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Tropical Storm Dottie

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Tropical Storm Dottie
Tropical storm
Tropical Storm Dottie shortly after landfall
FormedAugust 18, 1976
DissipatedAugust 21, 1976
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 85 km/h (50 mph)
Lowest pressure996 hPa (mbar); 29.41 inHg
Fatalities4
Areas affectedSoutheast United States, Bahamas
Part of the 1976 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Dottie was the ninth tropical cyclone and fourth named storm of the 1976 Atlantic hurricane season. The precursor to Dottie formed in the Gulf of Mexico, on August 17. The low organized into a tropical depression on August 18, and following a general drift towards the east, it accelerated northeastward and made landfall on Florida, after attaining peak intensity as a moderate tropical storm. Upon re-emerging in the Atlantic, Dottie moved northward and moved ashore near Charleston, South Carolina. Damage from the storm was primarily insignificant, and limited to gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and high tides; however, a fishing boat capsized in the Bahamas, killing four people[who?].

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Dottie originated in an area of low pressure that formed on August 17, about 150 mi (240 km) northwest of Key West, Florida. The center of the disturbance soon began to consolidate, while barometric pressure fell 8 mbar in 24 hours;[1] it was declared a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on August 18.[2] The depression drifted east and northeastward over the next day, though it began to accelerate on August 19. The cyclone further intensified to tropical storm status by 1200 UTC. Operationally, however, it was not named until later that day.[1]

Having made landfall in southwestern Florida, Dottie quickly proceeded northeastward before re-emerging into the Atlantic Ocean. High pressure building to the north of the storm indicated it would turn more towards the west, but instead it moved nearly due northward.[1] The cyclone attained its peak intensity with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) at 0600 UTC on August 20,[3] and subsequently began to weaken; by the time Dottie made landfall in Charleston, South Carolina later that evening, it was barely of tropical storm intensity.[1] It deteriorated into a tropical depression on August 21, and dissipated shortly thereafter.[3] The remnant low turned southward and once again entered the Atlantic before turning westward and crossing the Florida peninsula.[2]

Preparations and impact

On August 19, in response to the storm, gale warnings were issued from Jacksonville, Florida to Virginia Beach, Virginia. A hurricane watch was also posted between Savannah, Georgia and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The hurricane watch was later extended to Jacksonville when conditions appeared more favorable for the storm's intensification, but were soon discontinued.[1] Flooding rains were anticipated in the Carolinas,[4] though in contrast, Dottie was compared to a mere thunderstorm by some local officials.[5]

Prior to being upgraded to a tropical storm, the depression spawned heavy precipitation and high winds throughout southern Florida and portions of the Bahamas.[6] In the Miami area, 24-hour rainfall totals from the storm exceeded 5 in (130 mm), with reports of up to 8 in (200 mm). Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph (64 to 80 km/h) were recorded across the northern Florida Keys and Grand Bahama. Near the latter location, a fishing boat capsized during the storm; four of its occupants drowned. Along the Southeastern U.S. coast, tides generally ran 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) above normal, peaking at 3.5 ft (1.1 m) in North Carolina. Moderate to heavy rainfall was reported in the Carolinas. Overall damage was light, and primarily limited to coastal beach erosion.[7][1][2] In some areas, Dottie helped relieve drought conditions.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Tropical Storm Dottie Preliminary Report Page 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  2. ^ a b c "Tropical Storm Dottie Preliminary Report Page 2". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  3. ^ a b "Tropical Storm Dottie Preliminary Report Page 3". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  4. ^ Thomas Cothran (August 21, 1976). "Dottie hits South Carolina". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2009-07-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Staff Writer (August 21, 1976). "Tropical Storm Dottie Limps Ashore at S.C." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-07-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Staff Writer (August 20, 1976). "Heavy Rains Rake Florida, Bahamas". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-07-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ David Roth. "Tropical Storm Dottie - August 17-25, 1976". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  8. ^ Staff Writer (August 21, 1976). "Weakened Dottie brings needed rain". The Free-Lance Star. Retrieved 2009-07-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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