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147-447: Hurricane Lenny was the strongest November Atlantic hurricane since the 1932 Cuba hurricane . It was the twelfth tropical storm , eighth hurricane, and record-breaking fifth Category 4 hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season . Lenny formed on November 13 in the western Caribbean Sea at around 18:00 UTC and went on to form and maintain an unusual and unprecedented easterly track for its entire duration, which gave it

294-533: A hurricane in 1932 reached Category 5 intensity later than any other hurricane on record in the Atlantic. The beginning of the hurricane season is most closely related to the timing of increases in sea surface temperatures , convective instability , and other thermodynamic factors. Although June marks the beginning of the hurricane season, little activity usually occurs, with an average of one tropical cyclone every two years. During this early period in

441-417: A "recent increase in societal impact from tropical cyclones has largely been caused by rising concentrations of population and infrastructure in coastal regions." Pielke et al. (2008) normalized mainland U.S. hurricane damage from 1900–2005 to 2005 values and found no remaining trend of increasing absolute damage. The 1970s and 1980s had low amounts of damage compared to other decades. The decade 1996–2005 has

588-521: A 546 ft (166 m) freighter ashore. Winds in the Puerto Rican mainland were not significant, gusting to 48 mph (77 km/h) in Ceiba . The storm left 22,000 people without power and 103,000 people without water. Because of the heavy rainfall, about 200 farmers in southeastern Puerto Rico sustained about $ 19 million in crop damage (1999 USD). In the affected region,

735-568: A Category 4 hurricane in early November 2020, becoming the third most intense tropical cyclone in November, and made landfall in Central America. In that same year, Hurricane Iota strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on November 16, becoming the second most intense hurricane in November. Although the hurricane season is defined as beginning on June 1 and ending on November 30, tropical cyclones have formed in every month of

882-476: A Category 2 hurricane that hits a major city will likely do far more cumulative damage than a Category 5 hurricane that hits a rural area. The agency cited examples of hurricanes as reasons for removing "scientifically inaccurate" information, including Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008), which both had stronger than estimated storm surges, and Hurricane Charley (2004), which had weaker than estimated storm surge. Since being removed from

1029-459: A circular eye that was visible from the radar in San Juan, Puerto Rico . The hurricane continued to become better organized, with an eye 29 mi (47 km) in diameter surrounded by a closed eyewall. Around 1200 UTC on November 17, Lenny intensified into a Category 4 hurricane while approaching the islands of the northeastern Caribbean. It was the fifth storm of such intensity in

1176-598: A coastal lake in Cape Cod suggests that hurricane activity increased significantly during the past 500–1000 years, just as the Gulf Coast was amid a quiescent period during the last millennium. Evidence also shows that the average latitude of hurricane impacts has been steadily shifting northward towards the Eastern Seaboard over the past few centuries. This change has been sped up in modern times due to

1323-450: A hurricane at the time. Around the time it peaked in intensity, Lenny's forward speed decreased in response to light steering currents between two ridges. Despite favorable conditions for strengthening, the hurricane weakened as it turned to an eastward drift, possibly due to the upwelling of cooler waters. Late on November 18, Lenny's eye moved over Saint Martin with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h). After continued weakening,

1470-676: A hyperactive period between 1400 BC and 1000 AD, when the Gulf coast was struck frequently by hurricanes; their landfall probabilities increased by 3–5 times. This millennial-scale variability has been attributed to long-term shifts in the position of the Azores High , which may also be linked to changes in the strength of the North Atlantic Oscillation . According to the Azores High hypothesis, an anti-phase pattern

1617-554: A mudslide near Coxheath. High waves eroded a portion of Sir Francis Drake Highway , and the high winds destroyed the roof of an apartment. Property damage in the British Virgin Islands totaled $ 5.6 million (1999 USD); however, the damage combined with the loss of tourism and productivity yielded a loss of $ 22 million to the islands' economy, or 3.1 percent of the gross domestic product . The eye of Lenny moved over Anguilla, an island located east of

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1764-514: A pressure typical of Category 5 hurricanes. Hurricane Wilma became the strongest Atlantic hurricane recorded after reaching an intensity of 882 mbar (26.05 inHg) in October ;2005; this also made Wilma the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide outside of the Pacific , where seven tropical cyclones have been recorded to intensify to lower pressures; one of these hurricanes

1911-476: A result, the three SSS Islands sustained power and telephone outages. There was widespread destruction of the roofs of houses across the island, and over 200 houses were destroyed. Damage was estimated at $ 69 million, and there were three deaths on the Dutch side of St. Martin. Two of these deaths were from flying debris, and the other was due to a collapsed roadway. Due to the hurricane's unusual track from

2058-483: A state of emergency. In St. Croix, 309 people rode out the storm in shelters. Officials opened eight shelters in the British Virgin Islands . There, airlines and hotels assisted in evacuating tourists from the area. Governments across the eastern Caribbean issued hurricane warnings as far south as Montserrat . In Anguilla, residents near the coast were advised to evacuate. Schools closed ahead of

