Thursday, June 2, 2016

Tropical Depression Bonnie Redevelops Near the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Brian Donegan
Published: June 2,2016
Tropical Depression Bonnie is back.
The National Hurricane Center resumed advisories on Bonnie late Thursday morning, as sufficient convection near what had been the remnant surface low merited reclassification as a tropical depression.

Radar/Satellite View of Bonnie
Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center:
  • Tropical Depression Bonnie has redeveloped about 25 miles east of Hatteras, North Carolina.
  • Bonnie is moving northeast at 5-10 mph.
  • The depression is forecast to drift slowly away from the Outer Banks of North Carolina by Friday. 
  • Additional heavy rain, local flooding, rip currents and high surf near the North Carolina coast are the main threats.

Current Storm Status
Bonnie won't last long, as it will be carried by increasing westerly winds aloft out to sea by Friday.

Projected Path
Before that happens, parts of the Outer Banks and adjacent areas of eastern North Carolina may see another several inches of rain before Bonnie drifts into the open ocean.
This is likely to trigger areas of local flash flooding given saturated ground from Bonnie's "first chapter" this past weekend. Billy Mitchell Airport in Hatteras, North Carolina, picked up 9.99 inches of rain through 2 a.m. EDT Thursday.
(FORECAST: Hatteras | Kill Devil Hills | Virginia Beach | Topsail Beach)
Check back with us at weather.com for updates on this system.

Recap

Tropical Storm Bonnie may not have been a strong tropical cyclone, but its heavy rain triggered significant flash flooding on Memorial Day weekend 2016.
Bonnie made landfall just east of Charleston, South Carolina, on the Isle of Palms around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, May 29, as a tropical depression.
Tropical Depression Bonnie made landfall east of Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday morning.
This was the second straight season a named tropical cyclone made landfall in the Carolinas in the month of May. On Mother's Day weekend 2015, Tropical Storm Ana soaked parts of the Carolinas, as well.
Bands of heavy rain caused flash flooding in South Carolina on Sunday. Part of Interstate 95 southbound was closed for the majority of the day Sunday. Parking lots were flooded and numerous cars were stranded near Archdale, South Carolina. Water also entered a residence near Ridgeland, South Carolina, and near Switzerland, South Carolina.
NWS Charleston, SC ✔ ‎@NWSCharlestonSC
Updated rain map from ! Isolated amounts over 10", including Ridgeville where I-95 was shut down.

Here are a few rainfall totals as of Monday morning:
  • 10.43 inches near Ridgeland, South Carolina
  • 9.99 inches in Hatteras, North Carolina
  • 8.85 inches at Burton's Ferry Landing, Georgia
  • 5.27 inches at Charleston, South Carolina
Wind was not a major issue with Bonnie. A wind gust of 40 mph was measured at the Charleston International Airport just before 9 a.m. Sunday morning.
Over the past week, we watched this weather system slowly gain organization. On May 27, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters found that former "Invest 91L" had both a closed circulation - enough west and northwest winds - and sufficiently robust thunderstorm activity near that low-pressure center to designate it a tropical depression.
(MORE: What is an "Invest"?)
Jonathan Erdman ✔ ‎@wxjerdman
Nice photo just before 8pm Sat of the center of what was once TS off the SC coast. (Credit: Natalie Brtalik)

The National Hurricane Center named Tropical Storm Bonnie on Saturday evening but Bonnie weakened to a tropical depression on Sunday morning. Bonnie continued to weaken and became a remnant low Monday morning.
Rip currents, a particular concern in generally good weather when more beach-goers might be tempted to swim, were spotted over the Memorial Day weekend along the Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina coasts.

Southeast Coast is Typically an Early Season Area to Watch

This map shows the typical formation areas and tracks for named storms in June.
The area off the Southeast coast, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and northwest Caribbean, is a part of the Atlantic basin where early-season tropical or subtropical storm development is most likely.
That said, it's not a very active time of year for storms to form compared to the peak August-October period. For example, only one named storm forms during June every other year, on average.
(MORE: Where June Storms Develop)
Recent seasons have had activity before the start of June.
Last May, Tropical Storm Ana formed off the Southeast coast before making landfall near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with minor impacts.
In 2012 two named storms, Alberto and Beryl, formed during May off the Southeast coast. Beryl would go on to make landfall in northeast Florida, while Alberto moved out to sea.
(MORE: When Hurricane Season Starts Early)

MORE: Hurricanes From Space - Satellite Imagery

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