Preliminary Report
Tropical Storm Chris
17 - 19 August 2000

2000 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

Hurricane Alberto (3)
Tropical Storm Beryl (TS)
Tropical Storm Chris (TS)
Hurricane Debby (1)
Tropical Storm Ernesto (TS)
Hurricane Florence (1)
Hurricane Gordon (1)
Tropical Storm Helene (TS)
Hurricane Isaac (4)
Hurricane Joyce (1)
Hurricane Keith (4)
Tropical Storm Leslie (TS)
Hurricane Michael (2)
Tropical Storm Nadine (TS)

Chris was a short-lived tropical storm which was quickly torn apart by strong vertical wind-shear.

 

a. Synoptic History

Chris developed from a large amplitude tropical wave which moved off the coast of Africa on 12 August, accompanied by 24-h pressure falls of about of 2.5 mb. Widespread cloudiness and showers were associated with the disturbance but most of the activity was displaced to the east and southeast of the poorly defined low-pressure circulation center. The system moved westward for a few days and the shower activity gradually became consolidated. It is estimated that a tropical depression formed about 600 nautical miles east of the Lesser Antilles at 1200 UTC 17 August. No significant change in organization was observed during the next several hours until a burst of convection occurred and satellite estimates indicated that the depression reached tropical storm status at 1200 UTC 18 August. Soon thereafter, convection became disorganized and by the time the reconnaissance plane reached the area, the system had already weakened. In fact, data from the plane suggested that there was no longer a well-defined closed circulation. The wind-shear increased further and in about 24 hours later, Chris was just a swirl of low clouds and the tropical cyclone dissipated. Alex in 1998 and now Chris are the only two tropical storms weakened into dissipation by shear in the deep tropics since 1997 when El Nino episode enhanced the westerly wind-shear over the tropical Atlantic.

b. Meteorological Statistics

Chris was upgraded to a 40-mph tropical storm based on Dvorak T-numbers of 2.5 from the Tropical Prediction Center, the Satellite Analysis Branch and the Air Force Weather Agency. At that time, visible satellite images depicted the typical curved cloud band signature of a minimal tropical storm. This was the only data which implied that Chris may have reached tropical storm status and it is possible that the Dvorak technique overestimated the intensity. The satellite presentation deteriorated almost immediately and data from a reconnaissance plane about five hours later showed only a very poorly defined circulation and winds no higher than 29 mph.

c. Casualty and Damage Statistics

No casualties or damages were associated with Chris.