2205-483: A strong correlation between the amount of Atlantic hurricane activity in the tropics and the presence of an El Niño or La Niña in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño events increase the wind shear over the Atlantic, producing a less favorable environment for formation and decreasing tropical activity in the Atlantic basin. Conversely, La Niña causes an increase in activity due to a decrease in wind shear. According to

2352-417: A tropical cyclone may turn poleward (north) and then recurve (curve back toward the northeast into the main belt of the westerlies ). Poleward of the subtropical ridge, westerly winds prevail and generally move tropical cyclones that reach northern latitudes toward the east. The westerlies also move extratropical cyclones and their cold and warm fronts from west to east. The intensity of a tropical cyclone

2499-500: A tropical wave, or a brief squall), returned to port, and reported the experience. Saffir-Simpson scale The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale ( SSHWS ) classifies hurricanes —which in the Western Hemisphere are tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms —into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds . This measuring system

2646-531: Is 250.02 km/h, which, according to the definition used before the change would be Category 5. To resolve these issues, the NHC had been obliged to incorrectly report storms with wind speeds of 115 kn as 135 mph, and 135 kn as 245 km/h. The change in definition allows storms of 115 kn to be correctly rounded down to 130 mph, and storms of 135 kn to be correctly reported as 250 km/h, and still qualify as Category 4. Since

2793-468: Is expected to exist between the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic coast. During the quiescent periods, a more northeasterly position of the Azores High would result in more hurricanes being steered towards the Atlantic coast. During the hyperactive period, more hurricanes were steered towards the Gulf coast, as the Azores High was shifted to a more southwesterly position near the Caribbean. Such a displacement of

2940-492: Is generally determined by either a storm's maximum sustained winds or its lowest barometric pressure . The following table lists the most intense Atlantic hurricanes in terms of their lowest barometric pressure. In terms of wind speed, Hurricane Allen (in 1980 ) was the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record, with maximum sustained winds of 165 knots (190 mph; 305 km/h). However, these measurements are suspect, since instrumentation used to document wind speeds at

3087-531: Is particularly strong in the North Atlantic, where the probability of cyclones reaching Category 3 or higher increased by 49% per decade. This is consistent with the theoretical understanding of the link between climate change and tropical cyclones and model studies. While the number of storms in the Atlantic has increased since 1995, there is no obvious global trend. The annual number of tropical cyclones worldwide remains about 87 ± 10. However,

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3234-516: Is prevalent. Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) inland. They include office, condominium and apartment buildings and hotels that are of solid concrete or steel frame construction, multi-story concrete parking garages, and residences that are made of either reinforced brick or concrete / cement block and have hipped roofs with slopes of no less than 35 degrees from horizontal and no overhangs of any kind, and if

3381-459: Is some criticism of the SSHWS for not accounting for rain, storm surge , and other important factors, but SSHWS defenders say that part of the goal of SSHWS is to be straightforward and simple to understand. There have been proposals for the addition of higher categories to the scale, which would then set a maximum cutoff for Category 5, but none have been adopted as of October 2024 . In 1971,

3528-498: Is the highest category of the Saffir–Simpson scale. These storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. The collapse of many wide-span roofs and walls, especially those with no interior supports, is common. Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood-frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes

3675-728: Is the least intense type of hurricane, they can still produce widespread damage and can be life-threatening storms. Hurricanes that peaked at Category 1 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Juan (1985), Ismael (1995), Danny (1997), Stan (2005), Humberto (2007), Isaac (2012), Manuel (2013), Earl (2016), Newton (2016), Nate (2017), Barry (2019), Lorena (2019), Hanna (2020), Isaias (2020), Gamma (2020), Nicholas (2021), Pamela (2021), Julia (2022), Lisa (2022), Nicole (2022), Debby (2024), and Oscar (2024). Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage Storms of Category 2 intensity often damage roofing material, sometimes exposing

3822-549: Is the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico . Hurricanes Mitch and Dean share intensities for the ninth strongest Atlantic hurricane at 905 mbar (26.72 inHg). The tenth place for the most intense Atlantic tropical cyclone is Hurricane Maria , which is listed to have deepened to a pressure as low as 908 mbar (26.81 inHg). Many of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones weakened before their eventual landfall or demise. However, three of

3969-431: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season , as well as after Hurricane Patricia , a few newspaper columnists and scientists brought up the suggestion of introducing Category 6. They have suggested pegging Category 6 to storms with winds greater than 174 or 180 mph (78 or 80 m/s; 151 or 156 kn; 280 or 290 km/h). Fresh calls were made for consideration of the issue after Hurricane Irma in 2017, which

4116-520: The Azores High hypothesis by Kam-biu Liu , an anti-phase pattern is expected to exist between the Gulf of Mexico coast and the North American Atlantic coast . During the quiescent periods (3000–1400 BC, and 1000 AD to present), a more northeasterly position of the Azores High would result in more hurricanes being steered toward the Atlantic coast. During the hyperactive period (1400 BC to 1000 AD), more hurricanes were steered towards

