Sixth Conference on Coastal Atmospheric and Oceanic Prediction and Processes

7.2

Precipitation Patterns Associated with Tropical Systems Affecting the Central Gulf Coast Region from 1852 to 2002

Suzanne Van Cooten, NDBC, Stennis Space Center, MS

To investigate rainfall patterns associated with tropical systems affecting southern portions of Louisiana and Mississippi, a database containing daily rainfall observed at 63 south Louisiana and 28 south Mississippi stations from 1836 to 2002 was assembled. Mean Areal Precipitation (MAP) sheets were compiled for every month from 1836 to 2002 to document the daily rainfall across south Louisiana and neighboring portions of southern and coastal Mississippi. To identify storms impacting the study region, a grid using Longitude 87 to 93 degrees West and Latitude 28 to 32 degrees North was overlayed onto track maps provided by the Hurricane Research Division’s Reanalysis project for storms from 1851 to 1910 and National Hurricane Center track maps for the Atlantic Basin for 1911 to present. Using the MAP sheets, twenty-four hour rainfall totals observed at the south Louisiana and south Mississippi stations were examined and plotted onto regional maps corresponding to storm track times and intensity allowing for an examination of the spatial pattern of rainfall associated with the tropical systems. Additional rainfall maps were produced when two-day rainfall totals were plotted to account for differing observation times and/or observer’s inability to read gages in the extreme conditions. .

Session 7, Tropical Cyclones
Thursday, 13 January 2005, 3:30 PM-5:00 PM

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