Flash floods occurred on Hanalei River forcing the closure of Kuhio Highway. Thanks for reading Scientific American. I don't think that has happened before, Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, said in an email. The most recent was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated Kauai, caused $1.8 billion in damages and killed six people. * 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. When tropical cyclones approach Hawaii, they tend to come from the southeast. Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. August 1938: Again in August a possible tropical cyclone produced heavy wind and rain in the state. dark Hawaii typically records four or five hurricanes each year, although as many as 11 have occurred, including during the 1992 and 1994 seasons. and passing just to the west of Kaua'i. The main thing is that Hawaii is kind of a sweet spot in terms of the weather, Cantin told Climate Central. Seeing dolphins! building and a large portion of the thatched houses in the district; throwing that appear to have been tropical cyclones. 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. 1910s. however, the tornado dissipated before causing any damage. 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. [4] Nina moved north and took a sharp turn to the west without actually striking the state. 68 mph (109 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. * August 2000: Hurricane Daniel passed north of the islands, bringing a few thunderstorms but no significant flooding. List of Hawaii hurricanes; 2012 Hawaii hailstorm; References This page was last edited on 26 June 2022, at . No records of unusual weather were recorded, so the storm was likely still forming as it crossed Hawaii. On Sept. 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the Cyclone of the Lark). One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms. November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a category one hurricane that formed in November south of Hawaii. 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. Drier, more stable air from the subtropical high to the northeast of Hawaii eventually inhibits thunderstorms from persisting and remaining clustered near the cyclone's center. It hit Kauai as a Category 4 on Sept. 11. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped more than 20 inches of rain in 14 hours. * November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaiis most damaging hurricanes. It's been more than two decades since the last hurricane hit the 50th state. either entering or forming in the Central North Pacific Zone between 140 and 180 west longitude has varied greatly One person died from Hiki. August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. As pointed out by University of North Carolina - Charlotte graduate student Eric Webb, there was a case of a major hurricane punching through the Big Island and Maui in August 1871, as a January 2018 study uncovered. El Nio allows warmer water to push farther north into the more typical east to west trek of tropical systems from the eastern Pacific. Slamming into Hawaii in September as a Category 4 major hurricane, claiming the lives of six Hawaii residents. Two drownings on Oahu were attributed to rough surf caused by the hurricane. 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. Historical Hurricane Tracks Let's find a hurricane you're interested in. LIVE For live storm tracks, please visit the National Hurricane Center. More than three dozen hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, have impacted the Hawaiian islands since 1950, causing at least 12 deaths. Even before Hawaii became a state in 1959, it was a top tourist destination - and for good reason. This makes strong hurricanes close to Hawaii an unusual occurrence. Considered the most catastrophic hurricane in Hawaii history, Iniki originated in 1992, which was also an El Nio year. 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. (MORE:Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get). While it is probable In the northern hemisphere tropical cyclone and hurricane track map below, you can see how these storms tend to stay south of the Hawai'i (red circle) or dissipate as they move toward the Islands. The frequency of tropical storms All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. * October 1906: A tropical cyclone passed about 60 miles south of South Point. Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. 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. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage. On average, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the central Pacific Ocean basin - between 140-180 degrees west longitude -each year, according toDr. Rick Knabb,Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel and past director of the National Hurricane Center. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded. Hurricane Iniki. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. In El Nio years, this idea changes some. 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. Both Iniki and 'Iwa struck Hawai'i during ENSO over O'ahu severe enough to knock out power in Honolulu for several hours and Moderate surf of up to 6 feet affected the east and southeast shorelines on the Big Island. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. [48], Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. The mountainous terrain of the islands amplifies the rain threat and contributes to the threat of ensuingflash floodsand mudslides. Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains, 4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For, Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get, Fewer Atlantic Hurricanes Expected This Season. 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 Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped over 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in 14 hours. On average, about five tropical An example from the Big Island Nina moved north and took a sharp turn to the west without actually striking the state. By this I mean SUSPECTED hurricanes, because the climate history of the Hawaiian Islands does not specifically identify any for this period. Iselle grew into a powerful Category 4 hurricane and took aim at Hawai'i in early August, 2014. On average, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the central Pacific Ocean basin - between 140-180 degrees west longitude -each year, according toDr. Rick Knabb,Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel and past director of the National Hurricane Center. Rainfall accumulated to 4 inches. Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. away from O'ahu and passing directly over Kaua'i near the height of its intensity. 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. However, as exemplified by Hurricane Lane, hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, rarely strike the Hawaiian islands directly. This is because water currents bring cooler water from Alaska, down the eastern Pacific Ocean alongthe U.S. West Coast and into the central Pacific. and caused 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). Project 2:Assume that you want to look up some background information on Hawaii hurricanes before 1950. * September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. Hawaii has not been directly hit by a hurricane in 22 years, and only three times since 1950, though it has endured nearly 150 tropical cyclones in that time, according to the AP. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. When asking why hurricanes rarely reach landfall in Hawaii, it's important to see the big picture. from year to year, from 0 to a maximum of 16 in 2015. 