PRELIMINARY POST-STORM REPORT ON TROPICAL STORM FAY
ISSUED BY THE JAMAICA BEACH WEATHER OBSERVATORY
1:40 AM CDT TUE SEP 10 2002

The following report summarizes conditions experienced at
the Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory during Tropical Storm
Fay which made landfall on September 7, 2002 near Matagorda,
Texas:
 

A. MAXIMUM WINDS

Maximum 2-minute average....... 33 knots (38 mph) from the SE
Date & time.................... 0137 CDT - Sep 7, 1998

Peak gust...................... 44 knots (51 mph) from SE (120º)
Date & time.................... 0107 CDT - Sep 7, 2002 (07/0607 UTC)

Peak gust...................... 44 knots (51 mph) from E (100º)
Date & time.................... 2341 CDT - Sep 6, 2002 (07/0541 UTC)
 

B. BAROMETRIC PRESSURE

Lowest sea level pressure...... 1004.4 mb (29.660 inches)
Date & time.................... 1945 CDT - Sep 6, 2002 (07/0045 UTC)
 

C. RAINFALL

September 3, 2002.............. 0.31 inches
September 4, 1998.............. 1.70 inches
September 5, 1998.............. 0.27 inches
September 6, 1998.............. 5.10 inches
September 7, 1998.............. 0.39 inches
September 8, 2002.............. 0.30 inches
September 9, 2002.............. 0.25 inches
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Storm total rainfall........... 8.32 inches
 

Maximum 24-hour rainfall....... 5.13 inches
Date(s)........................ Sep 6, 2002 - Sep 7, 2002
Time period.................... 06/0600 CDT to 07/0600 CDT
                                (06/1100 UTC to 07/1100 UTC)
 

D. STORM TIDES

Maximum tide................... 5.4 feet above MLLW
Date & time.................... 0830 CDT - Sep 7, 2002 (07/1330 UTC)
Prediced astronomical tide..... 1.1 feet above MLLW
Departure from normal.......... 4.3 ft above

E. BEACH EROSION

Considerable loss of recently replenished beach sand occurred
on the western part of Galveston Island but beach erosion was
substantially less than what occurred during Tropical Storm
Frances (1998).  The "geo tubes" put in place several years
ago to help protect the dunes and beach from further erosion
are reported to have performed very well during Fay.
 

F. FLOODING

Jamaica Beach experienced considerable saltwater flooding from
the storm surge as tides rose to the highest levels here since
Tropical Storm Frances produced a tide of 7.1 feet above MLLW
on September 11, 1998.

Numerous streets were flooded from a depth of several inches to
several feet. The maximum tide at the Jamaica Beach Weather
Observatory was 5.4 feet above MLLW which occurred near the time
of high tide (0828 CDT) on September 7, 2002.  The tide had been
above normal for several days prior to Tropical storm Fay's
landfall on the 7th.

There was an interesting occurrence with the tide that took place
on the late evening of the 6th and early morning of the 7th. The
tide dropped significantly from about 2000 CDT on the 6th until
the time of low tide at 0203 CDT on the 7th.  Aided by winds that
veered from E to SE, the water fell substantially during this six
hour period to the point that the roadway in front of the weather
station...which had been flooded over a foot deep...now had only a
few inches of water over it. However, shortly after the tide change,
there was a rapid wise in the tide until the next high tide at
0828 CDT when the highest tide measurement was recorded. This
rapid rise once again flooded the station and all ground was
overtopped by saltwater.

The peak tide level was determined by the high water mark in the
laundry room downstairs which is sealed very tightly by walls and
a weatherprook door and is not affected by wave action. This was
also the method used to determine the maximum tide during Tropical
Storm Frances in 1998.
 

G.  TORNADOES

No funnel clouds or tornadoes were observed or reported by this
observer and no know tornadic activity occurred on Galveston Island.
 

H.  STORM EFFECTS

At least one small house fire was indirectly related to the storm
when the house across the canal from the weather station caught fire
when an electric fan was placed too close to a can of gasoline and
fumes were ignited by a heat source.

Although there is undoubtedly some flood damage to vehicles and
structures in the area, the damage is expected to be far less than
what occurred during Tropical Storm Frances (1998).  This is partly
due to much earlier warnings and a voluntary evacuation request in
this storm. Also, the terminology of the tide warnings was better
understood by residents this time around due to the actual predicted
level of the tides being included in the Hurricane Local Statement
(HLSHOU) product issued by the Houston-Galveston National Weather
Service Office in League City. During Tropical Storm Frances, most
residents only heard the expected departure from normal of the tides
which is a smaller number, therefore, there was confusion about how
high the water was expected to rise.

J.R. O'DONNEL, JR., DIRECTOR
JAMAICA BEACH WEATHER OBSERVATORY

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