Hurricane Dennis (1999)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Dennis was an Atlantic hurricane that affected the Bahamas and parts of the Mid-Atlantic
and Northeast
during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season
. The fifth tropical cyclone
, fourth tropical storm, and third hurricane of the season, Dennis originated from a tropical wave
that passed north of the Leeward Islands
in mid to late August. Moving west-northwest, the wave organized into a tropical depression on August 24. Tracking just north
of Grand Turk
that same day, the depression was upgrade to a tropical storm just several hours later. Positioned on the eastern end of an elongated trough
, Dennis was embedded within an area of high wind shear
. However, despite this, the storm strengthened into a hurricane on August 26, and then further into Category 2 hurricane status on August 28. Moving in an erractic motion off the North Carolina coastline, Dennis became entangled within a cold front
that caused dry air to impact the circulation, thus weakening the storm to a tropical storm. On August 30, Dennis made landfall along the Outerbanks of North Carolina, resulting in tropical storm-force sustained winds and hurricane-force gusts in the area. Rapidly weakening, Dennis weakened into a tropical depression over the central portion of North Carolina, and was absorbed within a larger Extratropical low on September 8, while located over Canada
.
, and on August 24 it was upgraded to Tropical Depression Five while located around 220 statute miles east of Grand Turk. It moved to the west-northwest, and later on the 24th it strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis.
Located at the eastern end of an elongated trough, Dennis was affected by westerly shear. Despite the unfavorable conditions, the storm intensified, and reached hurricane status on August 26 over the Bahamas. Due to the trough, Dennis moved very erratically, varying between a fast forward speed to a near drift in its developmental stages. After passing through the Bahamas, the shear decreased, and Dennis was able to reach Category 2 strength on the 28th.
A mid-latitude trough brought Dennis north and northeastward, causing it to parallel the Florida
through North Carolina
coastlines. While east of Florida on August 28, Dennis peaked at 105 mph (170 km/h) winds, though the wind field never resembled a classical tightly wound hurricane. The eye wall was around 35 miles (56.3 km) wide, and at some occasions Reconnaissance Aircraft
did not even report an eye. This may be because some upper level shear remained. Dennis weakened as it continued northeastward, but still brought hurricane force winds to the North Carolina coast on August 30.
Hurricane Dennis became involved with a cold front, which caused vertical shear and cool, dry air to impact the circulation. A ridge of high pressure to its north caused Dennis to stall, leading to the cyclone's weakening to a tropical storm on September 1 as a result of the unfavorable conditions. On the 1st and 2nd, with disorganized convection and a large wind field, Dennis resembled a subtropical cyclone
or even an extra-tropical storm, but it retained its warm core as it drifted southward over warmer waters. Dennis restrengthened as it turned to the west-northwest, and
made landfall near Harkers Island, North Carolina
on September 5 while just below hurricane strength. The storm rapidly weakened over land, and turned northward through Virginia. It became extra-tropical on September 7, and was absorbed by a larger extra-tropical low the following day, while located over Canada
.
, simultaneously, a tropical storm watch was also issued for the central Bahamas. Less than 24 hours, the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning, while there was also an additional hurricane watch. All watches and warnings within the Bahamas were discontinued by late August 28.
Watches and warnings in the United States started on August 27 with a hurricane watch being issued from Sebastian Inlet, Florida
to Fernandina Beach, Florida
. A tropical storm warning was also issued for much of the same area several hours later. As Hurricane Dennis began turning northward, the threat of it strike Florida lessened, which resulted in discontinuations of the watches and warnings.
) in damage and four deaths in North Carolina
, Virginia
and the northeastern United States
. The heavy rain from Dennis staged a catastrophic flood disaster wrought by Hurricane Floyd
about two weeks later.
, a weather station reported winds of 40 mi/h while other areas reported winds between 70-75 mph. A 976 mbar
reading and storm tide
s 1–3 feet above normal occurred as the center of the storm moved across Abaco Island on August 28. The only official rainfall total from the Bahamas was 4.4 inches (111.8 mm) at Eleuthera
and Abaco
.
Dennis caused moderate damage across the Bahamas. On Abaco Island, the rain caused heavy flooding and storm surge
washed out roads. Dennis also caused considerable damage to trees and boats. However, there were no reports of deaths or injuries and damage totals from the Bahamas are unavailable.
. In St. Augustine
, a weather station reported a 35 mi/h gust. Rainfall from Dennis was minimal, amounting to only 0.11 inches (2.8 mm) at Jacksonville International Airport
. Dennis also brought storm tide
s between 6–8 feet in some areas and there was only minor beach erosion. The strong rip currents brought by Dennis caused one fatality.
