Tropical Storm Debra (1978)

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Map key
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Debra originated in an upper-level cold-core low pressure system that developed over southwestern Florida in late August 1978. The low moved southwest towards the Yucatán Peninsula over the next day, as a tropical wave drifted westwards from the Caribbean Sea. [1] The interaction between the upper-level system and the wave led to the formation of a tropical depression on August 26 around 460 miles (740 km) south of New Orleans. [1] [2]

At first the depression drifted westward but, as the western periphery of a high-pressure area weakened, it tracked towards the north and slowly strengthened. After a reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) on August 28, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Debra. The aircraft also recorded a minimum pressure of 1002 mbar (hPa; 29.59 inHg). [1] [2] [3] While Debra approached the coast of Louisiana, an additional flight into the system found a drop in surface pressure to 1000 mbar (hPa; 29.53 inHg), as well as peak winds of approximately 60 mph (100 km/h) at 00:00  GMT on August 29. [1] [2] [4] Observation stations off the coast recorded sustained winds of 45–50 mph (70–80 km/h) on August 28, as Debra passed 150 miles (240 km) to the west. [2] [3] [4]

The storm made landfall between Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, on August 28. [4] Two stations recorded surface pressures of 1002 mbar (hPa; (29.59 inHg)). [3] As Debra moved north-northeast through Louisiana and Arkansas, the central pressure rose slightly. In south central Arkansas the residual low pressure system merged with a frontal trough on August 29; the frontal wave drifted into southern Illinois and traveled eastbound into the Ohio Valley for the next three days. [2] [4] Five tornadoes were reported from the system in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi shortly after Debra's landfall. [note 1]

Preparations and impact

Rainfall amounts caused by Tropical Storm Debra Debra 1978 rainfall.png
Rainfall amounts caused by Tropical Storm Debra

Louisiana

A flash flood watch was issued in advance of Debra for the whole of Louisiana. [11] ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, and other oil companies shut down operations and evacuated about 1,000 employees from offshore oil rigs in Texas and Louisiana. [12] [13] Despite these evacuations, a 15-foot (4.6 m) wave killed a person at a rig 80 miles (130 km) offshore from Cameron. [14] [15] Three evacuation centers in Lake Charles, were set up to help those needing shelter and departing the Cameron area, [16] and the Red Cross opened four shelters at the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools. [12] In Louisiana, more than six thousand people were evacuated from Cameron Parish, [17] [18] as well as an undetermined number from Vermilion Parish. [1]

Louisiana had moderate flooding, especially in Rapides Parish. [19] Rainfall amounted to 6 inches (15 cm) at Lake Charles and Lafayette, 3 inches (7.6 cm) at Shreveport, and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) at Monroe. [20] Flash flood warnings were issued during the storm for Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee. [21] By dawn on August 29, all rainwater had receded from the streets and tides were back to normal levels. [20]

A confirmed tornado at the Ike settlement in Vernon Parish, knocked over a trailer. [4] [17] The greatest amount of rainfall caused by Debra, 10.81 in (275 mm), was recorded in Freshwater Bayou Lock. [2] [22] More than 6 in (150 mm) was recorded across Louisiana, [2] [4] [23] and tides between Atchafalaya Bay and Vermilion Bay were 5.7 ft (1.7 m) above normal. [2] [4] At Grand Chenier, a wind gust of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) was recorded, [15] [16] and there were reports of downed trees and damage to roofs in Lake Charles and New Orleans. [13] Tides at Lake Pontchartrain were 2 feet (0.61 m) to 3 feet (0.91 m) above normal. [24]

Elsewhere

Gale warnings were prompted from Galveston, Texas, through to Grand Isle, Louisiana, at 18:00 GMT on August 28. [1] [25] A confirmed tornado in Hardin County, Texas, [26] damaged a trailer home and power lines. More than 6 inches (150 mm) of rainfall was recorded within Texas [4] and 7 inches (180 mm) in the Beaumont    Port Arthur area caused minor street flooding. [14] [19] Tides were 1 ft (0.30 m) above normal at Corpus Christi, while tides at Galveston were 2.2 ft (0.67 m) above normal. [2] [4]

