Claudette (2015)

Claudette formed from a non-tropical low just off the coast of North Carolina. A surface low developed near Cape Hatteras on 12 July 2015 and moved eastward over the Gulf Stream. Thunderstorm activity increased late on 13 July and the system became a tropical depression around 0600 UTC 13 July and a tropical storm by 1200 UTC 13 July. Claudette moved northeastward between Bermuda and Cape Cod and became a remnant low by 0000 UTC 15 July; the low was absorbed by a frontal system near Newfoundland by 1800 UTC 15 July.

There were no reported landfalls from Claudette. The storm remained over the open Atlantic between Bermuda and the U.S. northeast coast and did not make landfall on any U.S. or Canadian coastline.

Claudette’s peak intensity was estimated at 45 knots (about 52 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 1003 millibars, reached at 1800 UTC 13 July. That intensity is equivalent to a moderate tropical storm (below hurricane strength).

Storm surge and rainfall impacts were minimal in populated areas and the report contains no significant surge or rainfall totals tied to notable cities or counties. Observational data used to analyze the system came from satellites and scatterometer passes; no specific coastal surge heights or exceptional rainfall totals were reported for populated locations.

There were no reports of damage or casualties associated with Claudette. The main impacts were limited to the marine environment; no direct or indirect deaths were recorded in the report.

Noteworthy aspects include that Claudette’s tropical genesis was not well forecast—forecasters had given the area only a low (under 40%) chance of development about 24 hours before formation. Satellite scatterometer data (ASCAT) showed the strongest winds and supported the 45-kt peak estimate, while some satellite intensity techniques gave lower values.