4263-537: The Central Pacific Hurricane Center assign tropical cyclone intensities in 5 knot increments, and then convert to mph and km/h with a similar rounding for other reports. So an intensity of 115 kn is rated Category 4, but the conversion to miles per hour (132.3 mph) would round down to 130 mph, making it appear to be a Category 3 storm. Likewise, an intensity of 135 kn (~155 mph, and thus Category 4)

4410-585: The Cuba hurricane in late October and early November 1932 (the strongest November hurricane on record, peaking as a Category 5 hurricane), Hurricane Lenny in mid-November 1999, and Hurricane Kate in late November 1985, which was the latest major hurricane formation on record until Hurricane Otto (a category 3 storm) in the 2016 hurricane season. Hurricane Paloma was a Category 4 storm that made landfall in Cuba in early November 2008. Hurricane Eta strengthened into

4557-460: The Gulf Stream off the coast of the eastern United States wherever water temperatures exceed 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). Although most storms are found within tropical latitudes, occasionally storms will form further north and east due to disturbances other than tropical waves such as cold fronts and upper-level lows . These are known as baroclinically induced tropical cyclones. There is

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4704-571: The Leeward Islands , eventually dissipating on November 23 over the open Atlantic Ocean. Before moving through the Lesser Antilles, Lenny produced rough surf that killed two people in northern Colombia . Strong winds and rainfall resulted in heavy crop damage in southeastern Puerto Rico. Despite the hurricane's passage near Saint Croix at peak intensity, damage on the small island was only described as "moderate", although there

4851-717: The Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers for tropical cyclones, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization . Until the mid-1900s, storms were named arbitrarily. From that period on, they were exclusively given feminine names, until 1979, when storms began being given both male and female names. The practice of naming storms from a predetermined list began in 1953. Since storm names may be used repeatedly, hurricanes that result in significant damage or casualties may have their names retired from

4998-649: The Richter scale as models, he proposed a simplified 1–5 grading scale as a guide for areas that do not have hurricane building codes. The grades were based on two main factors: objective wind gust speeds sustaining for 2–3 seconds at an elevation of 9.2 meters, and subjective levels of structural damage. Saffir gave the proposed scale to the NHC for their use, where Simpson changed the terminology from "grade" to "category", organized them by sustained wind speeds of 1 minute duration, and added storm surge height ranges, adding barometric pressure ranges later on. In 1975,

5145-877: The United Nations Development Programme , for aid to other islands in the eastern Caribbean. Other agencies, including the Caribbean Development Bank , the United Kingdom's Department for International Development , and the European Union , provided $ 1.1 million in assistance. In response to the damage on Saint Martin, officials in the Netherlands Antilles issued an appeal to the European Parliament for assistance from

5292-477: The V. C. Bird International Airport , while locations in the southern portion recorded over 25 in (640 mm). The rainfall caused severe flooding in Antigua, resulting in landslides in the northwestern and southern portion of the island. Flooding washed out major roadways, including one bridge. Along the coast, the storm caused severe beach erosion. About 65 percent of Barbuda experienced flooding due to

5439-626: The Yucatán Peninsula . Hurricane Gilbert maintained a pressure of 900 hPa at landfall, as did Camille, making their landfalls tied as the second strongest. Hurricane Dean also made landfall on the peninsula, but it did so at peak intensity and with a higher barometric pressure; its landfall marked the fourth strongest in Atlantic hurricane history. Climatology serves to characterize the general properties of an average season and can be used for making forecasts. Most storms form from tropical waves in warm waters several hundred miles north of

5586-552: The equator near the Intertropical Convergence Zone from tropical waves. The Coriolis force is usually too weak to initiate sufficient rotation near the equator. Storms frequently form in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico , the Caribbean, the tropical Atlantic Ocean, and in areas as far east as the Cape Verde Islands, creating Cape Verde-type hurricanes . Systems may also strengthen over

5733-492: The first storm of 1938 , and Hurricane Alex in 2016. No major hurricanes have occurred in the off-season. Proxy records based on paleotempestological research have revealed that major hurricane activity along the Gulf Coast varies on timescales of centuries to millennia. A few major hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast during 3000–1400 BC and during the most recent millennium. These quiescent intervals were separated by

5880-597: The tropical cyclone maintained a track from west to east across the Caribbean Sea, which was unprecedented in the Atlantic hurricane database , earning it the nicknames "Left-Hand Lenny" and "Wrong Way Lenny". The path resulted from its movement along the southern end of a trough over the western Atlantic Ocean. After its formation, the depression gradually became better organized; the NHC upgraded it to Tropical Storm Lenny on November 14, based on reports from

