Hurricane Danny

Narrative - August 8, 1997

After forming in the northwest Gulf of Mexico on July 16, 1997 (as a tropical depression), Hurricane Danny crossed the southeast coast of Louisiana on July 18, and then moved into Mobile Bay on July 19. Danny then stalled for about 15 hours over Mobile Bay and strengthened slightly to 80 mph sustained winds. An automated station on Dauphin Island, AL reported sustained winds of 80 mph with gusts to 101 mph at 11 a.m. on July 19. A 120-foot ferry on Dauphin Island tore loose from its moorings and took a pier with it as it sunk into Mobile Bay. A waterspout damaged boats and buildings in a marina near Orange Beach, AL.

The remnants of Danny then meandered across Alabama before turning toward the east-notheast and moving across Georgia and the Carolinas. It began strengthening again over eastern North Carolina, and regained tropical storm status as it moved into the Atlantic east of Virginia. As it moved northeast, heavy rains and high winds gusts occurred over Massachusetts as the storm passed to its east. Nine deaths have been attributed to Danny, either directly or indirectly. Total damages are roughly estimated at about $100 million, but subject to revision.

The most damaging aspect of the storm was its extremely heavy rainfall in southwest Alabama, especially between Mobile Bay and the Mississippi state line. In this area, NEXRAD radar estimated over 25 inches of rainfall, including a maximum of approximately 43 inches. The highest rain gauge-measured amount reported thus far has been 27 inches--5 miles south of Theodore, AL. Given the high winds associated with the rain and the undercatch that would occur with the rain gauges, the NEXRAD estimate appears to be rather accurate. Also, a previous study comparing NEXRAD estimates with gauge reports showed the Mobile NEXRAD site to be one of the most accurate evaluated at the time.

Due to the incredible rainfall amounts, several hundred homes were damaged by flooding in Mobile and Baldwin counties of Alabama. Along the Fish River, some people had to be evacuated by boat, as only rooftops of some of the homes were visible. Most of the roads in the area were damaged or washed out completely in places. North Carolina also received very heavy rainfall in places, especially near and to the east of Charlotte. This rainfall was the result of an old frontal boundary in the area interacting with the moisture from Danny. One unofficial observer near Charlotte reported 13 inches in 2 days. Severe flooding occurred and some evacuations were needed in the area. See below for a list of rainfall reports obtained via NWS bulletins.

Following is the track information for Danny as reported in each National Hurricane Center advisory:

