Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | August 21,2023 |
Dissipated | August 23,2023 |
Tropical storm | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 60 mph (95 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 995 mbar (hPa);29.38 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 1 direct |
Missing | 1 |
Damage | $505,000 (2023 USD) |
Areas affected | Southwestern United States,Northern Mexico |
IBTrACS / [1] [2] [3] [4] | |
Part of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season |
Tropical Storm Harold was a moderate tropical storm that made landfall in South Texas in August 2023. The eighth named storm [a] of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season,Harold developed from a tropical wave that entered the Gulf of Mexico on August 20,after passing through the Bahamas and South Florida. The system steadily organized over the following days,over record-warm sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf,as it progressed westward. Although the disturbance had not become organized enough to become a tropical cyclone yet,due to the threat it posed to southern Texas,the United States –based National Hurricane Center (NHC) initiated advisories on the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine on August 21. The disturbance organized into a tropical depression six hours later,before strengthening into a tropical storm the following morning and receiving the name Harold. Harold continued to strengthen as it moved quickly westward,and the cyclone made landfall on Padre Island,Texas,around 15:00 UTC [b] on August 22,as a 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm. Harold quickly weakened as it moved inland over southern Texas and dissipated on August 23,though its remnant mid-level circulation and associated moisture affected the central United States for several more days.
Harold led to severe wind gusts and significant rainfall as it struck Texas. Corpus Christi reported 5.25 in (133 mm) of rain from Harold,including a daily record of 4.74 in (120 mm) on August 22;similarly significant rainfall was reported in northern Mexico,peaking at 4 in (100 mm) in Piedras Negras in the state of Coahuila. A modest storm surge of up to 2.2 ft (0.67 m) was reported at San Luis Pass. Wind gusts of up to 67 mph (108 km/h) affected the area,and over 35,000 electricity customers lost power during the storm. One school district in Texas had to shut down for several days following the storm due to the damage Harold inflicted on its classrooms. The remnants of Harold affected the southwestern United States for several days,producing flash flooding that killed one person and left another missing in Nevada. Overall damage from Harold was minor in most areas,however,totaling to around $505,000 (2023 USD).
Harold developed from a tropical wave that left the west coast of Africa sometime between August 8–10. The wave crossed the tropical Atlantic Ocean over the next week. Convection increased over the northern part of the wave on August 17, to the north of the Dominican Republic. [1] : 2 [5] The disturbance progressed westward, passing through The Bahamas [6] and southern Florida over the following days, [7] entering the Gulf of Mexico the morning of August 20. [8] The developing system became better organized as it crossed the Gulf, but lacked sufficient organization to be deemed a tropical cyclone by late on August 21. Despite this, due to the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) expectation that the system would strengthen into a tropical storm and strike the Texas coast the next day, advisories were initiated on the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine at 15:00 UTC on August 21. [9] About three hours after being designated a potential tropical cyclone, the system acquired a closed, well-defined circulation; it thus met the criteria of a tropical cyclone and became the ninth tropical depression of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season at 18:00 UTC that day. [1] : 2
The newly formed cyclone continued to become better organized as it moved more quickly westward toward the Texas coast, steered by a mid-level ridge to its north. The depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Harold at 6:00 UTC on August 22, as the broad cyclone's rain bands began to move onshore. [10] Shortly before landfall, Harold's center reformed to the north of its previous position, and the storm strengthened further to achieve its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) [11] and a minimum barometric pressure of 996 millibars. [12] Harold made landfall on Padre Island, Texas by 15:00 UTC at peak intensity. [13] Harold weakened quickly as it moved inland, dropping back to tropical depression status about six hours later, at which time the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) took over responsibility for issuing advisories on the storm from the NHC. [14] Late that day, Tropical Depression Harold crossed into northern Mexico and continued to steadily weaken. [15] The WPC issued its final advisory on Harold at 15:00 UTC on August 23 as its surface low became increasingly ill-defined and dissipated far inland over Mexico. [16] The depression finally degenerated to a remnant low over the Big Bend region of Texas that day, dissipating shortly thereafter. [1] : 2
On August 21, upon Harold's precursor's designation as a potential tropical cyclone, a tropical storm warning was issued for much of the coast of southern Texas, from the mouth of the Rio Grande river, at the Texas-Mexico border, up to Port O'Connor, placing 1.3 million residents under the tropical storm warning, with rainfall anticipated to reach up to 7 in (180 mm). [17] [18] A Tropical Storm Watch was issued from north of Port O’Connor to Sargent. The Texas Division of Emergency Management, the state government's emergency management division, was deployed ahead of Harold's expected landfall, and the Texas State Emergency Operations Center was activated to Level II that day, indicating "escalated response conditions". [19] Several school districts in multiple communities across the southern Texas coast were closed in advance of the storm for several days. [20] Residents across southern Texas were advised to prepare for the potential for flash flooding and tornadoes. [21]
Harold struck South Texas with strong winds and heavy rain as it moved across the region. A modest storm surge of 1.6–2.2 feet (0.67 m) was reported in areas including Port Lavaca, Galveston Bay, and San Luis Pass. Sustained winds of 36 mph (58 km/h), with stronger gusts of 59 mph (95 km/h), were reported at Corpus Christi International Airport, as well as 3.06 in (78 mm) of rainfall. A peak wind gust of 67 mph (107 km/h) was measured at Loyola Beach, while rainfall peaked at 6.98 in (177 mm) in Orange Grove. [1] : 4 Harold's rains were somewhat beneficial in certain areas of Southern Texas, which was in the midst of a moderate to severe drought before Harold's landfall. [22] Harold dropped a total of 4.74 in (120 mm) of rain in a 24-hour period in Corpus Christi, setting a new daily rainfall record for the city, surpassing the previous record set by the much more powerful Hurricane Bret in 1999. Further, Corpus Christi was originally on track for one of its driest summers on record before Harold's landfall, but following the storm the city's summer rainfall rose above the seasonal average. [23] Total rainfall from Harold reached 5.42 in (138 mm) in Corpus Christi and 5.15 in (131 mm) in Portland. Wind gusts of 65 mph (105 km/h) affected Corpus Christi as well. [24] Two EF0 tornadoes were recorded in the counties of Live Oak and Jim Wells, however they caused minimal damage. [1] : 4
Over 35,000 homes and business lost power due to Harold. [25] The London Independent School District was shut down for several days due to damage sustained during the storm. [26] Floods in Robstown inundated roads; firefighters in Robstown monitored flood-prone streets. [27] Gusty winds caused minor damage across Corpus Christi, mostly limited to downed trees, fences, and light poles. [28] Heavy rain caved in ceiling tiles inside a building owned by the American Legion in Corpus Christi, which had already been damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. [29] Storm surge raised water levels up to 2.6 ft (0.8 m) in Corpus Christi Bay. Storm surge flooding inundated the parking lot of the Art Museum of South Texas, as well as closing multiple roads and turnaround of U.S. Route 181 in the North Beach neighborhood. [30] Storm surge also scattered debris and caused beach erosion on Padre Island. [31] In Kleberg County, tropical storm-force winds downed trees and brought beneficial rainfall to parts of the area. [32] Street flooding also occurred in Kingsville. [33] First responders performed a water rescue near Alfred, after a vehicle attempted to traverse a flooded low-level crossing. [34] Several roads were closed due to flooding in Laredo, including an intersection of Interstate 35. [35] Across Laredo, 15 high water rescues were performed. [36] Overall, damage across Texas totaled $381,000. [2]
As Harold progressed inland, flash flood watches were issued in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. [21] The remnants of Tropical Storm Harold brought rainfall to Colorado, with 0.73 in (19 mm) of rain falling in Denver. The highest rainfall total in the state was 2.49 in (63 mm) in Nathrop. [37] The storm brought the first Atlantic tropical rain in the state in 15 years. [38] The heavy rainfall in Colorado resulted in flash floods and mudflows. The collection of water on the burn scar of the Grizzly Creek Fire resulted in a mudslide that closed a portion of Interstate 70 near Glenwood Springs. [39] Minor flooding occurred in Cortez, which entered a few basements. [40] Flooding also submerged roads and entered basements in De Beque, Marble, and Rifle. Damage across Colorado reached $24,000. [4] [41] [42] Heavy rainfall occurred in New Mexico, reaching a peak amount of 3.3 in (84.6 mm) in La Luz. Multiple locations across the Sacramento Mountains recorded rainfall totals in excess of 2 in (51 mm), as well. [43] A rockslide blocked part of U.S. Route 82 near Mountain Park. [44]
Moisture from Harold, combined with the remnants of Eastern Pacific Hurricane Hilary, also led to rainfall across parts of Arizona and Nevada. [45] The Paria River rose up to 6.6 ft (2 m) above normal late on August 24 in Marble Canyon. [46] The scar from the Schultz Fire and Pipeline Fire resulted in a debris flow that blocked a road near Sunset Crater. [47] Thunderstorms over the Las Vegas Valley resulted in numerous severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings being issued. [48] Only around half an inch (13 mm) of precipitation was observed in most of Las Vegas, although a pump station along Desert Inn Road near the Las Vegas Strip recorded a maximum precipitation amount of 1.34 in (34 mm) within an hour. [49] [50] Despite the overall low amount of rainfall the desert environment of the region led to these rainfall totals having a more significant effect. [49] Flash flooding inundated parts of the Las Vegas Strip. One person drowned in a wash amidst the intense flooding, while another was reported missing. [3] The Harrah's Las Vegas casino suffered damage to ceiling tiles and water leaks. [48] Losses in Nevada reached $100,000. [3] Heavy rainfall was observed in Utah, with rainfall rates in excess of 0.4 in (10 mm) at Mary Jane Canyon in Grand County in 30 minutes. The resultant downstream flooding swept away a woman and her dog, however, both were rescued without injuries. [51] Further east in Nebraska, the remnants of Harold produced heavy rainfall in Cheyenne County, which flooded roads in Sidney, stranding a vehicle in high water. [52]
Moderate rainfall and gusty winds affected portions of the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Nuevo León and Coahuila, although the strongest winds and heaviest flooding remained north of the states. [53] The heaviest rainfall from Harold in Mexico occurred in the city of Piedras Negras in Coahuila, with over 4 in (100 mm) falling within a few hours. [54] Street flooding was reported in Nuevo Laredo. [55]
Hurricane Bret was the first of five Category 4 hurricanes that developed during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season and the first tropical cyclone since Hurricane Jerry in 1989 to make landfall in Texas at hurricane intensity. Forming from a tropical wave on August 18, Bret slowly organized within weak steering currents in the Bay of Campeche. By August 20, the storm began to track northward and underwent rapid intensification on August 21. After this period of strengthening, Bret attained its peak intensity with winds of 145 miles per hour (233 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 944 mbar (hPa; 27.9 inHg). Later that day, the storm weakened to a Category 3 hurricane and made landfall on Padre Island, Texas. Shortly thereafter, the storm weakened further, becoming a tropical depression 24 hours after moving inland. The remnants of the storm eventually dissipated early on August 26 over northern Mexico.
Hurricane Dolly caused flooding throughout Mexico in August 1996. The fourth named storm and third hurricane of the season, Dolly developed from a tropical wave to the west-southwest of Jamaica on August 19. Initially a tropical depression, the system strengthened into a tropical storm about twelve hours later. Dolly headed westward and intensified into a Category 1 hurricane late on August 20. It then made landfall near Chetumal, Quintana Roo. The system weakened to a tropical depression on August 21. Later that day or early on August 22, Dolly emerged into the Bay of Campeche and quickly re-strengthened into a tropical storm. The storm deepened further and was upgraded to a hurricane again by midday on August 23; Dolly simultaneously peaked with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). Around that time, it struck between Tuxpan, Veracruz, and Tampico, Tamaulipas. Dolly quickly weakened to a tropical depression early on August 24, but remained intact while crossing Mexico and dissipated over the eastern Pacific Ocean on August 25.
Tropical Storm Frances caused extensive flooding in Mexico and Texas in September 1998. The sixth tropical cyclone and sixth named storm of the annual hurricane season, Frances developed from a low pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico on September 8. The cyclone moved northward through the western Gulf of Mexico, making landfall across the central Texas coastline before recurving across the Midwest through southeast Canada and New England. A large tropical cyclone for the Atlantic basin, yet an average sized system by western Pacific standards, the storm produced heavy rains across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Texas, western Louisiana and the Great Plains.
Tropical Storm Arlene brought torrential rainfall to the western United States Gulf Coast, particularly to the U.S. state of Texas, in June 1993. The first named storm of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season, Arlene developed from an area of low pressure in the Bay of Campeche on June 18. The depression slowly strengthened as it tracked west-northwestward and later north-northwestward across the western Gulf of Mexico. Arlene was subsequently upgraded to a tropical storm on June 19, but failed to intensify further due to its proximity to land. The cyclone then made landfall on Padre Island, Texas, with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and degenerated into a remnant disturbance on June 21.
Hurricane Erika was a weak hurricane that struck extreme northeastern Mexico near the Texas–Tamaulipas border in mid-August of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Erika was the eighth tropical cyclone, fifth tropical storm, and third hurricane of the season. At first, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) operationally did not designate it as a hurricane because initial data suggested winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) at Erika's peak intensity. It was not until later data was analyzed that the NHC revised the storm to Category 1 intensity in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm developed from a non-tropical area of low pressure that was tracked for five days before developing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on August 14. Under the influence of a high pressure system, Erika moved quickly westward and strengthened under favorable conditions. It made landfall as a hurricane on northeastern Mexico on August 16, and the storm's low-level circulation center dissipated by the next day. However, the storm's mid-level circulation persisted for another three days, emerging into the East Pacific and moving northwestward over Baja California, before dissipating on August 20.
Tropical Storm Grace was a weak tropical storm that struck Texas in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The eleventh tropical depression and the seventh tropical storm of the season, Grace was also the weakest storm of the season. On August 30 the storm developed from a long-track tropical wave in the western Gulf of Mexico. Grace remained disorganized throughout its lifetime due to an upper-level low to its west. The weak storm moved northwestward and made landfall on southeastern Texas. Grace quickly weakened over land, and dissipated on September 2 as it merged into a cold front.
Hurricane Fern was an erratic and damaging Category 1 hurricane which made landfall in southeastern Louisiana and Texas. Fern was the sixth named storm and fourth hurricane of the 1971 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed from a tropical wave which interacted with a large trough of low pressure to form Fern, as well as Hurricane Ginger, Tropical Storm Heidi, and a system later designated as Tropical Depression Sixteen, which moved into South Carolina. Fern crossed southeastern Louisiana as a tropical depression on September 4 before swinging back out over the Gulf of Mexico. Fern reached hurricane status on September 8, reaching a peak intensity of 90 mph (140 km/h) before making landfall near Freeport, Texas, two days later.
Tropical Storm Dean was a short-lived storm that formed in late July 1995 and lasted into early August. It was the fourth named storm of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. It spent most of its life as a tropical depression, and briefly gained tropical storm status before its landfall on the Texas coast on July 30. After landfall, it dissipated over central Texas on August 2. The impacts from Dean were minimal, mainly due to heavy rain in Oklahoma and Texas that caused localized coastal and inland flooding. Two F0 Tornadoes touched down in Texas as a result of Dean's landfall. Also, Twenty families had to be evacuated in Chambers County, due to flooding in the area. One fatality was recorded as a result of flooding in Oklahoma. Several highways were flooded out in Oklahoma, which impeded travel in the state. In addition approximately $500,000 worth of damage was recorded in the aftermath of Dean.
Hurricane Humberto was a Category 1 hurricane that formed and intensified faster than any other North Atlantic tropical cyclone on record, before landfall. The eighth named storm and third hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, Humberto developed on September 12, 2007, in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The tropical cyclone rapidly strengthened and struck High Island, Texas, with winds of about 90 mph (140 km/h) early on September 13. It steadily weakened after moving ashore, and on September 14, Humberto began dissipating over northwestern Georgia as it interacted with an approaching cold front.
Tropical Storm Erin was a minimal tropical storm that made landfall in Texas in August 2007. The storm's remnants also unexpectedly restrengthened over Oklahoma, causing damage there as well. The second tropical cyclone to make landfall in the United States in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season and the fifth named storm of the year, Erin formed in the Gulf of Mexico on August 14 from a persistent area of convection. It attained tropical storm status the next day, and on August 16, 2007, Erin made landfall near Lamar, Texas, and persisted over land across Texas before moving northward into Oklahoma. Due to the brown ocean effect, Erin intensified after landfall. The storm resulted in sixteen fatalities and worsened an already-severe flooding issue in Texas.
Tropical Storm Candy produced minor impact in the state of Texas during the 1968 Atlantic hurricane season. The third tropical cyclone of the annual season, it developed from a tropical disturbance in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on June 22. Gradual strengthening occurred, with the depression becoming Tropical Storm Candy on the following day. The storm reached its peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) later that day and made landfall Port Aransas, Texas on June 23. Candy weakened into a tropical depression only hours after moving inland. However, the system remained a designated cyclone until June 26, at which time it completed extratropical transition over the state of Michigan.
The 1960 Texas tropical storm brought severe but localized flooding to southeastern Texas in June 1960. The first tropical cyclone and first tropical storm of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season, this system developed from an area of showers and thunderstorms in the Bay of Campeche on June 22. Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened and was estimated to have reached tropical storm status on June 23. Early on the following day, the storm peaked with winds of 60 mph (97 km/h). Later that day, it made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, at the same intensity. The storm weakened slowly and moved across the Central United States, before dissipating over Illinois on June 28.
Tropical Storm Imelda was a tropical cyclone which was the fourth-wettest storm on record in the U.S. state of Texas, causing devastating and record-breaking floods in southeast Texas. The eleventh tropical cyclone and ninth named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Imelda formed out of an upper-level low that developed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved westward. Little development occurred until the system was near the Texas coastline, where it rapidly developed into a tropical storm before moving ashore shortly afterward on September 17. Imelda weakened after landfall, but continued bringing large amounts of flooding rain to Texas and Louisiana, before dissipating on September 21.
Tropical Storm Alberto was a broad but short-lived tropical cyclone that affected portions of Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana during June 2024. The first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Alberto originated on June 12 from a broad area of disturbed weather in the Gulf of Mexico. A few days later, a low-pressure area formed from the disturbance, over the Bay of Campeche. It would steadily coalesce, and despite not being a tropical cyclone yet, would be designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone One by the National Hurricane Center on June 17 due to its proximity to the coast. It eventually intensified into a tropical storm two days later, being named Alberto. Its formation marked the latest start to an Atlantic hurricane season since 2014.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service .