6027-412: The tropical latitudes , tropical storms and hurricanes generally move westward with a slight tendency toward the north due to being under the influence of the subtropical ridge , a high-pressure system that usually extends east–west across the subtropics. South of the subtropical ridge, surface easterly winds (blowing from east to west) prevail. If the subtropical ridge is weakened by an upper trough ,

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6174-450: The 21 hurricanes currently considered to have attained Category 5 status in the eastern Pacific, only 5 had wind speeds at 175 mph (78 m/s; 152 kn; 282 km/h) or greater ( Patsy , John , Linda , Rick , and Patricia ). Only 3 had wind speeds at 180 mph (80.5 m/s; 156 kn; 290 km/h) or greater (Linda, Rick, and Patricia). Most storms which would be eligible for this category were typhoons in

6321-683: The Arctic Ocean heating up, especially from fossil fuel-caused climate change. The number and strength of Atlantic hurricanes may undergo a 50–70 year cycle known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation . Nyberg et al. reconstructed Atlantic major hurricane activity back to the early eighteenth century and found five periods averaging 3–5 major hurricanes per year and lasting 40–60 years, and six others averaging 1.5–2.5 major hurricanes per year and lasting 10–20 years. These periods are associated with

6468-436: The Atlantic basin. Before the satellite era began in 1960, tropical storms or hurricanes went undetected, unless a reconnaissance aircraft encountered one, a ship reported a voyage through the storm, or a storm landed in a populated area. The official record, therefore, may lack mentions of storms in which no ship experienced gale-force winds, recognized it as a tropical storm (as opposed to a high-latitude extra-tropical cyclone,

6615-400: The Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. Throughout the periods, a decadal oscillation related to solar irradiance was responsible for enhancing or dampening the number of major hurricanes by 1–2 per year. Between 1979 and 2019, the intensity of tropical cyclones increased; globally, tropical cyclones are 8% more likely to reach major intensities ( Saffir–Simpson Categories 3 to 5). This trend

6762-450: The Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, and Central Pacific basins . These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtain wall failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable -end roofs are peeled off. Manufactured homes usually sustain severe and irreparable damage. Flooding near

6909-616: The Azores High is consistent with paleoclimatic evidence that shows an abrupt onset of a drier climate in Haiti around 3200 C years BP, and a change towards more humid conditions in the Great Plains during the late-Holocene as more moisture was pumped up the Mississippi Valley through the Gulf coast. Preliminary data from the northern Atlantic coast seem to support the Azores High hypothesis. A 3,000-year proxy record from

7056-515: The British Virgin Islands. Localized flooding was reported, including in the capital, The Valley , where waters reportedly reached a depth of 14 ft (4.3 m). The hurricane struck only a month after Hurricane Jose had affected the region, causing significant beach erosion along Anguilla's coastline. Damage from Lenny amounted to $ 65.8 million. On Saint Barthélemy, the hurricane produced record-breaking precipitation of around 15 in (380 mm). Waves reached 16 ft (4.9 m) on

7203-425: The Caribbean; its intensity made it the latest developing Category 4 hurricane, though this was well within the bounds of the hurricane season. Hurricane Hattie (October 27 – November 1, 1961) was initially thought to have been the latest forming Category 5 hurricane ever documented, as was 2020's Hurricane Iota , but both were later downgraded during subsequent reanalysis. Reanalysis also indicated that

7350-588: The Dominican Republic caused flooding in the country's southwest portion. Flooding around Les Cayes in southwestern Haiti destroyed 60 percent of the rice, corn, and banana plantations, while high waves wrecked several houses in Cavaellon . Hurricane Lenny was originally forecast to strike Puerto Rico, although it remained south of the island. Beginning on November 17, Lenny affected Puerto Rico with gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Rainfall in

7497-422: The Gulf coast as the Azores High was shifted to a more southwesterly position near the Caribbean. Such a displacement of the Azores High is consistent with paleoclimatic evidence that shows an abrupt onset of a drier climate in Haiti around 3200 C years BP, and a change towards more humid conditions in the Great Plains during the late- Holocene as more moisture was pumped up the Mississippi Valley through

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7644-404: The Gulf coast. Preliminary data from the northern Atlantic coast seem to support the Azores High hypothesis. A 3000-year proxy record from a coastal lake in Cape Cod suggests that hurricane activity has increased significantly during the past 500–1000 years, just as the Gulf coast was amid a quiescent period of the last millennium. Approximately 97 percent of tropical cyclones that form in

7791-469: The Hurricane Hunters. When it was first upgraded to a tropical storm, the cyclone already had winds of 65 mph (105 km/h) and a developing eye feature . At 0000 UTC on November 15, Lenny attained hurricane status about 175 mi (282 km) southwest of Kingston, Jamaica . The quick intensification was unexpected and occurred after a large area of convection blossomed over

7938-633: The Hurricane Intensity Index, which is based on the dynamic pressure caused by a storm's winds, and the Hurricane Hazard Index, which is based on surface wind speeds, the radius of maximum winds of the storm, and its translational velocity. Both of these scales are continuous, akin to the Richter scale. However, neither of these scales has been used by officials. After the series of powerful storm systems of

8085-669: The NHC had previously rounded incorrectly to keep storms in Category ;4 in each unit of measure, the change does not affect the classification of storms from previous years. The new scale became operational on May 15, 2012. The scale separates hurricanes into five different categories based on wind. The U.S. National Hurricane Center classifies hurricanes of Category 3 and above as major hurricanes . The Joint Typhoon Warning Center classifies typhoons of 150 mph (240 km/h) or greater (strong Category 4 and Category 5) as super typhoons . Most weather agencies use

8232-406: The North Atlantic develop between June 1 and November 30, which delimit the modern-day Atlantic hurricane season. Though the beginning of the annual hurricane season has historically remained the same, the official end of the hurricane season has shifted from its initial date of October 31. Regardless, on an average of every few years, a tropical cyclone develops outside the limits of

8379-553: The Saffir-Simpson Scale was first published publicly. In 2009, the NHC eliminated pressure and storm surge ranges from the categories, transforming it into a pure wind scale, called the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (Experimental) [SSHWS]. The updated scale became operational on May 15, 2010. The scale excludes flood ranges, storm surge estimations, rainfall, and location, which means

8526-432: The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, storm surge prediction and modeling is handled by computer numerical models such as ADCIRC and SLOSH . In 2012, the NHC extended the wind speed range for Category 4 by 1 mph in both directions, to 130–156 mph, with corresponding changes in the other units (113–136 kn, 209–251 km/h), instead of 131–155 mph (114–135 kn, 210–249 km/h). The NHC and

8673-429: The Saffir–Simpson scale because it is designed to measure the potential damage of a hurricane to human-made structures. Simpson explained that "... when you get up into winds in excess of 155 mph (249 km/h) you have enough damage if that extreme wind sustains itself for as much as six seconds on a building it's going to cause rupturing damages that are serious no matter how well it's engineered." Nonetheless,

8820-640: The South Atlantic Ocean. Since 2011, the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center has started to use the same scale as the North Atlantic Ocean for tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic Ocean and assign names to those that reach 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph). Tropical cyclones are steered by flows surrounding them throughout the depth of the troposphere (the atmospheric layer ranging from

8967-509: The U.S. Virgin Islands a disaster area. This allocated federal funding for loans to public and private entities and provided 75 percent of the cost of debris removal. By December 10, nearly 3,000 residents had applied for assistance, mostly on St. Croix. In response, the federal government provided about $ 480,000 to the affected people. The United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance provided $ 185,000, mostly directed toward

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9114-545: The ability of climatologists to make long-term data analyses in certain basins is limited by the lack of reliable historical data in some basins, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been observed that a poleward migration exists for the paths of maximum intensity of tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic, as shown by research on the latitudes at which recent tropical cyclones in the Atlantic are reaching maximum intensity. The data indicates that during

9261-462: The area. These areas (except the JTWC ) use three-minute or ten-minute averaged winds to determine the maximum sustained wind speed, creating an important difference which frustrates direct comparison between maximum wind speeds of storms measured using the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (usually 14% more intense) and those measured using a ten-minute interval (usually 12% less intense). There

9408-410: The center had become difficult to locate. Later that day, the cyclone exited the Caribbean, continuing its southeast track. On November 21, Lenny turned to the northeast and weakened to a tropical depression. The deep convection was located at least 100 mi (160 km) east of the increasingly elongated center. Lenny turned to the east for the final time early on November 22, dissipating on

9555-497: The center. At the same time, Lenny developed an anticyclone aloft, which provided favorable conditions for the hurricane's development. After moving east-southeastward during its initial development stages, the hurricane turned more to the east on November 15. The Hurricane Hunters reported winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), which indicated that Lenny had become a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale . However,

9702-406: The cloud pattern subsequently became less organized as the eye disappeared, and Lenny's winds weakened to 85 mph (137 km/h) while the hurricane passed south of Hispaniola. The NHC noted the deterioration could have been due to a disruption of the storm's small inner core by "subtle environmental changes". After the sudden weakening, the Hurricane Hunters reported that the eye had reformed and

9849-1175: The coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. A large number of trees are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland. Near-total to total power loss is likely for up to several weeks. Home water access will likely be lost or contaminated. Hurricanes that peaked at Category 3 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Easy (1950), Carol (1954), Hilda (1955), Audrey (1957), Olivia (1967), Ella (1970), Caroline (1975), Eloise (1975), Olivia (1975), Alicia (1983), Elena (1985), Roxanne (1995), Fran (1996), Isidore (2002), Jeanne (2004), Lane (2006), Karl (2010), Otto (2016), Zeta (2020), Grace (2021), John (2024), and Rafael (2024). Catastrophic damage will occur Category 4 hurricanes tend to produce more extensive curtainwall failures, with some complete structural failure on small residences. Heavy, irreparable damage and near-complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are common. Mobile and manufactured homes are often flattened. Most trees, except for