ADV     DATE/TIME      LAT      LON     PRES       WIND    STATUS
___     _________      ___      ___     ____       ____    ______
1.     JUL16/21UTC    27.5N    92.5W   1012MB     35MPH    Trop Depression
2.     JUL17/03UTC    27.5N    92.5W   1011MB     35MPH    Trop Depression
3.     JUL17/09UTC    27.8N    92.3W   1011MB     35MPH    Trop Depression
4.     JUL17/15UTC    28.3N    91.9W   1007MB     50MPH    Trop Storm
5.     JUL17/16UTC    28.6N    90.9W   1001MB     60MPH    Trop Storm
5A.    JUL17/18UTC    28.7N    90.9W   1002MB     60MPH    Trop Storm
6.     JUL17/21UTC    28.5N    91.0W   1001MB     60MPH    Trop Storm
6A.    JUL18/00UTC    28.8N    90.2W    997MB     60MPH    Trop Storm
7.     JUL18/03UTC    29.1N    89.9W    996MB     60MPH    Trop Storm
7A.    JUL18/06UTC    29.1N    89.9W    994MB     65MPH    Trop Storm
8.     JUL18/07UTC    29.2N    89.9W    992MB     75MPH    Hurricane
9.     JUL18/09UTC    29.5N    89.8W    989MB     75MPH    Hurricane
9A.    JUL18/12UTC    29.6N    89.5W    989MB     75MPH    Hurricane
10.    JUL18/15UTC    29.7N    89.2W    990MB     75MPH    Hurricane
10A.   JUL18/18UTC    29.6N    89.1W    989MB     75MPH    Hurricane
11.    JUL18/21UTC    29.9N    88.8W    987MB     75MPH    Hurricane
11A.   JUL19/00UTC    29.9N    88.3W    984MB     75MPH    Hurricane
12.    JUL19/03UTC    30.0N    88.0W    984MB     75MPH    Hurricane
12A.   JUL19/05UTC    30.0N    88.0W    984MB     75MPH    Hurricane
12B.   JUL19/07UTC    30.0N    88.0W    987MB     75MPH    Hurricane
13.    JUL19/09UTC    30.2N    88.0W    986MB     75MPH    Hurricane
13A.   JUL19/11UTC    30.3N    88.0W    985MB     75MPH    Hurricane
13B.   JUL19/13UTC    30.4N    87.9W    984MB     75MPH    Hurricane
14.    JUL19/15UTC    30.4N    87.9W    984MB     80MPH    Hurricane
14A.   JUL19/17UTC    30.4N    87.9W    986MB     80MPH    Hurricane
14B.   JUL19/19UTC    30.3N    87.8W    986MB     80MPH    Hurricane
15.    JUL19/21UTC    30.4N    87.8W    987MB     75MPH    Hurricane
15A.   JUL19/23UTC    30.3N    87.7W    989MB     75MPH    Hurricane
15B.   JUL20/01UTC    30.3N    87.6W    993MB     75MPH    Hurricane
16.    JUL20/03UTC    30.3N    87.5W    994MB     70MPH    Trop Storm
16A.   JUL20/06UTC    30.4N    87.4W    998MB     60MPH    Trop Storm
17.    JUL20/09UTC    30.5N    87.4W    998MB     50MPH    Trop Storm
17A.   JUL20/12UTC    30.7N    87.4W    999MB     45MPH    Trop Storm
18.    JUL20/15UTC    30.8N    87.5W   1001MB     35MPH    Trop Depression

Satellite and Radar Images

Warning to modem users: Image files larger than 50KB are indicated showing approximate size of the file.

Click on each of the following to view full size satellite images.

Additional images will be added later as available.

NEXRAD Storm Total Rainfall Estimate (200KB)	NEXRAD Storm Total Rainfall Estimate (Close-up) (265KB)	1km Visible 18 Jul 97 (321KB)
1km Infrared 18 Jul 97 (181KB)	Infrared Loop (MPEG) 18 Jul 97 (370KB)	Visible Loop (MPEG) 18 Jul 97 (610KB)
Infrared Loop (MPEG) 21 Jul 97 (502KB)	1km Visible 25 Jul 97 (350KB)

Rainfall Analysis and Table

Rainfall Map (click for full size)

The following are rainfall totals, in inches, for the period indicated for each state:

AL: July 20-23 *    MD: July 23-25
DE: July 23-25      MS: July 17-22
FL: July 17-21 #    NC: July 22-25
GA: July 21-24      SC: July 22-25
LA: July 17-21      VA: July 22-25

* Mobile Bay area: July 17-23
# only western panhandle stations used

                            Lat.   Lon.  Rain
St  Station                 dg mn  dg mn  in.

