1982 Florida Subtropical Storm - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

The subtropical storm had an unusual origin by forming from an interaction of two different systems near the Yucatán Peninsula. This occurrence is unusual, but not unique, as Subtropical Storm One in the 1974 season formed in similar pattern. A reconnaissance flight on June 17 reported that there appeared to be multiple transient circulations at the surface, but no well-defined center. The first disturbance can be traced back to June 15 in the northwest Caribbean Sea. The disturbance moved north, along with a low-pressure area that formed over the Yucatán Peninsula. A trough merged with the low-pressure area creating an even stronger trough over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico were favorable for tropical storm formation. Some severe weather had been occurring over the Florida Peninsula as early as June 16, as the fringes of disturbance moved across the Florida Straits and over the Peninsula.

A circulation began to form on June 18 in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, prompting gale warnings. It was declared Subtropical Depression One the same day. The depression made landfall on the morning of June 18 just north of Spring Hill, Florida and gained subtropical storm status over land. The storm was classified as Subtropical Storm One by the National Hurricane Center, as the rule was not to name subtropical storms. The subtropical storm moved to the northeast and crossed the Outer Banks of North Carolina on June 19. Even though the minimum central pressures remained low, the circulation expanded and became distorted. The subtropical storm peaked at 70 mph winds (110 km/h) on June 18, but did not reach its minimum pressure until June 20, when it dropped to 984 mbar (29.07 inHg). The subtropical storm was declared an extratropical storm near the Canadian Maritimes the same day.