Tropical Storm Bret (1981)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Bret was a rare landfall by a tropical cyclone on the Delmarva Peninsula
in the latter portions of June 1981. The storm, the third tracked cyclone of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season
, formed from a frontal cloud development near Bermuda
on June 27. The storm progressed westward, strengthening and gaining convection. On the morning of June 29, the storm was declared a subtropical system and by the afternoon of June 30, the storm was designated as Tropical Storm Bret with 60 mph (90 km/h). The storm peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h) on June 29 with a minimal barometric pressure of 996 millibars (29.41 inches of mercury). The system headed eastward, and made landfall on the Peninsula on the morning of July 1, 1981, dissipating soon after. Bret spread one to three inches of rainfall through the Mid-Atlantic
region of the United States
and the Ohio River Valley, with the peak at 4.48 inch (0.113792 m) in the community of Big Meadows, Virginia. No severe damage was reported from Bret, but a woman was killed from rip currents at Nags Head, North Carolina
.
. The circumstantial location of origin for the system prompted the designation as a subtropical system. Over the next day, the system continued to develop, closing in on Cape Hatteras
and on June 29, substantial convection was becoming visible in the system. At 1200 GMT
, the National Hurricane Center
in Miami, Florida
, declared the system Subtropical Storm One. The system continued to gain convection, which spread from the center of the fast-moving system. The system became a large cloud banding storm, and at 4 PM Eastern Daylight Time, the National Hurricane Center declared the storm tropical and gave it the name Bret. The storm was a 60 mph (90 km/h) system, although reconnaissance aircraft found 75 mph (120 km/h) winds, but the minimum barometric pressure did not match the report. An hour later, the National Hurricane Center reported that Bret, which was heading westward towards Virginia
at 20 mph (25 km/h) had entered colder waters and further strengthening was deemed impossible. Due to the differences in wind speed, Bret's peak occurred on the morning of June 30, when it was at 70 mph (110 km/h) in winds with a barometric pressure of only 996 millibars (mbar). On the early morning of July 1, Tropical Storm Bret made landfall in the Delmarva Peninsula
, a rare occurrence, with wind speeds of 60 mph (90 km/h). The storm quickly weakened before and after landfall, with the National Hurricane Center declaring the storm a tropical depression and ceasing advisories on the morning of July 1.
on June 30. A small craft advisory was also posted for the Carolina and Virginia coastlines. The gale warnings were canceled upon landfall the next morning. Officials in North Carolina closed of beaches at Nags Head
, Kitty Hawk
, and Kill Devil Hills
from swimmers due to high rip currents and tides.
While tracking north of Bermuda, Bret dropped light rainfall on the island, with precipitation peaking at 3.34 inches (84.8 mm).
After landfall, Bret spread rain throughout Ohio River Valley, peaking at 4.48 inches (113.8 mm) in the community of Big Meadows, Virginia. In West Virginia
, 3 inch (0.0762 m) of rain fell, with isolated reports of 3.73 inches (94.7 mm) in Snowshoe
. Parts of Illinois
and Kentucky
also received 3 inches (76.2 mm) of precipitation. Less significant rains fell across Maryland
, Indiana
and North Carolina
, and Delaware
. After the center of Bret had been declared unidentifiable, the small craft warning remained in effect, told to remain in port until the weather calms. At the time of Bret's landfall, portions of the Mid-Atlantic were experiencing a strong drought, and farmers in Virginia
reported that rains from the storm would not be enough to save their crops.
One female from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
was killed at Nags Head, North Carolina when getting stuck in offshore riptides. Two boats lost contact with the Coast Guard
during the approach to land, one of which washed up at Cape May, New Jersey
and the other on the Virginia coast. Also at Nags Head, the Coast Guard began cleanup of an oil spill caused by Bret off the coast. 8 miles (12.9 km) of the shoreline was filled with oil, little of which polluted the water. Most of the oil was thin and easily an item to clean up by a private contractor. However, no considerable damage was reported from the storm, and less than strong gale speeds were reported.
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
in the latter portions of June 1981. The storm, the third tracked cyclone of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season
1981 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1981 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1981, and lasted until November 30, 1981. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The 1981 season was high in activity with 18 tropical depressions and...
, formed from a frontal cloud development near Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
on June 27. The storm progressed westward, strengthening and gaining convection. On the morning of June 29, the storm was declared a subtropical system and by the afternoon of June 30, the storm was designated as Tropical Storm Bret with 60 mph (90 km/h). The storm peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h) on June 29 with a minimal barometric pressure of 996 millibars (29.41 inches of mercury). The system headed eastward, and made landfall on the Peninsula on the morning of July 1, 1981, dissipating soon after. Bret spread one to three inches of rainfall through the Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Ohio River Valley, with the peak at 4.48 inch (0.113792 m) in the community of Big Meadows, Virginia. No severe damage was reported from Bret, but a woman was killed from rip currents at Nags Head, North Carolina
Nags Head, North Carolina
Nags Head is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,700 at the 2000 census.-History:Early maps of the area show Nags Head as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes visible from miles at sea...
