Preliminary Report
Hurricane Allison
03 - 11 June 1995

1995 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

Hurricane Allison (1)
Tropical Storm Barry (TS)
Tropical Storm Chantal (TS)
Tropical Storm Dean (TS)
Hurricane Erin (2)
Hurricane Felix (4)
Tropical Storm Gabrielle (TS)
Hurricane Humberto (2)
Hurricane Iris (2)
Tropical Storm Jerry (TS)
Tropical Storm Karen (TS)
Hurricane Luis (4)
Hurricane Marilyn (3)
Hurricane Noel (1)
Hurricane Opal (4)
Tropical Storm Pablo (TS)
Hurricane Roxanne (3)
Tropical Storm Sebastien (TS)
Hurricane Tanya (1)

Allison was an early season hurricane that formed over the northwest Caribbean Sea, the typical genesis area for tropical cyclones in June. It weakened to slightly below hurricane strength just before making landfall in north Florida. Allison was responsible for one death (in western Cuba).

 

a. Synoptic History

Satellite images and rawinsonde data show that a tropical wave passed over the Windward Islands on 28 May. When the wave entered the western Caribbean Sea on 1 June, it was accompanied by a broad mid-level cyclonic circulation, which rawinsonde observations indicated was particularly distinct at 700 mb. Convective cloudiness acquired sufficient organization to warrant an initial Dvorak satellite classification at 0000 UTC 2 June. At that time, the cloud cluster was located a few hundred miles to the east of Honduras. The system moved north-northwestward, and gradually became better organized during the daylight hours of the 2nd. The first reconnaissance flight into the area revealed that the system became a tropical depression around 0000 UTC on 3 June, centered 230 nautical miles east of Belize City.

Continuing on its north-northwestward heading, the cyclone strengthened into Tropical Storm Allison at 1200 UTC on the 3rd. The intensifying storm turned northward, and moved through the Yucatan Channel. The storm deepened even though southwesterly upper-level winds were creating a shearing environment. In fact, by 1200 UTC on the 4th, Allison became a 75-mph hurricane over the southeast Gulf of Mexico, centered 240 nautical miles west of Key West. However, the strengthening trend soon ceased and Allison never developed beyond minimal hurricane intensity. Moving northward near 17 mph, Allison headed for the Florida panhandle.

Early on 5 June, as the system drew nearer to the coast, it turned northeastward, and weakened slightly, apparently in response to south-southwesterly vertical shear. Allison's winds dropped just below hurricane force by 0600 UTC 5 June. Landfall occurred at 1400 UTC 5 June on the coast of north Florida, near Alligator Point, and again (after a very brief time over water) at 1500 UTC near Saint Marks. Maximum winds at landfall are estimated at 63-69 mph. The storm weakened further as it headed inland to Georgia, but tropical storm force winds persisted over Apalachee Bay until 2100 UTC on the 5th. Allison diminished to a tropical depression over southern Georgia by 0000 UTC 6 June.

By 0600 UTC on the 6th, the system acquired extratropical characteristics as it interacted with a warm frontal zone to the northeast. Gale force winds developed along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts as the cyclone's isobaric pattern expanded and the pressure gradient increased well east of the low center. During the day on the 6th, the low moved northeastward over the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S., emerging into the Atlantic a little north of Cape Hatteras just after 0000 UTC 7 June. The low, with an associated area of gale to storm force winds over its southeastern semicircle, moved rapidly northeastward, skirting the eastern shore of Nova Scotia on the 8th, as it headed for Newfoundland. After passing over Newfoundland on the 9th, the gale center turned northward, and then north-northwestward, crossing the Arctic Circle to the west of Greenland on the 11th.