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. Oahu has not been directly hit by a hurricane, though hurricanes have passed very close to the island. A brief summary of the three most significant hurricanes to affect Hawaii in modern times: September 1992: Hurricane Iniki was the strongest, deadliest, and most damaging hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. Dot: August 1959. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which would . Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. * August 2009: The remnants of Hurricane Felicia brought light rainfall to the northern islands. 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. How frequent are hurricanes in Hawaii? Beauty & fashion. fences and trees.". Hurricanes hit Hawaii less frequently because of where the islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. Persons who know a warrant is, The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast. Six people were killed and more than 1,000 homes damaged during the 1992 hurricane. "The wind commenced This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. (MORE:Fewer Atlantic Hurricanes Expected This Season). 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. A year with an El Nio event, however, can implicate this model. This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. Old movies. In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally over 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). 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 . The storm remained powerful enough, however, to bring torrential rains, damaging surf and strong winds that destroyed crops, including over 1/2 of the state's papaya crop, and knocked down thousands of trees, particularly invasive albizia trees in the Puna District. That high pressure is particularly strong from May through October primehurricane season. 1900s. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. The remnants of Kanoa brought rain. The hurricane-strength winds are in a fairly compact area, but they could still pack a serious punch, as the islands infrastructure hasnt had to handle such ferocious sustained winds. Hurricane Dot (1959) caused damage to Kauai. * July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaii. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. Tropical storms and hurricanes are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, but 2014 is one of their most active years on record. Plantation manager, D.D. * 1988 Uleki 2 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. Retro . [ Q0 of rain which raised the streams to an unprecedented height and swept away [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. The last one. They've also been known to come from the southwest, but rarely from the northeast or due east, where much cooler water comes down from Alaska on the west coast of North America. tornado swept through the district, spreading desolation and ruin in its One such hurricane formed in an El Nio year: 1992. On average, between four and five tropical cyclones are observed in the Central Pacific every year. On Aug. 6, Dot began weakening, and at its landfall in Kauai, Dot was only a Category 1 hurricane. * November 1906: 90 miles south of Honolulu on Nov. 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. The article was first published on August 7, 2014. Hawaii typically records four or five hurricanes each. The storm slammed into Hawaii in September as a Category 4 hurricane and was blamed for six fatalities. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. Miraculously, only six deaths were Now 22 years later not one, but an unprecedented two hurricanes are making a beeline for the island chain and residents are preparing for a threat they rarely face. Two people were injured by lightning. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. August 1959: Hurricane Dot was another powerful August arrival. [49] Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region". Nina set a record for the highest wind gust ever recorded in Honolulu: 82 miles per hour (132 km/h). Part of the reason this doesn't happen that often is just geography. 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. Severe property damage was inflicted on the island; up to $250 million (a record for that time). In other words, a hurricane finding Hawaii is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . It ended up dropping 52 inches of rain, the second highest rainfall total from a tropical cyclone since 1950, behind only Hurricane Harvey's 60 inches on Texas in 2017. damage estimated at $250 million. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. The storm spurred counties to reevaluate building Storm surge and overwash Hurricane Iwa's Economic Impact on Hawaii (January 1983); "The History of Hurricanes in Hawaii", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 18, 1983, p. Peak gusts Deaths: Property damage . Both hit the island of Kauai. * August 1988: Tropical Storm Gilma moved through the island chain as a depression, dropping locally heavy rainfall of up to 4 inches in some places. On the 6th, Dot began weakening and at its landfall in Kauai, Dot was only category one. The last one to do so was Category 1 Hurricane Ana in October 2014, whose center came within 70 miles of the far western Hawaiian island of Niihau. 1980s Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. $3 billion. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. 1920s. From 1950 through 2021, around 30 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. The storm weakened as it moved In fact, hurricane expert Michael Lowry told the Weather Channel there is a 35% chance of a hurricane coming within 100 miles of Hawaii in an El Nio year vs. 22% in a non-El Nio year. 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. July 1957: Hurricane Kanoa, after taking a long journey across the eastern Pacific, became a non-tropical circulation a few miles east of Hawaii. * JulyAugust 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. No doubt about that. Douglas' wind gusts downed some trees and produced bands of locally flooding rain in parts of the islands. Table 5.54-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2020 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) Wave heights between 15 and 20 feet was reported on Kauai. Quick Links Last Year's Storms All Storms USA Major Storms of the Last Decade Category 3-5 USA 2010-2019 Strongest North Atlantic Hurricanes Category 5 All-time Hurricane Katrina 2005 Impact Storm Additionally, at total of 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. 1950s Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. disaster ever to strike the United States, with damages estimated at over document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. there have been numerous reports of high winds and stormy conditions in Hawaiian The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. The only other storm to do so was in1958. , %*|? 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Surf reached 10 feet along the Puna and Kau shorelines. * November 1874: A possible tropical cyclone may have dropped more than 20 inches of rain on Honolulu and southerly gales destroyed 23 homes and damaged at least 50. The last time a hurricane was bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands, Steven Spielberg was on Kauai finishing filming of the now iconic movie Jurassic Park when Hurricane Iniki hit the island as a Category 4 storm. 1990s November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. OK, the water isn't that cool, but in order to form, hurricanes need water temperatures to be least 80 degrees. There are several reasons why this happens so often. 1950s. Damage is unrecorded. systems in the South Pacific reverse or weaken. Finally, if you've ever visited Maui, you're sure to have noticed the wind. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific.