Tropical Storm Jerry (1995)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Jerry
Type=Tropical storm
Year=1995
Basin=Atl
Image location=Tropical Storm Jerry (1995).gif

Florida landfall
Formed=August 22, 1995
Dissipated=August 28, 1995
1-min winds=35
Pressure=1002
Da

Inflated=1
Fatalities=6 direct, 2 indirect
Areas=Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina
Hurricane season=1995 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Jerry was a tropical storm that caused severe flooding throughout the southeast United States in August of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. Jerry, the tenth tropical storm of the season, formed from a tropical wave that moved off the African coast in early August, which organized into a tropical depression and tropical storm between the Bahamas and Florida later in the month, before striking Florida in the end of August. Its remnant circulation persisted until five days after landfall. The rainfall it produced, amounting to over convert|12|in|mm in several locations across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, which was responsible for $40 million (2005 USD) in damage and 6 deaths. At the time, Jerry was the earliest tenth storm to form in a season on record, though Jose in the 2005 season overtook it. [National Hurricane Center. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Track Database.] Retrieved on 2008-03-06.]

Meteorological history

A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on August 9. It moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean, and reached the Lesser Antilles on August 15. While passing through the islands, convection greatly increased, causing wind gusts of up to convert|45|mph|km/h, though it remained disorganized. On August 22, convection organized while the system was over the western Bahamas, and it developed into Tropical Depression Eleven later that day. Conditions were only marginally favorable due to lack of outflow to its west, but the depression strengthened to reach tropical storm status on August 23.Richard Pasch. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1995jerry.html Tropical Storm Jerry Report.] Retrieved on 2008-03-06.]

Jerry, having reached tropical storm strength convert|33|mi|km east of the coast of Florida, moved to the northwest and hit Jupiter later on August 23. It continued to the northwest across the state, and remained a storm until late on August 24 when it entered the Gulf of Mexico over Citrus County. It remained over waters briefly until moving inland in Dixie County on August 25. It continued slowly northward, entering Georgia on August 26. The weak depression turned to the east, and dissipated into a trough of low pressure on August 28 near the Georgia/South Carolina border. The trough developed two circulation centers, one of which moved eastward while the other moved southward. The latter drifted southwestward across Florida until dissipating in early September. It is unknown if either of the circulations are directly related to the original center of Jerry.

Preparations

Because much of the circulation was over land, Jerry was not predicted to intensify to a tropical storm. This caused tropical storm warnings not to be issued until just hours before landfall. While crossing over the state, the storm retained its strength, causing officials to issue Tropical Storm Warnings over the Florida Panhandle. However, Jerry remained a tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico, and the warnings were dropped after Jerry's second landfall.

Impact

Florida

Upon making landfall in southeastern and western Florida, Jerry caused a storm surge of convert|1|ft|m to convert|2|ft|m in most areas. Rainfall was generally moderate in the southeastern portion of the state, with the highest amounts of over convert|10|in|mm occurring in Palm Beach county.David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/jerry1995.html Tropical Storm Jerry Rainfall Page.] Retrieved on 2008-03-06.] A larger area of higher totals was recorded in southwestern Florida, with rainfall peaking at convert|16.8|in|mm in Golden Gate. Winds were light, peaking at convert|43|mph|km/h at Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County. The storm caused two weak tornadoes and one waterspout, though damage was minimal. In addition, Jerry caused light beach erosion.

While wind damage was minimal, the heavy flooding left many roads across the state under water. In addition, it damaged 340 houses and destroyed 12, most of which were in Collier County. In northwestern Florida, the flooding caused severe damage to the citrus crop, with total agricultural damage amounting to $15 million. In all, damage in Florida amounted to $19 million (1995 USD). [Cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=Florida Event report for Tropical Storm Jerry|year=1995|publisher=|accessdate=2008-03-18|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~194951] The storm also caused two indirect deaths in the state, though no fatalities were directly attributed to Jerry.