The maximum wind speed recorded in Allison was 85 mph at 700 mb from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane on 0019 UTC on 5 June. The highest surface wind estimated by the aircraft crew was 75 mph. The highest observed sustained (8-min) winds were reported from the NOAA Data Buoy 42003, 60 mph. The minimum observed central pressure was 987 mb, from the Hurricane Hunters, at 1346, 1527, and 2224 UTC on 4 June. It is presumed that Allison was at its peak intensity at 1200 UTC 4 June, since this was the only time that aerial reconnaissance data showed any kind of eye structure (a partial wall cloud). The peak observed flight-level winds at 850 mb were 79 mph around that time.

b. Meteorological Statistics

In Cuba, Allison produced winds of 46 to 52 mph in Pinar del Rio. Stronger gusts, 63 mph, were reported at the weather service office in Havana.

The highest reported wind speed observation in Florida was a gust to 58 mph at Cedar Key. A 1-minute sustained wind speed of 43 mph with a gust to 54 mph was observed at Turkey Point. A 30-minute sustained wind speed of 40 mph with a gust to 56 mph was measured at the St. George Island Causeway. A 1-minute sustained wind speed of 39 mph with a gust to 45 mph was observed at Apalachicola.

1. Rainfall Data

Rainfall totals to as high as 18 inches were observed.
Rainfall totals were generally between 4 and 6 inches near the path of Allison, from Florida through North Carolina.

2. Storm Surge

3. Tornadoes

The outer rainbands of Allison spawned a number of tornadoes, waterspouts and funnel clouds. A waterspout was sighted, at 2005 UTC 4 June, five miles east of Ponte Vedra Beach FL, moving north. A probable tornado struck in eastern Polk County, FL, from 0245-0315 UTC 5 June; a funnel cloud was spotted by two observers but no tornado was seen. However, 75 homes and mobile homes near Haines City apparently received some damage, and trees were down and storage sheds were damaged near West Lake Wales.

There were several tornadoes reported in the northeast Florida/southeast Georgia area on 5 June. A tornado at Jacksonville Beach in Duval County, FL, around 0738 UTC, downed power lines and trees, flipped over two vehicles, and caused minor damage to fences and houses. A northward-moving tornado was sighted over extreme northern Nassau County, FL, at 0810 UTC. This twister moved over Saint Marys in Camden County, GA around 0420 UTC. Damage in Nassau County was light, but heavier damage was incurred in Camden County, where an elementary school in Saint Marys sustained building damage and facilities at the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base were damaged. Numerous trees were downed at the base as well. At 0930 UTC, a waterspout moved onshore near Brunswick in Glynn County, GA, causing minor damage to structures. From 0945-1000 UTC, waterspouts were sighted from Fernandina Beach in Nassau County, FL. A funnel cloud with a possible brief touchdown took place at 1000 UTC near Everret City, also in Glynn County, GA. Two tornado touchdowns occurred south of Brunswick, GA at 1045 UTC. A tornado was reportedly sighted near Gainesville, Alachua County, FL at 1251 UTC. There was also a possible tornado east of Interlachen in Putnam County, FL, around 1340 UTC.

c. Casualty and Damage Statistics

There were 1 death attributed to Allison; 1 in Cuba.

Heavy rains caused the collapse of 32 structures in western Cuba. One person was killed and three injured due to these collapses. Overall, economic losses were apparently not large.

In the U.S., there were no direct deaths due to Allison. Damage was greatest in the coastal sections of Dixie, Levy, Taylor and Wakulla counties, mainly from storm surge effects, with 60 houses and businesses damaged. A house collapsed at Bald Point in Franklin County. About 5000 people evacuated from the coast. Other coastal effects included mostly minor beach erosion, damage to sea walls and coastal roadways, and the sinking of several small boats. Otherwise, minor wind damage to roofs, signs, power lines and trees occurred over most of the north Florida peninsula. Some relatively minor crop damage was also reported.

Total damage in Florida is estimated at $860,000, and the tornado near St. Marys, Georgia, caused about $800,000 in damage, bringing Allison's overall U.S. damage figure to $1.7 Million.