Tropical Storm Amelia (1978)
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This article is about the Atlantic tropical storm of 1978; for other storms with this name, see Tropical Storm Amelia.
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Poorly organized Tropical Storm Amelia near landfall |
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| Formed | July 30, 1978 | |
| Dissipated | August 1, 1978 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 1005 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $20 million (1978 USD) $60.9 million (2005 USD) | |
| Fatalities | 33 direct | |
| Areas affected |
Texas | |
| Part of the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Amelia was a weak tropical storm that brought heavy rain and damage to Texas in July of the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on July 19. It moved rapidly across the unfavorable Atlantic, and remained a convectiveless wave until it reached the western Caribbean Sea on the 28th. The system developed a curved appearance by the 29th, and on the 30th, banding features became established around a central area of convection. Based on a Reconnaissance Aircraft, it was designated a tropical depression on July 30 just off the Texas/Mexico coastline.
The depression rapidly organized, and became a 50 mph tropical storm as it was making landfall south of Corpus Christi, Texas late on July 30. Despite its rapid organization, the center never became well-defined, and never would as Amelia continued to the northwest over Texas. Amelia weakened to a depression on the 31st and dissipated on August 1 west of San Antonio.
[edit] Impact
In coastal areas of Texas, damage was limited to the sinking of several shrimp boats and the beaching of sail boats. In addition, some trees and fences were blown down, though damage was relatively minor.
Inland Texas fared much worse, though. The continuous flow of tropical moisture during Amelia's dissipation and remnant stage brought heavy flooding for two and three days. The orographic effect of the Edwards Plateau enhanced the flooding, leading to rainfall totals as high as 30 inches in a two-day period. The worst hit area was the Guadalupe River basin and its tributaries, though many other rivers overflowed, contributing to the overall impact of the storm. A 12-hour total of 26 inches of rain at Abilene was an extreme example of the flooding. The storm total of 48 inches measured at Medina, Texas is the wettest known storm total rainfall amount for both the state of Texas, and the United States as a whole.[citation needed]
The severe flooding resulted in 33 casualties, with property and crop damage amounting to $20 million (1978 USD, $60.9 million 2005 USD). This disproves the misconception that tropical storms are less deadly than hurricanes.
[edit] Lack of retirement
Despite its effects, the name Amelia was not retired. However, a change in the naming list occurred in 1979, and the name Amelia has not been used since.
