July Tropical Storms (1851-2013):

[ncforecaster89]

Hey everyone,

This particular blog entry thread will continue our examination of the entire historical record (1851-present), with a focus on "July" Tropical Cyclone (TC) activity throughout the Atlantic basin. A "July" TC will be characterized as one that initially developed at some point during the month of July (i.e. July 1-July 31). Those Tropical storms (TS)-shown by year-that achieved hurricane (H) and/or "major" hurricane (MH) intensity, will be designated by bold case print in the following respective sections.

ALL TROPICAL STORMS:

5 = 2005 (1 H/2 MH).

4 = 1966 (3 H) and 1995 (1 H).

3 = 1933 (1 H July, Aug.), 1944 (2 H), 1997 (2 H), 2008 (1 H/1 MH), and 2011.

2 = 1851 (1 H), 1864 (1 H), 1887 (1 H), 1901 (1 H), 1908 (1 H), 1916 (1 H/1 MH), 1926 (1 MH/1 MH Aug.), 1934 (2 H) 1936 (1 H), 1959 (2 H) , 1960 (1 H), 1973 (1 STS/1 H), 1979 (1 H), 1985 (1 H), 1989 (1 H), 1990 (1 H), 1996 (1 H/1 MH), 2003 (2 H), 2006, and 2013.

1 = 1859, 1861, 1866, 1867, 1870, 1872, 1874, 1878, 1886, 1888, 1891, 1893, 1896, 1899, 1903, 1909 (MH), 1912, 1915 (H Aug), 1917, 1919, 1924, 1931, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1961 (MH), 1964, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974 (STS), 1975, 1976, 1978, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2007, and 2010.

0 = 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1862, 1863, 1865, 1868, 1869, 1871, 1873, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1889, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2012.

Note: Storm #1 (H Arlene) of 1963, storm #3 (MH Celia) of 1970, storm #4 (H Dean) of 1989, storm #3 (TS Ceasar) of 1990, and storm #1 (MH Alex) of 2004 were each a late "July" TC that didn't achieve TS intensity until August.

In addition: Storm #2 of 1867 (H), storm #5 of 1887 (TS), storm #2 of 1899 (H), storm #3 of 1908 (TS), storm #4 of 1908 (TS), storm #1 of 1915 (H), storm #2 of 1926 (MH), storm #5 of 1933 (H), storm #5 of 1936 (TS), storm #1 of 1937 (TS), storm #3 of 1944 (H), storm #1 of 1947 (TS), storm #1 of 1955 (TS Brenda), storm #2 of 1964 (TS), storm #1 of 1969 (TS Ana), storm #2 of 1973 (STS Alpha), storm #2 of 1976 (TS Anna), storm #3 of 1989 (H Chantal), storm #2 of 1990 (H Bertha), storm #5 of 1995 (H Erin), storm #1 of 1998 (TS Alex), and storm #3 of 2007 (TS Chantal) were each a July TC of at least TS intensity that were also of at least TS intensity into the month of August as well. Each storms respective "August" maximum intensity is listed in parenthesis.



This is a visible satellite image of the most intense "July" TC to have ever been observed anywhere within the Atlantic basin. At the time of this satellite image, Hurricane "Emily" was a very powerful 155 mph category four storm. Less than 4 1/2 hours thereafter, it achieved its maximum intensity of 160 mph/929 mb. In doing so, it became the first known category five H ever known to have developed within the Atlantic basin prior to the month of August.
 
ALL U.S. TROPICAL STORM LANDFALLS:

Note: These totals combine both Tropical Storm and Hurricane landfalls (i.e. all named storms).
 
3 = 1916 (1 H/1 MH) and 2005 (1 H/1 MH).

2 = 1901 (1 H), 1908 (1 H), 1933 (1 H), 1936 (1 H), 1959 (2 H), and 1979 (1 H).

1 = 1866, 1870, 1872, 1874, 1878, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1896, 1899 (Aug. H), 1909 (MH), 1912, 1919, 1926, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1954, 1960, 1970, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

Note: Storm #2 of 1899 also made a U.S. landfall as a H in August, as well as a TS in July.

ALL U.S. HURRICANE LANDFALLS:

2 = 1916 (1 MH), 1959, and 2005 (1 MH).

1 = 1866, 1870, 1886, 1887, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1908, 1909 (MH), 1926, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1979, 1985, 1996, 1997, 2003, and 2008.

