Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | August 24,2019 |
Extratropical | September 7,2019 |
Dissipated | September 9,2019 |
Category 5 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 185 mph (295 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 910 mbar (hPa);26.87 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Areas affected | Lesser Antilles,Puerto Rico,the Bahamas (particularly the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama),Eastern United States,Eastern Canada |
Part of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season | |
History Effects Other wikis |
Hurricane Dorian was the strongest hurricane to affect The Bahamas on record,causing catastrophic damage on the islands of Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama,in early September 2019. The cyclone's intensity,as well as its slow forward motion near The Bahamas,broke numerous records. The fifth tropical cyclone,fourth named storm,second hurricane,and first major hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, [1] [nb 1] Dorian originated from a westward-traveling tropical wave,that departed from the western coast of Africa on August 19. The system organized into a tropical depression and later a tropical storm,both on August 24.
The newly formed Dorian strengthened only gradually over the next few days because of dry air and vertical wind shear. On August 27,Dorian made landfall in Barbados and St. Lucia before entering the Caribbean. Dorian's structure was seriously disrupted after encountering the mountains of St. Lucia,causing the system's center to reform north of its previous location. Moving farther north and east than anticipated,Dorian passed east of Puerto Rico on August 28. Simultaneously,relaxing wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures allowed Dorian to become a Category 1 hurricane as it moved over the United States Virgin Islands. Intensification temporarily stagnated on August 29 before a spurt of rapid deepening began on August 30. During this time,the hurricane turned west-northwestward,then westward,as a ridge built in the subtropics to the north. Dorian achieved Category 5 intensity – the highest classification on the Saffir–Simpson scale – on September 1. The system reached peak intensity later that day,with winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a central pressure of 910 mbar (hPa;26.87 inHg) while making landfall on Elbow Cay in The Bahamas. [nb 2]
Dorian weakened steadily throughout September 2;the storm's forward momentum came to a crawl while it was crossing over Grand Bahama. The system fell below major hurricane status on September 3,as it began to accelerate northwards. On September 5,Dorian briefly reintensified into a Category 3 hurricane,as it traversed the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Increasing wind shear weakened Dorian once again,as it turned northeast and approached the Outer Banks. On September 6,Dorian made landfall on Cape Hatteras as a low-end Category 2 hurricane. As Dorian became increasingly influenced by the westerlies,it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone on September 7 just before passing over Nova Scotia. It then became fully extratropical the next day over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and was absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone on September 9.
Hurricane Dorian originated from a large tropical wave – an elongated trough of low air pressure – that departed from the western coast of Africa on August 19,2019. [3] Around that time,much of the wave's convection or thunderstorm activity was located inland near Guinea and Senegal rather than close to its center. Thunderstorms in the northern portion of the wave were limited by an abundance of Saharan dust in the region. [4] While the wave traveled westward across the low latitudes of the Atlantic,it lost most of its convection before a low-pressure area developed on August 22. Despite being located in an area of moderate vertical wind shear,the system continued to increase in organization. [3] The National Hurricane Center (NHC),initially predicted slow development on August 23 as the system continued westward. [5] However,the system organized into a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC on August 24,while approximately 805 mi (1,295 km) east-southeast of the island of Barbados. [3]