AL  Theodore 5 S            30 33  88  6 27.00
AL  Theodore                30 33  88 11 24.50
AL  Tillman's Corner        30 35  88 11 19.62
AL  Mobile-Airport          30 41  88 15 14.07
AL  Mobile 6SE              30 37  88 11 11.99
AL  Mobile-Downtown         30 38  88  4  9.80
AL  Seminole                30 25  87 33  8.72
MS  Biloxi                  30 25  88 56  8.63
AL  Mobile 4S               30 37  88 15  8.38
NC  Charlotte               35 12  80 50  8.22
NC  Carthage                35 21  79 25  7.83
VA  Norfolk Naval           36 55  76 17  7.69
FL  Pensacola NAS           30 27  87 11  7.68
AL  Selden Dam              32 47  87 50  6.51
MS  Pascagoula              30 22  88 33  6.47
NC  Clinton                 35  0  78 20  6.47
AL  Demopolis Dam           32 31  87 50  6.27
NC  Ellerbe                 35  4  79 46  6.19
SC  Sandhill                34  8  80 52  6.14
SC  Kershaw                 34 33  80 35  5.95
SC  Camden                  34 16  80 37  5.70
SC  Union                   34 43  81 37  5.69
NC  Erwin-Dunn              35 20  78 40  5.53
VA  Chester                 37 21  77 26  5.33
VA  Palmyra                 37 52  78 15  5.33
NC  Mount Airy              36 30  80 37  5.17
VA  Wakefield NWS           36 58  76 59  5.10
NC  Roanoke Rapids          36 27  77 39  4.98
VA  Alberta                 36 52  77 53  4.98
VA  Norfolk                 36 55  76 15  4.98
NC  Raleigh-Durham          35 49  78 40  4.88
AL  Gainesville Dam         32 50  88  8  4.83
SC  Sumter                  33 57  80 24  4.64
SC  Clinton                 34 29  81 52  4.60
NC  Jackson Springs         35 13  79 44  4.55
SC  Cheraw                  34 42  79 54  4.40
GA  Marietta                33 57  84 32  4.39
SC  Cedar Creek             34 13  81  7  4.36
NC  Highlands               35  3  83 12  4.29
AL  Bevill Dam              33 13  88 17  4.26
VA  Stanardsville           38 18  78 26  4.25
VA  Virginia Beach          36 44  76  3  4.21
AL  Wadley                  33  7  85 34  4.08
SC  West Pelzer             34 39  82 29  4.08
VA  Petersburg              37 12  77 24  4.08
VA  Newport News            37  5  76 31  3.99
SC  Chester                 34 42  79 54  3.98
AL  Oliver Dam              32 31  85  1  3.95
WV  Upper Tract             38 47  79 17  3.92
NC  Raeford                 34 59  79 13  3.86
VA  Hampton-Langley         37  3  76 18  3.83
VA  Gordonsville            38  8  78 11  3.80
MD  Salisbury               38 22  75 35  3.77
SC  Walhalla                34 46  83  4  3.70
AL  Harris Dam              33 17  85 37  3.66
WV  Renick                  38  0  80 22  3.63
VA  Richmond                37 32  77 28  3.59
AL  Bankhead Dam            33 27  87 21  3.52
VA  Winterpock              37 20  77 39  3.48
SC  Columbia                34  2  80 53  3.44
VA  Buena Vista             37 44  79 21  3.44
AL  Pinson                  33 41  86 40  3.32
VA  Glasgow                 37 38  79 27  3.32
AL  Coffeeville Dam         31 46  88  8  3.30
DE  Pennyhill               39 46  75 31  3.30
NC  Apex                    35 44  78 51  3.22
NC  Chapel Hill             35 56  79  2  3.22
AL  Holt Dam                33 15  87 27  3.21
VA  Bremo Bluff             37 42  78 18  3.18
NC  Franklin                35 11  83 23  3.15
SC  Greenville              34 50  82 22  3.11
AL  Tuscaloosa              33 14  87 32  3.10
VA  Appomattox              37 22  78 50  3.02
NC  Roxboro                 36 24  78 59  2.90
SC  York                    35  0  81 14  2.90
NC  Fayetteville            35  4  78 54  2.85
SC  Clemson                 34 41  82 49  2.82
VA  Powhatan                37 33  77 56  2.80
NC  Laurinburg              34 46  79 28  2.71
