Tropical Storm Fred (2021)

Tropical Storm Fred

Tropical Storm Fred nearing landfall in the Florida Panhandle on August 16
Meteorological history
Formed	August 11, 2021
Remnant low	August 17, 2021
Dissipated	August 20, 2021
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	65 mph (100 km/h)
Lowest pressure	991 mbar (hPa); 29.26 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	7 total
Damage	$1.3 billion (2021 USD)
Areas affected	Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles, Eastern United States (particularly Florida and North Carolina), Southern Quebec, The Maritimes
IBTrACS
Part of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Fred was a tropical cyclone which affected much of the Greater Antilles and the Southeastern United States in August 2021. The sixth tropical storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Fred originated from a tropical wave first noted by the National Hurricane Center on August 4. As the wave drifted westward, advisories were initiated on the wave as a potential tropical cyclone by August 9 as it was approaching the Leeward Islands. Entering the Eastern Caribbean Sea after a close pass to Dominica by the next day, the potential tropical cyclone continued northwestward. By August 11, the disturbance had formed into Tropical Storm Fred just south of Puerto Rico, shortly before hitting the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola later that day. The storm proceeded to weaken to a tropical depression over the highly mountainous island, before emerging north of the Windward Passage on August 12. The disorganized tropical depression turned to the west and made a second landfall in Northern Cuba on August 13. After having its circulation continuously disrupted by land interaction and wind shear, the storm degenerated into a tropical wave as it was turning northward near the western tip of Cuba the following day. Continuing north, the remnants of Fred quickly re-organized over the Gulf of Mexico, regenerating into a tropical storm by August 15. Fred continued towards the Florida Panhandle and swiftly intensified to a strong 65 mph (105 km/h) tropical storm before making landfall late on August 16 and moving into the state of Georgia. Afterward, Fred continued moving north-northeastward, before degenerating into an extratropical low on August 18. Fred's remnants later turned eastward, and the storm's remnants dissipated on August 20, near the coast of Massachusetts.

Fred caused power outages in the Dominican Republic. Over 500,000 people lost access to water after the country's aqueduct system failed. Flooding also affected Cuba. Fred also caused over 36,000 power outages in Florida. One person died in the state from hydroplaning. In North Carolina, Fred caused catastrophic flooding that destroyed many homes and claimed six lives. The tropical storm and its remnants also caused a tornado outbreak consisting of 30 tornadoes over a span of three days. A total of 7 people were killed, and economic losses were estimated at US$1.3 billion in the United States alone.^[1]