Early in the depression's existence,its southeastern outflow was restricted due to moderate easterly wind shear. [6] The system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Dorian at 18:00 UTC after developing a 10-mile (15 km) wide eye-like feature at its mid-levels and banding features that wrapped around it. [3] [7] Dorian initially intensified while it was located in an environment of warm sea surface temperatures. This trend all but ceased over the next few days as a result of wind shear,as well as abundant mid-level dry air. [3] [8] With little change in intensity,Dorian made landfall over Barbados around 01:30 UTC on August 27 with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h),entering the Caribbean. [3] At that time,composite radar showed that the system lacked a strong inner core. [9] The tropical storm made its second landfall on St. Lucia around 11:00 UTC at the same intensity;the mountainous terrain of the island disrupted the low-level circulation of the system. [3] Soon after,Dorian's center re-developed farther north. Meanwhile,the storm's convection fluctuated as the system continued to be affected by dry air and interacted with the Leeward and Windward islands. Dorian briefly developed a 10-mile (15 km) wide eye on radar on a couple occasions,but it quickly eroded because of mid-level dry air incursions. [10]
Dorian soon took a more northwesterly direction as a result of a weakness in a ridge,caused by a mid- to upper-level low (cold-core cyclone) located to the north of the island of Hispaniola. [11] Although Dorian was initially forecast to make landfall on Hispaniola and subsequently weaken or dissipate over the island,the system's track shifted east of Puerto Rico by August 28 as a result of northerly directional change,as well as the center reformation. [3] [10] Dorian's structure began to improve on the same day,with banding features becoming more prominent and a partial eyewall forming. [3] [11] As Dorian strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale,it made landfall over St. Croix and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands at 15:30 UTC and 18:00 UTC,respectively. Meanwhile,the cloud pattern of the tropical cyclone was continuing to increase in organization,with an eye becoming apparent on satellite imagery. The hurricane progressed northwestward under the influence of flow between an upper-level low over the Straits of Florida and the Atlantic subtropical ridge. [3] Additional strengthening was forecast as the storm would remain in a favorable environment with an increasingly moist mid-level,with sea temperatures near or over 84 °F (29 °C),and low wind shear. Even though the storm had strengthened and developed a more defined eye, [12] dry air and southwesterly wind shear caused Dorian's intensification to temporarily stagnate before decreasing again. [13] Later,on August 29,a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft reported the presence of concentric eyewalls,indicating that an eyewall replacement cycle had commenced. The aircraft also discovered that the central pressure had fallen. The plane did not find any stronger winds as Dorian continued to track towards the northwest. [14]
By the morning of August 30,Dorian completed the eyewall replacement cycle and resumed its intensification trend. The upper-level low steering the hurricane retreated to the south,while the Atlantic subtropical ridge built westward. This caused Dorian to track west-northwest into a highly favorable environment characterized by low wind shear,high relative humidity, [3] and sea surface temperatures of 84 °F (29 °C). The storm then moved west,straight towards the northwestern Bahamas. [15] Dorian reached major hurricane intensity at 18:00 UTC on August 30 about 445 mi (715 km) east of the northwestern Bahamas. [3] Later that evening,the eye of Dorian cleared out and became surrounded by a ring of deep convection. Meanwhile,a burst of lightning activity occurred in the northwest eyewall,heralding further intensification. [16] [17] A Hurricane Hunter aircraft revealed that Dorian rapidly intensified to Category 4 status at 00:00 UTC on August 31,with surface winds measured to be near 130 mph (215 km/h). [3] [18] The satellite presentation of Dorian continued to improve,with the eye increasing in definition and stabilizing at a diameter of about 14 miles (23 km). The eye also began to demonstrate a pronounced stadium effect,where the clouds of the eyewall curved outward from the surface with height;this is a feature at times seen in intense tropical cyclones. [3]
At 06:00 UTC on September 1,Dorian became a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). [3] Around 12:00 UTC,the NHC estimated the one-minute sustained winds to have reached 180 mph (285 km/h),making Dorian the strongest hurricane to impact The Bahamas on record. Just before 15:00 UTC,a Hurricane Hunter aircraft in Dorian's eyewall measured flight-level winds of 183 mph (294 km/h) and its stepped frequency microwave radiometer recorded winds of up to 196 mph (315 km/h),while a dropsonde released by the aircraft recorded a surface wind gust of 203 mph (326 km/h). [19] Further deepening occurred over the next couple of hours,with maximum sustained winds reaching 185 mph (295 km/h) and the minimum central pressure dropping to 910 mbar (hPa;26.87 inHg),representing Dorian's peak intensity. At this strength,Dorian made landfall over Elbow Cay of the Abaco Islands at 16:40 UTC September 1,becoming the strongest hurricane to make landfall in The Bahamas in modern records. [3]