ALL U.S. MAJOR HURRICANE LANDFALLS:

1 = 1909, 1916, and 2005.

 

This is a visible satellite image of the most intense "July" TC to ever make landfall along the U.S. shoreline. This particular image of Hurricane "Dennis" was taken at 2:15 pm CDT on July 10, 2005-just 10 minutes prior to its eye coming ashore. At landfall, it had a MSW of 120 mph and a lowest central pressure of 946 mb.

INTERESTING FACTS:

1) All Atlantic Basin Tropical Storms:

a) Total number of Atlantic basin tropical storms: There were a total of 116 "July" TS or STS systems that developed in the Atlantic basin during the 163 year period of 1851-2013. These figures equate to one "July" TS formation every 1.41 years.

The aforementioned total accounts for 3 "June" TC's that achieved TS intensity (for the first time) during the month of July. Of these, one went on to become a MH, as well.

Also, there were 7 "June" TC's of either TS or H intensity that at least retained TS intensity into the month of July. They are storm #1 of 1857 (TS), storm #3 of 1886 (H), storm #2 of 1933 (H), storm #1 of 1975 (TS Amy), storm #2 of 1981 (TS Bret), storm #2 of 2003 (TS Bill), and storm #1 of 2010 (H Alex).

There were also 5 additional "July" Tropical cyclones that didn't achieve TS intensity until August. Of these, 4 achieved hurricane intensity-two of which went on to become a "major" hurricane in the month of "August".

b  Total number of Atlantic basin hurricanes: There were a total of 54 TC's that achieved hurricane (H) intensity during the month of July for the aforementioned 163 year period. That equates to one July H every 3.02 years on average.

c) Total number of Atlantic basin "major" hurricanes: There were a total of 8 TC's that ultimately achieved "major" hurricane intensity at some point during the month of July. This would constitute a statistical mean of one July MH traversing some portion of the Atlantic Basin every 20.38 years.

The aforementioned figures account for the one "June" TC that also achieved MH intensity (for the first time) during the month of July.

d) The most intense July hurricane: Hurricane Emily of 2005 currently holds the record as the most intense July hurricane to ever develop in the Atlantic basin. It achieved category five intensity around 8 pm EDT on July 16, 2005. At the time, it contained a MSW of 160 mph and a corresponding BP of 929 mb. Hurricane Dennis (also of July 2005) is a close second with a category four intensity of 150 mph and 938 mb (was as low as 930 mb at one point).

e) The most recent July tropical storm: There were two separate tropical storms that developed during the 2013 H season. They were tropical storms Chantal and Dorian, respectively. TS Chantal formed on July 7 and achieved its maximum intensity of 65 mph as it was passing through the central Lesser Antilles on July 9. As it was doing so, it blasted the Island of Martinique with gusts to HF, and even ripped roofs off houses in Dominica. Its rapid translational speed made Chantal the fastest-moving tropical cyclone ever observed in the deep Tropics (with a 6-
hour forward motion of 32 mph) in the Atlantic basin (south of 20N) in the observational record
during the satellite era (1966-present).

f) The most recent "July" huricane: Hurricane Dolly of 2008 is the most recent "July" hurricane to develop in the Atlantic basin. It became a hurricane around 4 pm CDT on July 22, 2008. At the time, it was located about 165 nm ESE of Brownsville, TX, in the Gulf of Mexico. It would go on to achieve a maximum intensity of 100 mph/963 mb at 9 am CDT on July 23, before coming ashore as a moderate category one hurricane on South Padre Island, TX-at 120 pm CDT on the same day.

g) The longest period without a "July" tropical storm: The two longest periods of consecutive years without a TC developing anywhere in the Atlantic basin-during the month of July-were 1852-1859 and 1879-1886. In addition, 89 out of the 163 hurricane seasons (54.6%) in the historical record, didn't have a TS form during the entire month of July.

h) The most tropical storms to develop in one season: The 2005 Atlantic basin hurricane season was definitely the most prolific for "July" TC formations-with 5.

1) The most hurricanes to develop in one season: The 1966 and 2005 Atlantic basin hurricane seasons hold the record for spawning the most hurricanes-during the month of July-with 3 each, respectively.

j) The most "major" hurricanes to develop in one season: The 2005 H season holds the record for spawning the most "major" hurricanes-during the month of July-with 2.

