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. * July 2013: Tropical Storm Flossie passed through the central Hawaiian islands as a minimal tropical storm. of rain which raised the streams to an unprecedented height and swept away * November 1906: 90 miles south of Honolulu on Nov. 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. 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. * September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts. * October 2009: Hurricane Neki caused minor damage to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, striking the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a tropical storm. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. Surf reached 10 feet along the Puna and Kau shorelines. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Just use the promocode VIP20 after clicking on this link:Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures. waters All rights reserved. Since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused serious damage in Hawaii. ENSO episode. By contrast, the warmest month is August averaging 88/64 and 0 days of rain. Another reason hurricanes miss Hawaii is the cool waters surrounding the islands. November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a category one hurricane that formed in November south of Hawaii. 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. Lahaina Harbor, Loading Dock Main Booth 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. From 1950 to 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kaui, according . where, "quite suddenly the weather cleared and the wind dropped to calm. of conclusive identification of hurricanes did not began until the tracking The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. * July 1992: Hurricane Georgette brought locally squally winds over the state as a depression. Landfalls in these two basins account for about 68% of all global landfalls from 1970 to 2019. Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. I think were prepared as best we can be, Cantin said. The mountainous terrain of the islands amplifies the rain threat and contributes to the threat of ensuingflash floodsand mudslides. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. [46] 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 (56km/h). August 1959: Hurricane Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii, but weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall on Kauai. 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. Beauty & fashion. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. On Sept. 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the Cyclone of the Lark). Hurricane name Date 1/ Islands most affected Sustained Peak gusts Deaths Property damage . Classic cars. Most years, the water is too coolfor most tropical systems to arrive from the due east. cause major wind damage. by Dr Jeff Masters, Weather Underground, October 16, 2014 (excerpt). Flash floods occurred on Hanalei River forcing the closure of Kuhio Highway. 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. 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. Historically, [47]Tropical Storm Flossie (not to be confused with Hurricane Flossie in 2007) provides still another example. dark These conditions tend to weaken, deflect, or dissipate approaching storms. Vintage home. Both Iniki and 'Iwa struck Hawai'i during ENSO Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. Nina moved north and took a sharp turn to the west without actually striking the state. Jonathan Belles, Jon Erdman and Linda Lam, Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains. * 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. In fact, in nearly 150 years, only three hurricanes have reached landfall in Hawaii. On average, between four and five tropical cyclones are observed in the Central Pacific every year. Andrea Thompson, an associate editor at Scientific American, covers sustainability. One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. Image credit: NOAA/CSC. Only light rain was reported. A Hawaiian hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Pacific Ocean and affects the Hawaiian Islands. Seeing dolphins! Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. before passing directly over Kaua'i on the * August 1966: Hurricane Connie brought heavy rain to Big Island and Maui without making landfall. Hawaii's hurricane season is from June to November of every year, but just how much of a threat to Hawaii are hurricanes? That's not to say. 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. The key, at least climatologically speaking, is the direction of the storm's approach. * July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaii. Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. Damage is unrecorded. one of the most severe ENSO years on record. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. Iniki caused almost $2 billion in damage, mainly to Kauai. Pre1950 Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour at some localities, mainly over Maui and the Big Island. * August 1999: Hurricane Dora caused minor wind gusts of up to 58 miles per hour on the southern part of Big Island as it passed south of Hawaii. 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. 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. 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. This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. Figure 2. Douglas' wind gusts downed some trees and produced bands of locally flooding rain in parts of the islands. fences and trees.". * August 1994: Tropical Depression One-C passed just south of the islands, causing severe flooding in Hilo. 1920s. Hurricane Nina (1957) produced record winds in Honolulu. Miraculously, only six deaths were On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. * September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. Heres a look at the hurricanes that left behind a mess in Hawaii since the 1950s. during the passage of the hurricane and another 12,000 damaged. See how the tropical islands looked back in the fifties! of Hurricane Hiki in 1950. north to the Island's latitude and curved northeast, 1950s. Tropical storms and hurricanes are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, but 2014 is one of their most active years on record. This makes strong hurricanes close to Hawaii an unusual occurrence. 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. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. 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. It remains the second costliest East/Central Pacific hurricane on record, only behind Hurricane Paul in 1982. Hurricane Iniki. Nina's closest approach to land, which was relatively far off the coast, was only about 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Kauai. One fisherman was reported missing. [48], Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. January 25, 2004: A brief F0 tornado touched down . Hawaii's official hurricane season runs from June to November, and an average season generally sees three to five hurricanes in the Central Pacific. August 1959: Hurricane Dot was another powerful August arrival. Hawaii typically records four or five hurricanes each. 