Severe Thunderstorms in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic; Heat Continuing in the Central U.S.

Widespread strong to severe thunderstorms are expected from the Upper Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic through Friday, with damaging winds as the primary threat. Dangerous heat will continue from the South-Central U.S. to the Midwest, Ohio/Tennessee valleys, and Mid-Atlantic. Widespread Major to Extreme Heat Risk is forecast into the weekend and will confine to the South-Central U.S. by Labor Day Read More >

Tropical Storm Debra

August 26-29, 1978

Above: GOES 2 Visible Satellite Image of Tropical Storm Debra at 2101 UTC (4:01 PM CDT) on August 28, 1978, shortly before landfall.

Tropical Storm Debra originated from the interaction of a mid to upper level low that formed over Southern Florida late on August 24^th and a tropical wave from the Caribbean Sea. The mid to upper low drifted southwestward across the Yucatán Peninsula as the tropical wave was entering the Gulf on August 25^th. Increased showers and thunderstorms occurred near the disturbance, with Tropical Depression #5 forming by daybreak on August 26^th. The depression moved westward being steered by and mid to upper level ridge of high pressure over the Southern United States.

By August 27^th, the mid to upper level ridge shifted eastward as an upper level trough moved eastward over the Central United States. This allowed the depression to move northwest and eventually northward towards the Northwest Gulf Coast through August 28^th. The depression intensified and was named Tropical Storm Debra by early afternoon. Now heading in a north-northeast direction, Tropical Storm Debra made landfall shortly after 7 PM CDT August 28^th near Constance Beach, Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (50 knots) and a minimum central pressure of 1000 millibars (29.53 inches). A GOES 2 infrared satellite image of Tropical Storm Debra at 7:01 PM CDT on August 28th near landfall. Debra weakened to a depression shortly after midnight on August 29th over Western Louisiana and merged with a frontal trough across Central Arkansas by the afternoon. Click here for an interactive track of Tropical Storm Debra.

WIND & PRESSURE:
Gusts to tropical storm force occurred at most locations across South and Central Louisiana. The highest reported wind gust was 66 mph (57 knots) at Grand Chenier, Louisiana. For complete meteorological statistics, see the Wind and Pressure section.

STORM SURGE:
Tides of 3 to 5 feet MSL occurred along the Louisiana coast with the highest tide of 5.7 feet MSL across Vermilion Bay near Cypremort Point, Louisiana. Tides of 2 to 3 feet MSL occurred across the Upper Texas Coast. For other storm surge and high-water marks across our region, see the Storm Surge section.

RAINFALL:
Rainfall of 5 to 10 inches occurred across Central and Southern Louisiana, with 3 to 5 inches across Southeast Texas and Western Louisiana. The highest total of 10.81 inches occurred at Freshwater Lock, Louisiana. For complete rainfall totals reported across our region, see the Rainfall section.

TORNADOES:
During the afternoon and evening hours of August 28^th, confirmed tornadoes occurred at De Ridder in Beauregard Parish Louisiana and near Village Mills in Hardin County Texas. For complete details on all the tornadoes reported across Texas and Louisiana, see the Tornadoes section.

Additional Data, Maps, Tables
Wind and Pressure	Storm Surge	Rainfall	Tornadoes

Other Post Storm Reports
National Hurricane Center Preliminary Report on Tropical Storm Debra
National Hurricane Center Tropical Storm Debra Storm Wallet of Documents
Monthly Weather Review - 1978 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Corpus Christi, TX	Victoria, TX	Galveston, TX
Port Arthur, TX	Lake Charles, LA	Alexandria, LA
Baton Rouge, LA	New Orleans, LA	Jackson, MS

Satellite Animated Imagery
(NWS LCH YouTube)

GOES 2 Satellite Imagery:

7km Infrared

4km Visible*

1km Visible*

*Unable to make animation due to data integrity issues.

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Severe Thunderstorms in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic; Heat Continuing in the Central U.S.

Tropical Storm Debra 1978