Tropical Storm Debby (1994) facts for kids
Tropical Storm Debby was a powerful storm that hit parts of the Caribbean in September 1994. Its strongest winds reached 70 miles per hour. The storm caused a lot of damage, costing between $100 million and $130 million. Sadly, nine people lost their lives because of this storm. Places like Puerto Rico, Montserrat, and the Dominican Republic were hit especially hard.
Usually, if a storm is very destructive, its name is "retired" so it's not used again. But even though Debby was strong, its name wasn't retired the following spring.
Contents
What is a Tropical Storm?
A tropical storm is a type of tropical cyclone. This is a rotating storm system that forms over warm ocean waters. Tropical storms have strong winds, but they are not as powerful as hurricanes. They are stronger than tropical depressions.
How Tropical Storms Form
Tropical storms need warm ocean water to form. They also need moist air and low wind shear. Wind shear is when winds blow at different speeds or in different directions at different heights. Low wind shear helps the storm grow taller.
How Tropical Storms Get Their Names
Tropical storms and hurricanes are given names to help people track them. The names are chosen from a list that repeats every six years. If a storm causes a lot of damage or deaths, its name might be "retired." This means the name will not be used again for another storm.
Debby's Path and Impact
Tropical Storm Debby formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It moved west and affected several islands in the Caribbean.
Where Did Debby Hit?
Debby caused the most damage in:
- Puerto Rico: This island saw heavy rains and strong winds.
- Montserrat: This small island also experienced significant damage.
- Dominican Republic: This country faced severe flooding and wind damage.
What Kind of Damage Did Debby Cause?
The storm brought heavy rain, which led to flooding. Strong winds knocked down trees and power lines. Buildings were damaged, and some homes were destroyed. The total cost of the damage was very high.
Why Was Debby's Name Not Retired?
Even though Tropical Storm Debby caused a lot of damage and sadly led to deaths, its name was not retired. The decision to retire a storm name is made by the World Meteorological Organization. They look at how much damage and how many deaths a storm caused. For Debby, they decided the impact was not severe enough to retire the name.
See also
In Spanish: Tormenta tropical Debby (1994) para niños