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. The storm wobbled northward toward the Islands, finally veering * January 1971: Although not having existed in the Central Pacific as a tropical cyclone, the extratropical low that was Tropical Storm Sarah in the West Pacific passed over Hawaii in mid January, causing high winds and heavy rain. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). 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. 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. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. so extensive, it caused an insurance crisis in Hawai'i, prompting the State ENSO is a Pacific- wide phenomenon during which ocean surface water warms in the Eastern Pacific and pressure * August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. Moderate surf of up to 6 feet affected the east and southeast shorelines on the Big Island. [43][44] for residential construction, for example. Along the southern coast, many structures were wiped out by storm surge flooding and large, battering waves. * August 1959: Hurricane Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. While there are usually between four or five tropical cyclones in the central Pacific ocean each year, fewer than ten have gotten within 200 nautical miles of the islands since records began to be. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. with hurricane intensity, the modern era track, demolishing Mr. Wright's mill 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. 68 mph (109 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. 'Iwa carried a broad reach, producing conditions 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 helping shield Hawaii from tropical systems are the relatively cool waters around the islands, especially to the north and east of the chain. Two people were injured by lightning. Over land, maximum sustained winds exceeded 140 mph, gusting to 175 mph, This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM. was the "Kohala Cyclone" of 1871. The last one to. widespread 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 This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaii. 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. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. The most recent was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated Kauai, caused $1.8 billion in damages and killed six people. Additionally, at total of 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Hurricane Estelle (1986) produced very high surf on Hawaii and Maui and floods on Oahu. In other words, hurricanes aren't even physically possible in Hawaii for over half of the year. Rain was heavier elsewhere, with up to 8 inches falling near the North Shore. 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. The storm weakened as it moved It was also considered the first official hurricane in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.The fourth tropical cyclone of the 1950 Pacific hurricane season, Hiki formed as a tropical depression to the southeast of Hawaii on August 12. * November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaiis most damaging hurricanes. 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. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . A sidewalk is ripped up and littered with downed palm trees after Hurricane Iniki slammed the island of Kauai, Hawaii in September, 1992. Two people on Oahu drowned in rough surf. 1950s. The most common months for cyclones in this area are July, August, and September, but they have occurred in most months (see below). Hurricanes approaching from the south represent the biggest danger to the islands, due to the warmer waters and more unstable air present to the south. The article was first published on August 7, 2014. metal anchors 1980s 1990s By comparison, the Hawaiian Islands are just under 11,000 square miles and the actual landmass is just 6,400 square miles. Plantation manager, D.D. 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. According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii. * August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to 10 inches of rain as it passed the Big Island. was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. Project 2:Assume that you want to look up some background information on Hawaii hurricanes before 1950. * September 2005: The remnants of Hurricane Kenneth brought locally heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches falling on the Big Island. 68 mph winds were recorded in Kauai. from year to year, from 0 to a maximum of 16 in 2015. * August 1958: On Aug. 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. however, the tornado dissipated before causing any damage. 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. systems in the South Pacific reverse or weaken. Hurricanes and tropical storms are normally steered clear of the Hawaiian Islands by a high pressure feature that is typically parked to the northeast of the islands and keeps the weather consistent throughout the year. But at the end of the day, Lane, like most hurricanes did not reach landfall in Hawaii. 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. * August 1970: Tropical Storm Maggie passed just south of the Big Island, dropping nearly 10 inches of rain. August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. Old movies. Factors weakening Hawaii-bound tropical cyclones. near Hawai'i. Rainfall up to 5 inches was also reported in Oahu. * August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. August 1938: Again in August a possible tropical cyclone produced heavy wind and rain in the state. No further records are available, but extrapolation of its forward movement predicted that it would make landfall on the southern coast of the Big Island. The direct hit on the Big Island does present an interesting scientific prospect, in terms of monitoring how much the islands topography tears apart the storm. Like most of its predecessors, Iselle weakened as it approached the Islands eventually making landfall along the Kau coast on the Big Island just below hurricane strength. highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the Central North Pacific zone occurs during El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years. Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014became only the second tropical storm, and the strongest, to landfall on the Big Island dating to 1950. In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally more than 125 mph. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. damage estimated at $250 million. Unlike the Atlantic Basin, July is the second most active month (45) in the central Pacific basin. . (MORE:Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get). Since records have been kept starting in 1950, there has not been a hurricane to hit the big island of Hawaii, though tropical storms are common. 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. Peak gusts Deaths: Property damage . According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii.