Question about Grace...

[Anonymous]

Was TS Grace of 2003, a landfalling Tropical storm, as well as Henri???

[USAwx1]

Was TS Grace of 2003, a landfalling Tropical storm, as well as Henri???

TS Grace Made landfall along the TX coast and Henri crossed the central part of the FL peninsula as a TD. BOTH were pretty weak, Henri only had a minimum central pressure of 997mb and Grace only got down to 1007mb w/ max winds of 35 KT. Henri's winds were up to 45 KT at its strongest point.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info.

[wxman57]

I'd also add that neither the recon plane or surface obs indicated a closed circulation in Grace. Grace was no more than a tropical wave. The NHC really jumped the gun and upgraded it because a few offshore platforms were getting some heavy squalls. I have a screen shot taken 12-18 hours before landfall showing a moderately sharp trof at the surface. The recon plane was unable to close off a circulation center. Grace should never have been named.

[Air Force Met]

Grace did, however, close off once it moved inland. When the center reformed further north and moved inland near San Luis Pass, there were west winds on the south side. I have a sfc plot from that morning that shows the circulation nicely.

HOWEVER...the winds were sustained at...MAYBE 15-20 kts. Certainly a TD at best.

[chadtm80]

Grace - http://www.storm2k.org/ham/hw3.php?conf ... hwvmetric=

[wxman57]

Here's a shot I"d saved of Grace not long before it moved inland. At this time, it was being carried by the NHC as a tropical storm, but recon was unable to find a closed center:

<img src="http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/grace.gif">

[weatherluvr]

The NHC discussions on Grace used terms like "very poorly defined center" and "it's quite a stretch to call this system a tropical cyclone". They definitely jumped the gun on naming it, but I think it had more to do with her proximity to the coast and the heavy rains she would bring than any organization she may have had.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2003/dis/al112003.discus.003.shtml?

[Brent]

Grace looked like a trough. There was almost a straight line and all the squalls were east of that. I still don't think that should have been named.

[Air Force Met]

I think they upgraded it based on the rig reports, thinking that the LLC was developing...and given the proximity to land...they would rather be safe than sorry and make a call...rather than wait. Of course, the LLC didn't really form until it moved inland near San Luis Pass.