Tropical Storm Claudette (2009)

Tropical Storm Claudette

Tropical Storm Claudette intensifying off the Florida coast on August 16
Meteorological history
Formed	August 16, 2009
Dissipated	August 18, 2009
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure	1005 mbar (hPa); 29.68 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	2 direct
Damage	$350,000 (2009 USD)
Areas affected	Southeastern United States
IBTrACS
Part of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Claudette was the third named storm of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season and the first tropical cyclone of 2009 to affect the United States. Forming out of a tropical wave and an upper-level low pressure system on August 16, Claudette quickly intensified into a tropical storm offshore south of Tallahassee, Florida. By the afternoon, the storm had attained winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) and steadily tracked towards the Florida Panhandle. Early on August 17, the center of Claudette made landfall on Santa Rosa Island. Several hours after landfall, the storm weakened to a tropical depression and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center took over primary responsibility of the storm. Later on August 17, the final public advisory was issued on the system as it dissipated over Alabama.

The National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm warnings for the coastline and residents in some counties were advised to evacuate storm-surge-prone areas. One fatality resulted from rough seas off the coast of Panama City, Florida. Later that day, another man drowned after falling off his ship near Bay County. An EF0 tornado spawned by the storm in Cape Coral, Florida damaged 11 homes, leaving $103,000 (2009 USD) in damages. Additional damages to coastal property and beaches amounted to $125,000 (2009 USD) as a result of Claudette.