PART IX: STORMS 



62. This section discusses the details of storms affecting the FRF 



during the year. As used here, "storms" are defined as times when the wave 



height parameter H equaled or exceeded 2.0 m at the seaward end of the FRF 

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pier. Sample spectra from Baylor Gage 625, located at the seaward end of the 

 pier, are given in Appendix B (Volume II). Pre- and/or poststorm bathymetry 

 diagrams are given in Appendix A. Detailed information on the track of each 

 storm was taken from the NOAA Daily Weather Maps (US Department of Commerce 

 1986). 



a. 11 January 1986 (Figure 41). Developing in the Gulf of Mexico 

 on 9 January, this weak storm tracked across central Florida, 

 moved northeast into the Atlantic, and passed the FRF well off- 

 shore. Winds exceeded 14 m/sec (NNE) , and the maximum H 



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(Gage 625) of 2.1 m was recorded at 0600 EST on 11 January. 

 The lowest barometric pressure reading was 1016.2 mb at 

 2300 EST on 10 January. There was no precipitation. 



b. 23-25 January 1986 (Figure 42). This storm was the result of 

 an arctic high-pressure system that moved across Canada on the 

 23rd. The storm center was positioned north of the Great Lakes 

 on the 24th and over Maine on the 25th. Winds subsided as the 

 storm moved east and offshore. Cold, northerly winds exceeded 

 16 m/sec, and wave heights exceeded 2.7 m (Gage 630). 



£. 25 February (Figure 43) . Following the passage of a cold front 

 early on 25 February, strong northerly winds (maximum speed of 

 14.40 m/sec at 0700 EST on the 25th) generated by a strong 

 Canadian high-pressure system in conjunction with a weak storm 

 well out in the Atlantic briefly produced waves exceeding 2 m. 

 A maximum H (Gage 625) of 2.1 m was recorded at 1400 EST on 

 the 25th. m ° 



d. 7-8 March 1986 (Figure 44) . Late on 7 March, a cold front 

 associated with a strong storm centered over Maine in conjunc- 

 tion with a large high-pressure system over North Dakota passed 

 off the North Carolina coast. Strong north winds behind the 

 front generated large waves at the FRF. Winds exceeded 



13 m/sec (NW) , and the maximum H (Gage 625) of 2.5 m was 

 recorded at 0200 EST on 8 March. m ° 



e. 21-22 March 1986 (Figure 45). Strong NNE winds generated by a 

 large midwestern high-pressure system began to buffet the FRF 

 late on 20 March. Winds exceeded 15 m/sec (NNE), and the maxi- 

 mum H (Gage 625) of 2.5 m was recorded at 0800 EST on 



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21 March. A total of 20 mm of precipitation was also recorded. 



f_. 18-21 April 1986 (Figure 46). Developing over Chesapeake Bay 

 early on 16 April, this storm slowly moved to the east reaching 

 maximum strength on 19 April while located well offshore. Peak 



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