Tropical Storm Grace (2003)

A strong tropical wave accompanied with a low pressure system moved off the coast of Africa on August 19. It moved quickly westward and organized, developing banding features and cirrus outflow near the blossoming convection. The wave nearly developed into a tropical cyclone on August 21, though its fast forward motion dislocated the low level circulation from the deep convection. The wave entered an area of dry air in the central Atlantic Ocean, and by late on August 22 most of the convection dissipated from the system. On August 24, convection increased as the wave passed through the Lesser Antilles, though strong southwesterly upper level wind shear prevented further development. The tropical wave moved through the Caribbean Sea, and developed deep convection due to more favorable conditions over the Gulf of Honduras on August 28. The wave crossed the Yucatán Peninsula, and developed a surface low pressure area on the 29th in the Gulf of Mexico. Convection continued to organize, and the tropical wave developed into Tropical Depression Eleven on August 30 while located east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. The depression moved to the northwest, and intensified into Tropical Storm Grace six hours after forming. Despite the increase in winds the center of circulation remained very broad, with Reconnaissance Aircraft having difficulty pinpointing the center. In addition, an upper-level low located over Brownsville, Texas produced shear over the western portion of the system, which limited outflow to the east side. Forecasters predicted the upper-level low to weaken, allowing for the possibility of Grace to intensify to a tropical storm over warm waters. However, the upper-level low remained in place and continued to produce shear across the system. A new center of circulation reformed north of the original center, and made landfall near San Luis Pass on the southwestern portion of Galveston Island on August 31 as a minimal tropical storm. Grace quickly weakened to a tropical depression over land, and after turning northeastward into Oklahoma the depression was absorbed by a cold front. ==Preparations==

Three hours after forming, officials issued Tropical Storm Warnings from High Island to Corpus Christi, Texas. though few residents heeded the warnings. Local emergency management officials predicted tides of up to above normal with coastal flooding. ==Impact==

In its formative stages, the outer rainbands of Grace caused light rainfall in Yucatán and northern Tamaulipas. Upon making landfall in Texas, Grace produced a storm surge of in Matagorda and North Jetty. Wind gusts peaked at with sustained winds of at Sea Rim State Park. The storm added to the beach erosion caused by Hurricane Claudette one month prior. The remnants of Grace combined with a slow-moving cold front to produce rainfall across the southern United States. Rains in Oklahoma reached in Courtney, which proved largely beneficial due to dry conditions in the state. Near Medford, the rains closed U.S. Highway 81 after floods reached deep. Isolated locations in Louisiana and Mississippi reported over of precipitation, with over in northeastern Arkansas. Moisture from the remnants of Grace dropped heavy rainfall across central Indiana, including a record one-day total of in Indianapolis, while other locations received over . Residents prepared sand bags to prevent overflowing rivers and creeks, though rising waters entered streets and over 700 homes. The rapid rainfall in Indianapolis backed up the sewage system, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage into the streets. Following the deluge in the state, the governor declared a state of emergency for the state. Eight local American Red Cross chapters arrived to provide meals and aid to the affected people. The remnants of Grace dropped moderate to heavy rainfall eastward through the Mid-Atlantic States and New England. Locations in extreme western Maryland and southeastern Virginia received over of rain. ==See also==