Tropical Storm Imelda facts for kids
Tropical Storm Imelda was a powerful but short-lived storm that hit the United States in 2019. It caused a lot of damage, especially in Texas and Louisiana. Even though it was a weak storm, it brought a huge amount of rain. This made it one of the wettest tropical storms ever recorded in U.S. history, especially in Texas.
The areas around Galveston and Houston in Texas were hit the hardest. The heavy rain caused very serious flash floods. Sadly, some people lost their lives because of the severe flooding. The storm also caused several tornadoes in Texas and Louisiana.
Contents
What Was Tropical Storm Imelda?
Tropical Storm Imelda was a type of weather system called a tropical cyclone. This is a big storm system that forms over warm ocean waters. Imelda developed near the coast of southeast Texas in September 2019.
How Imelda Moved
After forming, Tropical Storm Imelda moved very slowly. It drifted over southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. Because it moved so slowly, it kept dumping rain on the same areas for a long time. This is why the flooding became so extreme.
Imelda's Impact and Flooding
The biggest problem caused by Imelda was the massive amount of rain. Some places received more than 40 inches (100 cm) of rain in just a few days! This led to widespread flash flooding. Flash floods happen very quickly and can be very dangerous. Roads became rivers, homes were flooded, and many people had to be rescued from their cars and houses.
The flooding closed major highways, including parts of Interstate 10. Schools and businesses also had to close. The storm caused billions of dollars in damage to homes, cars, and infrastructure.
Images for kids
-
Aerial view of flooding in Roman Forest, Texas
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Tormenta tropical Imelda para niños