VA  Amelia                  37 18  78  2  2.69
AL  Smith Dam-Sipsey Fork   33 59  87 24  2.66
NC  Arcola                  36 17  77 59  2.64
VA  Camp Pickett            37  2  77 57  2.63
AL  Birmingham-Airport      33 32  86 48  2.61
NC  Smithfield              35 30  78 21  2.54
SC  Bishopville             34 13  80 15  2.52
FL  Crestview               30 45  86 34  2.44
VA  Wallops Island          37 51  75 28  2.43
SC  Salem                   34 53  82 59  2.42
WV  Bluefield               37 16  81 13  2.41
SC  Cades                   33 47  79 47  2.38
NC  Lexington               35 49  80 15  2.37
GA  Atlanta                 33 46  84 25  2.34
NC  Burlington              36  5  79 27  2.33
SC  Blackville              33 22  81 17  2.30
NC  Jacksonville            34 46  77 24  2.29
SC  Pee Dee                 34 12  79 32  2.29
SC  Greer                   34 56  82 14  2.20
VA  Castleton               38 36  78  6  2.20
VA  Chatham                 36 49  79 24  2.14
VA  Roanoke                 37 17  79 58  2.12
MS  Tupelo                  34 16  88 44  2.07
NC  Siler City              35 43  79 28  2.07
DE  Odessa                  39 27  75 40  2.05
NC  Tarboro                 35 54  77 33  2.05
NC  Greensboro              36  5  79 50  2.01
VA  Farmville               37 18  78 24  1.97
LA  Slidell                 30 17  89 47  1.95
SC  Hartsville              34 22  80  5  1.94
VA  Lynchburg               37 24  79 11  1.93
NC  Snow Hill               35 27  77 40  1.91
GA  Athens                  33 57  82 34  1.89
VA  Bedford                 37 20  79 31  1.86
AL  Auburn                  32 36  85 29  1.84
VA  Brookneal               37  3  78 57  1.84
AL  Mitchell Dam            32 48  86 27  1.81
AL  Childersburg            33 17  86 21  1.80
SC  Sandy Springs           34 36  82 45  1.75
VA  The Plains              38 52  77 46  1.74
NC  Wilson                  35 44  77 55  1.68
SC  Loris                   34  3  78 53  1.67
MS  Columbia                31 15  89 50  1.66
AL  Alabaster               33 14  86 49  1.62
VA  Rocky Mount             37  0  79 53  1.61
DE  Prices Corner           39 44  75 37  1.60
NC  Aurora 6N               35 18  76 47  1.59
SC  Johnston                33 50  81 48  1.57
VA  Meadows Of Dan          36 40  80 27  1.55
VA  Radford                 37  7  80 34  1.53
AL  Jordan Dam              32 37  86 15  1.52
WV  Flat Top                37 35  81  6  1.51
SC  Anderson                34 31  82 39  1.50
VA  Concord                 37 18  78 59  1.50
VA  Stuart                  36 38  80 16  1.50
NC  Kinston 5SE             35 13  77 31  1.48
LA  New Orleans-Lakefront   30  4  89 56  1.46
SC  Edisto Beach            32 29  80 19  1.45
GA  Augusta                 33 27  82  0  1.43
SC  Charleston Airport      32 54  80  2  1.37
VA  Winchester              39 10  78 11  1.36
VA  Delaplane               38 55  77 55  1.34
MS  Hattiesburg             31 19  89 18  1.33
SC  Calhoun Falls           34  6  82 36  1.30
SC  Pickens                 34 53  82 42  1.30
SC  Myrtle Beach            33 42  78 54  1.30
NC  Goldsboro               35 22  77 59  1.29
AL  Centreville             32 58  87  8  1.28
AL  Logan Martin Dam        33 26  86 20  1.26
SC  Dillon                  34 25  79 22  1.25
AL  Claiborne Dam           31 37  87 33  1.24
LA  Belle Chasse            29 51  90  0  1.23
WV  Alderson                37 44  80 39  1.20
NC  Louisburg               36  6  78 18  1.19
AL  Selma                   37 25  87  2  1.17
AL  Anniston                33 40  85 49  1.13
LA  Shreveport              32 28  93 48  1.13
NC  Williamston             35 51  77  4  1.12
