Tropical Depression Nine (2000)

Infobox Hurricane
Name= Tropical Depression Nine
Type=Tropical depression
Year=2000
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Depression Nine (2000).jpg


Formed=September 8, 2000
Dissipated=September 9, 2000
1-min winds=30
Pressure=1008
Da

Fatalities=None
Areas=Gulf Coast
Hurricane season=2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Depression Nine of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season was a weak tropical cyclone that lightly affected parts of the Gulf Coast. Developing on September 8 from the interaction of a persistent low-level trough and a cluster of convection associated with a tropical wave, the depression reached peak winds of convert|35|mph|km/h|abbr=on that same day. The depression was short-lived, weakening just prior to landfall near Sabine Pass, Texas on September 9. Over land, it rapidly degenerated into a remnant low. Despite being a weak storm, squalls to the east of the center generated tropical storm-force gusts over open water, and dropped moderate to heavy rainfall throughout the western Gulf Coast.

Meteorological history

The origins of Tropical Depression Nine are traced back to the interaction of a persistent low-level trough and a cluster of convection associated with a tropical wave. The system moved north-northwestward from the Yucatan Peninsula, and on September 8 an ill-defined low-level center formed about convert|180|mi|km|abbr=on|lk=on south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Surface observations estimate that a tropical depression formed at 1800 UTC that same day.cite web|author=Jack Beven|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Nine|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000nine.html] Comprising a broad circulation, forecasts predicted the depression would make landfall near Cameron, Louisiana within 8–10 hours. [cite web|author=Stewart|title=Tropical Depression Nine Discussion Number 1|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL0900.001.html]

Due to the storm's close proximity to land, it never managed to strengthen above tropical depression status, and peaked with winds of convert|35|mph|km/h|abbr=on. By late on September 8, the depression remained fairly disorganized, with ship reports indicating the possibility that two low-level centers existed within an elongated low pressure system; one center was located at 26.5°N 93.5°W, while the main was situated closer to the area of deep convection. [cite web|author=Stewart|title=Tropical Depression Nine Discussion Number Two|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/dis/NAL0900.002.html] Tracking northward at convert|12|mph|km/h|abbr=on with a minimum central pressure of 1007 mb, [cite web|author=Stewart|title=Tropical Depression Two Public Advisory Number 2|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/pub/PAL0900.002.html] the closed circulatory center dissipated, and the depression weakened just at or before landfall. [cite web|author=Lawrence|title=Tropical Depression Nine Discussion Number 3|year=2000|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2000/pub/PAL0900.003.html] The weak low moved ashore near Sabine Pass, Texas at 1000 UTC on September 9, and rapidly dissipated over land.

Impact

Despite being a weak storm, associated squalls to the east of the center produced gusts up to tropical storm-force. A convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on gust was reported at buoy 42001, and buoy 42041 reported a convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on gust. The depression dropped heavy rainfall throughout portions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, peaking at convert|6.70|in|mm|abbr=on|lk=on at Buras, Louisiana. Waveland, Mississippi reported convert|6.56|in|mm|abbr=on, and convert|6.30|in|mm|abbr=on of rain fell on Dauphin Island, Alabama.cite web|author=David Roth|title=Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Gulf Coast|year=2000|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|year=|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcgulfcoast.html] Light rainfall was reported as far north as Arkansas and Kentucky [cite web|author=David Roth|title=Rainfall Summary for Tropical Depression Ten|year=2000|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center|accessdate=2008-08-01|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/td92000.html] and as far east as Florida. As a result of the rain, flash flood watches were posted for parts of Louisiana.cite web|author=Associated Press|title=Heavy rain falls from tropical depression|year=2000|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2008-09-15|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WEATHER/09/09/weather.page.02.ap/index.html]

ee also

*Tropical Depression Ten (2007) – a similar storm

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2000nine.html Tropical Cyclone Report]