Tropical Storm Hanna (2002)

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Tropical Storm Hanna

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Tropical storm Hanna near landfall
Formed	September 12, 2002
Dissipated	September 15, 2002
Highest winds	55 mph (90 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	1001 mbar (hPa; 29.57 inHg)
Fatalities	3 direct
Damage	$20.3 million (2002 USD) $22.77 million (2006 USD)
Areas affected	Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia
Part of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Hanna was a moderately strong tropical storm during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. The eighth storm of the 2002 season, Hanna was one of six tropical cyclones to make landfall to hit the United States during the 2002 season. Hanna formed in the Gulf of Mexico and northward where it made landfall in eastern Louisiana and then along the Mississippi/Alabama border. The remnants later moved inland where it dissipated.

Hanna caused minor damage as a tropical cyclone. In Alabama,Mississippi and Georgia, heavy rainfall from the storm caused moderate flooding. Total damage from the storm amounted to $20.3 million dollars (2002 USD, $22.3 million 2006 USD) and there were three drowning fatalities in Florida.^[1]

Contents 1 Storm history 2 Preparations 3 Impact 3.1 U.S. Gulf Coast 3.2 Southeastern United States 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Storm history

In early September a trough of low pressure formed in the Gulf of Mexico. During that time period, a tropical wave moving in from the east merged with the trough and became a 1008 mbar low. Convection was weak after formation until later on September 11, when the convection steadily deepened east of the upper level low and the surface low. The area of low pressure then strengthens enough to be classified as Tropical Depression Nine on September 12 at 1200 UTC. At that time the developing system was located 250 miles south of Pensacola, Florida. Despite strong wind shear, the disorganized storm moved westward then northward where it strengthened into Tropical Storm Hanna on the same day.^[1]

Hanna then reached it peak intensity of 55 mph (90 km/h) before making its first landfall in southeastern Louisiana on September 14. The second landfall occurred near the Mississippi/Alabama border on the same day. The storm then weakened rapidly as it moved northeastward across southern Alabama before dissipating on September 15. The remnants then moved over Georgia and the Carolinas.^[1]

[edit] Preparations

Forecasters issued a tropical storm watch as soon as Tropical Depression Nine formed. Officials at the National Hurricane Center forecasted the system to strengthen to a tropical storm in the next 24 hours. ^[2] The watch was extended from Pascagoula, Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. ^[3] By September 13, local officials and forecasters extended the watch area as far west as southeastern Louisiana. However, the tropical storm watches were changed to warnings when the depression reached tropical storm status. ^{[4] [5]} When tropical storm Hanna was nearing landfall, forecasters predicted that the storm would bring 4-8 inches of rain, possible tornadoes and storm surge flooding of 2-4 feet. In addition, dangerous waves and strong rip currents were also predicted. ^{[6] [7]} Offshore, several oil platforms were shut down and evacuation prior to the storm. ^[8] On September 14, the warnings east of Apalachicola, Florida were discontinued as the storm moved westward before making landfall. ^[9] After Hanna made landfall, officials issued flood watches for inland parts of Mississippi and Alabama as well as western portions of Georgia and the Carolinas. ^[10]

[edit] Impact

Hanna produced tropical storm force winds and heavy rains across the U.S. Gulf Coast. In Georgia and North Carolina the heavy rains from Hanna caused moderate flooding. The storm left around $20 million dollars (2002 USD, $22 million 2006 USD) in damage.

[edit] U.S. Gulf Coast

A weather station in Pensacola, Florida recorded sustained winds of 55 mph (89 km/h) with gusts of 68 mph (109 km/h). ^[1] Elsewhere, Chipley reported a rainfall total of 9.68 inches while Apalachicola received rainfall of 2.28 inches. A storm surge of 2-4 feet was reported along the Florida Panhandle while the St. Marks River crested .10 feet above flood stage. The heavy rains caused minor flooding that closed several roads. In Perry, Florida , 15 houses were flooded out and the winds knocked down powerlines leaving 15,000 people without power. On the coast there was minor beach erosion. Two fatalities were reported, both from drowning incidents. ^{[11] [12]} In Alabama, a weather station in Mobile reported 30-40 mph winds with gusts up to 65 mph (105 km/h). Rainfall totals of 7.55 inches were reported in Coden, Alabama while Belle Fontaine, Alabama received 5.8 inches of rain. A storm tide of 3.7 feet was reported in Dauphin Island. ^[13] In Mississippi, the storm produced 1 inch precipitation and there were minor tidal flooding. ^[14]

[edit] Southeastern United States

In Georgia, the town of Albany received 3.47 inches of rain, while Augusta received rainfall of 1.3 inches. The highest rainfall total in Georgia was reported in Donalsonville, where 14 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour period. ^{[15] [16] [17]} The heavy rainfall from Hanna caused moderate street flooding which damaged 250 houses and 50 businesses in Donalsonville. The flooding also caused minor crop damage.^[1] In Miller County, Georgia, 35 houses were damaged by the floods and Governor Roy Barnes declared three counties in Georgia to be disaster areas. ^[18] In Atlanta, 48,000 residences were left without power when the storm moved northeastward as 40-50 mph gusts damaged trees and powerlines. ^[19] In South Carolina, the storm dropped 3 inches of rain in Marion County, flooding Highway 41. ^[20] In Anderson County, South Carolina, water of 4-5 inches covered several roads. ^[21] Elsewhere in South Carolina, Hanna's heavy rains caused flooding that damaged several homes and businesses and isolated reports of sinkholes in Greenville County. ^{[22] [23]} In North Carolina, the remnants of Hanna produced over 2 inches of rain which caused minor flooding. ^[24] In Virginia, Hanna's remnants caused significant flooding in Pulaski County. The flooding stranded a motorist and caused minimal damage to farming areas. The damage from the floods totaled to $300,000 dollars (2002 USD, $330,000 2006 USD).^[25] In all, the storm left $20.3 million dollars (2002 USD, $22.3 million 2006 USD) in damage and three deaths.

Despite the damage, the name Hanna was not retired and is on the 2008 list.

[edit] See also

• Tropical cyclone
• List of notable tropical cyclones
• List of notable Atlantic hurricanes

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Franklin, James L. (2002) NHC Report on Hanna National Hurricane Center, URL Accessed:June 12, 2006
2. ^ NHC Forecast Advisory on Hanna 11 PM EDT, September 11, 2002; URL Accessed: June 19, 2006
3. ^ NHC Public Advisory on Hanna 10 AM CDT, September 12, 2002; URL Accessed: June 19, 2006
4. ^ NHC Public Advisory on Hanna 1 AM CDT, September 13, 2002; URL Accessed: June 19, 2006
5. ^ NHC Public Advisory on Hanna 4 AM CDT, September 13, 2002: URL Accessed: June 19, 2006
6. ^ NHC Public Advisory on Hanna 7 AM CDT, September 13, 2002: URL Accessed: June 19, 2006
7. ^ NHC Public Advisory on Hanna 10 AM CDT, September 13, 2002: URL Accessed: June 19, 2006
8. ^ September 2002Daily Shipping NewsletterURL Accessed: June 19, 2006
9. ^ NHC Public Advisory on Hanna 4 AM CDT, September 14, 2002; URL Accessed: June 19, 2002
10. ^ NOAA (2002) News Report on HannaURL Accessed: June 19, 2006
11. ^ NCDC Florida Event ReportURL Accessed:June 19, 2006
12. ^ NCDCFlorida Event Report 2URL Accessed:June 19, 2006
13. ^ NCDC Alabama Event ReportURL Accessed:June 19, 2006
14. ^ NCDC (2001) Mississippi Event Details URL Accessed: June 21, 2006
15. ^ HPC HPC Advisory on HannaURL Accessed: July 3, 2006
16. ^ HPC HPC Advisory on Hanna URL Accessed: July 3, 2006
17. ^ HPC HPC Advisory on HannaURL Accessed: July 3, 2006
18. ^ American Red Cross Red Cross Responds to Tropical Storm Hanna URL Accessed: July 3, 2006
19. ^ NCDC Tropical Storm Hanna effects on GeorgiaURL Accessed: July 3, 2006
20. ^ NCDC South Carolina Event DetailsURL Accessed: July 6, 2006
21. ^ NCDC South Carolina Event DetailsURL Accessed:July 6, 2006
22. ^ NCDC South Carolina Event DetailsURL Accessed: July 6, 2006
23. ^ NCDC South Carolina Event DetailsURL Accessed: July 6, 2006
24. ^ NCDC North Carolina Event Data (2002)URL Accessed: July 3, 2006
25. ^ NCDC Virginia Event DetailsURL Accessed:July 6, 2006