Tropical Storm Bonnie (2010)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Bonnie was a weak tropical storm that brought squally weather to the northern Caribbean Sea
and Gulf Coast of the United States
in July 2010. The third tropical cyclone and second named storm
of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
, Bonnie developed as a tropical depression from a tropical wave
over the Bahamas on July 22. It strengthened to a tropical storm while crossing the islands, and made landfall
on the southeastern coast of Florida
the following day. Inland, Bonnie gradually weakened back to tropical depression status before entering the Gulf of Mexico
, where its surface circulation dissipated on July 24. The remnants of the storm moved ashore between Louisiana
and Mississippi
early on July 25, prompting severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in the area.
The precursor to Bonnie produced considerable amounts of rainfall across the Greater Antilles
, resulting in light to moderate flooding. In the Dominican Republic
, hundreds of people were displaced, and several bridges collapsed over rushing waters. One person drowned after being swept away by a swollen river in Puerto Rico
. Elsewhere, light amounts of rainfall was reported in Haiti
, the Bahamas and Florida. Effects were more severe from the remnants of Bonnie, with heavier rain amounts and higher winds reported near the Gulf Coast, especially in Louisiana. Damage as a result of the storm and its remnants totaled $1.5 million (2010 USD).
n coast and moved westward over the open Atlantic for several days. Initially, the associated weather activity was limited to weak showers, and environmental conditions were not forecast to become conducive for significant organization. Although upper-level wind shear
remained somewhat adverse, a process of slow development
became evident by July 19 as surface pressure
s began to fall. The wave proceeded along the extreme northeastern Caribbean, where convective activity
waxed and waned due to periods of variable wind shear and brief land interaction with Hispaniola
. By July 22, thundershower activity reestablished over the Bahamas, with a distinct area of low pressure centered between the islands of Acklins
and Great Inagua. Satellite observations
confirmed a closed circulation, leading the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) to issue the formation of Tropical Depression Three around 1500 UTC
. However, post-storm analysis indicated that a depression had developed nine hours earlier than operationally confirmed.
Upon its formation, the depression was forecast to be steered to the west-northwest along a well-established subtropical ridge
. Later that day, minimum pressure dropped to 1006 mbar
(29.74 inHg
), and satellite imagery showed an establishment of favorable outflow
in nearly all quadrant
s. Although its cloud pattern remained disorganized—with the circulation center disassociated from the deepest convection—a reconnaissance aircraft
flight into the cyclone found that the winds had increased. It was therefore upgraded to Tropical Storm Bonnie southeast of Nassau, Bahamas
, about five hours after NHC initiated advisories on the system.
Around 2100 UTC, Bonnie moved over Ragged Island in the Bahamas with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), and shortly thereafter it attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 m/h). Due to increasingly unfavorable conditions aloft, little change in intensity occurred during the following day as the storm accelerated toward Florida. Though tropical storm-force winds prevailed, they were confined to a few rainband
s to the north and east of the center at that time, with the deepest convection dislocated over southeast Florida. On July 23 at 1430 UTC, the center of Bonnie made landfall near Elliott Key
with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). Interaction with land caused the organization to deteriorate further, and its corresponding convection quickly diminished. In addition, a second reconnaissance flight affirmed a lack of significant winds; it is estimated the cyclone lost tropical storm status around 1800 UTC that same day. On the morning of July 24, deep convection briefly redeveloped over the center as Bonnie emerged into the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the redevelopment, the storm subsequently entered a region of intense upper-level winds, causing associated convection to become sheared away rapidly. Embedded within a well-established steering flow, Bonnie further degenerated to a tight swirl of low clouds, with no more than a few remaining patches of strong thunderstorms. Subsequent satellite images confirmed Bonnie no longer maintained a definable structure; following the final advisory by the NHC, the system was pronounced dissipated while located about 100 mi (160 km) from the mouth of the Mississippi River
. The remnant low of Bonnie drifted west-northwestward before dissolving over southeast Louisiana on July 25.
northward to Jupiter Inlet, and included Lake Okeechobee
. In addition, a tropical storm warning was issued from Golden Beach to Bonita Springs on the west coast of the state, and included the Florida Keys
and Florida Bay
. However, by early on July 23, the tropical storm warning from Golden Beach to Bonita Springs was discontinued. Simultaneously, a tropical storm warning was issued from Englewood
to Deerfield Beach, Florida
. Six hours later, a tropical storm watch was put into effect for Destin, Florida
to Morgan City, Louisiana
; it was later upgraded to a tropical storm warning. Three hours later, the tropical storm watch from Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet, Florida, was discontinued. Simultaneously, all tropical storm warnings in the Bahamas were discontinued. Furthermore, all tropical storm watches/warnings were discontinued by 1500 UTC July 24, which was shortly before Bonnie dissipated.
Three cruise ships, Carnival Pride
, Carnival Destiny
, and Grandeur of the Seas
had to alter their courses due to the presence of Bonnie. Due to the threat of a tropical storm, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
declared a state of emergency
on July 22. Along the Gulf Coast
, concerns arose regarding the potential effects of the storm on the BP oil spill
earlier in the year. Due to risk of intoxicated storm surge
, authorities prepared for possible evacuations of low-lying areas along coastlines. On July 23, Admiral
Thad Allen ordered the oil spill site to be evacuated, citing that Bonnie posed a safety threat to nearly 2,000 people in that area. In addition, the ships and vessels in the area began preparation for evacuation on July 24. Closer to shore, approximately 1,300 fishing boats laying boom had evacuated.
of Haiti, though no damage was reported.
As Bonnie moved through the Bahamas, residents stocked up on food and water as a precautionary measure; however, no major preparations took place. Most businesses remained open during the system's passage and schools were already closed for the summer. Throughout the islands, the effects from Bonnie were relatively minimal. Heavy rain fell across a few islands and copious lightning
was reported. No known damage or loss of life took place.
. Tropical storm-force winds were recorded in several areas, although sustained winds of over 40 mph (65 km/h) were confined to Virginia Key. Rainfall was also minimal, with a maximum of 3.25 in (82.6 mm) falling in northern Miami-Dade County
. Overall, monetary losses as a result of the storm in Florida amounted to $2,000 (2010 USD). In Pinellas County
, one person was hospitalized after being struck by lightning at Fred Howard Park on July 24.
On July 25, the remnants of Bonnie brought torrential rainfall to parts of Louisiana. In a 90 minute span, between 8 and 9 in (203.2 and 228.6 mm) of rain fell in West Baton Rouge Parish
. About 110 homes were flooded throughout the parish, resulting in $500,000 (2010 USD) in losses. Along Highway 15
, 2 ft (0.6096 m) of water was reported to have covered the road. In Washington Parish
, more than 20 bridges and roads were washed out by flash flooding. Strong thunderstorms associated with the system also produced strong winds, estimated up to 69 mph (111 km/h), which downed several trees. A second day of severe weather on July 26 brought hurricane-force wind gusts to portions of Vernon Parish
; two chicken houses were destroyed by the winds, killing 22,000 chickens. Losses from the winds were estimated at $310,000 (2010 USD). After moving through Louisiana, Bonnie's remnants brought heavy rain to parts of Texas. In Hidalgo County
, U.S. Route 69
was reportedly covered with high water.
Further inland, moisture from Bonnie combined with a cold front
to produce widespread thunderstorms over Arkansas
, Mississippi
and Tennessee
. In Arkansas, lightning from a severe thunderstorm knocked out power to much of the city of Rison
after striking a transformer. Significant wind damage took place in Dallas County where awnings were blown off homes, structures sustained roof damage, and trees were felled. Heavy rains also triggered localized flash flooding, covering several highways. Throughout the state, storm damage was estimated at roughly $356,000 (2010 USD).
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and Gulf Coast of the United States
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
in July 2010. The third tropical cyclone and second named storm
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season
2010 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, tying with the 1887 Atlantic hurricane season, 1995 Atlantic hurricane season and the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It had the most number of named storms since the 2005 season and also ties with the...
