The key, at least climatologically speaking, is the direction of the storm's approach. Discover world-changing science. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. Rainfall accumulated to 4 inches. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Six died as a result. Only light rain was reported. years. 68 mph (109 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. The only other storm to do so was in1958. Pre1950 The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. Virtually every system approaching Hawaii from the east since 1950 tracking at least as far north as the latitude of the Big Island of Hawaii eventually weakened to a tropical storm or depression by the time it reached the islands. Factors weakening Hawaii-bound tropical cyclones. The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm or hurricane was in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes in Kauai, said Eric Lau, meteorologist for . 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. The last one to. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. 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. hurricane force wind, (and) sea increasing " before entering the eye * September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. Historically, Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. 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. . * August 1976: Tropical Storm Gwen passed north of Hawaii, dropping 12 inches of rain across the entire state. 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). August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. Retro . * August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to 10 inches of rain as it passed the Big Island. Both Iniki and 'Iwa struck Hawai'i during ENSO One person died. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south 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. especially both as hurricanes! El Nio allows warmer water to push farther north into the more typical east to west trek of tropical systems from the eastern Pacific. From 1950 through 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. Andrea Thompson, an associate editor at Scientific American, covers sustainability. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour at some localities, mainly over Maui and the Big Island. It's quite rare to have two storms right behind each other . 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). passing just to the west of Kaua'i. [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. metal anchors Storm surge and overwash Miraculously, only six deaths were 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. 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. Dot swung northward after apparently The depression then crossed over into the central Pacific Ocean basin to the west of 140W longitude where it became a tropical storm and eventually a powerful hurricane. Peak gusts Deaths: Property damage . * August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. Damage was in excess of $6 million. A bright starlight sky overhead gave enough light to see the mountains, Figure 2. Most of the storm damage was done by these falling trees, including knocking down power lines and blocking roads. 1900s. 675 Wharf Street, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, HI 96761 Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. * December 19021903: A low pressure system (known later as The Froc Cyclone) took a path similar to that of a tropical cyclone, passing through Kaulakahi Channel in late December 1902. An example from the Big Island Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. * August 2008: The remnants of Hurricane Hernan brought moisture to the Big Island, causing cloud and shower activity. * 1982 Iwa 1, Find out more: 1800s. tornado swept through the district, spreading desolation and ruin in its Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. [43][44] 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 On Aug. 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. 1960s Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. 1930s. Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. The only other storm to do so was in1958. November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a category one hurricane that formed in November south of Hawaii. This number has ranged from zero, most recently as 1979, to as many as eleven in 1992 and 1994. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). Hawaiian Like the other residents of Hawaii, meteorologists will have to watch and wait, hopefully stocked with at least three days of food and water for their families and prepared to lose power at least for a while. The yacht Esprit, By summer, those same waters can reach 82 degrees. Both hit the island of Kauai. Iniki caused almost $2 billion in damage, mainly to Kauai. Heavy rains were recorded; the heaviest in years. More than 12 inches fell in 4 hours. 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. High surf with heights of up to 15 feet were reported on the windward sections of Big Island. All rights reserved. waters has been available providing a complete catalog of all tropical cyclones Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. List of Hawaii Hurricanes - List of Tropical Cyclones - 1950s. Hawaii Hurricane Palm trees being blown by a tropical rain storm. It hit Kauai as a Category 4 on Sept. 11. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of Hawaii from 1990-2021. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii is grateful for many near-misses from hurricanes in recent decades. Another reason hurricanes miss Hawaii is the cool waters surrounding the islands. 'Iwa carried a broad reach, producing conditions * October 1983: Hurricane Raymond took a path similar to Gils, but as a depression, causing no damage. The storm dissipated near British Columbia. 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. the rain the storm had so rapidly wrought. That's not to say. When Was The Last Time Hawaii Was Hit by a Hurricane? 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. Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. The most recent was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated Kauai, caused $1.8 billion in damages and killed six people. government 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. Flooding caused Rainfall up to 5 inches was also reported in Oahu. No doubt about that. Hurricane Dot (1959) caused damage to Kauai. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. Nina set a record for the highest wind gust ever recorded in Honolulu: 82 miles per hour. [48], Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. that appear to have been tropical cyclones. 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. 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. Also helping shield Hawaii from tropical systems are the relatively cool waters around the islands, especially to the north and east of the chain. 1950s. However, as exemplified by Hurricane Lane, hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, rarely strike the Hawaiian islands directly. Holidays. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage, before dissipating. These winds, which help to keep us from overheating, also act to separate thunderstorms from the center of the approaching hurricane resulting in a lot of rain, but rarely a full-blown hurricane. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. major agricultural damage, particularly to macadamia orchards. One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms. 1990s August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. * August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai.