Tropical Storm Jerry (1995)
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| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Jerry near its Florida landfall |
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| Formed | August 22, 1995 | |
| Dissipated | August 28, 1995 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 1002 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $46.9 million (1995 USD) $61.8 million (2006 USD) |
|
| Fatalities | 6 direct, 2 indirect | |
| Areas affected |
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina | |
| Part of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season |
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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 10th tropical storm of the season, hit Florida in the end of August, though its remnants persisted until five days after landfall. The rainfall it produced, amounting to over 12 inches in several locations, was responsible for $45.8 million (2005 USD) in damage and 6 deaths. At the time, Jerry was the earliest 10th storm to form in a season on record, though Jose in the 2005 season overtook it. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 9. It moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean, and reached the Lesser Antilles on the 15th. While passing through the islands, convection greatly increased, causing wind gusts of up to 45 mph, 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 the 23rd. [2]
Jerry, having reached tropical storm strength only 33 miles 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 the 24th when it entered the Gulf of Mexico over Citrus County. It remained over waters briefly until moving inland in Dixie County on the 25th. It continued slowly northward, entering Georgia on the 26th. 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. [2]
[edit] 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. [2]
[edit] Impact
[edit] Florida
Upon making landfall in southeastern Florida, Jerry caused a storm surge of 1 to 2 feet in most areas. [2] When it struck the Florida Panhandle, storm surge was stronger, peaking at 6 to 7 feet in Navarre Beach. [3] Rainfall was generally moderate in the southeastern portion of the state, with the highest amounts of over 10 inches occurring in Martin and St. Lucie counties. Higher totals were recorded in southwestern Florida, with rainfall peaking at 16.8 inches in Golden Gate. Winds were light, peaking at 43 mph at Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County. The storm caused 2 weak tornadoes and 1 waterspout, though damage was minimal. In addition, Jerry caused light beach erosion. [2]
While wind damage was minimal, the heavy flooding left many roads across the state under water. In addition, it damaged over 352 houses and destroyed 12, most of which was in Collier County. Numerous people were required to use sandbags to protect their property, while others evacuated to emergency shelters. In northwestern Florida, the flooding caused severe damage to the citrus crop, with total agricultural damage amounting to $19 million. In all, damage in Florida amounted to $20.8 million (1995 USD, $25.9 million 2005 USD). The storm also caused two indirect deaths in the state, though no fatalities were directly attributed to Jerry. [3]
[edit] Southeast United States
In Georgia, Jerry dropped severe rainfall of over 14 inches in locations, covering numerous waterways and flooding numerous houses. In Savannah, the flooding damaged 23 houses, five of which were severely, forcing 72 citizens to evacuate. In addition, the flooding caused rivers to crest past their peaks. Damages in the state totaled to $7.3 million (1995 USD). [3] Though the rain was severe, it was welcome in western Georgia, an area with below normal rainfall amounts during the summer of 1995. This was not the case for portions of northeastern Georgia, where rainfall totals were above normal. [4]
Portions of South Carolina experienced significant rainfall totals of up to 20 inches. The flash flooding covered numerous roadways and washed out bridges, with the statewide transportation damage totaling $4.5 million (1995 USD). River flooding was great across the state, including the Abner Creek in Spartanburg County, which peaked at 20 feet deep at one point. In addition, the rainfall broke dams, flooded houses, and covered fields, causing a damage total of $10.1 million (1995 USD). [3] Jerry also killed 3 people in the state. [2]
Like in Georgia and South Carolina, the remnants of Jerry caused heavy precipitation in North Carolina, amounting up to 17 inches in isolated locations in the northern portion of the state. [2] Across the state, numerous roads and houses were flooded. In Harrisburg, the flooding forced a nursing home and a mobile park to evacuate. In Charlotte, North Carolina, 300 families were evacuated, some by boat. 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 $8.7 million (1995 USD) in damage across the state[3] and 3 fatalities. [2]
Because the damage was only moderate, the name Jerry was not retired; it was re-used in 2001 and is on the list for the 2007 season.
