Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. 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. One person died. The storm wobbled northward toward the Islands, finally veering November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. A bright starlight sky overhead gave enough light to see the mountains, Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour. On September 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the "Cyclone of the Lark") near 17N and 141W. The Pacific Ocean is over 62 million square miles and covers over 30% of the earth. Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. Along the southern coast, many structures were wiped out by storm surge flooding and large, battering waves. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. and caused That high pressure is particularly strong from May through October primehurricane season. * July 1993: Hurricane Eugene dropped valuable rain on the state as it dissipated. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. down our flume; uprooting large trees, and prostrating our cane fields. Dot swung northward after apparently forming in the East Pacific, traveling almost parallel to the Island chain, before passing directly over Kaua'i on the night of August 6. Over land, maximum sustained winds exceeded 140 mph, gusting to 175 mph, El Nio allows warmer water to push farther north into the more typical east to west trek of tropical systems from the eastern Pacific. codes, with Kaua'i opting for higher standards of construction by requiring El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. 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. near Hawai'i. The storm was weakening as it neared the Islands, with maximum sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees and caused major . Damage is unrecorded. 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. * October 1983: Hurricane Raymond took a path similar to Gils, but as a depression, causing no damage. OK, the water isn't that cool, but in order to form, hurricanes need water temperatures to be least 80 degrees. hurricane force wind, (and) sea increasing " before entering the eye 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). before passing directly over Kaua'i on the The dissipation of storms is even more evident in a closer view map (from Wikipedia) of the Central North Pacific zone. On average, between four and five tropical cyclones are observed in the Central Pacific every year. The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm. for residential construction, for example. During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. Andrea Thompson, an associate editor at Scientific American, covers sustainability. Hurricane Iselle, which retained hurricane strength after showing signs of weakening, is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 on the Big Island on Thursday night, bringing with it strong winds and torrential rains. north to the Island's latitude and curved northeast, 68 mph (110 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. major agricultural damage, particularly to macadamia orchards. Dr.Knabb, also a former deputy director at NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, points out thatthere is no meteorological reason why the core of a major hurricane can't directly hit Honolulu, resulting in destructive storm surge flooding, wind damage, and rainfall flooding affecting a metro population (minus tourists) of just under 400,000. Oahu has not been directly hit by a hurricane, though hurricanes have passed very close to the island. waters Historically, For more information on how to prepare for a hurricane, including what supplies you should have in your emergency kit, visit the Hawaii News Now Hurricane Center. * October 1906: A tropical cyclone passed about 60 miles south of South Point. about 9 AM when it suddenly lulled into a calm fearfully in contrast with Minor power outages and rain made traffic conditions hazardous. It hit Kauai as a Category 4 on Sept. 11. Flash floods occurred on Hanalei River forcing the closure of Kuhio Highway. BROWSE BY TOPIC. This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaii. dark The remnants of Kanoa brought rain. Hurricane expertMichael Lowrysays that dating to 1950, there is a 13 percent increase in the chance of a named storm to track within 100 miles of the Hawaii islands during an El Nio year (35 percent chance) than a neutral year (22 percent chance). In El Nio years, this idea changes some. Both Iniki and 'Iwa struck Hawai'i during ENSO When Was The Last Time Hawaii Was Hit by a Hurricane? connected to the storm. 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. * July 1994: Tropical Storm Daniel dumped 5 inches of rain over the windward slopes of Big Island. 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. of rain which raised the streams to an unprecedented height and swept away But right now, that high is sitting a little further north than usual, allowing storms to take aim at the islands. 68 mph (109 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. August is the peak month for tropical cyclones in the central Pacific basin, chalking up twice as many (74) as September (37) from 1971-2013, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Copyright 2020 Hawaii News Now. * August 2007: Hurricane Flossie passed within 100 miles of the Big Island, bringing rain and tropical storm-force winds. This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). tornado swept through the district, spreading desolation and ruin in its Technically speaking, hurricanes tend to be pushed away from Hawaii because of a high-pressure zone that normally resides to the northeast of the Islands. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. One died from Hiki. If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, said National Weather . * July 1985: Hurricane Ignacio, although missing the islands, generated surf that measured from 10 to 15 feet causing damage to coastal roads and structures. By the big picture, we mean the Pacific Ocean. Sea-surface temperatures are typically warmer the further south you get in the northern Pacific, which means a tropical cyclone moving toward Hawaii from the south would have a better chance of surviving to the islands. The storm was weakening as it neared the Islands, with maximum August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. One such hurricane formed in an El Nio year: 1992. Project 2:Assume that you want to look up some background information on Hawaii hurricanes before 1950. Hawaii Hurricane Palm trees being blown by a tropical rain storm. As noted in Chapter 6, environmental conditions in the Hawai'i region offer some protection from powerful storms. Plantation manager, D.D. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. 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. Vintage home. If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, saidNational Weather Servicemeteorologist Michael Cantin. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. I think were prepared as best we can be, Cantin said. 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. The ocean surface temperature is usually near or below 27 C, a threshold for hurricane formation and survival, and wind shear that saps a storm's energy is common over the islands. In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally more than 125 mph. Intense rains over Oahu and Kauai caused flash floods on Kaukonahua Stream and the overflow of Lake Wilson at Wahiawa Dam. fences and trees.". Six died as a result. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Jonathan Belles, Jon Erdman and Linda Lam, Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains. heavily damaged structures along the south coast. The only other storm to do so was in1958. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. January 25, 2004: A brief F0 tornado touched down . In Hawaii, where many people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods (yes, we're raising our hands), this is a sc Hawaii Ocean Project * July 1994: The remnants of Tropical Storm Fabio brought heavy showers to Big Island and Oahu. * August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. The mountainous terrain of the islands amplifies the rain threat and contributes to the threat of ensuingflash floodsand mudslides. Hurricanes hit Hawaii less frequently because of where the islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. The most common months for cyclones in this area are July, August, and September, but they have occurred in most months (see below). The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. to the north, and towering ghostly white clouds nearby to the west". highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the Central North Pacific zone occurs during El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years. No Dot-related deaths were recorded. Well you can! No records of unusual weather were recorded, so the storm was likely still forming as it crossed Hawaii. Hurricanes approaching from the east typically fall apart before they reach Hawaii due to the cool waters and dry air that lie to the east of the islands. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. sailed through the storm encountering, "black dark, heavy blinding rain, Create your free account or Sign in to continue. This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. ENSO episode. Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. * September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. 'Iwa formed south of Hawai'i during In fact, in nearly 150 years, only three hurricanes have reached landfall in Hawaii.