WV  Moorefield              39  4  78 58  1.11
SC  Ridgeville              33  5  80 18  1.08
AL  Neely Henry Dam         33 48  86  8  1.05
AL  Millers Ferry           32  6  87 25  1.00
GA  Peachtree City          33 24  84 34  0.98
AL  Gadsden                 34  1  86  1  0.97
NC  Hickory                 35 44  81 20  0.97
DE  Georgetown              38 41  75 23  0.96
MS  Columbus                33 30  88 24  0.96
AL  Yates Dam               32 35  85 53  0.95
SC  Jamestown               33 17  79 42  0.94
SC  Mullins                 34 12  79 15  0.93
SC  Charleston City         32 47  80  0  0.93
GA  Valdosta                30 51  83 17  0.91
AL  Lay Dam                 32 56  86 31  0.87
AL  R.F. Henry Dam          32 20  86 47  0.87
GA  Rome                    34 16  85 11  0.87
VA  Danville                36 35  79 24  0.85
MS  Corinth                 34 56  88 31  0.82
NC  Elkin                   36 15  80 51  0.81
MS  Jackson                 32 19  90 12  0.79
NC  Grandfather Mountain    36  6  81 51  0.78
WV  Princeton               37 22  81  6  0.76
MS  Meridian                32 23  88 43  0.75
SC  St. George              33 11  80 35  0.75
NC  Cherry Point            34 57  76 51  0.74
WV  Bluestone Dam           37 39  80 53  0.74
AL  Martin Dam              32 42  85 53  0.73
WV  Charles Town            39 17  77 51  0.73
MS  Wiggins                 30 52  89  8  0.72
NC  Beech Mountain          36 13  81 53  0.72
NC  Asheville               35 34  82 33  0.70
LA  Monroe                  32 31  92  5  0.69
LA  Lake Charles            30 13  93 12  0.69
DE  Lewes                   38 47  75  9  0.68
SC  Beaufort                32 26  80 41  0.66
AL  Weiss Dam               34  8  85 48  0.64
MD  Williamsport            39 36  77 49  0.64
VA  Huddleston              37  7  79 31  0.64
GA  Columbus                32 31  84 52  0.63
WV  Union                   37 35  80 33  0.62
WV  White Sulphur Springs   37 48  80 18  0.62
AL  Montgomery              32 21  86 17  0.61
VA  Wytheville              36 57  81  5  0.58
VA  Allisonia               36 54  80 45  0.57
AL  Milstead                32 27  85 53  0.56
DE  Bridgeville             38 45  75 36  0.56
NC  Reidsville              36 21  79 40  0.56
VA  Bland                   37  6  81  6  0.54
VA  Willis                  36 51  80 29  0.53
VA  Washington Nat'l Arpt.  38 51  77  2  0.51
NC  Cape Hatteras           35 16  75 33  0.49
VA  Galax                   36 40  80 55  0.48
LA  New Orleans-Audubon     29 55  90  8  0.46
LA  New Orleans-Moisant     29 59  90 15  0.45
VA  Trout Dale              38 52  77 46  0.44
MD  Riviera Beach           39 10  76 31  0.43
VA  South Boston            36 42  78 54  0.41
SC  Sullivan's Island       32 46  79 50  0.40
VA  Floyd                   36 55  80 19  0.38
SC  Williams                33  2  80 51  0.37
NC  Wilmington              34 13  77 55  0.32
DE  Camden                  39  7  75 33  0.31
AL  Cordova-Mulberry Fork   33 46  87 12  0.30
MS  Greenville              33 23  91  3  0.30
MS  Yazoo City              32 52  90 24  0.29
GA  Savannah                32  1  81  8  0.28
MS  McComb                  31 15  90 28  0.28
FL  Caryville               30 47  85 49  0.26
VA  Burkes Garden           37  5  81 20  0.25
VA  Dulles Arpt.            38 57  77 27  0.22
VA  Saltville               36 53  81 46  0.21
AL  Newton                  31 20  85 35  0.20
MS  Winona 5E               33 29  89 39  0.13
SC  Allendale               33  0  81 19  0.11
MS  Carthage 4SE            32 42  89 29  0.08
SC  Ridgeland               32 29  80 59  0.04
MS  Iuka                    34 48  88 12  0.01

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