9996-623: The coast may have gone unmeasured in some instances. The combined effects of ship destruction and remote landfall limit the number of intense hurricanes in the official record before the era of hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and satellite meteorology. However, the record shows a distinct increase in the number and strength of intense hurricanes; therefore, experts regard the early data as suspect. Christopher Landsea et al. estimated an undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910. These undercounts roughly take into account

10143-634: The coastline, destroying 21 small boats and causing significant beach erosion. The waves covered the entire Grand Anse Beach in Saint George Parish . The erosion heavily impacted tourist areas and also threatened the foundation of the runway at the Maurice Bishop International Airport . Storm damage cut off the towns in western Grenada from the capital city of Saint George's . The cut-off roads resulted in an island-wide fuel shortage. In Saint John Parish ,

10290-526: The common nickname, "Wrong Way Lenny". It attained hurricane status south of Jamaica on November 15 and passed south of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico over the next few days. Lenny rapidly intensified over the northeastern Caribbean on November 17, attaining peak winds of 155 mph (249 km/h) about 21 mi (34 km) south of Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands . It gradually weakened while moving through

10437-499: The country, storm surge caused damage to boats and coastal structures, while beach erosion was reported in Tobago. Following heavy damage to the coral reef around Curaçao , workers placed reef balls to assist in replenishing the damaged structure. In Puerto Rico, workers quickly responded to power and water outages. Similarly on Saint Croix, power systems were quickly restored. On November 23, U.S. President Bill Clinton declared

10584-462: The cutoff have been made. In a newspaper article published in November 2018, NOAA research scientist Jim Kossin said that the potential for more intense hurricanes was increasing as the climate warmed , and suggested that Category 6 would begin at 195 mph (85 m/s; 170 kn; 315 km/h), with a further hypothetical Category 7 beginning at 230 mph (105 m/s; 200 kn; 370 km/h). In 2024 another proposal to add "Category 6"

10731-666: The days prior to Lenny's approach left areas susceptible to flooding, which caused many rivers in the northeastern portion of the island to overflow their banks following the storm. Such flooding forced towns to evacuate along the rivers, and also resulted in the closure of secondary and primary highways . The heavy rains also caused mudslides and rockslides. The peak rainfall on the island was 14.64 in (372 mm) in Jayuya in central Puerto Rico. Tides in San Juan were about 1.8 ft (0.55 m) above normal. There, high seas washed

10878-507: The death toll for mainland Colombia. Two sailors were killed offshore when their yacht was lost in the southern Caribbean Sea. Along the ABC Islands off the north coast of Venezuela, the hurricane produced 10-to-20 ft (3-to-6 m) waves along the southwest coastlines. The waves caused heavy beach erosion and coastal damage to properties and boats. In Jamaica, the hurricane dropped heavy rainfall but left little damage. Rains in

11025-505: The decrease in activity is increasing wind shear , although sea surface temperatures are also cooler than in September. In October, only 1.8 cyclones develop on average, despite a climatological secondary peak around 20 October. By 21 October, the average season features 9 named storms with 5 hurricanes. A third major hurricane occurs after September 28 in half of all Atlantic tropical cyclone seasons. In contrast to mid-season activity,

11172-505: The definition for sustained winds recommended by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which specifies measuring winds at a height of 33 ft (10.1 m) for 10 minutes, and then taking the average. By contrast, the U.S. National Weather Service , Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center define sustained winds as average winds over a period of one minute, measured at

11319-493: The earliest developing Category 4 hurricane on record after it reached 115 mph on June 27. However, reanalysis from 1956 to 1960 by NOAA downgraded Audrey to a Category 3, making Hurricane Dennis of 2005 the earliest Category 4 on record on July 8, 2005. The earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane , Beryl , reached the highest intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale on July 2, 2024. Though

11466-446: The earliest forming major hurricane – a tropical cyclone with winds exceeding 115 mph (185 km/h)  – however, following post-storm analysis, it was determined that Able only reached Category 1 strength, which made Hurricane Alma of 1966 the new record holder, as it became a major hurricane on June 8. Though it developed within the bounds of the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Audrey in 1957 became

11613-644: The first intense hurricane develops by 4 September. The peak of the hurricane season occurs in September and corresponds with low wind shear and the warmest sea surface temperatures . The month of September sees an average of 3 storms a year. By September 24, the average Atlantic season features 7 named tropical storms, including 4 hurricanes. In addition, two major hurricanes occur on average by 28 September. Relatively few tropical cyclones make landfall at these intensities. The favorable conditions found during September begin to decay in October. The main reason for

11760-500: The first tropical storm occurred by 11 July in half of the seasons, and a second formed by 8 August. Formation usually occurs in the eastern Caribbean around the Lesser Antilles , in the northern and eastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico , in the vicinity of the northern Bahamas , and off the coast of The Carolinas and Virginia over the Gulf Stream . Storms travel westward through the Caribbean and then either move towards

