Tropical Storm Charley (1998)
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Tropical Storm Charley on August 22, 1998 |
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| Formed | August 21, 1998 | |
| Dissipated | August 24, 1998 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 1000 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $50 million (1998 USD) $58.5 million (2005 USD) |
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| Fatalities | 20 direct, 6 missing | |
| Areas affected |
Texas, northern Mexico | |
| Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Charley was the third named storm of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley was one of two tropical storms to make landfall in Texas during that season (Frances being the other).[1]
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[edit] Storm history
The formation of Charley was disputed, but was traced to a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 9. The system passed through the Leeward Islands and entered the Gulf of Mexico on August 15. On August 20, the data from satellite and hurricane hunter planes showed that the storm had 26 mph winds but had no closed circulation. On August 21, however, a second hurricane hunter flight revealed that the storm had became a tropical depression at 0600 UTC. The depression moved west-northwest before reaching tropical storm strength on August 22.[2]
Charley's winds reached 70 mph and a minimum pressure of 1002 mbar, an unusually high pressure for a strong tropical storm, before making landfall near Port Aransas, Texas later on the 22nd.[2] Charley then weakened to a tropical depression after making landfall. The circulation remained identifiable until it was over the Rio Grande, and by August 25 the remnants finally dissipated.[2]
[edit] Impact
[edit] Texas
Charley produced very heavy rains which caused flash flooding across Texas and northern Mexico. About 20 people were killed by the floods. Charley also produced 17 inches of rain in Del Rio in a 24 hour period, the highest for a city in Texas since Tropical Storm Claudette in 1979.
The storm surge on areas of the coast of Texas were only 2 feet above average, which is partially why few people noticed why a tropical cyclone had affected them.[3] Four people, including two toddlers, died when their truck was swept away by floodwaters and nine more drowned in flooding along the San Felipe Creek. As of 1998, the death toll still stands at 13 with 6 missing, all from flooding.[2] Charley left $50 million dollars (1998 USD) in flood damage across southern Texas. About 300-1,500 homes, businesses, mobile homes and apartments were either damaged or destroyed by the floods.[2] Eight counties in Texas were declared disaster areas.[4]
[edit] Mexico
According to media reports, seven people died in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, while they were trying to cross a flooded gully.[5] However, there were no damage statistics in Mexico from Charley.
Despite the damage the name was not retired and it was used in 2004. The name Charley has since been retired and was replaced with Colin, which is scheduled to be used for the 2010 season.
[edit] Research
When Tropical Storm Charley made landfall, it was the second time that the Wind Engineering Mobile Instrumented Tower Experiment or (WEMITE) was used. The first time it was used was during Hurricane Bonnie.[6]
