Featured Article Summary #105

Tropical Storm Henri was a moderate storm that hit Florida during the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the eighth storm of the season and formed from a tropical wave in the Gulf of Mexico on September 3. Moving generally east, it strengthened to peak winds of 60 mph before weakening due to unfavorable conditions, then made landfall in western Florida near Clearwater as a tropical depression. Even after it became a remnant low on September 8, the system continued off the U.S. east coast for several days and later moved back ashore in North Carolina. Henri brought heavy rain to parts of the Mid-Atlantic, causing limited flooding in Florida but more serious damage in Delaware and Pennsylvania, where rainfall damaged hundreds of homes and businesses. Overall, it caused about $19.6 million in damage (2003 USD) and no deaths were reported. A tropical wave left Africa and crossed the Atlantic and Caribbean without much development, then entered the Gulf of Mexico around September 1 where thunderstorms began organizing around a low. It became Tropical Depression Twelve on September 3 near west of Tampa, strengthened into Tropical Storm Henri on September 5, peaked at about 60 mph, and then weakened due to wind shear before making landfall near Clearwater, Florida on September 6. Henri failed to re-strengthen over open water, became a remnant low area off the North Carolina coast, lingered for a while, moved inland near Cape Hatteras on September 12 without reorganizing, and finally dissipated on September 17 over New England. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning in parts of Florida, but it was stopped before Henri reached landfall. Before the storm arrived, flood warnings were issued and officials prepared for heavy rain and possible storm surge by placing shelters on standby, arranging quick help through a hotline, declaring a state of emergency, and sending sandbags to several coastal areas, while some schools canceled evening activities. Henri brought heavy rain along its path as it moved through the eastern United States, first as a tropical cyclone and later as a weaker remnant low. The storm’s rainfall caused widespread wet weather across the region. As Henri moved through Florida, it injured two people, including a lightning strike and a crash caused by hydroplaning. The storm’s main impact was heavy rain, which brought record rainfall to some areas, caused isolated street flooding and displaced residents in one area, and led to about $120,000 in damage. In the Bahamas, Henri brought light rain and winds gusting to 32 mph, while in Bermuda it added thunderstorms and heavy rain shortly after Hurricane Fabian, though no damage was reported.