11907-796: The following day along with the advisories in the Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, the media maintained continuous coverage on the hurricane based on statements and warnings from the San Juan National Weather Service office. Based on the coverage, the public was well informed of the hurricane's threat to the island. Before the storm and as a result of its impact, around 4,700 people evacuated to 191 shelters. This included 1,190 residents in Ponce who evacuated to 27 schools, as well as 584 people in western Puerto Rico. Officials closed all schools, banned

12054-429: The fourth-strongest hurricane on record to form during the month of November. Hurricane Hunters reported Lenny's peak winds in the southeastern portion of the hurricane; the group also reported a minimum pressure of 933  mbar , a drop of 34 mbar in 24 hours. In addition, a dropsonde recorded winds of 210 mph (340 km/h) while descending to the surface, the highest dropsonde wind speed recording in

12201-536: The ground to about eight miles (13 km) high). Neil Frank , former director of the United States National Hurricane Center , used analogies such as "a leaf carried along in a stream" or a "brick moving through a river of air" to describe the way atmospheric flow affects the path of a hurricane across the ocean. Specifically, air flow around high pressure systems and toward low-pressure areas influences hurricane tracks. In

12348-997: The hardiest, are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. These storms cause extensive beach erosion . Terrain may be flooded far inland. Total and long-lived electrical and water losses are to be expected, possibly for many weeks. The 1900 Galveston hurricane , the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States, peaked at an intensity that corresponds to a modern-day Category 4 storm. Other examples of storms that peaked at Category 4 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Hazel (1954), Gracie (1959), Donna (1960), Carla (1961), Flora (1963), Betsy (1965), Celia (1970), Carmen (1974), Madeline (1976), Frederic (1979), Joan (1988), Iniki (1992), Charley (2004), Dennis (2005), Ike (2008), Harvey (2017), Laura (2020), Eta (2020), Iota (2020), Ida (2021), Lidia (2023), and Helene (2024). Catastrophic damage will occur Category 5

12495-578: The heavy rainfall destroyed 80 percent of the vegetables and 50 percent of the plantains. Damage throughout the island totaled $ 105 million (1999 USD). After passing southeast of Puerto Rico, Hurricane Lenny struck St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, although its strongest winds remained southeast of the island. There, gusts reached 112 mph (180 km/h), while sustained winds officially peaked around 70 mph (110 km/h). Strong winds damaged

12642-571: The high waves and winds produced by Lenny. Early in its existence, Lenny produced large waves and high tides along the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia , sinking two boats and flooding 1,200 houses. There were also reports of flooded businesses and damaged crops. In the country, strong winds on the storm's fringe killed a man by striking him with a beam. Although there were initial reports of nine people missing, only two were counted in

12789-798: The hurricane season, tropical systems usually form in the Gulf of Mexico or off the east coast of the United States. Since 1851, a total of 81 tropical storms and hurricanes formed in June. During this period, two of these systems developed in the deep tropics east of the Lesser Antilles. Since 1870, three major hurricanes have formed during June, such as Hurricane Audrey in 1957 . Audrey attained an intensity greater than that of any Atlantic tropical cyclone during June or July until Hurricanes Dennis and Emily of 2005. The easternmost forming storm during June, Tropical Storm Bret in 2023, formed at 40.3°W. Little tropical activity occurs during July, with only one tropical cyclone usually forming. From 1944 to 1996,

12936-442: The hurricane struck Anguilla and Saint Barthélemy the next day. It turned southeastward while still drifting, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the islands across the northeastern Caribbean. Late on November 19, Lenny weakened to tropical storm intensity after increased wind shear exposed the cyclone's center from the deepest convection. Early on November 20, the storm made landfall on Anguilla, although by then

13083-763: The hurricane threatens populated areas. Total and extremely long-lived power outages and water losses are to be expected, possibly for up to several months. Historical examples of storms that made landfall at Category 5 status include: "Cuba" (1924), "Okeechobee" (1928), "Bahamas" (1932), "Cuba–Brownsville" (1933), "Labor Day" (1935), Janet (1955), Inez (1966), Camille (1969), Edith (1971), Anita (1977), David (1979), Gilbert (1988), Andrew (1992), Dean (2007), Felix (2007), Irma (2017), Maria (2017), Michael (2018), Dorian (2019), and Otis (2023) (the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall at Category 5 intensity). Some scientists, including Kerry Emanuel and Lakshmi Kantha, have criticized

13230-514: The hurricane's winds had reached 100 mph (160 km/h). At the time, a ridge was expected to build to Lenny's east and turn the storm northeastward into Puerto Rico 24 hours later. Beginning on November 16, Hurricane Lenny underwent a 24-hour period of rapid deepening , reaching major hurricane status about 165 mi (266 km) south of the Mona Passage . It developed well-defined banding features , good outflow , and

