why did hurricane erin 1991 change course

by Floy Hansen 9 min read

What year did Hurricane Erin form?

Hurricane Erin - August 1-7, 1995. Erin formed from a tropical wave that crossed from the coast of Africa to the tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. on July 22nd.

What happened to Tropical Depression Erin?

As Erin weakened further and became a tropical depression, its track shifted more to the north by the 5th of August and more to the east by the 6th. Tropical Depression Erin finally merged with a frontal system over West Virginia on the 6th of August. The lowest sea level pressure recorded during Erin was 976mb at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

What was the wind and storm surge of the 1991 Hurricane?

Diamond Shoals Light recorded a sustained wind of 97.8 mph with a gust of 122.8 mph and a minimum pressure of 962.1 millibars on the evening of 18/19 August, 1991. Cape Hatteras also recorded a storm surge of 2.6 to 4.6 ft. Flooding was reported throughout the Outer Banks in relation to the heavy rains and storm surge of the storm.

What did the Storm Erin do to Alabama?

In Central Alabama, rains from Erin doused some wildfires, but provided little additional relief for the drought-stricken region. Strong winds downed several trees in Barbour County, one of which fell onto a home. The storm left approximately 37,400 customers of Alabama Power without electricity.

What causes hurricanes to change course?

As a hurricane propagates northward out of the tropics, the environmental wind field often becomes weak, causing the hurricane to slow down, stall, or move erratically, especially if the hurricane is away from the influence of strong high or low pressure systems.

Has a hurricane ever changed course?

Hurricane Floyd (September 1999) Floyd wreaked havoc on the Bahamas at peak Category 4 strength, dipped to a Cat 3, then set its sights on Florida and regained Cat 4 strength.

Why do hurricanes get renamed?

Meteorologists long ago learned that naming tropical storms and hurricanes helps people remember the storms, communicate about them more effectively, and consequently stay safer if and when a particular storm strikes a coast.

What was the strongest hurricane to hit Canada?

Hurricane Ginny of 1963The strongest hurricane to make landfall in Canada was Hurricane Ginny of 1963, which had winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), making it a strong Category 2 hurricane at the time of its landfall near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Whats the worst hurricane in history?

#1: Hurricane Maria (2017) With maximum sustained winds over 175 miles per hour, Hurricane Maria blasted Puerto Rico to claim more than 3,000 lives and generate nearly $100 billion in property damage. It remains the deadliest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history.

Has a hurricane ever changed course last minute?

Hurricane Charley was supposed to slam into downtown Tampa in 2004, but a last-minute change of direction drove it through Port Charlotte nearly 100 miles south. Hurricane Dennis made landfall near Pensacola in 2005, but it was Apalachee Bay 100 miles to the east that got nearly 10 feet of storm surge.

What letters are not used in hurricane names?

Like the main list of storm names, the supplemental list does not include names that begin with the letters Q, U, X, Y or Z, which officials said are not common enough or easily understood across English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, the languages frequently spoken throughout North America, Central America and the ...

Who picks the name of hurricanes?

the World Meteorological OrganizationThe lists of hurricane names for each season are chosen by the World Meteorological Organization (not The Old Farmer's Almanac). There are six lists of names for Atlantic and Pacific storms, which are cycled through every six years.

What was the first hurricane name?

They gave each storm a name in order to distinguish the cyclones from each other more quickly than referring to each storm by its position. The first US named hurricane (unofficially named) was George, which hit in 1947.

Has Ontario ever had a hurricane?

Hazel, the deadliest and costliest storm of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season, reached Toronto, Ontario by the evening of October 15, 1954.

Why do hurricanes come from Africa?

0:562:17Why do hurricanes form off the coast of Africa? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDevelopment wind flowing east to west off of africa will move any tropical system toward us ourMoreDevelopment wind flowing east to west off of africa will move any tropical system toward us our winds fight back our winds predominant winds are from west to east until it blows the storm.

Does Toronto get tornadoes?

May 21 - a tornado touched down in Toronto, Ontario damaging many trees, telegraph wires, fences, and signs. A church tower was overturned with numerous windows broken. There was at least one injury.

When was Hurricane Erin upgraded to a hurricane?

Hurricane Erin was upgraded from a tropical storm to hurricane status on September 8, and was listed as a Category 3 hurricane on September 10 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Where is Hurricane Erin?

The Center says there is still the possibility that Hurricane Erin could impact Canada, somewhere along the coast of Newfoundland, within three to four days.

How fast did the 2001 hurricane hit Bermuda?

The first Atlantic hurricane of the 2001 season narrowly missed Bermuda yesterday (September 9) as it churned north-northwestward at a rate of 19 km per hour (12 miles per hour).

When did Erin make landfall?

satellite imagery began showing an eye associated with Erin. Not. too much longer after the eye appeared, Erin made its first landfall. early on August 2nd near Vero Beach, FL as a Category 1 hurricane.

How wide was Erin?