.
Meteorological history
A large band of frontal clouds had begun to settle on the portion of the Western North Atlantic on June 27, 1981. However, by the next day, a low-pressure system formed in the frontal clouds near BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. The circumstantial location of origin for the system prompted the designation as a subtropical system. Over the next day, the system continued to develop, closing in on Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
and on June 29, substantial convection was becoming visible in the system. At 1200 GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
, 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...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, declared the system Subtropical Storm One. The system continued to gain convection, which spread from the center of the fast-moving system. The system became a large cloud banding storm, and at 4 PM Eastern Daylight Time, the National Hurricane Center declared the storm tropical and gave it the name Bret. The storm was a 60 mph (90 km/h) system, although reconnaissance aircraft found 75 mph (120 km/h) winds, but the minimum barometric pressure did not match the report. An hour later, the National Hurricane Center reported that Bret, which was heading westward towards Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
at 20 mph (25 km/h) had entered colder waters and further strengthening was deemed impossible. Due to the differences in wind speed, Bret's peak occurred on the morning of June 30, when it was at 70 mph (110 km/h) in winds with a barometric pressure of only 996 millibars (mbar). On the early morning of July 1, Tropical Storm Bret made landfall in the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
, a rare occurrence, with wind speeds of 60 mph (90 km/h). The storm quickly weakened before and after landfall, with the National Hurricane Center declaring the storm a tropical depression and ceasing advisories on the morning of July 1.
Preparations and impact
As Tropical Storm Bret approached landfall in the Delmarva Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center issued gale advisories along the Atlantic shoreline from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Ocean City, MarylandOcean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
on June 30. A small craft advisory was also posted for the Carolina and Virginia coastlines. The gale warnings were canceled upon landfall the next morning. Officials in North Carolina closed of beaches at Nags Head
Nags Head, North Carolina
Nags Head is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,700 at the 2000 census.-History:Early maps of the area show Nags Head as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes visible from miles at sea...
, Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Kitty Hawk is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. It was established in the early 18th century as Chickahawk....
, and Kill Devil Hills
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Kill Devil Hills is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, USA. The population was 5,897 at the 2000 census.Nearby Kitty Hawk is frequently cited as the location of the Wright brothers' first controlled, powered airplane flights on December 17, 1903...
from swimmers due to high rip currents and tides.
While tracking north of Bermuda, Bret dropped light rainfall on the island, with precipitation peaking at 3.34 inches (84.8 mm).
After landfall, Bret spread rain throughout Ohio River Valley, peaking at 4.48 inches (113.8 mm) in the community of Big Meadows, Virginia. In West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, 3 inch (0.0762 m) of rain fell, with isolated reports of 3.73 inches (94.7 mm) in Snowshoe
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Snowshoe is an unincorporated area in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, known for the Snowshoe Mountain ski resort. The area is amongst the Allegheny Mountains, located in the bowl shaped convergence of two ranges, Cheat and Back Allegheny, at the head of the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River...
. Parts of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
also received 3 inches (76.2 mm) of precipitation. Less significant rains fell across Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. After the center of Bret had been declared unidentifiable, the small craft warning remained in effect, told to remain in port until the weather calms. At the time of Bret's landfall, portions of the Mid-Atlantic were experiencing a strong drought, and farmers in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
reported that rains from the storm would not be enough to save their crops.
One female from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
was killed at Nags Head, North Carolina when getting stuck in offshore riptides. Two boats lost contact with the Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
during the approach to land, one of which washed up at Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
and the other on the Virginia coast. Also at Nags Head, the Coast Guard began cleanup of an oil spill caused by Bret off the coast. 8 miles (12.9 km) of the shoreline was filled with oil, little of which polluted the water. Most of the oil was thin and easily an item to clean up by a private contractor. However, no considerable damage was reported from the storm, and less than strong gale speeds were reported.
See also
- Tropical Storm Dean (1983)Tropical Storm Dean (1983)Tropical Storm Dean was one of only three tropical cyclones to make landfall on the Delmarva Peninsula. The seventh tropical cyclone and fourth and final named storm the 1983 Atlantic hurricane season, Dean developed from a frontal low to the northeast of the Bahamas on September 26...
and Tropical Storm Danielle (1992)Tropical Storm Danielle (1992)Tropical Storm Danielle was a weak tropical storm that made landfall on Virginia in the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season. The fourth storm of the season, Danielle was one of two Atlantic storms in the year to make landfall in the United States, the other being Hurricane Andrew. It formed out of a...
– made similarly rare landfalls on the Delmarva peninsula - Other storms of the same name
- List of North Carolina hurricanes (1980–1999)