.gif)
Hurricane Bonnie (1986)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Bonnie was the second named storm, and first hurricane of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season
. Forming on June 23, Bonnie developed out of an area of low pressure
over the central Gulf of Mexico
. The system gradually intensified and was declared Tropical Storm Bonnie the next day as it generally moved towards the west-northwest. Around midday on June 25 Bonnie was upgraded to a minimal hurricane. On June 26, Bonnie made landfall near High Island, Texas
with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). After making landfall, the storm quickly weakened. By June 28, the remnants of Bonnie dissipated over Missouri. Damage associated with Hurricane Bonnie amounted to $42 million (1986 USD). Four fatalities, one of which was indirectly related, were linked to the storm. Numerous homes were destroyed in Texas and Louisiana as a direct result of the storm. Severe flooding following the storm in Louisiana caused an additional $5 million in damages.
associated with a stalled out frontal system
over the extreme northeast Gulf of Mexico
and Florida on June 20. A low-level-circulation eventually developed the next day as the low passed near Tampa Bay
, Florida. Lacking deep convection
, the system slowly moved towards the southwest. However, by June 23, sufficient shower and thunderstorm activity had developed around the low for it to be classified Tropical Depression Two while located 330 mi (535 km) southwest of Cape Coral, Florida
.
Gradual intensification took place over the next day as the depression became better organized while moving towards the west-northwest. By the end of the next day, the depression was declared Tropical Storm Bonnie. Operationally, it was not upgraded to a tropical storm until a reconnaissance flight
into the storm found winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) sever hours later. The intensification tend continued over the following 24 hours leading to Bonnie being upgraded to a hurricane around midday on June 25. The upgrade was based on another reconnaissance flight which found surface winds of 77 mph (124 km/h).
As Bonnie neared the northwest Gulf coast, it began to speed up and turn towards the northwest. Intensification continued until the hurricane made landfall on the upper Texas coastline near High Island
at peak intensity with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). Bonnie rapidly weakened after landfall and began to take a gradual turn towards the northeast. The storm dissipated on June 28 as it was absorbed by a frontal system while located in southwestern Missouri
.
With Tropical Storm Andrew
forming earlier in the month, this marked the seventh time in the 20th century that a season featured two named storms in the month of June.
, giving officials a lead on warning residents about a possible hurricane. As the storm neared land, tropical storm warning
and Hurricane Watch were issued for the northwest Gulf coast from Port O'Connor, Texas
to the Mouth of the Mississippi River
about 24 hours before landfall. Several hours later, a Hurricane Warning was issued for areas between Freeport, Texas
and Morgan City, Louisiana
. About 22,200 residents were evacuated in advance of the Hurricane, 10,000 of which were in Galveston County, Texas
.
combined. The hurricane's compact size lead to the low loss of life and damages. Heavy rains caused by Bonnie also lead to a small dam collapse in northeastern Liberty County, Texas
, resulting in severe flooding. Power outages were reported in the areas around the area where Bonnie made landfall. The storm left broken windows, scattered tree limbs, and debris filled streets in Port Arthur, Texas
. The damages in Texas totaled to about $1 million. 25 homes, trailers, and cabins in southwestern Louisiana were destroyed resulting in about $1 million in damages. Severe flooding left behind by the heavy rains caused extensive damage, with damages amounting to $5 million in damages.
of Bonnie led to heavy rains in several states in the Southeastern United States. Rainfall was generally minor in most areas, however in Arkansas
, rains totaled up to 10 in (254 mm) in the southern part of the state. There was also a small area of heavy rains totaling up to 5 in (127 mm) along the border of Tennessee
and Georgia
.
1986 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1986 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1986, and lasted until November 30, 1986. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. Forming on June 23, Bonnie developed out of an area of low pressure
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
over the central 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...
. The system gradually intensified and was declared Tropical Storm Bonnie the next day as it generally moved towards the west-northwest. Around midday on June 25 Bonnie was upgraded to a minimal hurricane. On June 26, Bonnie made landfall near High Island, Texas
High Island, Texas
High Island is an unincorporated area located in the Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place, Galveston County, Texas, United States. The community is located in the extreme eastern part of the county on Bolivar Peninsula, less than one mile from Chambers County and less than two miles from...
with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). After making landfall, the storm quickly weakened. By June 28, the remnants of Bonnie dissipated over Missouri. Damage associated with Hurricane Bonnie amounted to $42 million (1986 USD). Four fatalities, one of which was indirectly related, were linked to the storm. Numerous homes were destroyed in Texas and Louisiana as a direct result of the storm. Severe flooding following the storm in Louisiana caused an additional $5 million in damages.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Bonnie can be traced back to a low pressure systemLow pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
associated with a stalled out frontal system
Weather front
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front...
over the extreme northeast 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...
and Florida on June 20. A low-level-circulation eventually developed the next day as the low passed near Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, Florida. Lacking deep convection
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...