Erin maintained a broad eye - nearly 15 miles wide - as it moved ashore. Most of the damage from Erin occurred on the eastern side of the storm. Widespread tree, power line, and crop damage happened as Erin moved through southwest Alabama. Over 100 homes were damaged across southwest Alabama.

Where did the eye of Erin move?

The eye of Erin began filling in as it moved across Baldwin County and Erin began to progressively weaken. It continued to track northwest through southwestern Alabama during the afternoon hours on August 3rd. Erin weakened to a tropical storm as it moved into southeastern Mississippi overnight.

Where is the rainband on Erin's eye?

The rainbands on the eastern side of Erin's eye brought the highest rainfall totals to northwest Florida and southwest Alabama as denoted in the WPC graphic shown below. KMOB and KEVX radars estimated that 5+ inches of rain fell across the path of Erin.

When was Hurricane Erin?

The fifth tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, and second hurricane of the unusually active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season, Erin developed from a tropical wave near the southeastern Bahamas on July 31. Moving northwestward, the cyclone intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale near Rum Cay about 24 hours later.

How much damage did Hurricane Erin cause?

The hurricane damaged thousands of homes, particularly in Brevard County and the western panhandle. Erin caused approximately $700 million in damage in the United States, with much of that occurring in Florida. The cyclone resulted in nine deaths in the state, six directly and three indirectly.

How many homes were destroyed in the Erin hurricane?

Erin destroyed 40 homes in Pensacola and damaged 93 others. The hurricane also damaged 416 homes in unincorporated areas of Escambia County and the town of Century. Damage to Escambia County schools totaled approximately $13 million, with $8.5 million to Workman Middle School alone.

What crop was lost in Erin?

There was a large amount of crop losses in Northwest Florida resulting from Erin. This included close to half of the cotton crop of the region and around 20 to 25 percent of the pecan crop. An estimated amount of 63 percent of power customers in Northwest Florida lost electricity during the hurricane.

How many tornadoes did Erin spawn?

Erin spawned three tornadoes in Brevard County, two F0s and one F1. Both F0s caused minimal damage. The F1 tornado, spawned in Titusville damaged power lines, signs, and the roofs of a Sears store and a McDonald's restaurant. One person suffered injuries after the tornado shattered a large window.

What is the highest sustained wind speed in Florida?

In Florida, the Sebastian Inlet recorded the highest observed sustained wind speed in the state, at 86 mph (138 km/h). Wind gusts topped out at 101 mph (163 km/h) at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Many other locations in and central and north Florida, as well as in the Florida Panhandle, measured tropical storm-force or hurricane-force wind gusts. The hurricane generally dropped light rainfall, mainly except in areas close to the path. Melbourne International Airport observed 10.84 in (275 mm) of precipitation, the highest total in the state. Much of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida experienced abnormally high tides and storm surge, including 2 to 4 ft (0.61 to 1.22 m) surge on the east coast and 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) on much of the west coast. In the panhandle, Navarre Beach likely experienced 6 to 7 ft (1.8 to 2.1 m) storm surge, while Pensacola Beach recorded 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) storm surge. Minor to moderate beach erosion occurred along Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

What caused the plane crash in Jamaica?

In Jamaica, heavy rains generated by the far outer bands of Erin caused a plane crash that killed five people. The plane, a Cessna 310 twin-engine aircraft owned by RegionAir, carried four employees of Brinks Jamaica, who were due to testify in a court hearing, and a pilot. The plane departed from the Tinson Pen Aerodrome in Kingston, and was bound for Montego Bay, Saint James Parish. Two teenagers were also killed on a football field in Braeton, Saint Catherine Parish, when lightning associated with Erin struck them.

What was the name of the storm that inspired the movie The Perfect Storm?

Live. 00:58. The deadly 1991 Halloween storm that inspired a hit film. The Halloween Storm, an officially unnamed 1991 nor'easter that took the lives of 12 people, inspired a book and blockbuster movie, “The Perfect Storm.”.

What happened to the Andrea Gail?

Six Gloucester, Massachusetts, fishermen died as a result of the Halloween storm sinking the Andrea Gail.

What is the movie The Perfect Storm about?

The tale of the storm and the doomed fishing vessel were depicted in the book and subsequent movie, “The Perfect Storm.”. The storm had similarities to Superstorm Sandy, which raked the East Coast in 2012, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jack Boston said. “The 'perfect storm' was like Sandy in that it involved the merging ...

How many people died in the perfect storm?

The Halloween Storm, an officially unnamed 1991 nor'easter that took the lives of 12 people, inspired a book and blockbuster movie, “The Perfect Storm.”.

Was Sandy a hurricane?

Sandy was similar in that it was a hurricane that came north from the tropics, then started to transform into an extratropical low before it slammed into the Jersey coast, he said. The center of the Perfect Storm of 1991 never reached the coast, but the strong winds did produce severe coastal flooding along the New England to New Jersey coastlines, ...

Did Sandy bring a storm surge?

Sandy brought along the storm surge expected of a tropical system as it made landfall, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek. "With the perfect storm, you just had the pounding of the coast for three days in a row or more with a strong, powerful onshore flow," Dombek said.