As Dorian crossed the Abaco Islands,a ridge to the north of the hurricane weakened. The steering flow hence diminished,causing Dorian to decelerate. Creeping slowly westwards,Dorian weakened slightly before making landfall near South Riding Point,Grand Bahama with winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) at 02:15 UTC on September 2. The system moved off the north coast of Grand Bahama six hours later,still as a Category 5 hurricane,albeit with a larger eye and lower winds because of land interaction and an upwelling of cooler waters beneath the system. [3] These factors,coupled with Dorian's slow motion,caused steady weakening over the next couple of days,with Dorian dropping to Category 3 status at 06:00 UTC September 3. Through this time,Dorian essentially stalled just north of Grand Bahama – from 12:00 UTC September 2 to 12:00 UTC September 3,Dorian traveled a distance of just 30 miles (48 km). As a result,the entire island of Grand Bahama experienced winds of at least tropical-storm-force for three consecutive days. [3] Parts of Grand Bahama experienced the eyewall for more than 25 hours,including 5 hours while Dorian was at Category 5 intensity;meanwhile Halls Point spent over 11 hours within Dorian's eye. [20] During this period,Dorian brought an estimated 3.0 ft (0.9 m) of rain to The Bahamas, [21] along with a storm surge of over 20 ft (6.1 m). [3]
Dorian began a northwestward motion late on September 3 towards the eastern coast of the United States,as an eastward-moving mid-level trough over the Eastern United States pulled Dorian to the north. [3] At the same time,the eye had become cloud-filled,larger,and more ragged. Data collected by reconnaissance aircraft and buoys indicated that the wind field of the storm was expanding. [22] Dorian slowly weakened over the next day after entering an area of cooler sea surface temperatures and high wind shear. [3] The distinctness of the storm's eye waxed and waned as the system continued to pick up forward speed. [23] [24] Soon after,clouds in the eyewall began to cool as Dorian began to restrengthen, [25] facilitated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. [3] After the eye cleared and became surrounded by deep convection,the hurricane reached its secondary peak intensity as a 115-mile-per-hour (185 km/h) Category 3 hurricane at 00:00 UTC on September 5,while located off the coast of Georgia. [3] [26] After about 12 hours,Dorian began to gradually weaken as it traveled along the South Carolina coast. [27] [28] Rapidly accelerating northeastward,Dorian made landfall over Cape Hatteras,North Carolina,as a Category 2 hurricane,at approximately 12:30 UTC on September 6,with 100 mph (155 km/h) winds and a pressure of 957 mbar (28.26 inHg);North Carolina mainly experienced Category 1 winds as the peak winds occurred primarily offshore. [3] Despite being significantly weaker,the storm still possessed a well-defined eye surrounded by deep convection. [29]
Early on September 7,Dorian began to undergo the transition to an extratropical cyclone. The eye completely disappeared from satellite imagery as the storm began to take on a more asymmetric structure. [30] The hurricane's structure degraded due to strong southwesterly shear,with most of its convection displaced to the north and east of the center. [31] Soon after,cold air clouds began to entrain on Dorian's southwestern side,as the storm connected with a warm front that was developing to the northeast. [32] Dorian became a post-tropical cyclone around 18:00 UTC on September 7 after losing much of its tropical characteristics. [3] [33] Despite this,the NHC opted to continue issuing advisories on the system,due to the threat it posed to Atlantic Canada. [33] At the time,an ASCAT pass showed a region of 90–100 mph (150–155 km/h) winds in the storm. [34] Dorian made landfall near Sambro Creek in Nova Scotia,Canada,at approximately 22:00 UTC. [3] The storm gradually turned towards the east as it became embedded within the extratropical westerly flow. [35] The storm was deemed to have fully completed its extratropical transition over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by 06:00 UTC on September 8. [3] Dorian's cloud pattern gradually decayed,with the storm weakening to tropical storm-force by 18:00 UTC. [3] [36] [37] By September 9,virtually no significant convection existed near the center of Dorian. Soon after,the cyclone passed the Strait of Belle Isle and entered the northern Atlantic;sea surface temperatures were less than 50 °F (10 °C) in the nearby Labrador Sea. Dorian was ultimately absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone at 06:00 UTC on September 9,while located northeast of Newfoundland. [3] [38]
Most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes Intensity is measured solely by central pressure | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rank | Hurricane | Season | Landfall pressure |
1 | "Labor Day" [nb 3] | 1935 | 892 mbar (hPa) |
2 | Camille | 1969 | 900 mbar (hPa) |
Gilbert | 1988 | ||
4 | Dean | 2007 | 905 mbar (hPa) |
5 | "Cuba" | 1924 | 910 mbar (hPa) |
Dorian | 2019 | ||
7 | Janet | 1955 | 914 mbar (hPa) |
Irma | 2017 | ||
9 | "Cuba" | 1932 | 918 mbar (hPa) |
10 | Michael | 2018 | 919 mbar (hPa) |
Sources:HURDAT, [1] AOML/HRD, [40] NHC [41] |
Dorian broke numerous intensity records after it reached its peak intensity. Dorian is tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane,Gilbert,and Wilma for the second-highest wind speed of an Atlantic hurricane at 185 mph (295 km/h), [42] [43] just below Allen's record wind speed of 190 mph (305 km/h). [44] This intensity made Dorian the strongest hurricane outside of the tropics. [43] The cyclone's 185 mph (295 km/h) landfall on Abaco Island was the strongest on record for The Bahamas. [3] [43] Dorian was the second Category 5 hurricane to make landfall on the Abaco Islands on record,the other having occurred in 1932. [45] Additionally,Dorian is tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for the highest sustained winds at landfall in an Atlantic hurricane. [46] With Dorian,2019 became the fourth consecutive year to produce at least one Category 5 hurricane. [47] [nb 4]
Dorian's slow forward motion near The Bahamas also set several records. During one 24-hour period,Dorian moved slower than any other major hurricane since Hurricane Betsy in 1965. [43] The storm also impacted a single land area as a Category 5 hurricane for the longest duration recorded in the Atlantic basin,with portions of Dorian's eyewall striking Great Abaco Island and Grand Bahama for about 22 hours. [48]
The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season was a very deadly, destructive, and active Atlantic hurricane season, with over 3,200 deaths and more than $61 billion in damage. More than half of the 16 tropical cyclones brushed or struck the United States. Due to the development of a Modoki El Niño – a rare type of El Niño in which unfavorable conditions are produced over the eastern Pacific instead of the Atlantic basin due to warmer sea surface temperatures farther west along the equatorial Pacific – activity was above average. The season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30, though the season's last storm, Otto, dissipated on December 3, extending the season beyond its traditional boundaries. The first storm, Alex, developed offshore of the Southeastern United States on July 31, one of the latest dates on record to see the formation of the first system in an Atlantic hurricane season. It brushed the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic, causing one death and $7.5 million (2004 USD) in damage. Several storms caused only minor damage, including tropical storms Bonnie, Earl, Hermine, and Matthew. In addition, hurricanes Danielle, Karl, and Lisa, Tropical Depression Ten, Subtropical Storm Nicole and Tropical Storm Otto had no effect on land while tropical cyclones. The season was the first to exceed 200 units in accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) since 1995, mostly from Hurricane Ivan, the storm produced the highest ACE. Ivan generated the second-highest ACE in the Atlantic, only behind 1899 San Ciriaco Hurricane.
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual tropical cyclone season in the north Atlantic Ocean. It was the second most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, and the most extreme in the satellite era. Officially, the season began on June 1, 2005 and ended on November 30, 2005. These dates, adopted by convention, historically delimit the period in each year when most tropical systems form. The season's first storm, Tropical Storm Arlene, developed on June 8. The final storm, Tropical Storm Zeta, formed in late December and persisted until January 6, 2006. Zeta is only the second December Atlantic storm in recorded history to survive into January, joining Hurricane Alice in 1955.
Hurricane Dora was one of few tropical cyclones to track across all three north Pacific basins and the first since Hurricane John in 1994. The fourth named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1999 Pacific hurricane season, Dora developed on August 6 from a tropical wave to the south of Mexico. Forming as a tropical depression, the system gradually strengthened and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Dora later that day. Thereafter Dora began heading in a steadily westward direction, before becoming a hurricane on August 8. Amid warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, the storm continued to intensify, eventually peaking as a 140 mph (220 km/h) Category 4 hurricane on August 12.
The meteorological history of Hurricane Ivan, the longest tracked tropical cyclone of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, lasted from late August through late September. The hurricane developed from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 31. Tracking westward due to a ridge, favorable conditions allowed it to develop into Tropical Depression Nine on September 2 in the deep tropical Atlantic Ocean. The cyclone gradually intensified until September 5, when it underwent rapid deepening and reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale; at the time Ivan was the southernmost major North Atlantic hurricane on record.
The meteorological history of Hurricane Jeanne lasted for about two weeks in September 2004. Hurricane Jeanne was the eleventh tropical cyclone, tenth named storm, seventh hurricane, and sixth major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed from a tropical wave on September 13 near the Lesser Antilles, and encountered favorable enough conditions to reach tropical storm status. Jeanne strengthened further in the eastern Caribbean, becoming a strong tropical storm and developing an eye before striking Puerto Rico on September 15. Remaining well-organized, it attained hurricane status before hitting the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic on September 16.
Hurricane Andrew lasted from mid to late August 1992. The hurricane developed from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 14. Tracking westward due to a ridge, favorable conditions allowed it to develop into Tropical Depression Three on August 16 in the deep tropical Atlantic Ocean. The cyclone gradually intensified, becoming a tropical storm on August 17. However, wind shear soon impacted the storm, causing significant increases in barometric pressure and nearly destroying its low-level circulation by August 20. Wind shear sharply decreased starting on August 21, and with warm sea surface temperatures, Andrew began rapid deepening, starting on the following day. By August 23, Andrew peaked as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale while approaching The Bahamas.
The 2017 Pacific hurricane season was an above average Pacific hurricane season in terms of named storms, though less active than the previous three, featuring eighteen named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. Despite the considerable amount of activity, most of the storms were weak and short-lived. The season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and on June 1 in the central Pacific; they both ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the respective regions. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, as illustrated in 2017 by the formation of the season's first named storm, Tropical Storm Adrian, on May 9. At the time, this was the earliest formation of a tropical storm on record in the eastern Pacific basin proper. The season saw near-average activity in terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), in stark contrast to the extremely active seasons in 2014, 2015, and 2016; and for the first time since 2012, no tropical cyclones formed in the Central Pacific basin. However, for the third year in a row, the season featured above-average activity in July, with the ACE value being the fifth highest for the month. Damage across the basin reached $375.28 million (2017 USD), while 45 people were killed by the various storms.
The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth consecutive above-average and damaging season dating back to 2016. The season featured eighteen named storms, however, many storms were weak and short-lived, especially towards the end of the season. Six of those named storms achieved hurricane status, while three intensified into major hurricanes. Two storms became Category 5 hurricanes, marking the fourth consecutive season with at least one Category 5 hurricane, the third consecutive season to feature at least one storm making landfall at Category 5 intensity, and the seventh on record to have multiple tropical cyclones reaching Category 5 strength. The season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates historically describe the period each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin and are adopted by convention. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated by the formation of Subtropical Storm Andrea on May 20, making this the fifth consecutive year in which a tropical or subtropical cyclone developed outside of the official season.
Hurricane Matthew was the first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane since Felix in 2007 and the southernmost Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record. The system originated from a tropical wave that emerged off the west coast of Africa on September 22, and ultimately dissipated as an extratropical cyclone near Atlantic Canada on October 10. Late on September 29, it began a period of explosive intensification that brought it to Category 5 strength early on October 1. It weakened slightly and remained a Category 4 until its landfalls in Haiti and Cuba, afterwards it traversed through the Bahamas and paralleled the coast of Florida until making landfall in South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane. Matthew later transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone on October 10.
Hurricane Harvey was the costliest tropical cyclone on record, inflicting roughly $125 billion in damage across the Houston metropolitan area and Southeast Texas. It lasted from mid-August until early September 2017, with many records for rainfall and landfall intensity set during that time. The eighth named storm, third hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Harvey originated from a broad area of low pressure southwest of Cape Verde that was first monitored on August 13. Tracking steadily westward, the disturbance developed strong convection, a well-defined circulation, and sustained tropical storm-force winds, leading to the classification of Tropical Storm Harvey late on August 17. Moderate easterly vertical wind shear kept Harvey weak, as it continued westwards into the Caribbean Sea; despite repeated predictions for gradual intensification by the National Hurricane Center, Harvey eventually opened up into a tropical wave on August 19. The remnants of Harvey continued to move westwards and reached the Yucatán Peninsula on August 22, and were forecast to regenerate into a tropical cyclone after exiting land.
Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful Cape Verde hurricane that caused extensive damage in the Caribbean and Florida. Lasting from late August to mid-September 2017, the storm was the strongest open-Atlantic tropical cyclone on record and the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands. Classified as the ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Irma developed from a tropical wave near the Cape Verde Islands on August 30. Favorable conditions allowed the cyclone to become a hurricane on the following day and then rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by September 1 as it moved generally westward across the Atlantic. However, dry air and eyewall replacement cycles disrupted further strengthening, with fluctuations in intensity during the next few days. Irma resumed deepening upon encountering warmer sea surface temperatures, while approaching the Lesser Antilles on September 4. The system reached Category 5 intensity on the following day and peaked with winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) shortly thereafter.
Hurricane Maria was the tenth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record and caused catastrophic damage in Puerto Rico in late September 2017. Originating from a tropical wave, it developed into a tropical depression on September 16 while situated to the east of the Lesser Antilles. Gradual intensification occurred over the next day or two and it strengthened into a tropical storm, which was named Maria. By late on September 17, Maria had intensified into a hurricane. As it approached the island arc, it underwent explosive intensification on September 18, with the hurricane reaching Category 5 intensity as it made landfall on the island of Dominica early on September 19. Land interaction weakened the storm somewhat, although it was able to quickly recover and later peaked that night with sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a pressure of 908 mbar (26.8 inHg). Early the next morning it weakened to a high-end Category 4 hurricane before making landfall in Puerto Rico. Maria weakened significantly due to crossing the island, but was able to strengthen somewhat as it passed close to Hispaniola and The Bahamas on September 21–23. Structural changes in the hurricane as it moved further north and close to the Outer Banks in the United States ultimately caused Maria to weaken quickly. Turning away from the United States as a weakened tropical storm, it became extratropical on September 30, dissipating 3 days later.
Hurricane Hector was a powerful and long-lasting tropical cyclone that traversed the Pacific Ocean during late July and August 2018. Hector was the eighth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season. It originated from a disturbance that was located north of South America on July 22. The disturbance tracked westward and entered the eastern Pacific around July 25. It gradually organized over the next several days, becoming a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on July 31. The system was upgraded into a tropical storm about 12 hours later and received the name Hector. Throughout most of its existence, the cyclone traveled due west or slightly north of west. A favorable environment allowed the fledgling tropical storm to rapidly intensify to its initial peak as a Category 2 hurricane by 18:00 UTC on August 2. Wind shear caused Hector to weaken for a brief period before the storm began to strengthen again. Hector reached Category 3 status by 00:00 UTC on August 4 and went through an eyewall replacement cycle soon after, which caused the intensification to halt. After the replacement cycle, the cyclone continued to organize, developing a well-defined eye surrounded by cold cloud tops.
The meteorological history of Hurricane Florence spanned 22 days from its inception on August 28, 2018, to its dissipation on September 18. Originating from a tropical wave over West Africa, Florence quickly organized upon its emergence over the Atlantic Ocean. Favorable atmospheric conditions enabled it to develop into a tropical depression on August 31 just south of the Cape Verde islands. Intensifying to a tropical storm the following day, Florence embarked on a west-northwest to northwest trajectory over open ocean. Initially being inhibited by increased wind shear and dry air, the small cyclone took advantage of a small area of low shear and warm waters. After achieving hurricane strength early on September 4, Florence underwent an unexpected period of rapid deepening through September 5, culminating with it becoming a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Thereafter, conditions again became unfavorable and the hurricane quickly diminished to a tropical storm on September 7.
The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual tropical cyclone season in the north Atlantic Ocean. It was the fourth consecutive above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The season officially began on June 1, 2019, and ended on November 30, 2019. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical systems form. However, storm formation is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated in 2019 by the formation of the season's first named storm, Subtropical Storm Andrea, on May 20. The final storm of the season, Tropical Storm Sebastien, transitioned to an extratropical cyclone on November 25.
