A tropical storm that unexpectedly formed along the Carolina coast brought showers, gusts and dangerous surf over the recent holiday weekend.
While much of the attention in the tropics over the past week has focused on Bonnie – it’s not Typhoon in 1998 that hit our shores, but rather 2022 incarnation crossed Central America before entering the Pacific – another system developed almost literally under radar much closer to home.
An area of low pressure forms on the coast of South Carolina on Friday better organized Saturday morning, with tropical storm winds of at least 35 knots, or 40 mph, measured just offshore by Charleston, SC.
Unusually, the center of the circulation remained on land during Tropical Storm Colin’s life is shortfrom its initial classification at 2 a.m. Saturday, July 2, to a tropical depression at 8 p.m. that night.
Colin’s Impact
Unfortunately for areas bogged down in droughtalmost rain at sea when Colin moved up the beach. Strong superior northwest wind before one approach the cold front cut clouds and convection away from the center, and away from our coastline.
Tallest total rainfall from the storm in North Carolina up to 1.35 inches at Wilmington International Airport. It was the first heavy rain there since half an inch fell on June 12, but it was not a drought, as Wilmington has remained about 6 inches below normal for the past six months.
Colin also generates some strong winds, especially in the offshore buoy. Ours ECONet Station Bald Head Island maximum gusts of 25.8 mph were measured Saturday night and gusts at The newest station in Jockey’s Ridge State Park peaked at 32.6 mph.
While it looked like the storm caused little or no damage, it produced massive waves along our southern beaches. The Oak Island Town Confirmed Multiple underwater rescues took place on Sunday, along with one drowning.
Historical perspective
Colin’s Formation and Life on Land Conjures up Meteorological Memories of 2016 Tropical Storm Julia, its center tracked across Florida and Georgia for the first 24 hours of its life before setting sail. The remnants of Julia are finally created rain more than 6 inches in northeastern North Carolina. That initial soaking only aggravated it historical flood are from Hurricane Matthew less than three weeks later.
Regarding its timing, Colin has similarities with Storm Arthuralso occurred early on Independence Day weekend back in 2014. Although Arthur reached our shores with greater strength, holding Level 2 status through the landing near Beaufort, its damage was generally is small enough that the beaches are open for the 4th of July festival and fireworks.
Although the show in the sky served by Colin – in the form of showers and storms – may not be as windy or as widespread as we would like, our first encounter with the tropics this year brings came hoping for more rain and reminded us of the dangers even a minor storm could pose.