When did Erin become a hurricane?

The depression moved to the north-northeast, then turned to the north-northwest, and regained tropical storm status on September 7. Erin steadily intensified, and its convection and cloud pattern became much better organized on September 8. On September 9, Erin intensified into a hurricane while located 104 miles (167 km) east-northeast of Bermuda, ...

What turned Erin into a hurricane?

Multiple short-wave troughs weakened the western portion of the subtropical ridge, and on September 11, Erin decelerated as it turned to the east. A strengthening mid- to upper-level trough over eastern Canada turned the hurricane to the northeast.

What happened to Hurricane Erin?

On September 5, Erin weakened to a tropical depression, and hours later, the storm's low-level circulation dissipated. Hurricane Erin south of Nova Scotia on September 13. The remnant low-pressure area continued to the west-northwest, and on September 6, the system gradually produced deep convection. A surface circulation redeveloped in the ...

How far away would Erin pass?

Initial forecasts indicated Erin would pass within 15 miles (24 km) of the island.

How fast was Hurricane Erin?

The storm slowly strengthened, and attained an initial peak intensity of 60 mph (95 km/h) while located about 1,150 miles (1,855 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.

What is the wind speed of Erin?

The strongest winds of Erin remained to the east of the island. As a result, the highest winds on the island peaked at 41 mph (66 km/h). Moderate winds downed several trees onto power lines, leaving dozens of homes without power for several hours. Prolonged durations of strong waves resulted in coastal beach erosion.

Where did Hurricane Erin hit?

Though it passed 105 miles (170 km) east of Bermuda, Hurricane Erin caused little damage or effects on the island. Large swells from the hurricane produced rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast of the United States. In Newfoundland, Erin dropped moderate amounts of rain and gusty winds, though no damage was reported.

What was the weather like on Sept 10th 2001?

On Sept. 10, 2001, a cold front swept through the East Coast with rain and thunderstorms. Crystal clear, cool weather followed on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11. Advertisement. "Temperatures at 9 a.m. that morning were 65 in New York and 70 in Washington, and warmed to 72 and 76, respectively, by 11 a.m.

Was Hurricane Katia a hard right turn?

As with Erin, Hurricane Katia made a hard-right turn before reaching the East Coast. One can only wonder how the history books might have been rewritten if Hurricane Erin would've threatened the Northeast in September 2001.

Was Hurricane Erin a threat?

While Hurricane Erin was never a threat to landfall in the Northeast, the cold front and increased westerly winds aloft gave a final east, then northeast shove to Erin. In a strange coincidence, almost exactly 10 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Hurricane Katia was spinning in almost the same location on Sept. 9, 2011.

Powerful storm

Until then, however, Hurricane Matthew is expected to remain a powerful force. It currently has winds near 140 mph (220 km/h), and its hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 kilometers) from its center, according to an update posted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 2 p.m. ET today (Oct. 6).

Nicole and surges

Hurricane experts had wondered whether Matthew would interact with Hurricane Nicole. But it turns out that Nicole is too far east and far too weak to have any noticeable influence on Matthew, Done said.

What was the result of the combined effects of the subtropical high pressure ridge over the Atlantic and a mid

The steering flow was the result of the combined effects of the subtropical high pressure ridge over the Atlantic and a mid to upper-level trough over the southeastern united States. Deep convection became more concentrated near the center of the hurricane and a well-defined eye appeared in satellite pictures late on August 18.

When was Bob Hurricane upgraded to a hurricane?

Shortly before Bob was upgraded to a hurricane on August 17, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for coastal areas of North Carolina between Little River Inlet northward to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Roughly four hours after this watch, it was upgraded to a hurricane warning.

How many miles is Bob Hurricane?

The onboard Air reconnaissance Weather Officer estimated surface winds at 75 miles. Based on these reports, Bob was upgraded to a hurricane at 2 PM EDT on the 17th, while centered 205 nautical miles east of Daytona Beach, Florida.

How much damage did Hurricane Bob cause in Dare County?

Four tornadoes in Dare County caused $256,000 in damage. Near Cape Hatteras, wind severely damaged one structure, which lost its roof and some siding. Hurricane Bob at its maximum intensity in the Mid Atlantic, August 19, 1991.

Where did Bob the Hurricane land?

By the time of landfall on Rhode Island, Bob was moving toward the north-northeast at 32 miles with maximum sustained winds of a Category 2 hurricane. Bob crossed Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with the center moving between Boston and Scituate. It then moved over Massachusetts Bay.

When was Hurricane Bob?

Hurricane Bob was the second named storm and first hurricane of the 1991 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Bob developed from an area of low pressure near The Bahamas on August 16. The depression steadily intensified, and became Tropical Storm Bob late on August 16. Bob curved north-northwestward as a tropical storm, but recurved to ...

How much rain fell in the Outer Banks?

Although a maximum of 5.30 inches of rain fell at the National Weather Service office building at Buxton, little heavy rain fell inland of the Outer Banks. One person was killed in the state due to Bob, and damage from the storm was estimated at $8 million.

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