List of Hawaii hurricanes explained

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

This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaiʻi.

Pre–1950

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

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.

Number of fatalities in Hawaii per storm
NameYear deaths
1992 6
1957 4
1982 4
1959 2
1986 2
1988 2
2016 2
1950 1
1958 1
1983 1
1983 1
1993 1
2014 1
2018 1

Hawaii's apparent immunity to most hurricanes

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."[47] This has also drawn media attention.[48] [49] One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms.[50]

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.[51] Another example may be Hurricane Felicia which dropped from Category 4 down to a tropical depression with residual winds predicted at only .[52] 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.[53]

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.[54] Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region".[55] [56] [57]

Landfalling systems

Recorded tropical cyclone landfalls in Hawaii
NameDateYearSSHWS categorySustained winds
Unnamedbgcolor=#Unknown
Unnamedbgcolor=#
Dotbgcolor=#
Raymondbgcolor=#
Gilmabgcolor=#
Inikibgcolor=#
Orlenebgcolor=#
Eugenebgcolor=#
Isellebgcolor=#
Darbybgcolor=#
Oliviabgcolor=#

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.honolulu.gov/ocda/hurric.htm Oahu Civil Defense Agency
  2. Web site: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical Cyclones in the 1800s. June 8, 2012. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
  3. Businger . Steven . M. P. Nogelmeier . P. W. U. Chinn . T. Schroeder . Hurricane with a History: Hawaiian Newspapers Illuminate an 1871 Storm . Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. . 99 . 1 . 137–47 . 2018 . 10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0333.1 . 2018BAMS...99..137B .
  4. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical Cyclones During the Years 1900-1952. June 8, 2012. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
  5. The 1957 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. June 9, 2012.
  6. The 1958 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. June 9, 2012.
  7. The 1959 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. June 9, 2012.
  8. 1963 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012. Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
  9. 1966 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012. Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
  10. The 1970 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012.
  11. The 1971 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012.
  12. The 1972 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012.
  13. The 1976 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012.
  14. The 1978 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012.
  15. June 8, 2012. The 1982 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-29.
  16. June 8, 2012. The 1983 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-30.
  17. June 8, 2012. The 1985 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-32.
  18. June 8, 2012. The 1986 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-33.
  19. June 8, 2012. The 1988 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-35.
  20. June 8, 2012. The 1989 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-36.
  21. June 8, 2012. The 1991 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-38.
  22. June 8, 2012. The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-39.
  23. Web site: Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update. National Hurricane Center. January 28, 2018.
  24. June 8, 2012. The 1993 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-40.
  25. November 28, 2007. The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-41.
  26. June 9, 2012. The 1999 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-46. Hablutzel, Benjamin C. Weyman, James C. Rosendal, Hans E. Jendrowski, Paul A. Hoag, Jonathan D. Tanabe, Raymond M.
  27. The 2000 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-. Kodama, Kevin R. Rosendal, Hans E. Hablutzelm Benjamin C. Jendrowski, Paul A. Eum, Daniel.
  28. The 2003 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-51. Nash, Andy. Craig, Tim. Farrell, Robert. Rosendal, Hans E.
  29. The 2004 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. June 9, 2012. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-52. Nash, Andy. Craig, Tim. Matsuda, Roy. Powell, Jeffery.
  30. 2005 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific. Nash, Andy. Proton, Victor. Farrell, Robert. Matsuda, Roy. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-53. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. June 9, 2012.
