Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 14,2005 |
Dissipated | September 30,2005 |
Category 4 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 947 mbar (hPa);27.96 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | None |
Damage | Unspecified |
Areas affected | Hawaii |
Part of the 2005 Pacific hurricane season |
Hurricane Kenneth was the strongest and longest-tracked hurricane of the 2005 Pacific hurricane season. The eleventh named storm and fifth hurricane of the season,Kenneth developed from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone to the southwest of Mexico on September 14. It quickly attained peak winds of 135 mph (217 km/h) on September 18,before weakening due to increased wind shear and turning to a southwest drift. After weakening to tropical storm status,Kenneth attained a steady west-northwest motion and encountered favorable enough conditions for it to gain power and attain hurricane status on September 25. The cyclone again weakened as its motion halted,and on September 30 Kenneth dissipated a short distance off the Big Island of Hawaii. The remnants of Kenneth produced one of the highest rainfall totals in Hawaii,reaching up to 12 inches (300 mm) on Oahu. The rainfall caused flooding,though no major damage was reported.
The origins of Kenneth are believed to have been from a tropical wave that crossed Central America into the eastern North Pacific Ocean on September 9. The system tracked westward within the Intertropical Convergence Zone — a belt of thunderstorm activity across the eastern Pacific Ocean — and on September 13 its associated thunderstorm activity began showing signs of organization. [1] Despite being located only 625 miles (1,006 km) east-southeast of the larger Tropical Depression Ten, the National Hurricane Center remarked the potential for further development of the system; [2] as the depression was further west and moving faster than the system, little interference from Jova was anticipated. [3] The system organized further, and at 1800 UTC on September 14 the National Hurricane Center began classifying it as Tropical Depression Eleven about 900 miles (1,400 km) west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The depression maintained a general westward track throughout its entire duration, due to the subtropical ridge to its north. [1]
Initially, the depression was forecast to reach maximum strength as a tropical storm before weakening, and only the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's hurricane model predicted it to attain hurricane status. However, low amounts of wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures favored further intensification. [4] After being previously removed from the primary thunderstorm activity, the circulation became situated beneath a persistent area of deep convection. [5] It is estimated the cyclone intensified into Tropical Storm Kenneth early on September 15. [1] The storm quickly developed banding features—spiral rain showers of convection—as its convection formed into a central area of deep convection. [6] These were all signs for further development, [7] and Kenneth attained hurricane status early on September 16. [1] By September 17, the hurricane had finished an eyewall replacement cycle, meaning its original eye was replaced by a larger, better defined eye. [8] As a result, it quickly intensified and attained major hurricane status. [1] With a 23-mile (37 km) wide eye surrounded by very cold cloud tops, [9] Kenneth strengthened to reach peak sustained winds of 135 mph (217 km/h), a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, on September 18 about 1,725 miles (2,776 km) east of the Big Island of Hawaii. [1]
After maintaining peak strength for about 18 hours, Kenneth began a sharp weakening trend due to unfavorable north-northeasterly wind shear; [1] this was caused by the anticyclone over Hurricane Jova, which eroded the eyewall of Hurricane Kenneth. [10] While weakening, the hurricane turned to a southwest drift, due to a weakness in steering currents. [1] By September 20, its deepest convection was confined to the southern half of the hurricane, [11] and later in the day Kenneth weakened to tropical storm status. Reduced moisture in the atmosphere weakened the system further, [1] and by September 21 its circulation was exposed to the east-northeast of the convection. [12] Kenneth began a steady west-northwest track due to a weak ridge to its north. Operationally the storm was predicted to continue weakening and dissipate within four days. [13] However, deep convection re-developed near the center as the outflow became better defined, [14] and Kenneth remained a moderate tropical storm for several days. [1] On September 24, the motion became nearly stationary as steering currents again weakened. Vertical shear sharply declined, allowing the convection to become more symmetrical and for an eye feature to develop. [15] On September 25, Kenneth again attained hurricane status while located about 1,085 miles (1,746 km) east-southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii. [1]
Hurricane Kenneth maintained minimal hurricane status for about 30 hours as it drifted southwestward, during which it entered the area of responsibility of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. [1] Increasing shear weakened Kenneth to tropical storm status on September 26, and it began a steady northwest track under the influence of low- to mid-level steering flow. [16] By September 27, most of its convection had dissipated, excluding a small area of thunderstorms to the southeast of the center. [17] Convection intermittently reformed near the center, though the combination of wind shear and cooler water temperatures prevented restrengthening. [18] On September 29, an intensifying upper-level trough over the Hawaiian Islands weakened Kenneth to tropical depression status. [16] Thunderstorms failed to reform, and on September 30 it degenerated into a tropical wave about 40 miles (64 km) east of the Big Island of Hawaii. A remnant swirl of clouds later moved onshore of the Big Island. [16]
The remnants of Kenneth produced rainfall in the Hawaiian Islands when they interacted with an upper-level trough, [16] causing some reports of flash flooding. [1] At Nu‘uanu Pali on Oahu, a gauge recorded a total precipitation of 10.25 inches (260 mm); the gauge also reported 1.6 inches (41 mm) in 15 minutes, as well as 4.11 inches (104 mm) in one hour. [19] Peak rainfall totals on Oahu included reports of up to 12 inches (300 mm), [16] which puts Kenneth in a three-way tie for ninth on Hawaii's rainiest tropical cyclones list, along with Diana in 1972 [20] and a system dubbed "B" from the 1967 season. [21] On October 1, rains caused the Kaukonahua Stream to burst its banks and Lake Wilson to overflow behind the Wahiawa Dam. [22] The rainfall produced up to 1 foot (300 mm) of flowing water on Pali Highway, leading to surface runoff which flooded a few homes. [19]
On Kauai, the six-hour total at Mount Waialeale was 6.17 inches (157 mm). [16] Flash flooding occurred on the Hanalei River, which resulted in the closure of the Kuhio Highway at the Hanalei Bridge. Rapid water level rises also occurred on the Wailua River and the Hanapepe River, though no significant damages were reported along these waterways. [19]
Large swells churned up by Kenneth generated surf of 8–10 ft (2.4–3.0 m) that crashed ashore on September 30 along the east shores of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Oahu. No reports of injuries or serious damage were received. [22]
During the 61st Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference, the Hawaii State Civil Defense requested the retirement of the name Kenneth, citing that the storm had become memorable due to threat or damage. [23] However, the World Meteorological Organization did not approve the request, and the name was reused for the 2011 season. [24]
The 2005 Pacific hurricane season was a near-average season which produced fifteen named storms, only seven hurricanes formed and two major hurricanes. It was also the second consecutive season in which no tropical cyclone of at least tropical storm intensity made landfall. The season officially began on May 15 in the East Pacific Ocean, and on June 1 in the Central Pacific; they ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Pacific basin. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year.
The 2001 Pacific hurricane season was a relatively near-average Pacific hurricane season which produced sixteen named storms, though most were rather weak and short-lived including one unnamed tropical storm which was operationally recognized as a tropical depression, the first such occurrence since 1996. Only eight hurricanes formed and two major hurricanes. The season officially began on May 15 in the East Pacific Ocean, and on June 1 in the Central Pacific; they ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Pacific basin. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year.
The 2000 Pacific hurricane season was an above-average Pacific hurricane season, although most of the storms were weak and short-lived. There were few notable storms this year. Tropical storms Miriam, Norman, and Rosa all made landfall in Mexico with minimal impact. Hurricane Daniel briefly threatened the U.S. state of Hawaii while weakening. Hurricane Carlotta was the strongest storm of the year and the second-strongest June hurricane in recorded history. Carlotta killed 18 people when it sank a freighter. Overall, the season was significantly more active than the previous season, with 19 tropical storms. In addition, six hurricanes developed. Furthermore, there were total of two major hurricanes.
The 1995 Pacific hurricane season was the least active Pacific hurricane season since 1979, and marked the beginning of a multi-decade period of low activity in the basin. Of the eleven tropical cyclones that formed during the season, four affected land, with the most notable storm of the season being Hurricane Ismael, which killed at least 116 people in Mexico. The strongest hurricane in the season was Hurricane Juliette, which reached peak winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), but did not significantly affect land. Hurricane Adolph was an early-season Category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Henriette brushed the Baja California Peninsula in early September.
The 1993 Pacific hurricane season included more than double the average number of major hurricanes – Category 3 or stronger cyclones on the Saffir–Simpson scale. This activity was the result of an El Niño event, which is the main factor contributing to above-average activity across the Pacific basin. The season featured 15 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 9 major hurricanes. While the number of named storms was near the long-term average, the number of hurricanes was above the average of 8, and the number of major hurricanes far exceeded the long-term average of 4. Seasonal activity began on May 17 and ended on November 8, within the confines of a traditional hurricane season which begins on May 15 in the East Pacific and June 1 in the Central Pacific. The season ends on November 30 in both basins. These dates conventionally delimit the period during each year when most tropical cyclones form.
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The 1988 Pacific hurricane season was the least active Pacific hurricane season since 1981. It officially began May 15, in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, in the central Pacific and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The first named storm, Tropical Storm Aletta, formed on June 16, and the last-named storm, Tropical Storm Miriam, was previously named Hurricane Joan in the Atlantic Ocean before crossing Central America and re-emerging in the eastern Pacific; Miriam continued westward and dissipated on November 2.
Hurricane Fefa was the only tropical cyclone during the 1991 Pacific hurricane season to directly impact the Hawaiian Islands. The sixth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, the storm developed from a tropical wave on July 29 about 975 miles (1,569 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. It moved west-northwestward, and under generally favorable conditions it strengthened to attain peak winds of 120 mph (190 km/h) on August 2. Fefa turned to the west towards Hawaii, and slowly weakened until dissipating near the island of Hawaii.
Hurricane Kyle was the fifth-longest-lived Atlantic tropical or subtropical cyclone on record. The eleventh named storm and third hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, Kyle developed as a subtropical cyclone on September 20 to the east-southeast of Bermuda. Looping westward, it transitioned into a tropical cyclone and became a hurricane on September 25. For the next two weeks, Kyle tracked generally westward, oscillating in strength several times because of fluctuations in environmental conditions. On October 11, the cyclone turned northeastward and made landfalls near Charleston, South Carolina, and Long Beach, North Carolina, at tropical storm status. After lasting as a cyclone for 22 days, Kyle dissipated on October 12 as it was absorbed by an approaching cold front.
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Hurricane Daniel was the second strongest hurricane of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season. The storm affected Hawaii late in its lifetime, causing moderate rainfall and minor damage. The fourth named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Daniel originated on July 16 from a tropical wave off the coast of Mexico. It tracked westward, intensifying steadily to reach peak winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) on July 22. At the time, the characteristics of the cyclone resembled those of an annular hurricane. Daniel gradually weakened as it entered an area of cooler water temperatures and increased wind shear, and after crossing into the Central Pacific Ocean, it quickly degenerated into a remnant low on July 26, before dissipating two days later.
Hurricane Flossie was a powerful Pacific tropical cyclone that brought squally weather and light damage to Hawaii in August 2007. The sixth named storm, second hurricane, first and only major hurricane of the inactive 2007 Pacific hurricane season, Flossie originated from a tropical wave that emerged off Africa on July 21. After traversing the tropical Atlantic, the wave crossed Central America and entered the eastern Pacific on August 1. There, a favorable environment allowed it to become a tropical depression and a tropical storm shortly thereafter on August 8.
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Tropical Storm Norman was a weak tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall to southwestern Mexico in October 2006. The fifteenth named storm of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season, Norman developed on October 9 from a tropical wave well to the southwest of Mexico. Unfavorable conditions quickly encountered the system, and within two days of forming, Norman dissipated as its remnants turned to the east. Thunderstorms gradually increased again, as it interacted with a disturbance to its east, and on October 15 the cyclone regenerated just off the coast of Mexico. The center became disorganized and quickly dissipated, bringing a large area of moisture which dropped up to 6 inches (150 mm) of rainfall to southwestern Mexico. Rainfall from the storm flooded about 150 houses, of which 20 were destroyed. One person was injured, and initially there were reports of two people missing due to the storm; however, it was not later confirmed.
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