Tropical Storm Helene was a weak tropical cyclone that made landfall in the United States as a minimal tropical storm. The tropical system was the twelfth tropical cyclone and eighth tropical storm of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. After becoming a tropical depression east of the Windward Islands on September 15, the system weakened and traveled across the Caribbean Sea. Late on the 19th, it regained tropical depression status, and on the 21st, it reached tropical storm intensity, and received the name Helene. At this point, Helene was located in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico; from there, the storm turned north, and made landfall at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on September 22. The system weakened to a tropical depression over land, but it did not dissipate, eventually reemerging onto the Atlantic Ocean over the North Carolina coast. Helene regained tropical storm strength and headed rapidly east-northeast over open seas; on September 25, Helene merged with a cold front, ending its life as a tropical cyclone.

One person was a direct casualty of Helene, after a tornado moved through South Carolina; another was indirectly killed during a car accident in North Carolina. Flooding of up to 9 inches (229 mm) was reported in Tallahassee, Florida; however, the maximum recorded precipitation from Helene was 10.32 inches (262 mm) in Apalachicola. Total damage was estimated at $16 million (2000 USD, $18.7 million 2006 USD). President Clinton declared the state of Florida a major disaster area, therefore making nine counties eligible for federal disaster relief.

Meteorological history

A well-defined tropical wave moved off the African coast on September 10. Shortly after, it lost most of its atmospheric convection, and showed little signs of redevelopment as it moved eastward. On September 14, convection reappeared near the center of the system. The next day, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida designated the area of disturbed weather as Tropical Depression Twelve. At this point, the tropical depression was located 470 mi (765 km) east of the Leeward Islands. However, before reconnaissance plane could fly to the system, it had already lost its closed circulation and degenerated back into a tropical wave. Though the area was favorable for redevelopment, the wave did very little while it traveled through the Caribbean Sea. Late on September 19, another reconnaissance plane discovered a closed circulation just to the northwest of Grand Cayman. it had when it crossed the western tip of Cuba on September 20. The next day, convection redeveloped and the tropical cyclone was upgraded to Tropical Storm Helene while in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

The storm turned north, while rapidly strengthening in marginally favorable conditions. Helene attained its maximum intensity of 70 mph (115 km/h) for the first time, as well as a minimum central pressure of 996 mbar, late on September 21 (CDT, early September 22 UTC). At that time, wind shear increased, and prevented the tropical storm from reaching hurricane status. The storm lost most of its deep convection, and the heavy rainbands were displaced to the east of the center. Helene weakened even more quickly than it strengthened, going from a 70 mph (115 km/h) tropical storm to a 40 mph (65 km/h) tropical storm in just 12 hours. It made landfall at Fort Walton Beach, Florida around 7 am CDT on September 22, only five days after Hurricane Gordon struck the same general area. . They struck the same area only 22 hours apart. Originally, it was thought that two storms in the 1906 season hit the state within 12 hours, but the suspected tropical storm was downgraded to a tropical depression in more recent analysis.

The system weakened to a tropical depression while moving northeast over the Southeastern United States. The weakened system managed to not dissipate as it passed over North Carolina, . Operationally, the storm was no longer considered a tropical cyclone and was treated as a low-pressure system while passing over North Carolina. Once over the Atlantic, the NHC stated that advisories could be reinitiated because Helene was reacquiring tropical characteristics, but moved over colder waters before they could do so. It was later discovered to have remained tropical and have a closed circulation for far longer. Helene reentered the north Atlantic as a relatively compact storm. It moved away from the East Coast of the United States and reached a peak intensity of 70 mph (115 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 986 mbar. It merged with a cold front on September 25.

Preparations

Eighteen shelters, including two for people or families with special needs, were opened throughout Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Liberty, and Gadsen counties in the Florida Panhandle. Flights were canceled at Tallahassee's airport and state government offices in the capital city were closed. City buses stopped running during the storm but were back on schedule by early afternoon.

Impact

Tropical Storm Helene caused $16 million (2000 USD, $18.7 million 2006 USD) in total economic losses. The highest rainfall measurement recorded to have fallen from Helene was 10.32 inches (262 mm) in Apalachicola. One direct death, one indirect death, and six injuries were also attributed to the storm.

Florida

Nearly 8 inches (203 mm) of rain caused minor flooding and power outages affecting approximately 5,000 people in Tallahassee, Florida, while over 10 inches (254 mm) of rain swamped Apalachicola. Six or more tornadoes touched down between the two cities, but caused no significant damage as they crossed sparsely populated land.

Six homes across Franklin, Leon, and Wakulla counties in Florida were destroyed, while 17 suffered major damage, and another 65 had minor damage done to them. The Gulf County Division of Emergency Management estimated there was between $100,000 and $300,000 (2000 USD, $117,000 and $351,000 2006 USD) in road damage and beach erosion on the part of a peninsula called Cape San Blas.

The Carolinas

An F2 tornado ripped through Martin, South Carolina on September 23, directly killing a man in a trailer while he slept and injuring six others in adjacent homes. The highest rainfall measurement in South Carolina came from Bamberg, at 9.6 inches (244 mm). Flash flooding also occurred in Aiken County. Downed trees were blocking state Highway 125 in Allendale County, and the county emergency management office reported major damage to five or six mobile homes. Reports from the local weather service say that state Highway 47 was flooded near Elgin and too dangerous to drive on. The weather service also stated that Virginia Avenue was washed out in Barnwell. An indirect fatality occurred from flood related traffic in Berkeley County. A middle-aged woman lost control of her car when she hit a patch of water on the road and the car hit a pine tree.

The southbound lane of U.S. Highway 17 in North Carolina flooded from heavy rain and traffic was detoured south of Shallotte. There were also a few minor washouts on back roads and street flooding in towns.

Aftermath

On October 3, United States President Bill Clinton declared the state a major disaster area. Therefore, the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, and Wakulla that were affected by Helene were eligible for federal disaster funds. The federal funds are able to pay 75% of the approved cost for debris removal, emergency services related to the storm, and restoring damaged public facilities. As part of the Disaster Relief Operation, clean-up kits were distributed to the flood victims. Bottled water was also delivered the victims of Helene in Franklin County. Five Family Service Outreach Teams were dispatched and were told to go door to door in Leo and Wakulla counties. A total of 700 meals were distributed to various victims of the storm.

Lack of retirement

Because of the minimal damage that resulted from Helene, the name was not retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2001. It was used in the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season for a Cape Verde Hurricane.

See also

• Tropical cyclone
• List of tropical cyclones
• List of Florida hurricanes
• List of North Carolina hurricanes

External links

• Helene's Tropical Cyclone Report
• Hurricane Hunters in the storm

References