Hurricane Bonnie (1986)

Hurricane Bonnie (1986)

Hurricane Bonnie caused moderate damage along the Gulf Coast of the United States in late June 1986. The second named storm, and first hurricane of the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season, Bonnie developed out of an area of low pressure over the central Gulf of Mexico on June 23. The system gradually intensified and was declared Tropical Storm Bonnie the next day as it moved generally towards the west-northwest. On June 25, Bonnie was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Sclae, and the following day, reached its peak intensity with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 990 mbar (hPa; 29.23 inHg). Shortly thereafter, Bonnie came ashore near High Island, Texas at this intensity. Following landfall, Bonnie quickly weakened below tropical depression status, and on June 28, the remnants of Bonnie dissipated over Missouri.

Prior to moving ashore, 22,000 people were evacuated in Texas and Louisiana. Upon making landfall, Hurricane Bonnie produced a storm surge peaking at 5.2 feet (1.5 m) at Sabine Pass. Rainfall from the storm peaked at 13 inches (330 mm) in Ace, Texas, which caused some street flooding and destroyed a small dam in Liberty County, Texas. The hurricane also spawned 11 tornadoes, which, in conjunction with strong winds, destroyed about 25 houses in southwestern Louisiana. Three fatalities were reported in the Port Arthur, Texas area – two deaths occurred from separate car accidents, and another occurred after a partially paralyzed woman died in a house fire. Overall, Hurricane Bonnie caused $42 million (1986 USD) in damage and four fatalities.