2) All U.S. Tropical Storm Landfalls:

a) Total number of U.S. tropical storm strikes: There were 54 July TS or STS systems that made a U.S. landfall (or strike) during the aforementioned 163 year period. This equates to one July TS landfall per 3.02 years. Moreover, a full 46.6% of all July Atlantic basin storms made landfall in the U.S. This is a reflection of the primary breeding grounds (for this time of year) being located in such close proximity to the U.S. coastline.

b  Total number of U.S. hurricane strikes: There were 26 hurricanes that made a direct strike on the U.S. coastline during the month of July. This equates to one land falling July hurricane every 6.27 years. Furthermore, a full 48.1% of all July Atlantic basin hurricanes struck the U.S. coastline.

c) Total number of U.S. "major" hurricane strikes: There were 3 "major" hurricanes that made landfall in the U.S. during the month of July. They are the 1909 "Velasco" TX category three storm, 1916 Mississippi category three, and category three hurricane Dennis of 2005. This equates to a July MH strike every 54.3 years.

d) The most intense U.S. TC landfall: Hurricane Dennis of 2005 currently holds the record as the most intense TC to make a U.S. landfall during the month of July. It struck the Florida Panhandle between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach as a 120 mph/946 mb category three hurricane. The 1916 Mississippi category three is a very close second on the list at 120 mph/950 mb at the time of its landfall in the U.S.

e) The most recent U.S. hurricane strike: Hurricane Dolly of 2008 is the most recent hurricane to have made landfall on the U.S. shoreline in July. It made landfall on South Padre Island, about 15 nm SE of Port Mansfield, TX at 120 pm EDT on July 23, 2008. At landfall, it was a category one hurricane with a MSW of 85 mph and a BP of 967 mb.

f) The most recent U.S. tropical storm strike: TS Bonnie of 2010 is the most recent July TC of TS intensity to make a U.S. landfall. It came ashore near Elliot Key, Fl. as a weakening 40 mph TS at 930 am on July 23.

g) The longest period without a "July" U.S. tropical storm strike: The longest periods of consecutive years without a land falling U.S. TS-during the month of July-include 1851-1866, 1879-1886, 1902-1908, 1920-1926, 1961-1970, 1971-1978, and 1986-1994. The most recent "July" TS (or H) to make a U.S. landfall was TS Bonnie in 2010 (as noted above).

h) The most tropical storms to make a U.S. landfall in one season: The 1916 and 2005 H seasons had the most land falling Tropical storms-for the month of July-with 3 each, respectively.

i) The most hurricanes to make a U.S. landfall in one season: The 1916, 1959, and 2005 Atlantic basin hurricane seasons lead the way for U.S. hurricane landfalls-during the month of July-with 2 each, respectively.

j) The most "major" hurricanes to make a U.S. landfall in one season: The 1909, 1916, and 2005 H seasons each had 1 U.S. land falling hurricane that came ashore at MH intensity.

FUTURE BLOG ENTRIES THREADS:

I will post additional blog entries threads (similar to this one) for the other respective months of a calendar year. With that in mind, the next entry should be a thorough examination of the entire climatological record for "August" TC's in the Atlantic basin.

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read and/or post in my blogs threads.  I hope each one of you have a great rest of the day!

Most sincerely,
Tony

[ncforecaster89]

LIST OF ALL U.S. HURRICANE STRIKES:

