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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.

List of tropical cyclones

Tracks of all the tropical cyclones to affect Hawaiʻi until 2006

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

1980s

Hurricane Uleki near Hawaii and peak strength

1990s

Hurricane Emilia passing by Hawaiʻi as a Category 4 hurricane.

2000s

Radar image of Hurricane Jimena passing by south of Hawaiʻi as a tropical storm.

2010s

Hurricane Iselle approaching Hawaii as a minimal hurricane.

2020s

Statistics

Of the 68 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaii since official record-keeping began in 1949, 30 (44%) 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 (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."[45] This has also drawn media attention.[46][47] One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms.[48]

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.[49] 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).[50] 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.[51]

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.[52] Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region".[53][54][55]

Landfalling systems

Recorded tropical cyclone landfalls in Hawaii
Name Date Year SSHWS category Sustained winds
Unnamed August 9 1871 Category 3 hurricane Unknown[nb 1]
Unnamed August 8 1958 Tropical storm 50 mph (80 km/h)
Dot August 6 1959 Category 1 hurricane 85 mph (135 km/h)
Raymond October 20 1983 Tropical depression 30 mph (50 km/h)
Gilma August 3 1988 Tropical depression 25 mph (40 km/h)
Iniki September 11 1992 Category 4 hurricane 145 mph (235 km/h)
Orlene September 14 1992 Tropical depression 30 mph (50 km/h)
Eugene July 24 1993 Tropical depression 35 mph (55 km/h)
Iselle August 8 2014 Tropical storm 60 mph (95 km/h)
Darby July 24 2016 Tropical storm 40 mph (65 km/h)
Olivia September 12 2018 Tropical storm 45 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.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ Oahu Civil Defense Agency Archived January 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. "Tropical Cyclones in the 1800s". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Businger, Steven; M. P. Nogelmeier; P. W. U. Chinn; T. Schroeder (2018). "Hurricane with a History: Hawaiian Newspapers Illuminate an 1871 Storm". Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 99 (1): 137–47. Bibcode:2018BAMS...99..137B. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0333.1.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical Cyclones During the Years 1900-1952 (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1957 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  6. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1958 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  7. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1959 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 1963 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  9. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 1966 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  10. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1970 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1971 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1972 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1976 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  14. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1978 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1982 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-29). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  16. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1983 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-30). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  17. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1985 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-32). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  18. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1986 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-33). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  19. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1988 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-35). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  20. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1989 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-36). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  21. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1991 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-38). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  22. ^ a b c Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-39). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  23. ^ "Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  24. ^ a b Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1993 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-40). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  25. ^ a b c d Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-41). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
  26. ^ Hablutzel, Benjamin C; Weyman, James C; Rosendal, Hans E; Jendrowski, Paul A; Hoag, Jonathan D; Tanabe, Raymond M; Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 1999 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-46). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  27. ^ Kodama, Kevin R; Rosendal, Hans E; Hablutzelm Benjamin C; Jendrowski, Paul A; Eum, Daniel; Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 2000 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  28. ^ Nash, Andy; Craig, Tim; Farrell, Robert; Rosendal, Hans E; Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 2003 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-51). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  29. ^ Nash, Andy; Craig, Tim; Matsuda, Roy; Powell, Jeffery; Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The 2004 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-52). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  30. ^ a b Nash, Andy; Proton, Victor; Farrell, Robert; Matsuda, Roy; Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 2005 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-53). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  31. ^ Kimberlain, Todd B; Wroe Derek; Knabb, Richard D; National Hurricane Center; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (January 10, 2010). Hurricane Felicia (PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. p. 3. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  32. ^ "Public Advisory for HURRICANE ISELLE". Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  33. ^ "Rescuers find body of Kauai hiker swept away by rushing river". Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now. August 9, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  34. ^ "Remnants of Fernanda to bring humidity, possible thunderstorms". Hawaii News Now. July 24, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  35. ^ Birchard. "Hurricane Hector Intermediate Advisory Number 33A". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  36. ^ Lane Possibly Breaks Hawaii Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Record (Public Information Statement). National Weather Service Office in Honolulu, Hawaii. August 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  37. ^ "1 death from Hawaii storm Lane reported on Kauai". Hawaii News Now. Associated Press. August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  38. ^ Burke, Bob (July 8, 2019). "Area Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service Raw Text Product. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  39. ^ "Power Interrupted as Storm Remnants Hit Hawaii's Big Island". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019. (subscription required)
  40. ^ "Tropical Storm Erick Advisory Number 24". www.nhc.noaa.gov. August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  41. ^ Service, NOAA's National Weather. "NWSChat – NOAA's National Weather Service". nwschat.weather.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  42. ^ "Calvin now a post-tropical cyclone as it passes far south of Hawaii". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. July 19, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  43. ^ "Dora remains Category 4 hurricane as passes south of Hawaiʻi Island, bringing high winds, surf, fire hazards". Big Island Now. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  44. ^ Sangal, Aditi; Levenson, Eric; Vogt, Adrienne (August 9, 2023). "Wildfires burning across Maui prompt evacuations". CNN. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  45. ^ Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone published by the USGS Page 11
  46. ^ Hurricanes rarely hit Hawaii By Jack Williams Posted January 9, 2003 USA Today
  47. ^ Hawaii escaping hurricanes Posted November 17, 2009 Associated Press, USA Today
  48. ^ Maui not ’immune’ to hurricane strike published by Maui News, May 22, 2007
  49. ^ Video of Hurricane Flossie's breakup upon approach to Hawaii Island
  50. ^ US article: Hurricane Felicia strengthens, heads toward Hawaii, August 09, 2009
  51. ^ "HNN Hurricane Center".
  52. ^ Western Regional Climate Center - Historic Wind Measurements
  53. ^ FEMA Definitions for Wind-Borne Debris Region Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  54. ^ FEMA Definitions for Hurricane-Prone Region Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  55. ^ FEMA - Wind zones in the United States Archived May 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine