| Tropical Storm Tammy | |
| Formed: | October 5, 2005 |
| Dissipated: | October 6, 2005 |
| Winds: | 45 |
| Pressure: | 1001 |
| Year: | 2005 |
| Fatalities: | 10 indirect |
| Damage: | 30000000 |
| Areas: | Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina |
Tropical Storm Tammy was a short-lived tropical storm during October in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season which caused minor damage to the southeastern United States. More significant, however, were its remnants, which contributed to the Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005.
Tropical Storm Tammy formed from a non-tropical system off the Florida coast on October 5. It moved north just offshore before making landfall later that day. The tropical storm rapidly weakened as it moved overland and dissipated the next day. Its remnant circulation moved south towards the Gulf of Mexico, while the moisture was absorbed by a northeasterly moving cold front. There were no fatalities directly related to Tammy; however, ten people were killed by the remnants of the storm in combination with the remnants of Subtropical Depression Twenty-Two. Total damages from the storm were $30 million.
The precursor to Tammy was a tropical wave that left the western coast of Africa on September 24. The wave moved across the Atlantic without any development until October 2, when it started to interact with a mid- to upper-level large trough north of the Lesser Antilles. The system produced an area of convection, or thunderstorms, which spawned a surface trough, although it failed to organize at first due to strong wind shear. The trough moved generally to the northwest, steered by a subtropical ridge over the central Atlantic.[1] On October 4, the central pressure dropped as the trough approached the east coast of Florida, toward an area of lower wind shear.[2] [1] Early on October 5, a circulation developed within the convection, leading to the formation of Tropical Storm Tammy just 23 mi (37 km) east of Jupiter, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) immediately designated Tammy as a tropical storm due to the presence of gale-force winds.[1]
After its formation, Tammy was moving to the north-northwest, parallel to Florida's east coast, with most of the thunderstorms located northeast of the center.[3] The storm was influenced by a developing extratropical cyclone over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the interaction caused an increase in convection. Based on observations from a reconnaissance flight, as well as two nearby ships, the NHC estimated that Tammy strengthened to attain peak winds of 50 mph (85 km) late on October 5. At 23:00 UTC that day, the storm made landfall in northeastern Florida near Atlantic Beach. Tammy soon after moved into the state of Georgia, weakening into a tropical depression and degenerating into a remnant low late on October 6. The low accelerated and turned southwestward, moving across southeastern Alabama and the Florida panhandle before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. On October 7, the remnants of Tammy were absorbed by an extratropical low over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which was attached to a cold front that moved up the east coast of the United States over the next two days.[1] [4]
Tropical Storm Tammy surprised forecasters when it formed on October 5.[1] Because they had not expected the disturbance to develop, warnings were not issued until about 12 hours before the storm made landfall.[5] Despite the short warning, tourists and business travelers cancelled flights as the storm neared landfall.[6] Upon the storm developing, a tropical storm warning was immediately issued for the coast from Cocoa Beach, Florida to the Santee River, South Carolina.[7]
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District issued an advisory to mariners, warning them to prepare for the storm and avoid the ocean if possible.[8] In Georgia, the National Park Service evacuated the residents of Cumberland Island and closed the ferry which services it. The Glynn County Emergency Operations Agency monitored and prepared for Tropical Storm Tammy's landfall, however the poor warning hampered their efforts. Residents all over the state expressed frustration at the lack of time they had to prepare.[9] When Tammy moved inland 12 hours later[5] the southern end of the warning zone moved north to Altamaha Sound, Georgia before all warnings were discontinued on October 6.[1]
Tropical Storm Tammy caused minor damage. Its highest sustained winds were 50mi/h and its strongest recorded wind gust was 60mi/h.[1] The winds produced no significant damage, but did disrupt power to 16,500 utility customers[10] and delayed the Trysail College Regatta.[11] Lightning produced by a thunderstorm in Broward County, Florida struck three teenagers during a football game in Coconut Creek, killing one and injuring the other two.[12]
To most areas in north Florida and southern Georgia, Tammy brought 3to of rain, though some isolated areas received 10inches.[13] In Georgia, flooding damaged over 30 homes in Brunswick.[14] Several dirt and coastal roads were washed out,[13] and sewers overflowed as far north as Baltimore County, Maryland.[15] Two small pond dams burst, including a 173-year-old wooden dam, but new stone dams were constructed in place before the old ones failed.[10] Conversely, Tammy's rains were beneficial in South Carolina, where they helped alleviate dry conditions[16] after a rainless September.[17]
Tammy's storm surge was approximately 2to and caused salt-water flooding along the coast of northeastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.[18] The surge damages boardwalks along the coast, and wave action causes over 2feet of beach erosion.[1] In addition to the flooding, Tropical Storm Tammy spawned one tornado.[19] Rated an F0 tornado, it touched down near Brunswick, Georgia where it snapped trees and caused moderate roof damage along its 2miles path.[20] The storm's total damage was estimated at $30 million (2005 USD).[1] The outer bands of Tammy brought heavy rains, peaking around 7inches in places,[21] and caused significant beach erosion. Winds along the coastline gusted up to 59mph, downing numerous trees. The worst damage occurred in Beaufort County where 30 trees were downed, one of which fell on a home. Rough seas undermined several beach homes and caused one to be condemned.[22]
The remnants of Tammy produced rainfall across the northeastern United States. In New Hampshire, rainfall reached 9inches in Gilford in Belknap County. The rains caused floods that led to four deaths - four people died in Alstead from a 20to wave; two people in Unity were swept away driving over a damaged bridge; a kayaker was lost and presumed dead in Antrim. In Alstead, an embankment along the Cold River failed. The resulting floods destroyed 40 homes, washed out a bridge, and knocked down 5miles of power lines. About 1,000 people in New Hampshire evacuated due to the floods. Damage in the state totaled over $13 million.[23] [24] [25]
A Red Cross shelter at Seldon Park, Brunswick, Georgia, opened for two days following the storm to temporarily house those whose houses were flooded.[26] Tammy's remnant low was absorbed a larger extratropical low which tracked north and contributed to the Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005, which killed ten people and caused significant damage.[1] As a result of the flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid $44 million in losses.[27]
Shrimpers in the Carolinas blamed high fuel prices and the disruption of Tropical Storm Tammy for some of the troubles facing the shrimping industry in 2005. Rising fuel prices and dwindling demand has already created tough conditions that year, but the disruption of several days' fishing due to Tammy escalated the situation.[28]
In 2015, the town of Alstead, New Hampshire installed a plaque to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the floods.[25]