Around September 13, an upper level low was located over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This feature produced an area of showers and storms west of the Florida peninsula and also influenced the path of Tropical Storm Humberto to its east. Over the next few days, it moved westward, out of range of Humberto and into more favorable conditions for tropical cyclone genesis. By September 16, the disturbance was offshore from the Texas coastline, where it began to bring beneficial rainfall to southeastern Texas. Pressures began to fall in the area and a surface low formed early on September 17. Despite its proximity to land, the system was classified Tropical Depression Eleven early that afternoon. At the time of formation, its center was nearly over the coastline. Land observations indicated sustained winds near 40 mph, so the storm was named Tropical Storm Imelda at landfall around 1:00pm local time. Despite the fact that Tropical Depression Ten (which was to be named Jerry) formed slightly earlier the same day east of the Leeward Islands, Tropical Depression Eleven became a tropical storm sooner and therefore received the "I" name.
The center pushed slowly northward inland that evening and Imelda was downgraded to a tropical depression. Despite this, the circulation remained quite vigorous and it generated very heavy rain over portions of eastern Texas for the next several days. Finally, on September 19, it degenerated into an open wave, and by the 20th rains had mostly come to a close. However, this was not before Imelda dumped rain totals over 40 inches in a few locations over southeast Texas, with a large swath reporting 20 inches or more. Devastating flooding followed these rains, analogous to (though not as widespread or intense) the flooding following Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The above image shows Tropical Storm Imelda shortly after landfall.
Imelda peaked as a minimal tropical storm, but its persistent circulation moved great swaths of Gulf moisture over southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, inundating the region.
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