 Tropical Storm Henri near peak intensity on September 5 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 3, 2003 |
| Dissipated | September 8, 2003 |
| Tropical storm | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 60 mph (95 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 997mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | $19.6 million (2003USD) |
| Areas affected | |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the2003 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Tropical Storm Henri was a moderatetropical storm that struck Florida during the2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The eighth storm of the season, Henri was one of six tropical cyclones to hit the United States in the year. Henri formed from atropical wave in theGulf of Mexico on September 3. Moving generally to the east, it strengthened to reach peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) two days later. Henri encountered unfavorable conditions, and it weakened before making landfall on westernFlorida nearClearwater as a tropical depression. Although Henri degenerated into a remnantlow on September 8, the weather system persisted off the east coast of the United States for a few days before moving back ashore over North Carolina. The system brought heavy rainfall across parts of theMid-Atlantic before dissipating on September 17.
Henri caused little damage as a tropical cyclone. In Florida, it dropped heavyrainfall, though damage was limited to minorflooding damage. InDelaware andPennsylvania, damage was greater, where heavy rainfall damaged hundreds of houses and businesses. The resulting floods in Delaware were described as a1 in 500 year event. The total damage by Henri along its path amounted to $19.6 million (2003 USD), but no deaths were reported.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn August 22, atropical wave moved off the coast of Africa, and it moved westward across theAtlantic Ocean andCaribbean Sea without developing significantly. On September 1 the wave axis entered theGulf of Mexico, and upon doing soconvection steadily organized around a low-level center of circulation. The system moved northward and developed into Tropical Depression Twelve on September 3 while located about 300 miles (480 kilometers) west ofTampa, Florida. Embedded within a slowmid-latitudetrough, the depression moved eastward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Henri on September 5.[1]
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Despite strong southwesterly verticalshear, Henri continued intensifying while moving eastward, and reached a peak strength of 60 mph (97 km/h) later on September 5. Shortly thereafter, though, the shear greatly weakened the storm, and it was downgraded to a tropical depression. Henri was not able to recover its intensity, and madelandfall nearClearwater, Florida on September 6 as a 35 mph (56 km/h) tropical depression, and quickly crossed the state as it accelerated to the northeast.[1] Despite initial predictions of re-intensification over open waters due to potentially lower shear,[2] Henri failed to re-strengthen and degenerated into a remnantlow pressure area on September 8 off the coast ofNorth Carolina.[1]
The broad and disorganized remnant low remained nearly stationary due to aridge of high pressure to its north.[1] Residual convection within the remnants of Henri remained disorganized, but forecasters kept watch for the potential for redevelopment.[3] However, it moved inland nearCape Hatteras on September 12 without reorganizing.[4] The remnants continued to the north and dissipated on September 17 overNew England.[5]
TheNational Hurricane Center issued aTropical Storm Warning fromEnglewood toIndian Pass, Florida while Henri was a tropical depression; however, warnings were discontinued by the time Henri made landfall.[1] Flood warnings were issued across the state prior to the storm making landfall, with predictions of 5 to 10 inches (127 to 254 millimetres) of rainfall.[6] As a result of the storm's approach, twelve shelters were placed on standby. Similarly, the Hurricane Shelter Information Hotline was placed on standby and ready to be activated within 10 minutes.[7]Levy County officials declared a state of emergency. There, sand bags and sand were sent toCedar Key,Yankeetown, andInglis in anticipation for storm surge and flooding.[8] Schools in three western Florida counties canceled events for the evening of September 5 due to the storm.[9]
Henri dropped heavy rainfall along its path as a tropical cyclone and as a remnant low throughout the eastern United States.[5]
During its passage through Florida, Henri resulted in two injuries. InLee County, lightning from a feeder band injured a man.[1] InPinellas Park, a driver hydroplaned and crashed alongInterstate 275.[10] A tornado was observed on September 5 nearZoo Miami, and was rated an F0 on theFujita scale.[11][12] Along Florida's west coast, wind gusts reached 29 mph (47 km/h) in several locations during Henri's passage. The tropical depression also produced higher surf, along with tides 1 ft (0.30 m) above normal. However, Henri's most significant effects in the state were from its heavy rainfall.[10] The region was already experiencing above-normal rainfall since August,[9] and Henri dropped additional precipitation across the state. Three locations observed rainfall totals of over 7 in (180 mm), with a statewide peak of 9.09 in (231 mm) inHialeah in the southeast portion of the state.[5] Two locations – Fort Myers andSarasota–Bradenton International Airport – recorded rainfall records on September 5.[13] The rains caused isolated street flooding in the state, which entered some houses inPunta Gorda due to wake from cars driving in the floods. Damage was estimated at $120,000.[10][14] InEnglewood, floods displaced residents, resulting in the American Red Cross opening up a temporary shelter.[15] InHernando County, a stationary thunderstorm dropped over 5 in (130 mm) of rain in around an hour. It caused a rapid flooding of roads, though quickly retreated. Damage was minor, due to lack of many homes in the area.[16]
In theBahamas, outerrainbands from Henri dropped around 1 inch (25 mm) of rain. Winds in the archipelago gusted to 32 mph (51 km/h).[17] Just days afterHurricane Fabian struckBermuda, moisture from Henri brought thunderstorms and heavy rainfall and thunderstorms totaling to 2.44 inches (62 mm) at theairport.[18] This hindered cleanup efforts, though caused no known damage.[19]
In North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, the remnants of Henri produced 1 to 3 in (25 to 76 mm) of rainfall.[5] The rains inBaltimore, Maryland ended a seven-day dry period, the city's longest stretch without precipitation since October 2002.[13] In parts of northern Delaware, the storm dropped over 10 in (250 mm) of rainfall over a five-hour period, as estimated byNEXRADweather radars. The highest official rainfall total was 9.02 in (229 mm) inHockessin. The rains led to flash flooding along theRed Clay Creek that led to record flow rates, exceeding 32,000 ft3 (910 m3) per second nearWooddale. The event was estimated to have been a1 in 500 year flood.[20][21][22] In the now abandonedGlenville area, the floods damaged 194 houses, forcing residents to evacuate to a nearby elementary school. Several people required rescue from their inundated cars, and one person escaped their house by helicopter.[22] The Red Cay Creek washed out the historicWooddale Covered Bridge, and severely damaged theAshland Covered Bridge.[23] Floodwaters along the creek crested at 17.27 ft (5.26 m), which is 11.77 ft (3.59 m) aboveflood stage.[22] The floods also destroyed sixWilmington & Western Railroad bridges, and washed out or damaged 8 mi (13 km) of track, causing $5.9 million in damage.[23]Greenbank Mill, a historicgristmill complex, saw $450,000 in damage.[24] A business along theWhite Clay Creek sustained millions in damage after floodwaters entered the building.[25] Damage throughout the state reached $16.1 million.[22]
Heavy rainfall from the remnants of Henri extended into eastern Pennsylvania, reaching 8.75 in (222 mm) inDowningtown. Several rivers crested above their flood stage, resulting in flash flooding that led to hundreds of emergency rescues. InAvondale, 250 people evacuated an apartment building, while inKennet Square, 50 people required rescue from cars or their porches. The floods destroyed 12 homes and damaged another 360 across the region. About 109,000 people lost power due to downed trees and floods. The floods also damaged 22 bridges, including two that closed indefinitely.[26] The floods closed several roads, including a portion ofU.S. Route 1 inChadds Ford.[27] Damage in Pennsylvania totaled $3.54 million.[26]
Rains from the remnants of Henri extended into New York and New England, reaching 2.57 in (65 mm) inPlatte Clove, New York, and 2.36 in (60 mm) in Connecticut.[28][29]
On September 23, just days after the storm moved through,PresidentGeorge W. Bush declaredNew Castle County, Delaware as a disaster area following the effects of Henri and later Hurricane Isabel. The declaration designated the affected citizens eligible for grants to pay for temporary housing, house repairs, and serious disaster-related expenses. The declaration also allowed for federal funding for 75% of the repair cost for replacing public facilities.[30] On September 26, President Bush also declaredChester County, Pennsylvania as a disaster area following the damage of Henri, Tropical Storm Isabel, and severe flooding unrelated to either tropical cyclone.[31] By a month after the declaration, 342 homeowners and business owners applied for disaster aid, totaling to around $600,000 (2003 USD).[32]
By two months after the storm, 659 Delaware residents had applied for disaster aid through theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), totaling to just over $1 million (2003 USD).[25] Due to the storm damage, 200 homes in Glendale were relocated.[33] 141 small businesses applied for loans, totaling to around $2.5 million (2003 USD).[34] FEMA grants helped floodproof two businesses that could not afford to relocate.[25] In addition, FEMA received 183 applications for public assistance, which would be used for rebuilding public roads and buildings.[34] Over twenty volunteer organizations met to establish a long-term committee to find resources for disaster recovery needs. One goal sought by the committee was to find a permanent housing solution for every one who was displaced from their houses from the storms. Volunteers also helped remove ruined appliances and furniture to local landfills, totaling to more than 300 tons.[35] State and county governments in Delaware purchased 171 homes following the damage in the Glenville area, the highest number of houses purchased in the state due to storm damage.[36] The house purchasing was done to mitigate the flood damage by restoring the area as awetland.[37] In 2005, New Castle County completed a debris cleanup of the Red Clay Creek.[38] The Wilmington & Western Railroad reopened on June 28, 2007, utilizing funding from a variety of federal, state, and local resources.[23] In December 2008, the Wooddale Covered Bridge reopened after being rebuilt 5 ft (1.5 m) higher.[39]
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