Tropical Cyclone Report

Tropical Depression Seven

Tropical Depression Six dissipated as it approached the Lesser Antilles on 21 July. However, the parent tropical wave continued westward, and an area of deep convection associated with the wave moved across Hispaniola on 23 July, and approached the southeast coast of Florida on 24 July. Radiosonde data and satellite images suggest that a mid- to lower-tropospheric circulation associated with the convection then moved northward near the east coast of Florida, and by 1200 UTC 25 July, satellite images and surface observations indicate that Tropical Depression Seven had formed about 50 n mi east of Daytona Beach, Florida. The system was embedded in an environment characterized by high surface pressures and, as it moved north-northwestward over the cooler shelf waters near the northeast Florida and Georgia coasts, its maximum winds did not strengthen beyond 25-30 kt. The cyclone made landfall along the central Georgia coast about 35 n mi south of Savannah around 0600 UTC 26 July, and dissipated over Georgia about a day later.

The "best track" positions and intensities are listed in Table 1, and a map of the tropical depression's path is given in Figure 1. Rainfall totals of two to three inches were reported over portions of Georgia and South Carolina. There were no reports of damage or casualties associated with this depression. The depression was not forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm, and no watches or warnings were required for this system.

Figure 1: Best track positions for Tropical Depression Seven, 25-27 July 2003.