1) 1-7/15/1866 1200Z 28.5N 96.5W 90 2 --- (965) ---- --- BTX2 ---
2) 1-7/30/1870 1800Z 30.5N 88.0W 70 1 --- (982) ---- --- AL1 "Mobile"
3) 4-7/19/1886 0100Z 28.8N 82.7W 70 1 --- (982) ---- --- AFL1 ---
4) 4-7/27/1887 1500Z 30.4N 86.6W 75 1 --- (978) ---- --- AFL1,IAL1 ---
5) 1-7/5/1891 2200Z 28.8N 95.5W 80 1 --- (974) ---- --- BTX1,CTX1 ---
6) 1-7/7/1896 1700Z 30.4N 86.5W 85 2 --- (970) ---- --- AFL2 ---
7) 3-7/11/1901 0700Z 36.0N 75.8W 70 1 --- (983) 1013 175 NC1 ---
8) 3-7/31/1908 1100Z 34.6N 77.1W 70 1 --- (985) 1016 300 NC1 ---
9) 4-7/21/1909 1700Z 28.9N 95.3W 100 3 20 959 1013 150 CTX3 "Velasco"
10) 2-7/5/1916 2100Z 30.4N 88.4W 105 3 20 950 1008 250 MS3,AL2,AFL2 ---
11) 4-7/14/1916 0800Z 32.9N 79.5W 95 2 20 960 1013 175 SC2 ---
12) 1-7/28/1926 1000Z 29.0N 80.8W 90 2 15 967 1014 300 DFL2,CFL1 ---
13) 5-7/30/1933 1600Z 27.1N 80.1W 65 1 --- 988 1018 150 CFL1 ---
14) 3-7/25/1934 1700Z 28.1N 96.8W 75 1 25 979 1009 225 ATX1 ---
15) 5-7/31/1936 1400Z 30.4N 86.6W 90 2 20 964 1013 200 AFL2 ---
16) 1-7/27/1943 1800Z 29.5N 94.6W 90 2 15 967 1013 250 CTX2 ---------------

 

17) 1959 Jul SC, 1 1 993 ----- Cindy
18) 1959 Jul TX, N1 1 984 ----- Debra
19) 1979 Jul LA, 1 1 986 ----- Bob

20) 2-7/25/1985 0300Z 32.2N 80.5W 65 1 --- 1003 ---- --- SC1 Bob
21) 2-7/12/1996 2000Z 34.3N 77.8W 90 2 --- 974 ---- --- NC2 Bertha
22) 5-7/18/1997 0900Z 29.3N 89.7W 65 1 --- 989 ---- --- LA1 Danny
22) 5-7/19/1997 1000Z 30.2N 88.1W 70 1 --- 984 ---- --- LA1 Danny
22) 5-7/19/1997 1800Z 30.4N 87.9W 65 1 --- 986 ---- --- AL1 Danny
23) 2003 Jul TX, C1 1 979 80 Claudette
24) 3-7/6/2005 0300Z 29.2N 90.1W 65 1 --- 991 ---- --- LA1 Cindy
25) 4-7/10/2005 1930Z 30.4N 87.1W 105 3 --- 946 ---- --- AFL3,IAL1 Dennis
26) 4-7/23/2008 1820Z 26.4N 97.2W 75 1 --- 967 ---- --- ATX1 Dolly
26) 4-7/23/2008 2000Z 26.4N 97.4W 70 1 --- 967 ---- --- ATX1 Dolly

[ncforecaster89]

LIST OF ALL U.S. TROPICAL STORM STRIKES:

1) 1 7/11/1872 0500Z 29.1 89.1 50 LA
1) 1 7/11/1872 0800Z 30.2 89.0 50 MS
2) 1 7/ 4/1874 2000Z 28.5 96.2 50 TX
3) 1 7/ 2/1878$ 1500Z 26.0 81.8 40 FL
4) 2 7/5/1888 1600Z 28.8 95.6 50 TX
5) 2 7/30/1899$ 1000Z 24.9 80.6 40 FL
6) 2 7/10/1901 1000Z 28.6 96.0 45 TX
7) 4 7/31/1908 2200Z 29.5 91.9 50 LA
8) 2 7/15/1912 1500Z 31.3 81.3 45 GA
9) 3 7/21/1916 1300Z 41.4 71.2 60 MA
10) 1 7/4/1919 1100Z 30.4 87.0 55 FL
11) 2 7/15/1931 1000Z 29.2 91.0 50 LA
12) 3 7/23/1933 0800Z 28.6 96.0 40 TX
13) 4 7/27/1936 1600Z 29.1 90.2 40 LA.
14) 1 7/29/1937 2200Z 28.1 82.8 55 FL
14) 1 7/31/1937* 1500Z 35.1 75.6 60 NC
15) 2 7/21/1945* 1200Z 27.8 95.4 35 TX
16) 2 7/6/1946 0800Z 33.9 78.2 45 NC
17) 2 7/9/1948 0700Z 30.3 87.3 35 FL

18) Storm #2 (TS Barbara) of 1954.
19) Storm #3 (TS Brenda) of 1960.
20) Storm #2 (TS Becky) of 1970.
21) Storm #2 (TS Amelia) of 1978.
22) Storm #3 (TS Claudette) of 1979.
23) Storm #2 (TS Bret) of 1981.