Hurricane Dorian was an extremely powerful and catastrophic Category 5 Atlantic hurricane, which became the most intense tropical cyclone on record to strike The Bahamas, and is tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for the strongest landfall in the Atlantic basin in terms of maximum sustained winds. The 2019 cyclone is regarded as the worst natural disaster in The Bahamas' recorded history. With winds peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), it was also one of the most powerful hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic Ocean in terms of 1-minute sustained winds, and the strongest since Wilma in 2005. Dorian was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, the first major hurricane, and the first Category 5 hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. Dorian struck the Abaco Islands on September 1 with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), tying with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for the highest wind speeds of an Atlantic hurricane ever recorded at landfall. Dorian went on to strike Grand Bahama at similar intensity, stalling just north of the territory with unrelenting winds for at least 24 hours. The resultant damage to these islands was catastrophic; most structures were flattened or swept to sea, and at least 70,000 people were left homeless. After it ravaged through The Bahamas, Dorian proceeded along the coasts of the Southeastern United States and Atlantic Canada, leaving behind considerable damage and economic losses in those regions.
Hurricane Humberto was a large and powerful tropical cyclone that caused extensive wind damage in Bermuda during September 2019. It was the eighth named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane – Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale – of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. Humberto formed on September 13 from the prolonged interaction of a tropical wave and an upper-level trough, then paralleled the eastern coastline of Florida through September 16 before turning sharply northeastward. A generally favorable environment allowed Humberto to become a hurricane that day, and the storm further strengthened to reach peak intensity as a Category 3 hurricane on September 18. After its center passed within 65 miles (105 km) of Bermuda around 00:00 UTC on September 19, the system encountered stronger wind shear and drier air. Stripped of its deep thunderstorm activity, the system transitioned to a potent extratropical cyclone early on September 20.
Hurricane Olaf was a Category 2 Pacific hurricane that struck the Baja California Peninsula in September 2021. The fifteenth named storm and sixth hurricane of the 2021 Pacific hurricane season, the cyclone formed from an area of low pressure that developed off the southwestern coast of Mexico on September 5, 2021. The disturbance developed within a favorable environment, acquiring more convection and a closed surface circulation. The disturbance developed into Tropical Depression Fifteen-E by 18:00 UTC on September 7. The depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Olaf at 12:00 UTC the next day. Olaf quickly strengthened as it moved to the north-northwest, and was upgraded to a hurricane 24 hours after being named. Hurricane Olaf continued to intensify and reached peak intensity while its center was just offshore the southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 975 mbar (28.8 inHg). Just after reaching peak intensity, the hurricane made landfall near San José del Cabo. Interaction with the mountainous terrain of the Baja California Peninsula caused Olaf to quickly weaken. It was downgraded to a tropical storm at 12:00 UTC on September 10. The system became devoid of convection later that day and degenerated to a remnant low by 06:00 UTC on September 11.
Hurricane Sam was a powerful and long-lived Cape Verde hurricane that threatened Bermuda, lasting from September 22 through October 7, 2021. It was the fifth longest-lasting intense Atlantic hurricane, as measured by accumulated cyclone energy, since reliable records began in 1966. Sam was the eighteenth named storm, seventh hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
Hurricane Nicole was a sprawling late-season Category 1 hurricane in November 2022. The fourteenth named storm and eighth hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, Nicole formed as a subtropical cyclone on November 7, from a non-tropical area of low pressure near the Greater Antilles, and transitioned into a tropical cyclone the next day. Then, taking a path similar to that of Hurricane Dorian three years earlier, Nicole made landfall on November 9, on Great Abaco and on Grand Bahama in The Bahamas, where it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. On November 10, it made landfall twice in Florida, south of Vero Beach and then northwest of Cedar Key, after briefly emerging over the Gulf of Mexico. Nicole then weakened to a depression while moving over the Florida Panhandle, and then was absorbed into a mid-latitude trough and cold front over extreme eastern Tennessee the following day.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service .