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Tropical Storm Lee (2011)

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Tropical Storm Lee is an active tropical cyclone over the Gulf of Mexico, which poses a threat to the upper Gulf Coast of the United States. It is the twelfth named storm and thirteenth system overall of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, developing from a broad tropical disturbance over the Gulf on September 1. It was designated as Tropical Storm Lee the next day. Due to the large size, as well as the slow forward movement of the storm, heavy rainfall has occurred, and prolonged heavy rainfall is expected along the southern counties of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle.[1] The storm is expected to drop 10-15 inches of rain in coastal areas of those states, or as much as 20 inches in some areas.[2]

Tropical Storm Lee
Current storm status
Tropical storm (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:10 a.m. CDT (1500 UTC) September 3
Location:29.3°N 91.8°W ± 20 nm
About 45 mi (75 km) SW of Morgan City, Louisiana
About 65 mi (100 km) S of Lafayette, Louisiana
Sustained winds:50 knots (60 mph; 95 km/h) (1-min mean)
gusting to 60 knots (70 mph; 110 km/h)
Pressure:993 mbar (hPa; 29.32 inHg)
Movement:N at 5 kt (6 mph; 9 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Meteorological history

In late August 2011, much of the western Caribbean came under the influence of abundant tropical moisture.[3] Combined with favorable upper diffluence, the moisture allowed for a perpetual area of disturbed weather to form; this in return contributed to the genesis of a weak tropical wave, or an elongated low-pressure feature at the lower levels of the atmosphere.[4] The wave initiated a more or less westward, then west-northwestward drift across the Yucatán Peninsula toward the Gulf of Mexico, although it remained largely disorganized while doing so.[5][6] After arriving in the gulf on August 31, the system failed to develop much under initially high wind shear; however, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast some potential for the formation of a tropical cyclone in a day or two.[7] Strong convection increased mainly to its east during the next day,[8] and by 2300 UTC data from a reconnaissance aircraft confirmed the presence of a closed circulation center. At this point, the system was considered sufficiently organized to be upgraded to a tropical depression, with its center located 255 mi (360 km) to the southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River.[9]

 
The precursor depression to Lee over the northern Gulf of Mexico

Situated within an area of weak steering currents, the depression remained nearly stationary during the initial stages of its existence.[10] It exhibited a poor organization at the time; the circulation remained elongated, with a broad center of light winds removed from the sheared convective mass.[9][11] Over the course of September 2 the convection began to deepen over its eastern portion,[12] which later translated into an increase in the winds. Based on this, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Lee at 1800 UTC.[13] Lee meandered erratically north-northwestward to northward for the rest of the day, and with a small upper low advecting dry air into the circulation any deep convection over its western semicircle remained scarce during that time.[14][15] By September 3, the storm sustained a large radius of maximum winds within the still elongated circulation; this unusual structure to purely tropical cyclones, combined with an overall hybrid appearance on satellite images, suggested Lee supported subtropical characteristics.[16]

Preparations and impact

In advance of the storm, oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico ordered the evacuation of employees from offshore platforms as a safety precaution.[17] At least 169 of the 617 manned production platforms, as well as 16 of 62 drilling rigs were evacuated in the area, reducing daily production by about 660,000 oil barrels and 1.7 billion cu ft of gas.[18] A tropical storm warning was posted from Pascagoula, Mississippi westward to Sabine Pass, Texas in response to Lee.[19] Early on September 3, the warning was extended to the Alabama–Florida border. In addition, a tropical storm watch was in place from the border eastward to Destin, Florida.[20]

Louisiana

Mayor Mitch Landrieu declared a state of emergency for all of New Orleans; officials accordingly ordered the closure of floodgates and the preparation of rescue boats across the city.[21] In Grand Isle, many residents headed out of town after officials issued voluntary evacuations, and boat owners secured their vessels.[22] Additionally, the Louisiana parishes of Terrebonne and Lafourche issued flash flood warnings after specialists forecast torrential rainfall,[23] and sandbags were distributed at several coastal locations.[24] Headwinds from Lee fanned a large fire in Natchitoches Parish; about 400 acres of land, including 10 adjacent homes and several buildings, were set ablaze and subsequently destroyed.[25]

