Tropical Storm Karen (2019)

On September 14, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa. The wave was accompanied by a large area of convection, or showers and thunderstorms as it moved over the Cabo Verde Islands. However, convective activity started to become disorganized as the wave moved across the tropical Atlantic. On September 20, convection began to blossom once more as the wave moved into an area favorable for development. Early the next day, an area of low pressure formed along the wave axis while it was located roughly east-southeast of the southern Windward Islands. At 00:00 UTC on September 22, the wave organized into a tropical depression while located east of Tobago. At this time, the system was being steered to the west-northwest along the southern periphery of a subtropical ridge. At around 12:00 UTC that day, Karen passed through the Windward Islands just north of Tobago. Early on September 23, Karen's convective pattern started to become disorganized as it moved into an area of strong northeasterly vertical wind shear and dry air. At 6:00 UTC on September 24, Karen weakened into a tropical depression as it shifted to the northeast. Although just a few hours later, thunderstorm activity began to flourish over the storm's center. Karen began to slow its forward movement and shift northward around the western periphery of the subtropical ridge. At 0:00 UTC on September 25, the storm reached its initial peak intensity with one-minute sustained winds of and a minimum central pressure of , as it moved over the islands of Culebra and Vieques. Later that day, Karen entered the central Atlantic. However, later that day, Karen's circulation became elongated, and weakening occurred early on September 27. A few hours later, the NHC noted that the storm's circulation had attached to a surface boundary that extended from the remnants of Hurricane Jerry. At 12:00 UTC on September 27, Karen degraded into a tropical depression. ==Preparations and impact==

Trinidad and Tobago On September 22, a Tropical Storm Warning was issued for Trinidad and Tobago. However, the warning was discontinued just a few hours later. The entire country was placed under a red alert due to the storm. Regional corporations handed out sandbags in parts of eastern and southern Trinidad. Some sports games were delayed or cancelled due to the storm. Caribbean Airlines cancelled numerous flights in the country. Residents of the country were asked to avoid floodwaters for health and safety reasons. Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding across Trinidad and Tobago. Severe flooding was reported in southwestern Tobago and Scarborough. In Tobago, the Sandy River overtopped its bank, causing flooding in Mason Hall. Nearby, a mudslide caused a road to shut down and a house was destroyed. In Plymouth, seven boats sank after Jetty was damaged. In Mt. Lambert, fields were inundated by floodwaters. However, most of Trinidad was spared from major damage. Some of the worst impacts in the country were located in Tobago. A road in Tobago was littered with downed trees and utility poles. During the storm, 11 boats were destroyed in Roxborough, causing more than TT$1 million (US$148,000) in damage. The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) stated that Karen caused TT$24 million (US$3.54 million) in damage in Tobago. TEMA also stated that it had received 88 reports of incidents related to Tropical Storm Karen. U.S. Caribbean territories On September 22, Tropical Storm Watches were first issued in Puerto Rico, including the Spanish Virgin Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. These were upgraded into Tropical Storm Warnings by 9:00 UTC on September 23. All were discontinued by 9:00 UTC on September 25. A flash flood warning was issued for large portions of Puerto Rico by the National Weather Service (NWS). Governor Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico on September 23. Schools and government buildings were shut down with the threat of heavy rainfall and flooding. Across the island, the government opened 67 shelters. The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority advised residents and solid waste haulers that Anguilla's landfill on St. Cross was closed due to deteriorating road conditions. The haulers were asked to hold the waste. Search operations for a 48-year-old woman from Kentucky who went missing at the Virgin Islands National Park had to be briefly suspended due to the storm. Karen dropped a peak precipitation amount of in Coamo, where a bridge was swept away, isolating 15 families. Numerous roads across the island were flooded and became impassible due to mudslides and runoff. River floods were reported in Utuado, Jayuya and Yabucoa municipalities with a mudslide also occurring in Jayuya municipality. The Culebrinas River overtopped its banks, causing flooding in Aguadilla. Roughly 29,000 customers lost electricity in Puerto Rico. A mudslide blocked part of Puerto Rico Highway 14 in Aibonito. In Toa Baja, two people were trapped in a house by flooding. Another home was inundated by floodwaters in the municipality. Flooding trapped one person in their vehicle in Dorado. In the territory, a total of 217 people were displaced by the storm. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the storm caused flash flooding, mudslides, and some power outages. Karen set a daily rainfall record at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas on September 24, with of precipitation being recorded. This broke the former record of from 1990. Foam blocks from a refinery washed onto beaches in southern St. Croix for months after the storm. On September 25, volunteers of the Red Cross assessed damage in six Puerto Rican municipalities. Power restoration in the U.S. Virgin Islands were completed by September 28. Elsewhere When Karen formed on September 22, Tropical Storm Warnings were issued for Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. These warnings were cancelled by September 23. Karen caused tropical storm conditions in Grenada, where Flood and Landslide warnings were issued. In nearby Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a Flood Watch was issued for the country with the threat of heavy rainfall. A government shutdown occurred due to the storm on September 22. The Kingstown port briefly ceased operations that same day. Gusty winds, rough surf, and downed trees were reported on Union Island. Rough seas caused rocks to be pushed up onto a bar at the Liming in Bequia. On September 23, a Tropical Storm Warning was issued for the British Virgin Islands, which was later cancelled on September 25. ==See also==