The state of Georgia
reported 35 mi/h wind gusts and only a trace of rain.
In South Carolina
, numerous weather stations reported winds between 40-55 mph and gusts reaching hurricane force. Rainfall up to 1.2 inches (30.5 mm) fell in some areas while buoys offshore reported tides 2 foot (0.6096 m) above normal. Minor to moderate beach erosion was reported from Charleston
to Colleton County. Damage in South Carolina
was limited to downed trees and scattered power outages.
coast. In Oregon Inlet, there were 60 mi/h winds, while Cape Hatteras
and Wrightsville Beach
reported gusts between 90-100 mph. A weather station reported 90 mi/h wind gusts and a barometric pressure reading of 977 mbar
. When Dennis made landfall on September 4, it brought tropical storm force winds to much of eastern North Carolina. 45 mi/h winds were reported in Cherry Point, North Carolina. Storm tides 3–5 feet above normal were reported along the North Carolina coast. Because Dennis was a slow moving storm, it produced heavy rains across eastern North Carolina. The highest rainfall total was 19.13 inches (485.9 mm) in Ocracoke
, while rainfall between 3-10 inches was reported elsewhere. The rain was beneficial as it broke a prolonged dry spell, but it also staged the catastrophic flood disaster caused by Hurricane Floyd
a month later. The heavy rains caused significant flooding that left $60 million dollars (1999 USD
) in structural damage and $37 million dollars (1999 USD
) in agricultural damage — totaling $97 million (1999 USD
). In addition, Dennis caused two indirect deaths when two cars collided during the storm. The heavy rains knocked down power lines near Wilmington, North Carolina
, leaving 56,000 residents without electricity.
between September 4 and September 6, producing heavy rainfall in central portions of the state and tidal flooding along the western shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay
. Rainfall totals include 5.59 inches (142 mm) at Clarksburg
, 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) at Glenmont
, and 4.41 inches (112 mm) at Gaithersburg
. Winds in the state gusted to 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h), causing downed tree limbs and scattered power outages. Associated lightning in Allegany County
struck two main power poles. The incident forced the closer of Interstate 68
and left 4,700 customers without power. Tides generally ran 2 to 3 ft (0.6096 to 0.9144 m) above normal along the coast; coastal flooding was reported at several locations. Two days of heavy rain swelled Jones Falls Creek, which swept away a 13 year old boy. After an hour, he was rescued from a pile of debris and treated for hypothermia. Street flooding of up to 2 foot (0.6096 m) in depth was reported. In Baltimore, persistent winds pushed water over a seawall at Inner Harbor
.
Periods of heavy rain, street flooding, wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h), and tidal flooding along the Potomac River
were also reported in Washington, D.C.
. The Washington Reagan National Airport recorded 2.31 inches (58.7 mm) of rain. The winds resulted in isolated power outages throughout the district. To protect the Washington Harbor, officials erected a flood wall along the Potomac River. The storm also dropped light rainfall in parts of Delaware
.
Rainfall in Pennsylvania
reached 7.29 inches (185.2 mm) at Lewisburg
. Elsewhere, in Lycoming County
, 4 to 8 in (101.6 to 203.2 mm) of precipitation was reported. The heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding that was compared to that of Hurricane Agnes
in 1972
. In Montgomery
, 30 houses were damaged and 80 residents were evacuated. Also struck severely by the flooding was Union County
. Several hundred homes and businesses were affected, and throughout the county, numerous vehicles were damaged. Elsewhere, trailers were swept away by the flood waters. Campers along the banks of various creeks were forced to higher ground. An entire neighborhood in Swatara Township
evacuated when flood waters reached depths of 8 feet (2.4 m). Across the region, basements and roads were flooded. In addition, mudslides closed two highways north of Liverpool
.
A narrow band of rainfall produce precipitation rates of over 2 inches (50.8 mm) per hour in some areas across southeastern New York
, which resulted in significant street flooding. The heaviest precipitation fell on the higher terrain of southeast Orange County
and northwest Rockland County
. On some roads, flood waters accumulated to 3 foot (0.9144 m) deep; this led to stalled vehicles. Several basements were flooded in the region. In New York City
, a period of hot weather, followed by heavy rainfall from the remnants of Dennis, contributed to the formation of a swarm of disease-carrying mosquitoes. A strong high pressure system developed over eastern Canada
and New England
. Combined with swells from Hurricane Dennis, beach erosion, rouge surf, and minor tidal flooding battered the coast of New Jersey
. Tides ranged as high as 7 feet (2.1 m) along the coast, and street flooding was reported onshore. As a result of the rouge surf, swimming restrictions were set. The beach at Cape Map Point
lost approximately 1 foot (0.3048 m) of sand to the erosion. Moderate rainfall extended into New England
, where in excess of 3 inches (76.2 mm) of precipitation was recorded.
Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic can refer to:*Mid-Atlantic English, a mix between British English and American English*Mid-Atlantic Region , one of the United States geographic divisions of the Little League World Series...
and Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season
1999 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1999 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1999, and lasted until November 30, 1999. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
. The fifth tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
, fourth tropical storm, and third hurricane of the season, Dennis originated from a tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
that passed north of the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
in mid to late August. Moving west-northwest, the wave organized into a tropical depression on August 24. Tracking just north
North
North is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.North is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the top side of a map is north....
of Grand Turk
Grand Turk
Grand Turk may refer to:* Grand Turk * Grand Turk Island* Cem, a Turkish prince made famous by his extended captivity in the West* an informal western name for the Great Sultan of the Turkish Ottoman dynasty...
that same day, the depression was upgrade to a tropical storm just several hours later. Positioned on the eastern end of an elongated trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
, Dennis was embedded within an area of high wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
. However, despite this, the storm strengthened into a hurricane on August 26, and then further into Category 2 hurricane status on August 28. Moving in an erractic motion off the North Carolina coastline, Dennis became entangled within a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
that caused dry air to impact the circulation, thus weakening the storm to a tropical storm. On August 30, Dennis made landfall along the Outerbanks of North Carolina, resulting in tropical storm-force sustained winds and hurricane-force gusts in the area. Rapidly weakening, Dennis weakened into a tropical depression over the central portion of North Carolina, and was absorbed within a larger Extratropical low on September 8, while located over Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave moved off the African coast on August 17. The wave continued west-northwestward, not organizing until August 21 when an increase in convection occurred. A low-level circulation slowly developed as it passed north of the Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
, and on August 24 it was upgraded to Tropical Depression Five while located around 220 statute miles east of Grand Turk. It moved to the west-northwest, and later on the 24th it strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis.
Located at the eastern end of an elongated trough, Dennis was affected by westerly shear. Despite the unfavorable conditions, the storm intensified, and reached hurricane status on August 26 over the Bahamas. Due to the trough, Dennis moved very erratically, varying between a fast forward speed to a near drift in its developmental stages. After passing through the Bahamas, the shear decreased, and Dennis was able to reach Category 2 strength on the 28th.
A mid-latitude trough brought Dennis north and northeastward, causing it to parallel the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
through North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
coastlines. While east of Florida on August 28, Dennis peaked at 105 mph (170 km/h) winds, though the wind field never resembled a classical tightly wound hurricane. The eye wall was around 35 miles (56.3 km) wide, and at some occasions Reconnaissance Aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
did not even report an eye. This may be because some upper level shear remained. Dennis weakened as it continued northeastward, but still brought hurricane force winds to the North Carolina coast on August 30.
Hurricane Dennis became involved with a cold front, which caused vertical shear and cool, dry air to impact the circulation. A ridge of high pressure to its north caused Dennis to stall, leading to the cyclone's weakening to a tropical storm on September 1 as a result of the unfavorable conditions. On the 1st and 2nd, with disorganized convection and a large wind field, Dennis resembled a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
or even an extra-tropical storm, but it retained its warm core as it drifted southward over warmer waters. Dennis restrengthened as it turned to the west-northwest, and
made landfall near Harkers Island, North Carolina
Harkers Island, North Carolina
Harkers Island is a census-designated place in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population of Harkers Island was 1,623 at the 2007 census. Harkers Island is unincorporated and receives most public services, including law enforcement and public education, from Carteret County....
on September 5 while just below hurricane strength. The storm rapidly weakened over land, and turned northward through Virginia. It became extra-tropical on September 7, and was absorbed by a larger extra-tropical low the following day, while located over Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Preparations
The erratic motion of Hurricane Dennis resulted in several tropical storm watches and warnings, as well as hurricane watches and warning to be issued. Alerts from this hurricane were issued starting on August 24, at which time a tropical storm warning was put it place for the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
, simultaneously, a tropical storm watch was also issued for the central Bahamas. Less than 24 hours, the tropical storm watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning, while there was also an additional hurricane watch. All watches and warnings within the Bahamas were discontinued by late August 28.