Georgia

In Georgia, Jerry dropped severe rainfall of over convert|12|in|mm near Surrency,David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcsoutheast.html Tropical cyclone rainfall in the Southeast.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] covering numerous waterways and flooding numerous houses. A state of emergency was declared within Georgia as Jerry moved through the state. [Georgia Emergency Management Agency. [http://www.gema.ga.gov/ohsgemaweb.nsf/1b4bb75d6ce841c88525711100558b9d/f947ea16350c85f58525716b006f1354?OpenDocument States of Emergency.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] Flooding from the storm across Georgia was mild to moderate due to the very dry conditions which preceded Jerry's arrival. In Savannah, convert|12.43|in|mm of rainfall was measured, which flooded the Ogeechee and Savannah Rivers.United States Geological Survey. [http://water.usgs.gov/nwc/back_issues/aug95_cov.html National Water Conditions: Streamflow Conditions for the month of August 1995.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.]

outh Carolina

Portions of South Carolina experienced significant rainfall totals of up to convert|19|in|mm.David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/jerry1995.html Tropical Storm Jerry Rainfall Page.] Retrieved on 2008-03-06.] The significant rainfall led to flooding along the Saluda, the Edisto, the Broad, and the Congaree Rivers in South Carolina.United States Geological Survey. [http://water.usgs.gov/nwc/back_issues/aug95_cov.html National Water Conditions: Streamflow Conditions for the month of August 1995.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] Dam breaks were also reported, which led to flooding which covered numerous roadways and washed out bridges, with the statewide transportation damage totaling $4.5 million (1995 USD). [South Carolina State Climatology Office. [http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/Tropics/hurricane_tracks_affecting_sc.php HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS AFFECTING SOUTH CAROLINA.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] In addition, houses were flooded and fields covered, which caused a damage total of $10 million (1995 USD). [cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|title=South Carolina Event report for Tropical Storm Jerry|year=1995|publisher=|accessdate=2008-03-18|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~232732] Jerry also killed 3 people in the state.

North Carolina

The remnants of Jerry caused heavy precipitation in North Carolina, amounting up to convert|10|in|mm in the southwest corner of the state.David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcsoutheast.html Tropical cyclone rainfall in the Southeast.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] This led to flooding along the Neuse, the French Broad, the Warned, the Lynches, the Black, the Little Pee Dee, the Pee Dee, and the Waccomaw rivers.United States Geological Survey. [http://water.usgs.gov/nwc/back_issues/aug95_cov.html National Water Conditions: Streamflow Conditions for the month of August 1995.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] Across the state, numerous roads, including portions of Interstate 85, and houses were submerged. [Steve Stone. [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950828/08280031.htm RAIN RAISES - AND SINKS - SPIRITS TOURISTS, CAROLINAS GET A SWIPE FROM JERRY IF RAIN STAYS, AREA'S THIRST MAY BE SLAKED.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] Flood stage records were set for McMullen and McAlpine Creeks, with McAlpine reaching a stage of convert|19.4|ft|m.Jerald B. Robinson, William F. Hazell, and Wendi S. Young. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/FS-036-98/ Effects of August 1995 and July 1997 Storms in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] In the Charlotte area, the flooding forced the evacuation of 63 people from a nursing home, as well as 200 people from a pair of apartment complexes. [Associated Press. [http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] Mecklenburg County reported damages of $5 million (1995 USD).Jerald B. Robinson, William F. Hazell, and Wendi S. Young. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/FS-036-98/ Effects of August 1995 and July 1997 Storms in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.] Retrieved on 2008-03-18.] In Raleigh, over 140 buildings or houses were damaged or destroyed, resulting a damage total in the area of $6 million (1995 USD). In all, Jerry caused $11 million (1995 USD) in damage across the state and 3 fatalities.

Because the damage was only moderate, the name Jerry was not retired; it was re-used in 2001 and 2007.cite web|author=Pasch and Brown|year=2001|title=NOAA TCR on Tropical Storm Jerry (2001)|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2006-11-18|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2001jerry.html] National Hurricane Center. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B2.html Faq : Hurricanes, Typhoons, And Tropical Cyclones.] Retrieved on 2008-03-06.]

ee also

* List of tropical cyclones
* List of wettest tropical cyclones in South Carolina
* List of Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1995jerry.html NHC Jerry Report]