Tropical Storm Beryl (1994)

Tropical Storm Beryl

Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Beryl on August 14
Formed	August 14, 1994
Dissipated	August 19, 1994
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h)
Lowest pressure	1000 mbar (hPa); 29.53 inHg
Fatalities	1 total
Damage	$73 million (1994 USD)
Areas affected	Gulf Coast of the United States, Eastern United States
Part of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Beryl, was the second named storm of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. Beryl originated north of Puerto Rico as an upper-level low pressure system, then passed over Florida, then entered the gulf where it became a tropical depression. The storm had advisories on it for five days; its winds peaked at 60 mph (97 km/h) before dissipating over the Northeast United States. Beryl caused $73 million (1994 USD) in damage, over the eastern portion of the United States. Most of the damage was from tornadoes or flooding from the tropical storm. Beryl caused moderate to minor injuries, and 1 death.

A large upper-level low pressure area developed over the southeastern Atlantic Ocean that was situated to the north of Puerto Rico on August 9. The disturbance moved westward, and despite weakening to a trough in the upper levels of the atmosphere, there was evidence of a low- to mid-level circulation off the southwest coast of Florida on August 12. The next day, surface observations and ship reports suggested the presence of a weak 1014 mb surface low pressure system. Moving towards the north-northwest, a cloud-pattern was identified on satellite imagery, and Dvorak estimates were initiated at 0000 UTC on August 14. Based on data from surface observations, satellite imagery, and information from reconnaissance aircraft, the system is estimated to have become a tropical depression at 1200 UTC on August 14; at the time, the depression was located approximately 120 miles (190 km) south of Pensacola, Florida.

The depression drifted slowly towards the north after being designated, while its poorly defined center of circulation was organizing. Between 1630 and 2011 UTC on August 14, the system was nearly stationary; a few hours later, there were indications that the storm's center reformed to the east of its original location. The depression tracked slowly towards the east-northeast while producing rainfall throughout portions of Florida. Becoming better organized, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Beryl on August 15. Possibly influenced by a mesoscale featured noted to the south of Beryl's circulation, the center of circulation began moving erratically after being upgraded. However in response to an approaching trough, the storm turned towards the north and made landfall near Panama City, Florida at 0000 UTC on August 16. Offshore winds generated coastal flooding along portions of the coast, and even after the storm moved inland, high winds were reported in the Apalachee Bay area.