PART IX: STORMS 



94. This section discusses the details of storms affecting the FRF. As 

 used here, "storms" are defined as times when the wave height parameter H , 

 equals or exceeds 2.0 m at the seaward end of the FRF pier. Hourly data col- 

 lected during such times are presented in Appendix B. Sample spectra from the 

 Baylor gage at the seaward end of the pier are given in Appendix C (Vol- 

 ume 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 1984) and the Mariner's Weather Log 

 series (US Department of Commerce 1984, 1985). 



95. There were 13 storms during the year: only one for 3 consecutive 

 days, five for 2 days, and seven for a single day. The number of storms dur- 

 ing 1985 was below the annual average of 16 for prior years. A description of 

 these storms is provided below. 



a. 3-4 January 1985. A cold front extending from New England to 

 the Gulf of Mexico began moving eastward on 2 January and 

 crossed the North Carolina coastline early on 3 January. A low 

 pressure system developed over the Gulf of Mexico and traveled 

 rapidly up the east coast behind the front (Figure Bl) . 



b. 12 February 1985. On 11 February, a frontal wave located 

 slightly east of the Mississippi River produced two low pres- 

 sure centers over Mobile, Ala. and St. Louis, Mo. By 



12 February, the two lows had converged over central Virginia 

 (Figure B2) . 



c. 22-23 March 1985. A low pressure system originating over the 

 Pacific Ocean was located east of northern Florida by 22 March. 

 The storm moved rapidly up the east coast, passing the FRF on 

 the 23rd before proceeding into the Atlantic (Figure B3) . 



d. April 1985. On 14 April, a low pressure system formed 241 km 

 east of Charleston, S.C., and began moving north along the 

 coast. By 0700 EST on the 15th, the low was located directly 

 over Cape Hatteras, N.C., and continued traveling northward 

 throughout the day (Figure B4) . On 29 April, a Canadian high 

 produced strong winds at the FRF after pushing a cold front 

 east past the FRF (Figure B5) . 



e. 3 May 1985. Behind a cold front that moved past the FRF, 

 strong winds from a Canadian high pressure system produced the 

 high waves for a short time (Figure B6) . 



f . 2 August 1985. A low pressure system off New England moved 

 south to Cape Hatteras behind a cold front that was pushed 

 offshore by a huge Canadian high pressure system (Figure B7) . 



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