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Tropical Storm Bonnie (2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Bonnie
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
TS Bonnie 2004.jpg
Tropical Storm Bonnie near peak intensity on August 11
Formed August 3, 2004
Dissipated August 14, 2004
Highest winds 1-minute sustained: 65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure 1001 mbar (hPa); 29.56 inHg
Fatalities 3 direct, 1 indirect
Damage $1.27 million (2004 USD)
Areas affected Lesser Antilles, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, Yucatn Peninsula,
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maine
Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
Tropical Storm Bonnie was a small tropical storm that made landfall on Florida in
August 2004. The second storm of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, Bonnie
developed from a tropical wave on August 3 to the east of the Lesser Antilles.
After moving through the islands, its fast forward motion caused it to dissipate.
However, it later regenerated into a tropical storm near the Yucatn Peninsula.
Bonnie attained peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) over the Gulf of Mexico, turned to
the northeast, and hit Florida as a 45 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm. The storm
accelerated to the northeast and became an extratropical cyclone to the east of New
Jersey. Bonnie was the first of five tropical systems to make landfall on Florida
in the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, and the second of a record eight
disturbances to reach tropical storm strength during the month of August.
Bonnie's impact was minimal. Throughout the Caribbean Sea, the storm's effects
consisted primarily of light rainfall, and in Florida, the precipitation caused
flooding and minor damage. The tropical storm caused a tornado outbreak across the
Southeastern United States which killed three people and inflicted over $1 million
(2004 USD) in damage. Bonnie made landfall in Florida the day before Hurricane
Charley struck.
Contents [hide]
1 Meteorological history
2 Preparations
3 Impact
3.1 Caribbean Sea
3.2 North America
4 Aftermath and records
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Meteorological history[edit]

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm, according to the SaffirSimpson
scale
The origins of Bonnie were in a tropical wave that emerged from the coast of Africa
on July 29 and entered the Atlantic Ocean. It moved westward, attaining convection
and a mid-level circulation. Convection steadily increased, and, upon the
development of a low-level circulation center, the system organized into Tropical
Depression Two on August 3 while 415 miles (670 km) east of Barbados. It moved
rapidly westward at speeds of up to 23 mph (37 km/h); after crossing through the
Lesser Antilles on August 4, it degenerated back into a tropical wave.[1] The
tropical wave continued to move rapidly to the west-northwest, until it reached the
western Caribbean Sea. While south of Cuba and through the Cayman Islands, the
system slowed down to regenerate convection, and it re-developed into a tropical
depression on August 8.[1] Operationally, the system was classified a tropical wave
until a day later.[2] The depression moved through the Yucatn Channel, and
intensified into Tropical Storm Bonnie on August 9 while 70 miles (115 km) north of
the Yucatn Peninsula.[1]

