Ten (2007)

A small low pressure system that formed from a tropical wave and an upper-level low became Tropical Depression Ten in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on 21 September 2007, about 40 nmi southwest of Apalachicola, Florida. It was initially classified as a subtropical depression at 1200 UTC 21 September and became fully tropical by 1800 UTC that day. The system moved generally west-northwestward, made landfall early on 22 September, and weakened to a remnant low within hours, dissipating over southwestern Alabama later on 22 September.

The depression made landfall near Fort Walton Beach, Florida, at about 0000 UTC 22 September. It was a weak system at landfall with maximum sustained winds of 25 knots (about 29 mph) and a minimum central pressure near 1005 mb. No other separate U.S. landfalls were recorded before the system degenerated inland.

The storm’s maximum assessed intensity was 30 knots (about 35 mph) while it was still over the Gulf on 21 September, with a lowest central pressure around 1005 millibars. That intensity is well below tropical storm strength; the system remained classified as a depression for its entire tropical phase and never reached hurricane strength.

Storm surge and rainfall impacts were modest. Rainfall totals were generally less than 1 inch across the Southeast, with isolated amounts of 1–3 inches reported in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Peak wind gusts reported included 46 mph at Milton, Florida, and 44 mph at Destin, Florida. No specific surge heights above normal tide were reported as significant in the report.

There were no reported deaths directly attributed to Tropical Depression Ten, and overall impacts were minimal. Precautionary actions included evacuations in some coastal communities and a Louisiana state of emergency; several oil platforms were evacuated and production was disrupted. The system’s precursor produced two EF1 tornadoes on 20 September near Eustis and near Mayo, Florida — the Eustis tornado destroyed several homes.

Noteworthy items include the system’s brief classification as subtropical before becoming tropical, and aircraft data that suggested brief pockets of stronger winds in convection but no confirmed tropical-storm-force winds at the surface. Forecast products discussed the disturbance publicly several days before genesis; only three official advisories were issued, so detailed forecast-error analysis was limited.