Tropical Storm Chris (1982)

Tropical Storm Chris

Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Tropical Storm Chris near landfall.
Formed	September 9, 1982
Dissipated	September 13, 1982
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure	994 mbar (hPa); 29.35 inHg
Fatalities	None
Damage	$2 million (1982 USD)
Areas affected	Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Ohio, Michigan, New York
Part of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Chris caused minor flooding along the Gulf Coast of the United States in September 1982. The fifth tropical cyclone and third named storm of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season, Chris developed from a surface low-pressure area in the northern Gulf of Mexico on September 9. Although initially displaying subtropical characteristics, the low pressure area gradually acquired tropical characteristics, and was reclassified as Tropical Depression Four within 24 hours of development. The depression then began to intensify and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Chris on September 10. Thereafter, the storm turned north-northeastward and strengthened further. On September 11, Chris peaked as a 65 mph (100 km/h) tropical storm. Later that day, it made landfall near Sabine Pass, Port Arthur, Texas. By September 13, Chris dissipated over Arkansas.

When Chris moved ashore, it caused high waves and tides along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Though the storm made landfall in Texas, minimal impact was recorded in that state, though a restaurant suffered significant damage. Much of the impact occurred to the east, in Louisiana. Rainfall was relatively light in that state, though a few isolated areas experienced precipitation amounts higher than 15 inches (380 mm). The storm caused steady rainfall in parts of the Midwestern United States. Outside of Louisiana, there were rainfall totals higher than 10 inches (250 mm) in western Tennessee and slightly less as the storm progressed northward. Due to minor flooding, damage in Louisiana was around $1 million (1982 USD). Elsewhere, impact was limited to mostly light to moderate rainfall, though local flooding was reported in Tennessee and Kentucky. Overall, Chris caused $2 million (1982 USD) in damage and no fatalities.

An upper-low pressure system formed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 6, with the circulation heading westward. Initially, minimal development occurred, though by September 8, the system became a surface low. It is estimated that the surface low became a subtropical depression by 0000 UTC on the following day. Over the next 24 hours, the low began acquiring tropical characteristics, mainly from developing deep convection on its north and east sides. By early on September 10, observations from oil rigs, radars, and Air Force reconnaissance flights indicated that the subtropical system had transitioned into Tropical Depression Four. However, the National Hurricane Center did not operationally issue advisories until 1900 UTC on September 10, at which time Chris was already a tropical storm.