Bonnie to the north of Charley on August 12

Bonnie continued to the west-northwest; late on August 9, the storm presented a 9-
mile (15-km) wide eyewall, a very unusual occurrence in a small and weak tropical
storm.[3] Bonnie quickly strengthened while turning to the north, a directional
shift caused by a break in the mid-level ridge.[4] The storm briefly weakened late
on August 10; it re-strengthened again the following day to attain a peak intensity
of 65 mph (100 km/h). Soon after, strong southwesterly wind shear disrupted the
storm, causing Bonnie to weaken again. On August 12, Bonnie made landfall just
south of Apalachicola as a 45 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm. It quickly weakened to
a tropical depression, and accelerated northeastward through the southeastern
United States. After paralleling the Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina
coastlines, Bonnie lost its tropical characteristics on August 14 to the east of
New Jersey.[1] Its remnant low continued northeastward, making landfall in
Massachusetts and Maine and continuing into Atlantic Canada.[5]
Preparations[edit]
About 16 hours before the storm moved through the Lesser Antilles, the government
of Saint Lucia declared a tropical storm warning. Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica,
St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands issued
tropical storm watches.[1] Combined with the threat of Hurricane Charley, Bonnie
forced the evacuation of 154 oil platforms and 32 oil rigs. The cease in production
was equivalent to over 1.2 million barrels of loss in crude oil, or 0.2% of the
annual oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Natural gas reserves were also
limited. The lack of gas production due to the storms was equivalent to 7.4% of the
total daily production in the Gulf of Mexico.[6]
Early forecasts suggested that Bonnie would attain 80 mph (130 km/h) winds or
Category 1 status.[4] In response to the threat, 15 shelters in 7 northwestern
Florida counties were put on standby.[7] In the hours prior to landfall,2 shelters
were opened, 4 were put on standby, and health and cleanup teams were deployed to
the area.[8] Parts of Gadsden, Wakulla, and Levy Counties issued voluntary
evacuations, and numerous schools were closed. In anticipation of the storm,
Florida Governor Jeb Bush issued a state of emergency.[9]
Impact[edit]
Bonnie was a weak storm through most of its path, dropping only light rainfall and
causing minimal damage. South Carolina and North Carolina experienced the worst of
the storm, where a tornado outbreak killed three people and caused moderate damage.
Caribbean Sea[edit]
As a tropical depression, the storm moved rapidly through the Lesser Antilles;
consequently, most islands only experienced minor effects. For example, Saint Lucia
received light and sporadic rain showers, accompanied by sustained winds of 2025
mph (3240 km/h) and gusts to 35 mph (55 km/h).[10] In Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, however, the depression dropped up to 9.2 inches (235 mm) of rain in 24
hours. The rainfall blocked storm drains, including those near the airport, which
was forced to shut down. The rainfall caused debris to collect on roads throughout
the island.[11] Although the storm passed just 70 miles (110 km) north of the
Yucatn Peninsula, the storm dropped only 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain due to its
small size.[12]
North America[edit]

Total rainfall map of Bonnie in the Eastern United States

In Florida, Bonnie produced up to 4.1 inches (104 mm) of rainfall in Pace, with
peak wind gusts of 42 mph (68 km/h). Bonnie was accompanied by a 4 ft (1.2 m) storm
surge; moderate wave action caused slight beach erosion. Rainfall and storm surge
flooded roads, forcing the evacuation of 2,000 residents in Taylor County. The
winds downed trees and caused scattered power outages.[13] A tornado in
Jacksonville damaged several businesses and houses.[14][15]
Bonnie triggered a tornado outbreak throughout portions of the Mid-Atlantic states.
One tornado in Pender County, North Carolina destroyed 17 homes and damaged 59
houses, causing three deaths and $1.27 million in damage (2004 USD).[16] In Stella,
Bonnie generated a waterspout that struck a campground, damaged nine trailers, and
wrecked small boats.[17] A tornado in Richlands damaged several houses as well.[18]
In South Carolina, tornadoes across the state damaged nine homes. A suspected
tornado in Danville, Virginia destroyed the roofs of several businesses.[14] In
South Carolina, rainfall peaking at 6.07 inches (154 mm) in Loris[5] caused
flooding across the state. The flooding, including a one-foot depth along U.S.
Route 501, washed away a road and a bridge in Greenville County. In addition, 600
people across the state were left without electricity.[19]
In Pennsylvania, the remnants of the storm dropped up to 8 inches (200 mm) of rain
in Tannersville. The rainfall caused the Schuylkill River to reach a crest peak of
12.89 ft (4 m) at Berne. The flooding blocked several roads across eastern
Pennsylvania. In addition, Bonnie produced gusty winds, leaving thousands without
power.[20] In Delaware, the storm dropped up to 4 inches (100 mm) of rain, forcing
100 to evacuate from the floodwaters. The flooding closed part of U.S. Route 13,
and an overflown creek in New Castle County caused moderate flooding damage to
stores.[13] In Maine, moisture from the remnants of Bonnie produced heavy rainfall,
with localized totals of up to 10 inches (250 mm). The rainfall flooded or washed
out roads across the eastern portion of the state. In Aroostook County, near the
town of St. Francis, the rainfall caused a mudslide which narrowed a county road to
one lane.[21]
As an extratropical low combined with a frontal system, Bonnie continued to produce
moderate rainfall in Canada, peaking at 3.5 inches (90 mm) in Edmundston, New
Brunswick. The rainfall caused basement flooding and road washouts; slick roads
caused a traffic fatality in Edmundston.[22]
Aftermath and records[edit]
Twenty-two hours after Bonnie struck Florida, Hurricane Charley passed over the Dry
Tortugas. This was the first time in recorded history that two tropical storms
struck Florida within 1 day. Previously, Hurricane Gordon and Tropical Storm Helene
struck the state within five days of each other in September 2000. Originally, it
was thought that two storms in the 1906 season hit the state within 12 hours;[23]
however, the suspected tropical storm was determined to be a tropical depression in
a more recent analysis.[24] Bonnie was the first of five tropical systems to make
landfall in Florida during the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, and the second of a
record eight disturbances to reach tropical storm strength during the month of
August.[25]
Because Bonnie hit Florida immediately before Charley, damage between the two
storms was often difficult to differentiate. President George W. Bush responded to
the storm by declaring much of Florida a Federal Disaster Area on August 13, 2004.
[26]
See also[edit]
Tropical cyclones portal
2004 Atlantic hurricane season
List of Florida hurricanes
Other tropical cyclones named Bonnie
Timeline of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
List of North Carolina hurricanes
List of New England hurricanes
List of New Jersey hurricanes
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c d e National Hurricane Center (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie
Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2015.
Jump up ^ National Hurricane Center (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie Tropical
Discussion #7". Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ National Hurricane Center (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie Tropical
Discussion #8". Retrieved May 18, 2006.
^ Jump up to: a b National Hurricane Center (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie Tropical
Discussion #10". Retrieved May 18, 2006.
^ Jump up to: a b Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (2006). "Rainfall Summary
for Tropical Storm Bonnie". Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ United States Department of the Interior (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie
and Hurricane Charley Evacuation and Production Shut-in Statistics". Archived from
the original on 2006-07-18. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ Capital City Area Red Cross (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie Situation
Report #1" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2006. Retrieved May
18, 2006.
Jump up ^ Capital City Area Red Cross (2004). "Tropical Storm Bonnie Situation
Report #1" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2006. Retrieved May
18, 2006.
Jump up ^ Florida State Emergency Response Team (2004). "Situation Report #1"
(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ Mike Davis (2004). "Unofficial Reports from St. Lucia". Retrieved May 18,
2006.
Jump up ^ National Emergency Office, St Vincent (2004). "Airport in St Vincent
temporarily closed due to flooding". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ Dir. Gral. Adj. de Oceanografia, Hidrografia y Meteorologa (2004).
"Tormenta Tropical Bonnie" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on
January 16, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
^ Jump up to: a b "Storm data and unusual weather phenomena, August 2004 (Alabama-
Florida)". World Meteorological Organization. 2004. Archived from the original on
June 15, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
^ Jump up to: a b Insurance Journal (2004). "Storm Bonnie Spawns Tornadoes from
Fla. to Va". Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ "Bonnie-Spawned Tornado Rips Through Northwest Jacksonville".
News4Jax.com. August 12, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-08-15. Retrieved
August 1, 2011.
Jump up ^ Wilmington National Weather Service (2004). "Final Pender County Tornado
Damage Assessment". Archived from the original on March 12, 2005. Retrieved May 22,
2006.
Jump up ^ Timmi Toler (2004). "Waterspout damages Stella campground". Jacksonville
Daily News. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved May 18, 2004.
Jump up ^ Roselee Papandrea (2004). "Bonnie makes presence felt". Jacksonville
Daily News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved May 18,
2006.
Jump up ^ Associated Press (2004). "Bonnie brings high winds, tornadoes around SC".
Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ "Storm data and unusual weather phenomena, August 2004 (New York-
Pennsylvania)". World Meteorological Organization. 2004. Archived from the original
on April 17, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2006.
Jump up ^ "Storm data and unusual weather phenomena, August 2004 (Kansas-
Michigan)". World Meteorological Organization. 2004. Archived from the original on
April 26, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ Canadian Hurricane Centre (2004). "2004 Tropical Cyclone Season Summary".
Archived from the original on May 1, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ David Royse (2004). "How Rare is Tropical Storm Double Trouble?".
Associated Press. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ HURDAT (2004). "HURDAT Re-Analysis (19011910)". Retrieved May 18, 2006.
Jump up ^ National Hurricane Center (2004). "August 2004 Monthly Tropical Weather
Summary". Retrieved May 18, 2004.
Jump up ^ FEMA (2004). "Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie".
Archived from the original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
External links[edit]
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tropical Storm Bonnie (2004).
Tropical Storm Bonnie Report
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Tropical cyclones of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
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