Meteorological Analysis
|
Bill originated from an interaction between a tropical wave and an upper level
low on June 28th. This interaction caused a surface low pressure to form over the Yucatan.
This low pressure area was accompanied by a large area of thunderstorms.
Formation was initially inhibited though due to the low being over land. The low
then moved NNW in response to a trough, and left the Yucatan peninsula. The
environmental conditions in the Gulf of Mexico were favorable for development,
and a tropical depression formed on the 29th. The depression became tropical
storm Bill on the 29th. Bill continued to strengthen as it moved NNW, and then
NNE. Bill reached its maximum intensity of 60 mph with a pressure of 997 mb
on the 30th, just before landfall. Bill's wind fields and convection also became
much more symmetric near landfall. Bill made landfall 20 miles W of Cocodrie,
Louisiana. Radar indicated a ragged eye at landfall, which became more
organized surprisingly over Central Louisiana. Bill weakened into a tropical
depression over Alabama, and became an extra-tropical system near the
Tennessee/Virginia border on July 2nd. Bill was fully absorbed into a front on the 3rd.
|
Casualty and Damage Overview
|
4 deaths were attributed to Bill, 2 in Florida, 1 in North Carolina, and 1 in
Georgia. There was some minor wind damage in Southeast Louisiana and
Mississippi, mostly power outages and downed limbs. Some storm surge
occurred in Southeast Louisiana as well, a levee broke in Terrebone parish
resulting in some houses being flooded. An F1 tornado also caused damage
to many structures in Reserve, Louisiana on June 30th. Total U.S. damage was $50 million.
|
Bill Hurricane Research Division Products
|
|
|
Imagery
|
|
|
|
|
Tracking Data
|
Tropical Storm Bill
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 GMT 06/28/03 19.5N 89.0W 25 1009 Subtropical Depression
12 GMT 06/28/03 20.0N 89.3W 25 1008 Subtropical Depression
18 GMT 06/28/03 20.3N 89.4W 25 1008 Subtropical Depression
0 GMT 06/29/03 21.0N 89.8W 25 1008 Subtropical Depression
6 GMT 06/29/03 22.0N 90.0W 35 1007 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 06/29/03 23.4N 90.5W 40 1007 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 06/29/03 24.6N 91.1W 45 1009 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 06/30/03 25.9N 91.3W 50 1008 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 06/30/03 27.1N 91.5W 50 1007 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 06/30/03 28.2N 91.5W 60 1002 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 06/30/03 29.1N 91.0W 60 997 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 07/01/03 30.4N 90.3W 50 998 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 07/01/03 31.6N 89.3W 35 1003 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 07/01/03 32.7N 88.4W 30 1004 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 07/01/03 33.6N 87.0W 25 1007 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 07/02/03 34.1N 86.0W 25 1007 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 07/02/03 35.0N 84.5W 25 1007 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 07/02/03 35.6N 83.5W 25 1009 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 07/02/03 36.5N 82.0W 25 1009 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 07/03/03 37.3N 79.5W 25 1009 Extratropical Storm
|
Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
|
|
|
Selected Satellite Image
|
|
|
