A Category 2 when it made landfall Sept. 13 near Galveston, TX, Ike lost its hurricane force winds through the following weekend. Heavy rain continued further north from Texas into the upper Midwest. According to a Sept. 18 report from Planalytics Life Sciences, a business weather intelligence company, current insurance damage estimates for the Gulf Coast region range from $6 billion to $18 billion, and it could be weeks before power is restored to the Gulf Coast region. By the time the assessments are done, Ike could be the third costliest hurricane in U.S. history.
Due to power outages across eight states, the National Weather Service could not report recorded amounts of rainfall in some regions. However, radar-derived estimates are filling in the total rainfall amounts for Ike. Additionally, in the Midwest, Ike — combined with the remnants of Tropical Depression Lowell and a passing front — provided significant rainfall totals during the last week. Those totals include 15.75 inches in Houston, TX; 10.94 inches in South Bend, IN; 9.56 inches in Witchita, KS; and 7.25 inches in Chicago, IL.
Ike’s impact on agriculture was felt throughout the U.S. From Texas to the middle and eastern Midwest, there was significant disruption, particularly in farm-to-market transportation and grain elevator operations as a result of flooding and power outages, according to Planalytics. Crop field work was halted due to renewed flooding following 4 inches to 7 inches of accumulated rainfall. High winds up to 60 mph blew down cornstalks and soybean plants making some fields difficult, if not impossible, to harvest. A drier, warmer pattern over the next two weeks will allow some drying of acreage. However, harvesting when fields are wet causes soil compaction, which may create problems at planting next spring.
After three weeks of heavy tropical activity, the Atlantic is currently quiet. However, September is the heart of hurricane season. Planalytics is still projecting an active season and will provide additional updates as warranted.
(Source: Planalytics)