Watches and warnings in the United States started on August 27 with a hurricane watch being issued from Sebastian Inlet, Florida
Sebastian Inlet, Florida
Sebastian Inlet, located in Sebastian Inlet State Park in Brevard County, Florida and Indian River County, Florida, offers surfing and fishing opportunities. It is off Florida State Road A1A just 12 miles north of Vero Beach. There are annual surf tournaments, professional and amateur...
to Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach is a city in Nassau County in the state of Florida in the United States of America and on Amelia Island. It is a part of Greater Jacksonville and is among Florida's northernmost cities. The area was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indian tribe...
. A tropical storm warning was also issued for much of the same area several hours later. As Hurricane Dennis began turning northward, the threat of it strike Florida lessened, which resulted in discontinuations of the watches and warnings.
Impact
Dennis left $157 million (1999 USDUnited States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damage and four deaths in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The heavy rain from Dennis staged a catastrophic flood disaster wrought by Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
about two weeks later.
Bahamas
Dennis brought tropical storm and hurricane force winds to the Bahamas. In Grand BahamaGrand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
, a weather station reported winds of 40 mi/h while other areas reported winds between 70-75 mph. A 976 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
reading and storm tide
Storm tide
A storm tide is a tide with a high flood period caused by a storm. Storm tides can be a severe danger to the coast and the people living along the coast. The water level can rise to more than 5 meters above the normal tide....
s 1–3 feet above normal occurred as the center of the storm moved across Abaco Island on August 28. The only official rainfall total from the Bahamas was 4.4 inches (111.8 mm) at Eleuthera
Eleuthera
Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000...
and Abaco
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
.
Dennis caused moderate damage across the Bahamas. On Abaco Island, the rain caused heavy flooding and storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
washed out roads. Dennis also caused considerable damage to trees and boats. However, there were no reports of deaths or injuries and damage totals from the Bahamas are unavailable.
Southeastern United States
When Dennis was offshore the storm brought winds up to 35 mi/h with gusts reaching to 40 mi/h to Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. In St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
, a weather station reported a 35 mi/h gust. Rainfall from Dennis was minimal, amounting to only 0.11 inches (2.8 mm) at Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located 13 miles north of downtown Jacksonville, a city in Duval County, Florida...
. Dennis also brought storm tide
Storm tide
A storm tide is a tide with a high flood period caused by a storm. Storm tides can be a severe danger to the coast and the people living along the coast. The water level can rise to more than 5 meters above the normal tide....
s between 6–8 feet in some areas and there was only minor beach erosion. The strong rip currents brought by Dennis caused one fatality.
The state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
reported 35 mi/h wind gusts and only a trace of rain.
In South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, numerous weather stations reported winds between 40-55 mph and gusts reaching hurricane force. Rainfall up to 1.2 inches (30.5 mm) fell in some areas while buoys offshore reported tides 2 foot (0.6096 m) above normal. Minor to moderate beach erosion was reported from Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to Colleton County. Damage in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
was limited to downed trees and scattered power outages.
North Carolina
On August 30, Dennis brought tropical storm force winds with gusts up to hurricane force to the North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
coast. In Oregon Inlet, there were 60 mi/h winds, while Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
and Wrightsville Beach
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Wrightsville Beach is a town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. Wrightsville Beach is just east of Wilmington and is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,593 at the 2000 census...
reported gusts between 90-100 mph. A weather station reported 90 mi/h wind gusts and a barometric pressure reading of 977 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
. When Dennis made landfall on September 4, it brought tropical storm force winds to much of eastern North Carolina. 45 mi/h winds were reported in Cherry Point, North Carolina. Storm tides 3–5 feet above normal were reported along the North Carolina coast. Because Dennis was a slow moving storm, it produced heavy rains across eastern North Carolina. The highest rainfall total was 19.13 inches (485.9 mm) in Ocracoke
Ocracoke, North Carolina
Ocracoke is a census-designated place and unincorporated town located at the southern end of Ocracoke Island, located entirely within Hyde County, North Carolina. The population was 769 as of the 2000 census...
, while rainfall between 3-10 inches was reported elsewhere. The rain was beneficial as it broke a prolonged dry spell, but it also staged the catastrophic flood disaster caused by Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
a month later. The heavy rains caused significant flooding that left $60 million dollars (1999 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in structural damage and $37 million dollars (1999 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in agricultural damage — totaling $97 million (1999 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
). In addition, Dennis caused two indirect deaths when two cars collided during the storm. The heavy rains knocked down power lines near Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, leaving 56,000 residents without electricity.