24) 1 7/3/1994 1500Z 30.4 86.5 55 FL Alberto
25) 4 7/31/1995 0200Z 29.2 95.3 40 TX Dean
26) 5 7/20/2005# 1200Z 24.8 97.6 45 TX Emily
27) 3 7/21/2006 0600Z 41.0 70.5 45 MA Beryl
28) 2 7/23/2010 1430Z 25.4 80.2 35 FL Bonnie

All U.S. TS strikes for the period of 1851-1950 and 1983-2013 can be found here.

IN ADDITION:

Note: Listed below are additional TS landfalls (direct) already accounted for in the "Hurricane" totals.

3 7/12/1901 2200Z 34.0 77.9 35 NC
5 7/29/1936 0200Z 25.3 80.3 55 FL
3 7/6/2005 0900Z 30.2 89.5 45 MS Cindy

[ncforecaster89]

ASIDE: No TS or STS systems formed anywhere in the Atlantic Basin during the months of June or July during the following years.

0 = 1852, 1853, 1855, 1856, 1860, 1863, 1868, 1869, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1890, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1962, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2009.

ALSO: No TS or STS systems made a U.S. landfall during the months of June or July during the following years.

0 = 1852, 1853, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1868, 1869, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1890, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, and 2009.

[ncforecaster89]

All "July" U.S. Landfalls/Strikes (El Nino seasons) 1950-2013:


1951 = None

1953 = None

1957 = None

1963 = None

1965 = None

1968 = None

1969 = None

1972 = None

1976 = None

1977 = None

1982 = None

1986 = None

1987 = None

1991 = None

1994 = 1 TS

1997 = 1 H

2002 = None

2004 = None

2006 = 1 TS

2009 = None

[Roger Smith]

I took your lists of landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms, added 2014-Arthur (NC cat-2 Jul 3) and produced this list of landfalls by date to show the details of the month's generally increasing tempo. The landfalls are listed as either hurricane by category (1,2,3) or tropical storm (S) in the order that they occurred. Cases with more than one landfall are only shown for their first landfall date and intensity at that landfall. To be clear, a number such as 2 for 15th indicates a cat-2 landfall as with the first hurricane listed. I looked up dates for hurricanes and tropical storms mentioned above from 1954 to 1981 as those aren't in the lists. Those additional dates and landfall locations are listed below the table.

 

 1 _ S,S

 2 _ S

 3 _ S,2

 4 _ S,S

 5 _ S,1,3

 6 _ S,1

 7 _ 2

 8 _

 9 _ S,1

10_ S,3

11_ S,1,1

12_ 2

13_

14_ 2

15_ 2,S,S,1

16_

17_

18_ 1

19_ 1

20_ S

21_ 3,S,S,S

22_ S

23_ S,S,1

24_ S

25_ 1,1,1

26_

27_ 1,S,2

28_ 2

29_ S,S,S

30_ 1,S,1,S

31_ 1,S,2,S

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

You could make the case that the June regime (where the lists indicate 19 H and 44 TS landfalls in June, one more from that list is shown here on July 1st) does not really begin to ramp up towards the August-September peak until quite late in July and even find a relative lull around July 16-20. The total number of landfalls in June (63) is actually greater than July (56 incl Arthur and 59 including the three cases of TS then H landfalls -- I did not include those three TS in the above chronology, dates for those are 6th, 12th and 29th). Note that one storm listed in June made its landfall on July 1st so my numbers don't quite match those in the lists. That July 1st landfall in 2010 is included in this table. The storm actually hit northern Mexico but produced TS conditions in Texas.

 

additional landfall dates and locations

 

7-29-1954 n TX (TS Barbara)

7- 9-1959 SC (H-1 Cindy)

7-25-1959 n TX (H-1 Debra)

7-29-1960 (came ashore w FL as TD 28th then shown as TS grazing GA/SC/NC coasts 29th)

7-22-1970 nw FL (TS Becky)

7-30-1978 s TX (TS Amelia)

7-11-1979 seLA (H-1 Bob)

7-24-1979 TX-LA border (TS Claudette)

7- 1-1981 e MD (TS Bret)

 

7-15-2003 n TX (H-1 Claudette)

[ncforecaster89]

As I mentioned in the "June" thread, I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into providing the fascinating data contained in the preceding post!