High Impact Early Season Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

 

Flooding from Tropical Storm Allison, June 2001  (Source: NOAA)

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean Basin runs from June 1 - November 30.  June and November are typically the quietest months of the season when atmospheric and environmental conditions are the least favorable for development.  That’s not to say there haven’t been a few high impact tropical storms and hurricanes during the month of June.

Debby (2012):  Tropical Storm Debby was an example of how a tropical system doesn’t have to be intense to have significant impacts.  That’s because both tropical storms and minimal hurricanes have the potential to bring significant amounts of rain, along with coastal flooding and beach erosion.  Such was the case with Debby across much of central and northern Florida, where isolated rainfall totals of more than 20” were observed.  The heavy rain attributed to Debby and its remnants helped make June 2012 the wettest on record in Tampa.

Allison (2001):  While it was only a tropical storm at peak intensity when it made landfall in Texas, Allison achieved a dubious honor.  It was the first of only two Atlantic tropical storms to have had its name retired by the World Meteorological Organization.  Tropical storm and hurricane names are retired for being very damaging and/or deadly (e.g. Katrina, Andrew, Michael).  What made Allison unique wasn’t its intensity, but its longevity.  After making landfall in Texas, its remnants lingered for days and caused devastating flooding.

Agnes (1972):  Agnes became a minimal hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on June 18, but isn’t remembered for that.  As a weaker tropical storm, Agnes menaced much of the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States where its remnants caused widespread flooding.  Multiple June rainfall records were set from Virginia to New York, including DC’s wettest June day overall (6.11” on June 21, 1972).  In the Mid-Atlantic Region, Agnes brought record flooding and the storm had a death toll of more than 100.  Agnes subsequently had its name retired.

Alma (1966):  This was the last major Category 3 hurricane that developed in the Atlantic Basin during June.  At peak intensity, Alma had sustained winds of 125 mph when it passed over the Florida Keys.  It weakened, however, as it tracked north and ultimately made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in the Florida panhandle.  Were a similar storm to occur now, the impacts would be much more significant since Florida’s population and coastal development have increased dramatically in the decades since Alma.