Virginia and Mid-Atlantic
The remnants of Dennis tracked across MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
between September 4 and September 6, producing heavy rainfall in central portions of the state and tidal flooding along the western shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. Rainfall totals include 5.59 inches (142 mm) at Clarksburg
Clarksburg, Maryland
Clarksburg is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Northern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located along the Interstate 270 technology corridor about 4 miles north of Germantown, MD. As of Census 2010 its population is 13,766....
, 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) at Glenmont
Glenmont, Maryland
Glenmont is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. The U.S. Census Bureau combines Glenmont with nearby Wheaton to create the Census Designated Place of Wheaton-Glenmont.- Location :...
, and 4.41 inches (112 mm) at Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
. Winds in the state gusted to 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h), causing downed tree limbs and scattered power outages. Associated lightning in Allegany County
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
struck two main power poles. The incident forced the closer of Interstate 68
Interstate 68
Interstate 68 is a Interstate highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting in Morgantown to in Hancock. is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System. From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as...
and left 4,700 customers without power. Tides generally ran 2 to 3 ft (0.6096 to 0.9144 m) above normal along the coast; coastal flooding was reported at several locations. Two days of heavy rain swelled Jones Falls Creek, which swept away a 13 year old boy. After an hour, he was rescued from a pile of debris and treated for hypothermia. Street flooding of up to 2 foot (0.6096 m) in depth was reported. In Baltimore, persistent winds pushed water over a seawall at Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
.
Periods of heavy rain, street flooding, wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h), and tidal flooding along the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
were also reported in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The Washington Reagan National Airport recorded 2.31 inches (58.7 mm) of rain. The winds resulted in isolated power outages throughout the district. To protect the Washington Harbor, officials erected a flood wall along the Potomac River. The storm also dropped light rainfall in parts of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
.
Rainfall in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
reached 7.29 inches (185.2 mm) at Lewisburg
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Lewisburg is a borough in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States, south by southeast of Williamsport and north of Harrisburg. In the past, it was the commercial center for a fertile grain and general farming region. The population was 5,620 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union...
. Elsewhere, in Lycoming County
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
, 4 to 8 in (101.6 to 203.2 mm) of precipitation was reported. The heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding that was compared to that of Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
in 1972
1972 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1972 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1972, and lasted until November 30, 1972. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. A strong El Niño kept hurricane activity at a minimum, and in fact the season...
. In Montgomery
Montgomery, Pennsylvania
Montgomery is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,695 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, 30 houses were damaged and 80 residents were evacuated. Also struck severely by the flooding was Union County
Union County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile . There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
. Several hundred homes and businesses were affected, and throughout the county, numerous vehicles were damaged. Elsewhere, trailers were swept away by the flood waters. Campers along the banks of various creeks were forced to higher ground. An entire neighborhood in Swatara Township
Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Swatara Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 22,611 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.8 square miles , of which, 13.2 square miles of it is land and...
evacuated when flood waters reached depths of 8 feet (2.4 m). Across the region, basements and roads were flooded. In addition, mudslides closed two highways north of Liverpool
Liverpool, Pennsylvania
Liverpool is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States, about from Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
A narrow band of rainfall produce precipitation rates of over 2 inches (50.8 mm) per hour in some areas across southeastern New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which resulted in significant street flooding. The heaviest precipitation fell on the higher terrain of southeast Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
and northwest Rockland County
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
. On some roads, flood waters accumulated to 3 foot (0.9144 m) deep; this led to stalled vehicles. Several basements were flooded in the region. In New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a period of hot weather, followed by heavy rainfall from the remnants of Dennis, contributed to the formation of a swarm of disease-carrying mosquitoes. A strong high pressure system developed over eastern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Combined with swells from Hurricane Dennis, beach erosion, rouge surf, and minor tidal flooding battered the coast of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Tides ranged as high as 7 feet (2.1 m) along the coast, and street flooding was reported onshore. As a result of the rouge surf, swimming restrictions were set. The beach at Cape Map Point
Cape May Point, New Jersey
Cape May Point is a borough located at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the resident population was 291...
lost approximately 1 foot (0.3048 m) of sand to the erosion. Moderate rainfall extended into New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, where in excess of 3 inches (76.2 mm) of precipitation was recorded.
See also
- Other storms of the same nameHurricane Dennis (disambiguation)The name Dennis has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. The name was retired in 2006 and it was replaced by Don for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season....
- List of Florida hurricanes
- List of North Carolina hurricanes
- List of New Jersey hurricanes