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Tropical Storm Erika Recap

The National Hurricane Center declared that Tropical Storm Erika dissipated near the north coast of eastern Cuba at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. It was at this time that Hurricane Hunter data concluded that the former tropical cyclone had degenerated to a trough of low pressure. Erika was struggling to remain a named system for more than 24 hours, as it moved west-northwest across the Caribbean, before it officially dissipated.

Erika formed on Aug. 24, 2015, as it was immediately classified as a tropical storm. Erika maintained tropical storm status for its entire life cycle. It reached peak intensity with winds of 50 mph on multiple occasions, as it remained a fairly weak tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Erika encountered quite a bit of wind shear from the start, which was one factor in precluding significant strengthening of the system. Wind shear effectively rips apart the structure of a tropical cyclone, causing thunderstorm convection to be displaced away from the center of circulation. Wind shear has been consistently very strong, compared to average, in the Caribbean Sea throughout the 2015 hurricane season.

Erika's Wind Shear
A graphic showing intense wind shear over then dissipating Tropical Storm Erika on Aug. 29, 2015.

Additionally, land interaction with the higher terrain of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and finally, eastern Cuba, further contributed to the disruption of Erika. If that wasn't enough, dry air in the western Caribbean Sea also infiltrated Erika's circulation, helping to choke off any organized convection near its previous center. All of these factors played a role in the ultimate dissipation of Erika.

Even though Erika remained fairly disorganized as it crossed through the Caribbean, it still produced significant flooding and gusty winds, particularly across Dominica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The most destructive impacts were felt across Dominica in the Lesser Antilles, on Aug. 27. Roads were washed out, homes were damaged and an airport flooded. Canefield Airport near the capital of Roseau, Dominica, picked up 12.64 inches (322.4 millimeters) of rain in a 12-hour period from Erika.

(MORE: Flooding Hits Dominica)

Tropical storm force winds were also reported across portions the U.S. Virgin Islands. The highest measured gust was 62 mph at St. Croix on Aug. 27, with St. Thomas registering a gust to 48 mph. Some gusts to 50 mph were measured over the higher terrain of Puerto Rico, according to NWS-San Juan.

Intense rainfall was also reported further west into the Dominican Republic on Aug. 28, with a personal weather station in Barahona reporting over 24 inches of rain. That station also reported an astonishing 8.80 inches of rain in one hour from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.

(PHOTOS: Tropical Storm Erika Floods Puerto Rico, Caribbean)

Despite the long-term drought conditions across the Caribbean leading up to Erika, excessive rainfall rates of several inches per hour triggered flash flooding and mud/rockslides. Historically, some of the highest death tolls with Caribbean tropical cyclones have occurred in these situations.

(MORE: Could Erika Quench Three Droughts?)

Although Erika dissipated before directly impacting the Florida peninsula, a State of Emergency was declared for the Sunshine State on Aug. 28.

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