Tropical Storm Tammy (2005)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Tammy
Type=Tropical storm
Year=2005
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tammy 1415z 051005.jpg


Formed=October 5, 2005
Dissipated=October 6, 2005
1-min winds=45
Pressure=1001
Da

Inflated=2
Damagespost=Paid losses from Fema only
Fatalities=0 direct, 10 indirect
Areas=Bahamas, Florida, Georgia
Hurricane season=2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Tammy was a short lived tropical storm during October in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season which caused minor damage to the southeastern United States. More significant, however were its remnants which contributed to the Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005.

Tropical Storm Tammy formed from a non-tropical system off the Florida coast on October 5. It moved north just offshore before making landfall later that day. The tropical storm rapidly weakened as it moved overland and dissipated the next day. Its remnant circulation moved south towards the Gulf of Mexico, while the moisture was absorbed by a northeasterly moving cold front. No one was killed, but paid losses from FEMA totaled US$44 million (2005). [cite web|author=FEMA|publisher=FEMA|date=2008-08-11|accessdate=2008-08-20|title=FEMA: Significant Flood Events|url=http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/statistics/sign1000.shtm]

Meteorological history

A tropical wave left the African coast on September 24 and crossed the Atlantic without any development. The wave began to develop on October 2 north of the Lesser Antilles when it encountered an upper level trough. It strengthened as it passed through the Bahamas and early on October 5 a vigorous tropical disturbance formed.cite web|author=Stacy R. Stewart|publisher=National Hurricane Center|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Tammy|accessdate=2008-09-30|date=2006-01-28|format=PDF|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL222005_Tammy.pdf] As the system already had tropical-storm force winds, it was immediately named Tropical Storm Tammy.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Discussion for Tropical Storm Tammy, 7:30 a.m. EDT, October 5 2005|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=May 10|accessyear=2006|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al212005.discus.001.shtml] Tropical Storm Tammy strengthened slightly to its peak strength with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds before making landfall near Atlantic Beach, Florida that same day. [cite web|author=Avila|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2005-10-05|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Tropical Storm Tammy Intermediate Advisory Number 3a|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al212005.public_a.003.shtml] The tropical storm then moved inland over Georgia [cite web|author=Knabb|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2005-10-06|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Tropical Storm Tammy Advisory Number 5|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al212005.public.005.shtml] and into southeastern Alabama near Ozark, [cite web|author=Franklin|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2005-10-06|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Tropical Storm Tammy Advisory Number 6|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al212005.public.006.shtml] where it lost its circulation on October 6.

The remnant low drifted south towards the Gulf of Mexico before being absorbed by a cold front (which also picked remnants of Subtropical Depression Twenty-two), and moving northeast. This cold front, of which Tammy's remnants were a part, affected much of the Northeastern United States over the next few days.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Discussion for Tropical Storm Tammy, 11 a.m. EDT, October 6 2005|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=May 10|accessyear=2006|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al212005.discus.006.shtml]

Preparations

Tropical Storm Tammy surprised forecasters when it formed on October 5. Because they had not expected the disturbance to develop, warnings were not issued until about 12 hours before the storm made landfall,cite web|author=Avila|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2005-10-05|accessdate=2008-08-20|title=Tropical Storm Tammy Intermediate Advisory Number 3A|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al212005.public_a.003.shtml?] and preparations for the storm were minimal. Upon the storm developing, a tropical storm warning was immediately issued for the coast from Cocoa Beach, Florida to the Santee River, South Carolina.cite web|author=Knabb|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=2005-10-05|accessdate=2008-08-20|title=Tropical Storm Tammy Special Advisory Number 1|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/pub/al212005.public.001.shtml?]

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District issued an advisory to mariners, warning them to prepare for the storm and avoid the ocean if possible. [cite web|author=Petty Officer Bobby Nash|publisher=Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District|date=2005-10-05|accessdate=2008-08-20|title=Coast Guard Urges Mariners to Prepare for Tammy|url=http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/586/84931/] In Georgia, the National Park Service evacuated the residents of Cumberland Island and closed the ferry which services it. The Glynn County Emergency Operations Agency monitored and prepared for Tropical Storm Tammy's landfall, however the poor warning hampered their efforts. Residents all over the state expressed frustration at the lack of time they had to prepare.cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=News 4 Georgia|date=2005-10-05|accessdate=2008-10-20|title=Ga. Residents, Officials Brace For Tammy|url=http://www.news4jax.com/news4georgia/5062769/detail.html] When Tammy moved inland 12 hours later the southern end of the warning zone moved north to Altamaha Sound, Georgia before all warnings were discontinued on October 6.

