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List of Hawaii Hurricanes - List of Tropical Cyclones - 1950s. Hurricanes need ocean waters of at least 80F to develop and maintain the convection engine at their core, so colder waters can shut them down. disaster ever to strike the United States, with damages estimated at over Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. LIVE For live storm tracks, please visit the National Hurricane Center. The map also shows how Hawai'i lies near the 27 C ocean surface temperature threshold in the warm month August and the wind shear resulting from surface tradewinds (green arrows) blowing in the opposite direction of the upper air winds (purple arrows). Seeing dolphins! Both mountains rise to elevations in excess of 13,000 feet above sea level, and as Flossie approached the island, its track shifted abruptly overnight and assumed a more northerly alignment, heading instead to the island of Maui on July 29. [48], Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. Damage was Both Iniki and 'Iwa struck Hawai'i during ENSO Quotes from captains and civilians describe a severe windstorm that ravaged the islands for several hours. Baldwin Even before Hawaii became a state in 1959, it was a top tourist destination - and for good reason. 1910s. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM. The last time a hurricane was bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands, Steven Spielberg was on Kauai finishing filming of the now iconic movie Jurassic Park when Hurricane Iniki hit the island as a Category 4 storm. OK, the water isn't that cool, but in order to form, hurricanes need water temperatures to be least 80 degrees. Hurricanes and tropical storms are normally steered clear of the Hawaiian Islands by a high pressure feature that is typically parked to the northeast of the islands and keeps the weather consistent throughout the year. * 1988 Uleki 2 But do you know what else is awesome? Although it was only a Category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). The islands of Hawaii, with Kauai as the notable exception, appear to be remarkably immune from direct hurricane hits. It was also considered the first official hurricane in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.The fourth tropical cyclone of the 1950 Pacific hurricane season, Hiki formed as a tropical depression to the southeast of Hawaii on August 12. When Was The Last Time Hawaii Was Hit by a Hurricane? Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. Hurricane season in Hawaii usually falls between the months of June and November. The rarity of the situation and the long lull between these storms and Iniki, speaks to how unusual it is for Hawaii to be hit by tropical cyclones (the generic term for tropical storms and hurricanes), even though the island is synonymous with the tropics. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. This makes strong hurricanes close to Hawaii an unusual occurrence. $3 billion. Damage is unrecorded. The key, at least climatologically speaking, is the direction of the storm's approach. The waters around Hawaii at present arent cool enough to cause dramatic weakening of Iselle before it hits the Big Island. The yacht Esprit, Wave heights between 15 and 20 feet was reported on Kauai. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the. It's this high-pressure zone that keeps Hawaii's weather fairly consistent throughout the year. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care, Tropical storms and hurricanes are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, but 2014 is one of their most active years on record. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded. Hawaii Hurricane Palm trees being blown by a tropical rain storm. 2010s Rainfall up to 5 inches was also reported in Oahu. In the vast Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's total land area is only about 6,400 square miles, the fourth smallest U.S. state by land area, larger than only Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. By this I mean SUSPECTED hurricanes, because the climate history of the Hawaiian Islands does not specifically identify any for this period. * July 1971: Hurricane Denise dissipated before reaching Hawaii, but brought beneficial rain of more than one inch to dry farms and sugar plantations. * July 1978: Hurricane Fico created 15 feet waves, felled trees and knocked out power across the islands. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. Two people were injured by lightning. near Hawai'i. * November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaiis most damaging hurricanes. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. This is because water currents bring cooler water from Alaska, down the eastern Pacific Ocean alongthe U.S. West Coast and into the central Pacific. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped more than 20 inches of rain in 14 hours. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. Figure 2. The figure below shows a 10-year moving average of tropical cyclone global landfalls from 1950 to . Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts. torrents * July 1985: Hurricane Ignacio, although missing the islands, generated surf that measured from 10 to 15 feet causing damage to coastal roads and structures. That high pressure is particularly strong from May through October primehurricane season. 1920s. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. On Aug. 6, Dot began weakening, and at its landfall in Kauai, Dot was only a Category 1 hurricane. Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014became only the second tropical storm, and the strongest, to landfall on the Big Island dating to 1950. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. night of August 6. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. either entering or forming in the Central North Pacific Zone between 140 and 180 west longitude has varied greatly * October 2009: Hurricane Neki caused minor damage to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, striking the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a tropical storm. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. The storm dissipated near British Columbia. [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaii. One person died. * August 1976: Tropical Storm Gwen passed north of Hawaii, dropping 12 inches of rain across the entire state. Formal records were not kept before the 1950s. Six people were killed and more than 1,000 homes damaged during the 1992 hurricane. Historically, before passing directly over Kaua'i on the widespread In other words, hurricanes aren't even physically possible in Hawaii for over half of the year. One died from Hiki. * August 2007: Hurricane Flossie passed within 100 miles of the Big Island, bringing rain and tropical storm-force winds. It's quite rare to have two storms right behind each other . Satellite images of Hurricane Flossie's breakup when approaching Hawaii Island fueled this idea. Since the 1950s, two hurricane eyes have hit Hawaii - and both approached from the south, where water temperature generally is warm enough to sustain the storms' strength. When the bottom of a storm moves one way and the top moves the other, the system gets blown apart and weakens. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. This path exposed Kaua'i to the most severe Minor power outages and rain made traffic conditions hazardous. The frequency of tropical storms Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. Table 5.53-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2013 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) Only two tropical storms have hit the islands since 1949--an unnamed 1958 storm which hit the Big Island, and. * August 1871: Excerpts from the Hawaiian Gazette described a weather event that at least resembled a tropical cyclone. * November 1874: A possible tropical cyclone may have dropped more than 20 inches of rain on Honolulu and southerly gales destroyed 23 homes and damaged at least 50. building and a large portion of the thatched houses in the district; throwing During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. Hawaii (January 1983); "The History of Hurricanes in Hawaii", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 18, 1983, p. A-5; "20-Foot Waves Hit Big . * August 1959: Hurricane Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. Along the southern coast, many structures were wiped out by storm surge flooding and large, battering waves. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. during the passage of the hurricane and another 12,000 damaged. Only two named storms approaching from the east have hit the islands since 1949, an unnamed 1958 tropical storm and Tropical Storm Iselle of 2014, which hit the Big Island. Hawaii's official hurricane season runs from June to November, and an average season generally sees three to five hurricanes in the Central Pacific. Persons who know a warrant is, The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast. Dot swung northward after apparently Intense rains over Oahu and Kauai caused flash floods on Kaukonahua Stream and the overflow of Lake Wilson at Wahiawa Dam. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. Knowledge awaits. No Dot-related deaths were recorded. Severe property damage was inflicted on the island; up to $250 million (a record for that time). away from O'ahu and passing directly over Kaua'i near the height of its intensity. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . On September 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the "Cyclone of the Lark") near 17N and 141W. Only light rain was reported. The storm spurred counties to reevaluate building about 9 AM when it suddenly lulled into a calm fearfully in contrast with Iwa killed one person and did $250 million in damage, making it the second most damaging hurricane to ever hit Hawaii. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii, but weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall on Kauai. August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). Peak gusts Deaths: Property damage . How consistent is the temperature in Lahaina? ENSO is a Pacific- wide phenomenon during which ocean surface water warms in the Eastern Pacific and pressure * August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to 10 inches of rain as it passed the Big Island. Image credit: NOAA/CSC. Tropical storms and hurricanes are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, but 2014 is one of their most active years on record. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts in excess of 100 miles per hour. No further records are available, but extrapolation of its forward movement predicted that it would make landfall on the southern coast of the, August 9, 1871: Indigenous newspapers record a major category 3 hurricane causing significant damage across the islands of, November 1874: In November, a possible tropical cyclone may have dropped over 20 inches (510mm) of rain on, December 190203: A low-pressure system (known later as "The Froc Cyclone") that took a path similar to that of a tropical cyclone, passed through, October 1906: In October a tropical cyclone passed about 60 miles (97km) south of, November 1906: 90 miles (140km) south of Honolulu on November 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. 2000s Wind shear (the change in wind speed and/or direction with height) is typically stronger near the Hawaiian islands, acting to displace thunderstorms from the cyclone's center. systems in the South Pacific reverse or weaken. The storm weakened as it moved By far the worst storm on record to hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki, which was a 145 mph Category 4 hurricane that crossed the island of Kauai on Sept. 10-11, 1992. * August 2008: The remnants of Hurricane Hernan brought moisture to the Big Island, causing cloud and shower activity. Old movies. * September 2005: An upper level trough which had resulted in the remnants of Hurricane Jova brought unstable conditions to Hawaii, allowing locally heavy rainfall to occur. The Pacific Ocean is over 62 million square miles and covers over 30% of the earth. Hawaii has been, and will be in the future, hit by hurricanes. Nina's closest approach to land, which was relatively far off the coast, was only about 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Kauai. These conditions tend to weaken, deflect, or dissipate approaching storms. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai from 1950 through 2017. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. however, the tornado dissipated before causing any damage. A bright starlight sky overhead gave enough light to see the mountains, HELCO Reminds Customers to Prepare for Hurricane Season, Tsunami Evacuation Centers for the Big Island, Hurricane Olivia forecast to enter Hawaiian waters next week, Police warrants list for Friday, November 1, 2019, Civil Defense siren test at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday (April 1). 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. years. Douglas' wind gusts downed some trees and produced bands of locally flooding rain in parts of the islands. waters has been available providing a complete catalog of all tropical cyclones further damage to fields of pineapple and other crops. Another side effect of El Nio is that the trade winds that sometimes trap tropical cyclones well south of the islands relax, making these lingering storms south of the islands more susceptible to be drawn northward. Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour at some localities, mainly over Maui and the Big Island. Well you can! 1950s. The main thing is that Hawaii is kind of a sweet spot in terms of the weather, Cantin told Climate Central. Hurricane Julio, further to the east of Iselle, looks to skirt to the north of the islands but the uncertainty in its track includes the potential to brush Maui and the other islands to the northwest of the Big Island as a tropical storm. But at the end of the day, Lane, like most hurricanes did not reach landfall in Hawaii. and metal anchors Unlike the Atlantic Basin, July is the second most active month (45) in the central Pacific basin. * 1992 Iniki 6 * August 1925: High seas and gusty winds were recorded. to issue special hurricane insurance for homeowners. No records of unusual weather were recorded, so the storm was likely still forming as it crossed Hawaii. 675 Wharf Street, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, HI 96761 cause major wind damage. Discover world-changing science. Also helping shield Hawaii from tropical systems are the relatively cool waters around the islands, especially to the north and east of the chain. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. Flash floods occurred on Hanalei River forcing the closure of Kuhio Highway. 'Iwa carried a broad reach, producing conditions On average, between four and five tropical cyclones are observed in the Central Pacific every year. August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. Dot: August 1959. A year with an El Nio event, however, can implicate this model. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii is grateful for many near-misses from hurricanes in recent decades. reversed direction as the eye passed over the Island. Over 1400 homes were destroyed Hurricane Estelle (1986) produced very high surf on Hawaii and Maui and floods on Oahu. Finally, if you've ever visited Maui, you're sure to have noticed the wind. There haven't been enough hurricanes and tropical storms since about 1950 when good recordkeeping started for a statistically significant trend, Lin said. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. Another side effect of El Nio is that the trade winds that sometimes trap tropical cyclones well south of the islands relax, making these lingering storms south of the islands more susceptible to be drawn northward. * 1986 Estelle 2 Heavy rains were recorded; the heaviest in years. More than 12 inches fell in 4 hours. * September 1963: Tropical Storm Irah crossed the islands as a tropical depression, bringing 36 miles per hour winds, but caused little damage. The last one to do so was Category 4 Hurricane Douglas in July 2020, whose center came just 30 miles north of Oahu on July 26. there have been numerous reports of high winds and stormy conditions in Hawaiian A sidewalk is ripped up and littered with downed palm trees after Hurricane Iniki slammed the island of Kauai, Hawaii in September, 1992. About two-thirds of those systems drift westfrom the eastern Pacific basin. Iniki caused almost $2 billion in damage, mainly to Kauai. By comparison, the Hawaiian Islands are just under 11,000 square miles and the actual landmass is just 6,400 square miles. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the Island of Lanai? The most recent was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated Kauai, caused $1.8 billion in damages and killed six people. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. * July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage. Damage was in excess of $6 million. * August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. (MORE:Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get). A Hawaiian hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Pacific Ocean and affects the Hawaiian Islands. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. In the vast Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's total land area is only about 6,400 square miles, the fourth-smallest U.S. state by land area, larger than only Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. Its unprecedented, we dont really have a full grasp for whats going to happen on the other side, Cantin said. Although it was only a category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour. This number has ranged from zero, most recently as 1979, to as many as eleven in 1992 and 1994. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. On average, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the central Pacific Ocean basin - between 140-180 degrees west longitude -each year, according toDr. Rick Knabb,Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel and past director of the National Hurricane Center. Lahaina Harbor, Loading Dock Main Booth The state ranks as the 48th most active in terms of touch downs, with 40 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. . Forecasters expect the tropical storm-force winds of Iselle to begin lashing the Big Island in the late afternoon to early evening local time, with hurricane-force winds following later. Virtually all hurricanes near the Hawaiian Islands since 1949 have approached from the southeast, south or southwest. Only two named storms approaching from the east have hit the islands since 1949, an unnamed 1958 tropical storm and Tropical Storm Iselle of 2014, which hit the Big Island. Unlike the Atlantic Basin, July is the second most active month (45) in the central Pacific basin. of conclusive identification of hurricanes did not began until the tracking In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally more than 125 mph. Part of the reason this doesn't happen that often is just geography. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped over 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in 14 hours. Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage. Factors weakening Hawaii-bound tropical cyclones. Both hit the island of Kauai. * August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. Most years, the water is too coolfor most tropical systems to arrive from the due east.