Third tropical storm formed the Louisiana coast US
The season’s third tropical storm formed early Saturday over the Louisiana coast, but it could affect much of the eastern United States and even Canada before disappearing.
Tropical Storm Warning Claudette formed early Saturday morning but was reduced to a tropical depression by late Saturday evening. Claudette was 75 miles west of Montgomery, Alabama, as of 7 p.m. CDT.
Over a week before Tropical Storm Claudette was designated, meteorologists began monitoring the western Gulf of Mexico for tropical development. Starting late Friday, Claudette dumped heavy rains to parts of Louisiana, southern Alabama and Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle, even before it strengthened to a tropical storm.
Before the storm travels northeastward across the rest of the Southeast this weekend, this zone could see up to a foot of rain. Claudette is also expected to weaken through Saturday evening, turning into a tropical downpour by early Sunday.
Heavy rain is anticipated to fall across the southeastern United States through Sunday, despite the lower wind gusts. Rainfall quantities of 2-4 inches are expected to fall in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
As Claudette moves northeastward across North Carolina through Monday, it may be able to take in more precipitation from the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in more downpours.
Fortunately, more rain is needed in some regions of the region. According to the US Drought Monitor, portions of North and South Carolina, including towns like Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Myrtle Beach, are either abnormally dry or in a moderate drought.
In these arid locations, too much rain falling too quickly could cause flooding before the ground can absorb it. Heavy rains can also cause impaired visibility, ponding on roads, and slower travel for drivers.
Claudette is expected to drift off the coast of North Carolina later Monday and re-enter the Atlantic. Warm water near the Outer Banks, in the lower to medium 80s F, might aid Claudette’s re-strengthening into a tropical storm by Tuesday morning.
If this happens, severe surf, rip currents, and perhaps some coastal flooding could hit the mid-Atlantic coast from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Ocean City, Maryland, especially during high tide.
Because of the expected effects of the system, tropical storm watches have been issued for a portion of the North Carolina coast.
It’s not impossible, according to meteorologists, for Claudette to regain some wind strength and even intensify into a tropical storm over North Carolina. In the past, tropical systems have accomplished this feat.
“Hurricane Danny made landfall near the Gulf Coast in 1997, and as it proceeded northeastward across the southeastern United States over the next few days, it continued to lose wind strength. Danny strengthened back to a tropical storm over North Carolina before re-emerging over the west Atlantic waters,” meteorologists added.
Wind gusts of above 40 mph could be expected if this scenario plays out, especially on Monday around the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
reference – accuweather
recentclimate – Third tropical storm formed the Louisiana coast US