulation and degenerated into a tropical wave. Though the area was favorable for redevelopment, Twelve did very little while it traveled through the Caribbean Sea. Late on September 19, another Reconnaissance aircraft discovered a closed circulation just to the northwest of Grand Cayman. It managed to retain what little organization it had when it crossed the western tip of Cuba on September 20. The next day, convection redeveloped and the tropical cyclone was upgraded to Tropical Storm Helene while in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.[1]
The storm turned north, while rapidly strengthening in marginally favorable conditions. Helene attained its first maximum intensity of 70 mph (115 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 996 mbar late on September 21 (CDT, early September 22 UTC). But wind shear picked up and prevented the tropical system from reaching hurricane status. The storm lost most of its deep convection and the heavy rainbands were displaced to the east of the center. Helene weakened even more quickly than it strengthened, going from a 70 mph (115 km/h) tropical storm to a 40 mph (65 km/h) tropical storm in just 12 hours. It made landfall at Fort Walton Beach, Florida around 7 am CDT on September 22,[1] only five days after Hurricane Gordon struck the same general area. Another recent example of two tropical cyclones striking Florida in a short period of time are Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley of 2004. They struck the same area only 22 hours apart. Originally, it was thought that two storms in the 1906 season hit the state within 12 hours,[2] but the suspected tropical storm was downgraded to a tropical depression in more recent analysis.[3]
The system weakened to a tropical depression while moving northeast over the southeastern portion of the United States. The weakened system managed to stay intact as it passed over North Carolina and regained tropical storm strength, while over land.[1] Operationally, the storm was no longer considered a tropical cyclone and was treated as a low-pressure system[4] while passing over North Carolina.[5] Once over the Atlantic, the NHC stated that advisories could be reinitiated because Helene was reacquiring tropical characteristics,[6] but moved over colder waters before they could do so.[7] It was later discovered to have remained tropical and have a closed circulation for far longer. Helene reentered the north Atlantic as a relatively compact storm. It moved away from the East Coast of the United States and reached a peak intensity of 70 mph (115 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 986 mbar. It merged with a cold front on September 25.[1]
[edit] Preparations
Eighteen shelters, including two for people or families with special needs, were opened throughout Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Liberty, and Gadsen counties in the Florida Panhandle.[8] Flights were canceled at Tallahassee's airport and state government offices in the capital city were closed. City buses stopped running during the storm but were back on schedule by early afternoon.[9]
[edit] Impact
Estimates lead us to believe that Helene caused $16 million (2000 USD, $17.8 million 2005 USD) in total economic losses.[10] The highest rainfall measurement recorded to have fallen from Helene was 10.32 inches (262 mm) in Apalachicola. One direct death, one indirect death, and six injuries were also attributed to the storm.
[edit] Florida
Nearly 8 inches (203 mm) of rain caused minor flooding and power outages[11] affecting approximately 5,000 people[9] in Tallahassee, Florida, while over 10 inches (254 mm) of rain swamped Apalachicola. Six or more tornadoes touched down between the two cities, but caused no significant damage as they crossed sparsely populated land.[11]
Six homes across Franklin, Leon, and Wakulla counties in Florida were destroyed, while 17 suffered major damage, and another 65 had minor damage done to them.[12] The Gulf County Division of Emergency Management estimated there was between $100,000 and $300,000 (2000 USD, $111,000 and $333,000 2005 USD) in road damage and beach erosion on the part of a peninsula called Cape San Blas.[9]
[edit] The Carolinas
An F2 tornado ripped through Martin, South Carolina on September 23, directly killing a man in a trailer while he slept and injuring six others in adjacent homes.[1][11] The highest rainfall measurement in South Carolina came from Bamberg, at 9.6 inches (244 mm).[13] Flash flooding also occurred in Aiken County.[14] Downed trees were blocking state Highway 125 in Allendale County, and the county emergency management office reported major damage to five or six mobile homes. Reports from the local weather service say that state Highway 47 was flooded near Elgin and too dangerous to drive on. The weather service also stated that Virginia Avenue was washed out in Barnwell. An indirect fatality occurred from flood related traffic in Berkeley County. A middle-aged woman lost control of her car when she hit a patch of water on the road and the car hit a pine tree.[15]
The southbound lane of U.S. Highway 17 in North Carolina flooded from heavy rain and traffic was detoured south of Shallotte. There were also a few minor washouts on back roads and street flooding in towns.[16]
[edit] Aftermath
On October 3, United States President Bill Clinton declared the state a major disaster area. Therefore, the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, and Wakulla that were affected by Helene were eligible for federal disaster funds. The federal funds are able to pay 75% of the approved cost for debris removal, emergency services related to the storm, and restoring damaged public facilities.[17] As part of the Disaster Relief Operation, clean-up kits were distributed to the flood victims.[18] Bottled water was also delivered the victims of Helene in Franklin County. Five Family Service Outreach Teams were dispatched and were told to go door to door in Leo and Wakulla counties.[19] A total of 700 meals were distributed to various victims of the storm.[20]
[edit] Lack of retirement
Because of the minimal damage that resulted from Helene, the name was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2001. It was used in the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season for a Cape Verde Hurricane.
[edit] See also
- Tropical cyclone
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Florida hurricanes
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000helene.html
- ^ David Royse. "How Rare is Tropical Storm Double Trouble?", Associated Press. Retrieved on May 18.
- ^ HURDAT (2004). HURDAT Re-Analysis (1901-1910). Retrieved on May 18, 2006.
- ^ ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2000/Sep/2000092415.ABNT20
- ^ http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/2000/helene/09230017.html
- ^ ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2000/Sep/2000092415.ABNT20
- ^ ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/Outlook-A/2000/Sep/2000092502.ABNT20
- ^ http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/situation/helene-sr-01.pdf
- ^ a b c http://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/2000/atlantic/whelenefla.htm
- ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/tws/MIATWSAT_nov.html
- ^ a b c http://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/2000/atlantic/whelene.htm
- ^ http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/situation/helene-da-06.pdf
- ^ http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/helene2000.html
- ^ http://www.lscog.org/pdf/aikencountyhmp.pdf
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/2000/atlantic/whelenesc.htm
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/2000/atlantic/whelenenc.htm
- ^ http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=7855
- ^ http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/situation/helene-sr-05.pdf
- ^ http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/situation/helene-sr-06.pdf
- ^ http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/situation/helene-sr-08.pdf
