Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

19th storm ties a record

Tropical Storm Tammy makes landfall near Jacksonville as forecasters watch yet another low pressure system near Cuba.

By GRAHAM BRINK
Published October 6, 2005

The 2005 hurricane season became the second busiest in history Wednesday and gave ample notice that it's far from over.

As Tropical Storm Tammy washed ashore near Jacksonville on Wednesday evening, forecasters were keeping an eye on a system brewing in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Tammy, a moderate tropical storm, packed sustained winds of 50 mph and was expected to drop 3 to 5 inches of rain in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. Widespread damage was not expected.

Tammy grew into a tropical storm just off the east coast of Florida early Wednesday. The worst of the weather remained on the storm's east and north side, mostly out at sea.

Moving at about 14 mph, the storm made landfall at about 7:30 p.m. near Mayport. The storm will lose intensity as it moves further inland today, forecasteres said.

"It will be a rainmaker, with a threat of damage from isolated tornadoes," said Chris Sisko, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Tammy is the 19th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, tying 1887 and 1995 for second busiest since records began in 1851. The record was set in 1933, when 21 storms formed in the Atlantic basin.

Six hurricanes have hit Florida in the past 14 months. A seventh, Hurricane Rita, brushed past the southern part of the state.

The 2005 season, which ends Nov. 30, could still set the overall record. October is often a busy month during active seasons, said Stan Goldenberg, a meteorologist with the federal Hurricane Research Division.

"Not just the first day of October, we're talking well into October or even the end," he said.

Forecasters continue to watch a low pressure system that was near the western tip of Cuba on Wednesday night. The system appeared to be falling apart late Wednesday, though it could reorganize as it moves northeast toward Florida's west coast today, forecasters said.

It appeared unlikely, forecasters said, that the system will reach the threshold to become a tropical storm - sustained winds of at least 39 mph. West and Central Florida could begin receiving heavy rains late today, he said.

"It looks like some squally weather is headed that way," he said. "But not a major blow."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Graham Brink can be reached at 727 893-8406 or brink@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:13:15]