Tropical Storm Amelia (1978)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Tropical Storm Amelia
Type=Tropical storm
Year=1978
Basin=Atl
Image location=Amelia1978073109GOES2IR.gif


Formed=July 30, 1978
Dissipated=August 1, 1978
1-min winds=45
Da

Inflated=0
Pressure=1005
Fatalities=30 direct
Areas=Texas
Hurricane season=1978 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Amelia was a weak tropical storm that brought heavy rain and damage to Texas in July of the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season. Amelia formed on July 30 after wandering around the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea for a week and a half. Amelia affected the Texas coast for 2 days, making landfall in Corpus Christi and becoming unidentifiable on the morning of August 1.

Amelia caused around 30 fatalities according to reports from the National Hurricane Center, with record rainfall totals being recorded around the state.

Meteorological history

Tropical Storm Amelia developed from a disturbance that wandered off the African coast as a tropical wave on July 19. The system headed eastward through the Atlantic Ocean for the next week, with no change in development. After entering the Caribbean Sea on July 26, convection began to come together two days later. The disturbance passed the Yucatan Peninsula on the 29th, entering the Gulf of Mexico. No circulation was found in the developing system however.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1978-prelim/amelia/prelim01.gif|title= Preliminary Report - Tropical Storm Amelia - Page 1|year=1978|accessdate=2008-05-13|publisher=National Hurricane Center]

As July 30 approached, the disturbance turned to the northwest. Also, meteorological formations seen on satellite had reported that a tropical cyclone was beginning to form in the Gulf. After a reconnaissance aircraft went by the system, it was upgraded into a tropical depression that afternoon. Several hours later, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Amelia. Amelia peaked at convert|45|mph|km/h in wind speed, with the system beginning to skirt the Texas coast.

Amelia, which had never defined a strong center, went up the coast during the afternoon and evening of July 30, making landfall in Corpus Christi the next day. The system was traceable until passing just west of San Antonio, where it became untraceable after the morning of August 1.

Preparations and impact

As Amelia approached the Texas coast, gale warnings were issued for the area from Brownsville to Port O'Connor on July 30. [cite news|publisher=Galveston Daily News|author=United Press Inc.|date=July 31, 1978|title=Amelia AimsAt Texas Coast]

Effects from Amelia ranged from convert|38|mph|km/h winds in Brownsville to gusts of up to convert|58|mph|km/h in Corpus Christi. In coastal areas of Texas, damage was limited to the sinking of several shrimp boats and the beaching of sail boats. In addition, some trees and fences were blown down, though damage was relatively minor. There were about 30 fatalities reported from flooding in Texas, with devastating damage to the areas affected by the storm.cite web|author=Associated Press|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1978-prelim/amelia/prelim02.gif|title= Preliminary Report - Tropical Storm Amelia - Page 2|year=1978|accessdate=2008-05-13|publisher=National Hurricane Center] South Padre Island reported power outages after receiving over convert|4|in|mm of rain. [cite news|title=TropicalStorm TurnsNorthward|date=July 31, 1978|publisher=Indiana Gazette]

Inland Texas fared much worse, though. The continuous flow of tropical moisture during Amelia's dissipation and remnant stage brought heavy flooding for two and three days. The orographic effect of the Edwards Plateau enhanced the flooding, leading to rainfall totals as high as convert|30|in|mm in a two-day period.cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1978-prelim/amelia/prelim03.gif|title= Preliminary Report - Tropical Storm Amelia - Page 3|year=1978|accessdate=2008-05-13|publisher=National Hurricane Center] The worst hit area was the Guadalupe River basin and its tributaries, though many other rivers overflowed, contributing to the overall impact of the storm. A 12-hour total of convert|26|in|mm of rain at Abilene was an extreme example of the precipitation. [cite web|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/amelia1978.html|author=David M. Roth|title=Tropical Storm Amelia - July 30-August 5, 1978|accessdate=2008-05-13|year=2008|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center] The storm total of convert|48|in|mm measured at Medina is the wettest known storm total rainfall amount for both the state of Texas, as well as the continental United States. [cite web|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcmaxima.html|author=David M. Roth|title=Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima|accessdate=2008-05-13|year=2008|publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]

ee also

*List of tropical cyclones
*List of wettest tropical cyclones in Texas

Notes

External links

* [ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/atlantic/prelimat/atl1978/amelia/ NHC Amelia Report]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/amelia1978.html HPC Amelia Report]
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1978.pdf Monthly Weather Review]