  31. National Hurricane Center. [{{NHC TCR url|id=EP082009_Felicia}} Hurricane Felicia]. Kimberlain, Todd B. Wroe Derek. Knabb, Richard D. 3. May 13, 2012. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. January 10, 2010. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Tropical Cyclone Report.
  32. Web site: Public Advisory for HURRICANE ISELLE . August 2, 2018 . August 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193227/http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/tcpages/archive/2014/WEB_TCPCP3.EP092014.31A.1408080034.php . dead .
  33. News: Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now. August 9, 2014. December 12, 2017. Rescuers find body of Kauai hiker swept away by rushing river.
  34. News: Hawaii News Now. July 24, 2017. December 12, 2017. Remnants of Fernanda to bring humidity, possible thunderstorms.
  35. Web site: Birchard . Hurricane Hector Intermediate Advisory Number 33A . Central Pacific Hurricane Center . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . August 8, 2018.
  36. National Weather Service Office in Honolulu, Hawaii. August 27, 2018. August 27, 2018. Public Information Statement. Lane Possibly Breaks Hawaii Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Record. August 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072332/http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/Products/PNSHFO/PNSHFO.1808271505.txt. dead.
  37. News: Associated Press. Hawaii News Now. August 29, 2018. August 30, 2018. 1 death from Hawaii storm Lane reported on Kauai.
  38. Web site: Burke . Bob . Area Forecast Discussion . National Weather Service Raw Text Product . Iowa State University . July 9, 2019 . Ames, Iowa . July 8, 2019.
  39. News: Power Interrupted as Storm Remnants Hit Hawaii's Big Island . July 9, 2019 . The New York Times . Associated Press . July 8, 2019.
  40. Web site: Tropical Storm Erick Advisory Number 24. www.nhc.noaa.gov. 2019-08-02. 2019-08-05.
  41. Web site: Service. NOAA's National Weather. NWSChat – NOAA's National Weather Service. 2020-07-27. nwschat.weather.gov. EN-US.
  42. Web site: US Department of Commerce . NOAA . Remnants of Linda Pass Through the Islands with Rain and Gusty Winds . 2024-07-24 . www.weather.gov . EN-US.
  43. Web site: Staff . Star-Advertiser . 2022-12-01 . Hurricane season ends with just 1 cyclone reaching Hawaii . 2024-07-24 . Honolulu Star-Advertiser . en.
  44. News: . Calvin now a post-tropical cyclone as it passes far south of Hawaii. July 19, 2023. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. en. August 9, 2023.
  45. Web site: Dora remains Category 4 hurricane as passes south of Hawaiʻi Island, bringing high winds, surf, fire hazards. August 8, 2023. Big Island Now. August 8, 2023.
  46. News: Wildfires burning across Maui prompt evacuations. Sangal. Aditi. Levenson. Eric. Vogt. Adrienne. August 9, 2023. CNN. August 9, 2023.
  47. http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/i2761/sections/1_Intro.pdf Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone published by the USGS Page 11
  48. https://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2003-09-01-hawaii-hurricnes_x.htm Hurricanes rarely hit Hawaii
  49. https://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2009-11-17-hawaii-hurricanes_N.htm Hawaii escaping hurricanes
  50. https://web.archive.org/web/20120403003308/http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/30709/Maui-not--rsquo-immune-rsquo--to-hurricane-strike.html Maui not ’immune’ to hurricane strike published by Maui News, May 22, 2007
  51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_rxu0fJ2h8 Video of Hurricane Flossie's breakup upon approach to Hawaii Island
  52. https://archive.today/20120701145559/http://articles.cnn.com/2009-08-06/us/hurricane.felicia_1_central-pacific-hurricane-center-miles-west-southwest-richard-knabb?_s=PM:CNN US article: Hurricane Felicia strengthens, heads toward Hawaii, August 09, 2009
  53. Web site: HNN Hurricane Center.
  54. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/ Western Regional Climate Center - Historic Wind Measurements
  55. http://www.fema.gov/library/file?type=originalAccessibleFormatFile&file=577_apndxb.txt&fileid=ab1e9390-29a6-11dc-b1f0-000bdba87d5b FEMA Definitions for Wind-Borne Debris Region
  56. http://www.fema.gov/library/file?type=originalAccessibleFormatFile&file=577_apndxb.txt&fileid=ab1e9390-29a6-11dc-b1f0-000bdba87d5b FEMA Definitions for Hurricane-Prone Region
  57. http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/saferoom/tsfs02_wind_zones.shtm FEMA - Wind zones in the United States