, Bonnie developed as a tropical depression 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...
over the Bahamas on July 22. It strengthened to a tropical storm while crossing the islands, and made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
on the southeastern coast of 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...
the following day. Inland, Bonnie gradually weakened back to tropical depression status before entering the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, where its surface circulation dissipated on July 24. The remnants of the storm moved ashore between Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
early on July 25, prompting severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in the area.
The precursor to Bonnie produced considerable amounts of rainfall across the Greater Antilles
Greater Antilles
The Greater Antilles are one of three island groups in the Caribbean. Comprising Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles constitute almost 90% of the land mass of the entire West Indies.-Greater Antilles in context :The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as...
, resulting in light to moderate flooding. In the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, hundreds of people were displaced, and several bridges collapsed over rushing waters. One person drowned after being swept away by a swollen river in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Elsewhere, light amounts of rainfall was reported in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, the Bahamas and Florida. Effects were more severe from the remnants of Bonnie, with heavier rain amounts and higher winds reported near the Gulf Coast, especially in Louisiana. Damage as a result of the storm and its remnants totaled $1.5 million (2010 USD).
Meteorological history
On July 10, a tropical wave exited the AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n coast and moved westward over the open Atlantic for several days. Initially, the associated weather activity was limited to weak showers, and environmental conditions were not forecast to become conducive for significant organization. Although upper-level 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...
remained somewhat adverse, a process of slow development
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
became evident by July 19 as surface pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
s began to fall. The wave proceeded along the extreme northeastern Caribbean, where convective activity
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
waxed and waned due to periods of variable wind shear and brief land interaction with Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. By July 22, thundershower activity reestablished over the Bahamas, with a distinct area of low pressure centered between the islands of Acklins
Acklins
Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and...
and Great Inagua. Satellite observations
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
confirmed a closed circulation, leading the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
(NHC) to issue the formation of Tropical Depression Three around 1500 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
. However, post-storm analysis indicated that a depression had developed nine hours earlier than operationally confirmed.
Upon its formation, the depression was forecast to be steered to the west-northwest along a well-established subtropical ridge
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
. Later that day, minimum pressure dropped to 1006 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...
(29.74 inHg
Inch of mercury
Inches of mercury, ' is a unit of measurement for pressure. It is still widely used for barometric pressure in weather reports, refrigeration and aviation in the United States, but is seldom used elsewhere....
), and satellite imagery showed an establishment of favorable outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
in nearly all quadrant
Circular sector
A circular sector or circle sector, is the portion of a disk enclosed by two radii and an arc, where the smaller area is known as the minor sector and the larger being the major sector. In the diagram, θ is the central angle in radians, r the radius of the circle, and L is the arc length of the...
s. Although its cloud pattern remained disorganized—with the circulation center disassociated from the deepest convection—a 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...
flight into the cyclone found that the winds had increased. It was therefore upgraded to Tropical Storm Bonnie southeast of Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
, about five hours after NHC initiated advisories on the system.
Around 2100 UTC, Bonnie moved over Ragged Island in the Bahamas with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), and shortly thereafter it attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 m/h). Due to increasingly unfavorable conditions aloft, little change in intensity occurred during the following day as the storm accelerated toward Florida. Though tropical storm-force winds prevailed, they were confined to a few rainband
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
s to the north and east of the center at that time, with the deepest convection dislocated over southeast Florida. On July 23 at 1430 UTC, the center of Bonnie made landfall near Elliott Key
Elliott Key
Elliott Key is the northernmost of the true Florida Keys , and the largest key north of Key Largo. It is located entirely within Biscayne National Park, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, east of Homestead, Florida...
with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). Interaction with land caused the organization to deteriorate further, and its corresponding convection quickly diminished. In addition, a second reconnaissance flight affirmed a lack of significant winds; it is estimated the cyclone lost tropical storm status around 1800 UTC that same day. On the morning of July 24, deep convection briefly redeveloped over the center as Bonnie emerged into the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the redevelopment, the storm subsequently entered a region of intense upper-level winds, causing associated convection to become sheared away rapidly. Embedded within a well-established steering flow, Bonnie further degenerated to a tight swirl of low clouds, with no more than a few remaining patches of strong thunderstorms. Subsequent satellite images confirmed Bonnie no longer maintained a definable structure; following the final advisory by the NHC, the system was pronounced dissipated while located about 100 mi (160 km) from the mouth of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The remnant low of Bonnie drifted west-northwestward before dissolving over southeast Louisiana on July 25.
Preparations
When the NHC initiated advisories on Bonnie, a tropical storm warning was issued for the central and northwest islands of the Bahamas. In Florida, a tropical storm watch was issued for Golden BeachGolden Beach, Florida
Golden Beach is a town located in the northeast corner of Miami-Dade County, Florida, between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 919. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 921.-Geography:Golden Beach is...
northward to Jupiter Inlet, and included Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
. In addition, a tropical storm warning was issued from Golden Beach to Bonita Springs on the west coast of the state, and included the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
and Florida Bay
Florida Bay
Florida Bay is the bay located between the southern end of the Florida mainland and the Florida Keys. Its area is variously stated to be , or , or . Nearly all of Florida Bay is included in Everglades National Park. The southern edge, along the Florida Keys is in the Florida Keys National Marine...
. However, by early on July 23, the tropical storm warning from Golden Beach to Bonita Springs was discontinued. Simultaneously, a tropical storm warning was issued from Englewood
Englewood, Florida
Englewood is a census-designated place in Charlotte and Sarasota counties in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 16,196.Englewood also was the original name for Vineland, Florida...
to Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, USA. The city is named for the numerous deer that once roamed the area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,018...
. Six hours later, a tropical storm watch was put into effect for Destin, Florida
Destin, Florida
Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters...
to Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City is a city in St. Martin and St. Mary parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census....
; it was later upgraded to a tropical storm warning. Three hours later, the tropical storm watch from Deerfield Beach to Jupiter Inlet, Florida, was discontinued. Simultaneously, all tropical storm warnings in the Bahamas were discontinued. Furthermore, all tropical storm watches/warnings were discontinued by 1500 UTC July 24, which was shortly before Bonnie dissipated.
Three cruise ships, Carnival Pride
Carnival Pride
Carnival Pride is a Spirit class cruise ship that was built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki. She is owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC and operated by Carnival Cruise Lines. She has 1,062 staterooms; eighty percent of the staterooms have ocean views and eighty percent of those have private...
, Carnival Destiny
Carnival Destiny
Carnival Destiny is a cruise ship that is owned and operated by Carnival Cruise Lines. Destiny spends her time plying the waters of the Caribbean. Upon entering service in 1996, she was the largest passenger ship ever built as measured by gross tonnage, and the first passenger ship larger than the...
, and Grandeur of the Seas
Grandeur of the Seas
The MS Grandeur of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean International's Vision Class of cruise ships. Features include a full-service spa, six whirlpools, an outdoor jogging track and a number of bars and restaurants....
had to alter their courses due to the presence of Bonnie. Due to the threat of a tropical storm, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
declared a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
on July 22. Along the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
, concerns arose regarding the potential effects of the storm on the BP oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
earlier in the year. Due to risk of intoxicated 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...
, authorities prepared for possible evacuations of low-lying areas along coastlines. On July 23, Admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
Thad Allen ordered the oil spill site to be evacuated, citing that Bonnie posed a safety threat to nearly 2,000 people in that area. In addition, the ships and vessels in the area began preparation for evacuation on July 24. Closer to shore, approximately 1,300 fishing boats laying boom had evacuated.
Caribbean
The precursor to Bonnie brought significant rainfall to parts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, leading to widespread flooding. In Puerto Rico, one person drowned after being caught in a swollen river, and roughly 500 people required evacuation in the Dominican Republic. According to officials in the Dominican Republic, the system produced more than 4 in (101.6 mm) of rain across the territory. Several towns in the country were isolated after bridges collapsed. Some light flooding also occurred in the Artibonite DepartmentArtibonite Department
Artibonite is one of the ten departments of Haiti. With an area of 4,984 km² it is Haiti's largest department. Artibonite has a population of 1,168,800 . The region is the country's main rice-growing area. The main cities are Gonaïves and Saint-Marc...
of Haiti, though no damage was reported.
As Bonnie moved through the Bahamas, residents stocked up on food and water as a precautionary measure; however, no major preparations took place. Most businesses remained open during the system's passage and schools were already closed for the summer. Throughout the islands, the effects from Bonnie were relatively minimal. Heavy rain fell across a few islands and copious lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
was reported. No known damage or loss of life took place.
United States
Due to the weak and disorganized structure of the storm, its effects upon landfall in Florida were minimal. Gusty winds damaged newly planted trees, and some power lines were downed; throughout the state, roughly 14,000 people lost power. A storm surge of 0.94 ft (0.286512 m) was measured at Virginia KeyVirginia Key
Virginia Key is a barrier island in Miami, Florida, United States in Biscayne Bay, south of Brickell and north of Key Biscayne. It accessible from the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway....
. Tropical storm-force winds were recorded in several areas, although sustained winds of over 40 mph (65 km/h) were confined to Virginia Key. Rainfall was also minimal, with a maximum of 3.25 in (82.6 mm) falling in northern Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
. Overall, monetary losses as a result of the storm in Florida amounted to $2,000 (2010 USD). In Pinellas County
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
, one person was hospitalized after being struck by lightning at Fred Howard Park on July 24.
On July 25, the remnants of Bonnie brought torrential rainfall to parts of Louisiana. In a 90 minute span, between 8 and 9 in (203.2 and 228.6 mm) of rain fell in West Baton Rouge Parish
West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
West Baton Rouge Parish is one of the sixty-four parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the smallest in total area. The parish seat is Port Allen and as of 2010, the population was 23,788. The parish has a highly-rated school system and is one of the few in Louisiana that has privatized...
. About 110 homes were flooded throughout the parish, resulting in $500,000 (2010 USD) in losses. Along Highway 15
Louisiana Highway 15
Louisiana Highway 15 is a state highway in Louisiana. It spans north/south for .-Route description:LA 15 begins as an exit from U.S. Route 167 just south of Lillie and heads due east towards Spearsville. From Spearsville, LA 15 turns to the southeast and shortly merges with LA 2 and LA 33 in...
, 2 ft (0.6096 m) of water was reported to have covered the road. In Washington Parish
Washington Parish, Louisiana
Washington Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its parish seat is Franklinton. In 2000, its population was 43,926....
, more than 20 bridges and roads were washed out by flash flooding. Strong thunderstorms associated with the system also produced strong winds, estimated up to 69 mph (111 km/h), which downed several trees. A second day of severe weather on July 26 brought hurricane-force wind gusts to portions of Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Vernon Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Leesville and as of 2000, the population was 52,531....
; two chicken houses were destroyed by the winds, killing 22,000 chickens. Losses from the winds were estimated at $310,000 (2010 USD). After moving through Louisiana, Bonnie's remnants brought heavy rain to parts of Texas. In Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, Texas
Hidalgo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Hidalgo County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, and is the seventh most-populous county in Texas. Its population in 2010 was 774,769, a 35% increase from 2000...
, U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
was reportedly covered with high water.
Further inland, moisture from Bonnie combined with 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...
to produce widespread thunderstorms over Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. In Arkansas, lightning from a severe thunderstorm knocked out power to much of the city of Rison
Rison, Arkansas
Rison is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County , Arkansas, United States. Its population was 1,271 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rison is located at ....
after striking a transformer. Significant wind damage took place in Dallas County where awnings were blown off homes, structures sustained roof damage, and trees were felled. Heavy rains also triggered localized flash flooding, covering several highways. Throughout the state, storm damage was estimated at roughly $356,000 (2010 USD).
See also
- Timeline of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive year in which nineteen tropical storms formed, the most since 2005. Although Hurricane Alex formed on June 25, 2010, the season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30...
- Other storms named Bonnie
- List of Florida hurricanes (2000-present)