Impact

Tropical Storm Tammy caused minor damage. Its highest sustained winds were convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on and its strongest recorded wind gust was convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. The winds produced no significant damage, but did disrupt power to 16,500 utility customerscite web|author=Staff Writers|publisher=Palm Beach Post|title=Tammy recap|date=2008-10-22|accessdate=2008-09-29|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/storm/2005/atlantic/tammy/news.html] and delayed the Trysail College Regatta. [cite web|author=Marcy Trenholm|publisher=Larchmont Gazette|date=2008-10-11|accessdate=2008-09-30|title=Tropical Storm Tammy Challenges Trysail College Regatta|url=http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2005/articles/20051012trysail.html]

To most areas in north Florida and southern Georgia, Tammy brought convert|3|to|5|in|mm|abbr=on of rain, though some isolated areas received convert|10|in|mm.cite web|author=Russ Bynum|publisher=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=2005-10-06|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Tropical Storm Tammy brings heavy rain, gusts to Georgia|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20051006-0813-tropicalweather.html] In Georgia, flooding damaged over 30 homes in Brunswick.cite web|author=Associated Press|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|date=2005-10-07|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Tammy causes flooding in south Georgia|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/07/Weather/Tammy_causes_flooding.shtml] Several dirt and coastal roads were washed out, and sewers overflowed as far north as Baltimore County, Maryland. [cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-09-30|title=Sewers Overwhelmed by Tropical Storm Tammy|url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=INDFED0020051012e1a9001pd] Two small pond dams burst, including a 173-year-old wooden dam, but new stone dams were constructed in place before the old ones failed. Conversely, Tammy's rains were beneficial in South Carolina, where they helped alleviate dry conditions [cite news|author=Rowland Alston|publisher=The State|date=2005-10-16|accessdate=2008-10-30|title=Dry Gardens Finally get a Soaking|page=G3|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CS&s_site=thestate&p_multi=CS&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10D4D51B66D1A710&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM] after a rainless September. [cite web|author=Computer Generated|publisher=Weather Underground|title=History for KSCCLEMS1|date=2005-10-01|accessdate=2008-09-30|url=http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KSCCLEMS1&graphspan=month&month=9&day=30&year=2005]

Tammy's storm surge was approximately convert|2|to|4|ft|m|abbr=on and caused salt-water flooding along the coast of northeaster Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The surge damages boardwalks along the coast, and wave action causes over 2 feet (0.6 m) of beach erosion. In addition to the flooding, Tropical Storm Tammy spawned one tornado. [cite web|author=Tom Grazulis|coauthors=Bill McCaul|publisher=The Tornado Project|date=2007|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=List of Known Tropical Cyclones Which Have Spawned Tornadoes|url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/allhurricanes.htm] Rated an F0 tornado, it touched down near Brunswick, Georgia were it snapped trees and caused moderate roof damage. The storm's total damage was estimated at around $30 million (2005 USD).

Aftermath, naming and records

A Red Cross shelter at Seldon Park, Brunswick, Georgia, opened for two days following the storm to temporarily house those whose houses were flooded.cite web|author=Associated Press|publisher=News4Jax|date=2005-10-07|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Flooding Continues Two Days After Tropical Storm Moves On|url=http://www.news4jax.com/news4georgia/5073567/detail.html] Tammy's remnant low was absorbed a larger extratropical low which tracked north and Tammy's moisture contributed to the Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005, which killed ten people and caused significant damage.

Shrimpers in the Carolinas blamed high fuel prices and the disruption of Tropical Storm Tammy for some of the troubles facing the shrimping industry in 2005. Rising fuel prices and dwindling demand has already created tough conditions that year, but the disruption of several days' fishing due to Tammy's turbulent weather did nothing to help the local industry. [cite web|author=Kelly Marshall|publisher=The Sun News|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-09-20|title=Experts: Local shrimpers face another tough year|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9686672_ITM]

When Tropical Storm Tammy formed on October 5, it was the earliest ever in the season that the twentieth storm formed, [cite web|author=Staff Writer|publisher=Vance Publishing|date=2005-10-12|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=National Weather: Heavy Snow Dropped On Northern Plains|url=http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=11338] beating the previous record held by Storm 20 of the 1933 season by 21 days. [cite web|author=Richard J. Pasch|coauthors=Edward N. Rappaport|date=1993-06-02|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1993|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1993.pdf|format=PDF] Tammy was only the second Atlantic storm to be named with the letter 'T', after Tanya in 1995.cite web| author=NHC Hurricane Research Division| title=Atlantic hurricane best track ("HURDAT")| publisher=NOAA| date=2008-01-01|accessdate=2008-08-12| url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/tracks1851to2007-apr08.txt] This was also the first time Tammy had been used to name any tropical cyclone worldwide. Due to the lack of any major effects from Tropical Storm Tammy, the name was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization and will be on the list of names for the 2011 Season. [cite web|author=Chris Vaccaro|publisher=National Weather Service|date=2006-04-06|accessdate=2008-09-29|title=Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan and Wilma "Retired" from List of Storm Names|url=http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2607.htm]

See also

* List of 2005 Atlantic hurricane season storms
* Northeast Flooding of October 2005

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL222005_Tammy.pdf NHC's Tropical Cyclone Report on Tropical Storm Tammy] (PDF)
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/TAMMY.shtml NHC's archive on Tropical Storm Tammy]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical2005/TAMMY/TAMMY_archive.shtml Hydrometeorological Prediction Center's archive on Tropical Storm Tammy]