, the system slowly moved towards the southwest. However, by June 23, sufficient shower and thunderstorm activity had developed around the low for it to be classified Tropical Depression Two while located 330 mi (535 km) southwest of Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is a municipality located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, pre-platted community, the city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. With an area of , Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and...
.
Gradual intensification took place over the next day as the depression became better organized while moving towards the west-northwest. By the end of the next day, the depression was declared Tropical Storm Bonnie. Operationally, it was not upgraded to a tropical storm until a reconnaissance flight
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
into the storm found winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) sever hours later. The intensification tend continued over the following 24 hours leading to Bonnie being upgraded to a hurricane around midday on June 25. The upgrade was based on another reconnaissance flight which found surface winds of 77 mph (124 km/h).
As Bonnie neared the northwest Gulf coast, it began to speed up and turn towards the northwest. Intensification continued until the hurricane made landfall on the upper Texas coastline near High Island
High Island, Texas
High Island is an unincorporated area located in the Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place, Galveston County, Texas, United States. The community is located in the extreme eastern part of the county on Bolivar Peninsula, less than one mile from Chambers County and less than two miles from...
at peak intensity with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). Bonnie rapidly weakened after landfall and began to take a gradual turn towards the northeast. The storm dissipated on June 28 as it was absorbed by a frontal system while located in southwestern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
With Tropical Storm Andrew
Tropical Storm Andrew (1986)
Tropical Storm Andrew was a small, moderate tropical storm that formed in early June 1986. The first named storm of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season, Andrew developed from a large, northward bound area of disturbed weather. Although it reached its peak intensity as a tropical storm, the initial...
forming earlier in the month, this marked the seventh time in the 20th century that a season featured two named storms in the month of June.
Preparations
Upon being declared a tropical depression, there was a high risk of landfall near Port Arthur, TexasPort Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
, giving officials a lead on warning residents about a possible hurricane. As the storm neared land, tropical storm warning
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
and Hurricane Watch were issued for the northwest Gulf coast from Port O'Connor, Texas
Port O'Connor, Texas
Port O'Connor is an unincorporated village in Calhoun County, Texas, United States, on the coastline between Galveston and Corpus Christi. The ZIP Code Tabulation Area including Port O'Connor had a population of 1,078 at the 2000 census...
to the Mouth of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River Delta
The Mississippi River Delta is the modern area of land built up by alluvium deposited by the Mississippi River as it slows down and enters the Gulf of Mexico...
about 24 hours before landfall. Several hours later, a Hurricane Warning was issued for areas between Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
and 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....
. About 22,200 residents were evacuated in advance of the Hurricane, 10,000 of which were in Galveston County, Texas
Galveston County, Texas
Galveston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 291,309. Its county seat is Galveston. League City is the largest city in Galveston County in terms of population; between...
.
Impact
Due to the small size of Hurricane Bonnie, damage was relatively low, totaling to $42 million (1986 USD). There were also only four fatalities attributed to the storm. Eleven tornadoes were also confirmed.Texas and Louisiana
Hurricane Bonnie was responsible for four deaths and $42 million (1986 USD;) in damages in Texas and LouisianaLouisiana
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...
combined. The hurricane's compact size lead to the low loss of life and damages. Heavy rains caused by Bonnie also lead to a small dam collapse in northeastern Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County is a county located in Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,643. Its county seat is Liberty.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, resulting in severe flooding. Power outages were reported in the areas around the area where Bonnie made landfall. The storm left broken windows, scattered tree limbs, and debris filled streets in Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
. The damages in Texas totaled to about $1 million. 25 homes, trailers, and cabins in southwestern Louisiana were destroyed resulting in about $1 million in damages. Severe flooding left behind by the heavy rains caused extensive damage, with damages amounting to $5 million in damages.
Rest of the Southeast United States
Despite rapidly weakening after landfall, heavy rains from the remnant low-pressure areaLow pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
of Bonnie led to heavy rains in several states in the Southeastern United States. Rainfall was generally minor in most areas, however in 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...
, rains totaled up to 10 in (254 mm) in the southern part of the state. There was also a small area of heavy rains totaling up to 5 in (127 mm) along the border of 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...
and 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...
.
See also
- Other storms named Bonnie
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States
- Timeline of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane seasonTimeline of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1986 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average season, having fewer named storms than in a normal year, with only ten tropical cyclones, six tropical storms, four hurricanes, and no major hurricanes...