Tropical Storm Andrew (1986)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Andrew
Type=Tropical storm
Year=1986
Basin=Atl
Image location=Andrew 06 jun 1986 1946Z.jpg

United States on June 6.
Formed=June 5, 1986
Dissipated=June 8, 1986
1-min winds=45
Pressure=999
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=1 direct, 49 indirect
Areas=Jamaica, North Carolina
Hurricane season=1986 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Andrew was a small, moderate tropical storm that formed in early June of 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 convert|23|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, 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.

Meteorological history

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.

cite web
author=Miles Lawrence
year=1986
title=Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Andrew Page 1
publisher=NOAA
accessdate=2008-08-02
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1986-prelim/andrew/prelim01.gif

] As a result, the system was determined to have become a subtropical depression early that day.

cite web
author=Miles Lawrence
year=1986
title=Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Andrew Page 2
publisher=NOAA
accessdate=2008-08-02
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1986-prelim/andrew/prelim02.gif

] The depression continued generally northward, eventually turning to the northwest and strengthening into a tropical storm on June 6 while convert|258|mi|km|abbr=on southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

After being named, the tropical storm moved closer towards the South Carolina coast, eventually coming within convert|115|mi|km|abbr=on 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 convert|69|mi|km|abbr=on 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 convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on 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,

cite web
author=Environment Canada
year=2003
title=Storms of 1986
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/storm86.html

] before ultimately being absorbed by a low pressure system over Canada on June 8.

Preparations

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.

cite web
author=Miles Lawrence
year=1987
title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1986
publisher=American Meteorological Society
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/115/9/pdf/i1520-0493-115-9-2155.pdf

] 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%.

cite web
author=Miles Lawrence
year=1986
title=Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Andrew Page 4
publisher=NOAA
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1986-prelim/andrew/prelim04.gif

] The main threat expected from the tropical storm was heavy waves.

cite web
author=Associated Press
year=1986
title=Tropical Storm Andrew Nears Carolinas
publisher=Indiana Gazette
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?

]

Impact

While off the Carolina coast, the storm triggered waves of convert|6|ft|m|sing=on to convert|8|ft|m|sing=on, sometimes as high as convert|12|ft|m|sing=on; the most that any location on land experienced from the storm.

cite web
author=Associated Press
year=1986
title=Year's First Storm Just A Lot Of Wind
publisher=Aiken Standard
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?

]

cite web
author=Associated Press
year=1986
title=Tropical Storm Falters Off The Carolinas
publisher=The Sunday Intelligencer
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?

] South Carolina also reported slight rains associated with the storm, but little else. 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.

cite web
author=Associated Press
year=1986
title=Andrew Claims 1 Life
publisher=Galveston Daily News
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?

] 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.

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.

cite web
author=Associated Press
year=1986
title=Danielle Downgraded to Tropical Wave
publisher=Ukiah Daily Journal
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?

] 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.

cite web
author=Associated Press
year=1986
title=Flood Rains Disrupt Water Supplies Islandwide
publisher=The Gleaner
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?

]

With a total of 50 deaths caused by the cyclone, Andrew was the deadliest named storm of the season. This was the first time that an Atlantic tropical cyclone was named Andrew, following the retirement of Allen.

cite web
author=National Hurricane Center
year=2008
title=Atlantic Best Track Data 1851-2007
accessdate=2008-08-12
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt] Due to a lack of damage, the name was not retired and was re-used in the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season. However, due to the 1992 hurricane, the name was retired and replaced with Alex.

ee also

*1986 Atlantic hurricane season

References