Meteorological Analysis
|
Grace originated from a tropical wave which moved off the African coast on August 19th.
The wave was very vigorous initially but, its forward motion of over 20 kt and dry air
prevented it from becoming a depression. The wave became unimpressive by the 22nd.
Around August 25th the wave slowed near the Lesser Antilles and began to develop but,
shear began to affect the wave and prevented it from becoming a depression again. The
wave began to move WNW in the Caribbean and slowed further causing convection to fire
on the 28th. The wave then moved over the Yucatan on the 29th, and a broad low
developed. This area of low pressure was initially disorganized but, it began to develop and
by the 30th it became a tropical depression about 290 nm ESE of Corpus Christi, Texas.
The depression was on the edge of the sub-tropical high, and headed north due to that.
The depression strengthened on the 30th to its max intensity of 40 mph, making it tropical
storm Grace. Shear stopped any further strengthening. A ridge then began to build to the
NE of Grace, turning the storm more west by the 31st. The storm was very disorganized
though as indicated by radar, and reformed its center 100 nm north of the old one. Grace
then made landfall on the southern part of Galveston Island, Texas on the 31st. Grace
became a depression right after landfall, and moved inland while weakening. On September
2nd Grace merged with a frontal zone near Arkansas.
|
Casualty and Damage Overview
|
There were no casualties reported in association with Grace. There was some fresh water
flooding in Texas however. Total damages were far below $25 million, with no official
estimate out.
|
Grace Hurricane Research Division Products
|
|
|
Imagery
|
|
|
|
|
Tracking Data
|
Tropical Storm Grace
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 GMT 08/30/03 24.3N 92.4W 35 1008 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 08/30/03 24.9N 93.3W 40 1009 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/31/03 25.8N 94.3W 40 1009 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/31/03 27.2N 94.9W 40 1008 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 08/31/03 29.4N 95.2W 40 1007 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/31/03 30.1N 95.6W 35 1009 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/01/03 30.9N 96.4W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/01/03 31.9N 96.6W 25 1010 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/01/03 32.6N 96.5W 25 1010 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/01/03 33.6N 95.7W 25 1011 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 09/02/03 34.1N 95.0W 15 1011 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 09/02/03 34.6N 94.5W 15 1013 Tropical Depression
|
Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
|
|
|
Selected Satellite Image
|
|
|
