Why are hurricanes so rare in Hawaii? It's a lucky quirk - USA TODAY All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour. , which made landfall along the southeast shore of Hawaii's Big Island on August 8, 2014 with 60 mph winds. Well you can! Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. away from O'ahu and passing directly over Kaua'i near the height of its intensity. Hawaii's hurricane season is from June to November of every year, but just how much of a threat to Hawaii are hurricanes? Vintage TV. connected to the storm. The storm was weakening as it neared the Islands, with maximum sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees and caused major . ENSO is a Pacific- wide phenomenon during which ocean surface water warms in the Eastern Pacific and pressure Factors weakening Hawaii-bound tropical cyclones. A brief summary of the three most significant hurricanes to affect Hawaii in modern times: was the strongest, deadliest, and most damaging hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. Since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused serious damage in Hawaii. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. Additionally, more than 52 inches of rain fell over four days in Kauai. Localized flash flooding was reported in the Kohala and Hamakua districts. No Dot-related deaths were recorded. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. 1800s. 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. Hurricane season in Hawaii usually falls between the months of June and November. 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. cause major wind damage. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the Island of Lanai? Like 'Iwa, Iniki formed south of Hawai'i during a strong 1950s El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. That's not to say. How rare are hurricanes in Hawaii? Examining the Aloha State's history "The wind commenced Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. search.htm - University of Hawaii section of the storm, sweeping the island with 80 mph winds and causing The ocean surface temperature is usually near or below 27 C, a threshold for hurricane formation and survival, and wind shear that saps a storm's energy is common over the islands. * 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. But at the end of the day, Lane, like most hurricanes did not reach landfall in Hawaii. On September 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the "Cyclone of the Lark") near 17N and 141W. Iselle leaves Hawaii; Hurricane Julio to miss the state | CNN When asking why hurricanes rarely reach landfall in Hawaii, it's important to see the big picture. cyclones form in this zone each year with 30% of these storms developing into hurricanes. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . The dissipation of storms is even more evident in a closer view map (from Wikipedia) of the Central North Pacific zone. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. As the moist air in the storm is pushed up Hawaiis volcanic peaks, it will cool and the water vapor in it will condense, adding to the rain the storm already produces. * September 2005: An upper level trough which had resulted in the remnants of Hurricane Jova brought unstable conditions to Hawaii, allowing locally heavy rainfall to occur. [43][44] One notion is that Hawaii's volcanic peaks slow down or divert storms. * July 1993: Hurricane Eugene dropped valuable rain on the state as it dissipated. Hurricane Iniki. The key, at least climatologically speaking, is the direction of the storm's approach. * JulyAugust 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. July 1957: Hurricane Kanoa, after taking a long journey across the eastern Pacific, became a non-tropical circulation a few miles east of Hawaii. There are several reasons why this happens so often. 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. 4 Things to Know About Hurricane Lane | The Weather Channel Hawaii Hurricane History 1949-2014 > Hawaii Free Press government 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. 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. There are several reasons why this happens so often. www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/poster/hurricane/, Olivia is forecast to approach the main Hawaiian Islands from the east early next week, but it is too soon, The listed individuals are wanted by the Hawaii Police Department because of outstanding warrants. Hurricane Iselle, which retained hurricane strength after showing signs of weakening, is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 on the Big Island on Thursday night, bringing with it strong winds and torrential rains. LIVE For live storm tracks, please visit the National Hurricane Center. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. * 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. Hawaii Free Press - All Rights Reserved. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of Hawaii from 1990-2021. The frequency of tropical storms 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. Hurricane Julio, further to the east of Iselle, looks to skirt to the north of the islands but the uncertainty in its track includes the potential to brush Maui and the other islands to the northwest of the Big Island as a tropical storm. On Aug. 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. track, demolishing Mr. Wright's mill August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. 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. metal anchors 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. Hurricanes Archives - Honolulu Civil Beat August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. years. * August 1976: Tropical Storm Gwen passed north of Hawaii, dropping 12 inches of rain across the entire state. codes, with Kaua'i opting for higher standards of construction by requiring In total, 67 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaii since official record-keeping began in 1949. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. passing just to the west of Kaua'i. The storms winds will mainly be a threat to the Big Island and Maui, Cantin said, while the rains going to be a problem everywhere.. for residential construction, for example. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai from 1950 through 2017. A look at tropical cyclones that have impacted Hawaii over the years [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. with hurricane intensity, the modern era Damage is unrecorded. Next. Hurricane Lane was certainly a close call, the closest we've seen since 1992. Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care, Tropical storms and hurricanes are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, but 2014 is one of their most active years on record. Data collected by the Western Regional Climate Center show no hurricane-strength winds on any Hawaii Islands with the exception of Kauai. One died from Hiki. 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). No Dot-related deaths were recorded. The island of Kauai was especially hard hit by damaging winds. Both hit the island of Kauai. The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. * 1988 Uleki 2 No doubt about that. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. by Dr Jeff Masters, Weather Underground, October 16, 2014 (excerpt). Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. The mountains are where we'll see the highest rainfall totals and the strongest winds, McNoldy said. Chapter 11 Hurricanes 4 1971-2005 Tropical Cyclones in the Central Pacific5 Hurricanes Tropical Storms Tropical Depressions Total Total Number 48 57 48 153 Average Per Year 1.4 1.6 1.4 4.4 Percent of All Systems 31% 36% 33% Hurricane tracks around the Hawaiian Islands since 1949.6 Hurricanes are not the only type of storm to cause damage in coastal areas, but they are the 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. 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. 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. 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. * July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaii. 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. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. of Hurricane Hiki in 1950. Nina set a record for the highest wind gust ever recorded in Honolulu: 82 miles per hour (132 km/h). However, as exemplified by Hurricane Lane, hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, rarely strike the Hawaiian islands directly.