List of Hawaii hurricanes

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Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to strike the Hawaiian Islands. Iniki 1992-09-11 2331.png
Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to strike the Hawaiian Islands.

A Hawaiian hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Pacific Ocean and affects the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii lies in the central Pacific, where about four or five tropical cyclones appear each year, although as many as fifteen have occurred, such as in the 2015 season; rarely do these storms actually affect Hawaii. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes.

Contents

List of tropical cyclones

Tracks of the tropical cyclones on record before 2006 which have affected the Hawaiian Islands Hawaii hurricane tracks.png
Tracks of the tropical cyclones on record before 2006 which have affected the Hawaiian Islands

This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaiʻi.

Pre-1950

1950s

1960s

1970s

Tropical Storm Maggie Tropical Storm Maggie.JPG
Tropical Storm Maggie

1980s

Hurricane Uleki near Hawaii and peak strength Hurricane uleki (1988).JPG
Hurricane Uleki near Hawaii and peak strength

1990s

Hurricane Emilia passing by Hawai`i as a Category 4 hurricane. Hurricane emilia approaching hawaii 7 22 94.JPG
Hurricane Emilia passing by Hawaiʻi as a Category 4 hurricane.

2000s

Radar image of Hurricane Jimena passing by south of Hawai`i as a tropical storm. Hurricane Jimena (2003) radar.GIF
Radar image of Hurricane Jimena passing by south of Hawaiʻi as a tropical storm.

2010s

Hurricane Iselle approaching Hawaii as a minimal hurricane. Iselle Aug 7 2014 2315Z (cropped).jpg
Hurricane Iselle approaching Hawaii as a minimal hurricane.

2020s

Statistics

Of the 69 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaii since official record-keeping began in 1949, 31 (45%) did so during August. With only one exception, none have approached the islands prior to July.

At least 29 people have died in Hawaii as a result of tropical cyclones since 1949.

Hawaii's apparent immunity to most hurricanes

Hurricanes in the Central Pacific (140deg W to 180 deg W) generally travel from east to west, however, some including Hurricanes Iwa (1982) and Iniki (1992) track in a northerly direction Tracks of Central Pacific Hurricanes 1949 to 1998.gif
Hurricanes in the Central Pacific (140° W to 180 ° W) generally travel from east to west, however, some including Hurricanes Iwa (1982) and Iniki (1992) track in a northerly direction

The islands of Hawaii, with Kauai as the notable exception, appear to be remarkably immune from direct hurricane hits. The USGS states that "more commonly, near-misses that generate large swell and moderately high winds causing varying degrees of damage are the hallmark of hurricanes passing close to the islands." [49] This has also drawn media attention. [50] [51] One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms. [52]

Snow on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea after storm passes Hawaii Island Mokuaweoweo from the air.gif
Snow on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea after storm passes Hawaii Island

A partial source of this idea may be the long list of hurricanes in the above paragraphs that dissipated into tropical storms or depressions upon approaching the islands. Satellite images of Hurricane Flossie's breakup when approaching Hawaii Island fueled this idea. [53] Another example may be Hurricane Felicia which dropped from Category 4 down to a tropical depression with residual winds predicted at only 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). [54] Tropical Storm Flossie (not to be confused with Hurricane Flossie in 2007) provides still another example. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. 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. [55]

Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. Data collected by the Western Regional Climate Center show no hurricane-strength winds on any Hawaii Islands with the exception of Kauai. [56] Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region". [57] [58] [59]

Landfalling systems

Recorded tropical cyclone landfalls in Hawaii
NameDateYear SSHWS category Sustained winds
Unnamed August 91871Category 3 hurricaneUnknown [nb 1]
Unnamed August 81958Tropical storm50 mph (80 km/h)
Dot August 61959Category 1 hurricane85 mph (135 km/h)
Raymond October 201983Tropical depression30 mph (50 km/h)
Gilma August 31988Tropical depression25 mph (40 km/h)
Iniki September 111992Category 4 hurricane145 mph (235 km/h)
Orlene September 141992Tropical depression30 mph (50 km/h)
Eugene July 241993Tropical depression35 mph (55 km/h)
Iselle August 82014Tropical storm60 mph (95 km/h)
Darby July 242016Tropical storm40 mph (65 km/h)
Olivia September 122018Tropical storm45 mph (70 km/h)

Effect on homeowner's insurance

Before Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a standard homeowner's insurance policy with extended coverage provided hurricane coverage. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. [60]

See also

Notes

  1. Damage consistent with category 4 winds; rated category 3 due to terrain effects. [3]

References

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