Mississippi

In light of heavy rainfall forecast for coastal areas, much of southern Mississippi was under a flash flood watch until the passage of the storm. A state of emergency was ordered for Jackson County; local fire stations initiated in the free distribution of sandbags, and the harbor was closed off to all transient vessels.[26] Similar preparations took place in Hancock County, where officials issued voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas.[27] Gulf Islands National Seashore ordered the immediate closure of all of the state's barrier islands, while its present visitors were instructed to leave.[28]

Current storm information

Template:HurricaneWarningsTable As of 10 a.m. CDT (1500 UTC) September 3, Tropical Storm Lee is located within 20 nautical miles of 29°18′N 91°48′W / 29.3°N 91.8°W / 29.3; -91.8 (Lee), about 45 mi (75 km) southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana and about 65 mi (100 km) south of Lafayette, Louisiana. Maximum sustained winds are 50 knots (60 mph, 95 km/h), with stronger gusts. Minimum central pressure is 993 mbar (hPa; 29.32 InHg), and the system is moving north at 5 kt (6 mph, 9 km/h). Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles (370 km) from the center of Lee.

See also

Reference

  1. ^ "Tropical Storm Lee: Flood Threat and Drought Denter", The Weather Channel, weather.con, September 2011, webpage: TWC: states, "Slow-moving tropical cyclones bring flooding rainfall."
  2. ^ "Tropical Storm Lee Path - Rain Forecast", www.thedailygreen.com, September 2, 2011, webpage: DG1109: states, "drop 10-15 inches of rain, or as much as 20 inches".
  3. ^ Formosa, Mike (2011-08-30). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  4. ^ Walton, Corey (2011-08-30). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  5. ^ Brown, Dan (2011-08-31). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  6. ^ Pasch, Richard (2011-08-31). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  7. ^ Wallace, Patricia (2011-08-31). "Tropical Weather Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  8. ^ Pasch, Richard; Cangialosi, John (2011-09-01). "Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  9. ^ a b Brown, Dan; Avila, Lixion (2011-09-01). "Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  10. ^ Brown, Dan (2011-09-02). "Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  11. ^ Beven, Jack (2011-09-02). "Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  12. ^ Stewart, Stacy (2011-09-02). "Tropical Depression Thirteen Discussion Number Four". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  13. ^ Stewart, Stacy (2011-09-02). "Tropical Storm Lee Advisory Number 4 A". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  14. ^ Stewart, Stacy (2011-09-02). "Tropical Storm Lee Discussion Number Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  15. ^ Brown, Dan (2011-09-02). "Tropical Storm Lee Discussion Number Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  16. ^ Beven, Jack (2011-09-03). "Tropical Storm Lee Discussion Number Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  17. ^ CNN Wire Staff (2011-09-01). "Tropical depression forms in Gulf; coastal states brace for storm". CNN. Retrieved 2011-09-02. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ Staff Reporter (2011-09-02). "Tropical Storm Lee headed for Gulf Coast as Louisiana residents prepare for the worst". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  19. ^ Avila, Daniel (2011-09-01). "Tropical Depression Thirteen Special Advisory Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-02. {{cite web}}: |first2= missing |last2= (help)
  20. ^ Brown, Daniel (2011-09-03). "Tropical Storm Lee Advisory Number 6". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  21. ^ Staff reporter (2011-09-02). "Tropical Storm Lee triggers states of emergency along Gulf". MSNBC. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  22. ^ Rodriguez, Maya (2011-09-02). "Grand Isle a ghost town as Lee approaches". WWL-TV. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  23. ^ Heisig, Eric (2011-09-02). "Drivers urged to stay off rainy roads". The Houma Courier. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  24. ^ Unattributed (2011-09-02). "Sand Bag Locations". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  25. ^ Associated Press. "Crews battling major fire in Natchitoches Parish". The Republic. Retrieved 2011-09-03. {{cite web}}: Text "2011-09-02" ignored (help)
  26. ^ Harris, Donna (2011-09-02). "Jackson County declares state of emergency". Sun Herald. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  27. ^ Pender, Geoff (2011-09-02). "Voluntary evacuation issued in Hancock County". Sun Herald. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  28. ^ Kirgan, Harlan (2011-09-02). "Mississippi barrier islands closing due to Tropical Storm Lee". Mississippi Press. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
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