A tornado spawned in Turkey Creek, Mississippi, destroyed three mobile homes and a house, killing one person and seriously injuring another; this tornado tracked on to Crystal Springs, Mississippi. [27] [28] Many rice stands were knocked over because of the gusts of wind from Tropical Storm Debra. [29] Rainfall of more than 6 in (15 cm) was recorded in locations across Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois. [2] [4] [15] Tornadoes were reported in Memphis, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; Starkville, Springdale, Cedarbluff and Flora in Mississippi; Livingston and Ascension parishes [30] and north Lafayette in Louisiana. [11] [31] One person was hurt in the Memphis tornado. [31] Power was knocked out at four blocks of the Memphis International Airport, [31] gas supplies were cut off in Memphis, and downed trees and power poles blocked many streets. [31] Overall damage caused by Debra was minimal. [17] [32]

See also

Notes

Footnotes

  1. Tornadoes were confirmed in Texas, [4] [5] [6] Louisiana, [4] [7] Mississippi, [4] [8] Arkansas, [9] and Tennessee. [10]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pelisser, Joseph M. (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 1. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Lawrence, Miles B. (1979-01-29). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1978". Monthly Weather Review. American Meteorological Society. 107 (April 1979): 482–483. Bibcode:1979MWRv..107..477L. doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<0477:AHSO>2.0.CO;2 . ISSN   1520-0493.
  3. 1 2 3 "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1978. p. 4. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pelisser, Joseph M. (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  5. "Tornado Climatology for Southeast Texas & Southwest Louisiana" (PDF). National Weather Service Central Region Headquarters. NWS Central Region Headquarters. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  6. "Tornado History Project: 19780828.48.128". Storm Prediction Center . Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  7. "Tornado History Project: 19780828.22.14". Storm Prediction Center . Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  8. "Tornado History Project: 19780829.28.10". Storm Prediction Center . Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  9. "Tornado History Project: 19780829.5.35". Storm Prediction Center . Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  10. "Tornado History Project: 19780829.47.7". Storm Prediction Center . Tornado History Project. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  11. 1 2 "Local Statement Number 2". National Weather Service New Orleans, Louisiana. National Weather Service . Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  12. 1 2 "Tropical Storm Debra Brings Battening Down". Sarasota Herald-Tribune . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  13. 1 2 "Storm Hits Louisiana". Spokane Daily Chronicle . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  14. 1 2 "Tropical storm zeros in on Louisiana coast". St. Petersburg Times . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  15. 1 2 3 Pelisser, Joseph M. (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 3. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  16. 1 2 "Tropical storm slams into Texas, Louisiana". St. Petersburg Times . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  17. 1 2 3 "Tropical Storm Debra Headed For Arkansas". The Evening Independent . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  18. "Nation's weather". Daily News . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  19. 1 2 "Tropical Storm Debra Weakens, Moves Inland". Toledo Blade . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  20. 1 2 "Debra brings threat of tornadoes, floods". Daily Union . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  21. "'Debra' makes devastating exit". Bangor Daily News . 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  22. Roth, David. "Tropical Storm Debra 1978". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center . Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  23. "Debra Produces Tornadoes, Rain". The Victoria Advocate . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  24. "Local Statement Number 4". National Weather Service New Orleans, Louisiana. National Weather Service . Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  25. "Local Statement Number 6". National Hurricane Center tropical cyclone reports. National Hurricane Center . Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  26. "Preliminary Storm Report – Tropical Storm Debra 930AM CDT TUE AUG 29 1978". National Weather Service . National Weather Service . Retrieved 2011-07-17.
  27. "Debra Spawns Tornadoes: 1 Killed, Dozens Hurt". The News-Dispatch . 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  28. "Debra lumbers inland, causes minor flooding". The Deseret News . 1978-08-29. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  29. "Mississippi Weather & Crop Report 1969-1978" (PDF). National Agricultural Statistics Service . United States Department of Agriculture. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-24. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  30. "TORNADO WARNING – WFUS2 RWSB 999999". National Weather Service Baton Rouge, Louisiana. National Weather Service.
  31. 1 2 3 4 "Woman dies; Elvis Boulevard hit: Spent Debra sends tornadoes through South". Eugene Register-Guard . 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  32. "In the aftermath of Debra". St. Petersburg Times . 1978-08-30. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
Tropical Storm Debra
DebraAugust281978afternoon.gif
Tropical Storm Debra making its landfall on August 28.

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