13377-629: The inherent uncertainty in estimating the strength of tropical cyclones. Wind speeds in knots are then converted to other units and rounded to the nearest 5 mph or 5 km/h. The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale is used officially only to describe hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line . Other areas use different scales to label these storms, which are called cyclones or typhoons , depending on

13524-401: The international community. Due to their small population and area, the small islands of the eastern Caribbean required international funding to repair the damage from the hurricane and return to normal. In Antigua and Barbuda, officials worked quickly to repair roads and clean Barbuda's water system. However, 20,000 people in Antigua remained without water for a week after the hurricane, and

13671-473: The island and began to reclaim land near its airport to mitigate erosion. Regions in Antigua and Grenada were declared disaster areas. Across the eastern Caribbean, local Red Cross offices provided food and shelter to affected citizens. High damage to tourist areas caused a short term suspension of cruise ship arrivals. A damaged hotel in Nevis left 800 people unemployed due to its closure. Due to its effects,

13818-577: The island reached 53 mph (85 km/h) at the Cyril E. King Airport , with gusts to 70 mph (110 km/h). On nearby St. John , wind gusts reached 92 mph (148 km/h), and sustained hurricane-force winds of 83 mph (134 km/h) were reported on Maria Hill. Rains were not as heavy as on St. Croix; the maximum amounts were 4.34 in (110 mm) on St. Thomas and 2.95 in (75 mm) on St. John. Both islands reported beach erosion along their southern coastlines. Damage on St. Thomas

13965-504: The island's western portion. The highest precipitation related to the storm occurred at the police station on the French side of Saint Martin, where a total of 34.12 in (867 mm) was recorded. This included a record 24-hour total of 18.98 in (482 mm). Total damage was extensive but not as extreme or catastrophic as Hurricane Luis in 1995. The SSS Islands , which include Saba , Sint Eustatius , and Sint Maarten , were in

14112-421: The island. The hurricane destroyed at least 50 homes, including 3 that were washed away by the waves. Hotels along the island's west coast sustained heavy damage, and across the nation the hurricane's impact was worse than that from Hurricane Luis four years prior. Damage on the island totaled $ 21.5 million. Rainfall of around 3 in (76 mm) reached as far south as Martinique , where one person

14259-536: The islands unlike previous hurricanes such as Luis , Marilyn and Georges , the extent of damage was globally heavier due to the unusual high waves in the western portion of the island and the very slow-moving storm that generated unrelated flooding inland in Grande-Terre for a 48 hour-period. In Dominica, high waves damaged the island's western coastal highway, leaving the most heavily traveled road temporarily closed. Road closures cut off links between towns on

14406-399: The list at the request of the affected nations to prevent confusion. On average, 14 named storms occur each season in the North Atlantic basin, with 7 becoming hurricanes and 3 becoming major hurricanes ( Category 3 or greater). The climatological peak of activity is typically around mid-September. In April 2004, Catarina became the first storm of hurricane strength to be recorded in

14553-482: The local water supply. Significant storm damage occurred as far south as Grenada , where high surf isolated towns from the capital city. Hurricane Lenny began as a low-pressure area that was first observed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 8. It developed an area of convection but remained poorly defined for the next few days. Thunderstorms spread across the region, producing heavy rainfall in portions of Mexico and Central America. On November 13,

14700-405: The mean locus of formation shifts westward to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, reversing the eastward progression of June through August. Wind shear from the westerlies increases throughout November, generally preventing cyclone formation. On average, one tropical storm forms during every other November. On rare occasions, a major hurricane occurs. The few intense hurricanes in November include

14847-427: The measurements taken during Wilma and Gilbert were documented using dropsonde , this pressure remains the lowest measured over land. Hurricane Rita is the fourth strongest Atlantic hurricane in terms of barometric pressure and one of three tropical cyclones from 2005 on the list, with the others being Wilma and Katrina at first and seventh respectively. However, with a barometric pressure of 26.43 inHg, Rita

14994-650: The most storms outside the hurricane season, with four off-season storms having occurred during it. However, high vertical wind shear and low sea surface temperatures generally preclude tropical cyclone formation during the off-season. Among the tropical cyclones that formed in December, the lifespan of two continued into January of the following calendar year: Hurricane Alice in 1954–55, and Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005–06. Seven tropical or subtropical cyclones formed in January, two of which became Category 1 hurricanes:

15141-445: The name Lenny was retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2000, and will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane. The name was replaced with Lee in the 2005 season . Atlantic hurricane Tropical cyclones can be categorized by intensity. Tropical storms have one-minute maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph (34 knots, 17 m/s, 63 km/h), while hurricanes must achieve

15288-477: The neighboring Dominican Republic. A hurricane watch was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands late on November 15, which was upgraded to a hurricane warning six hours later. By that time, Lenny was projected to move over Puerto Rico. After Lenny made its closest approach to the island, the hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning on November 17, which was discontinued

15435-603: The next day about 690 mi (1,110 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. Early in Lenny's existence, a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were issued for Jamaica. Later, a hurricane watch was issued for the southern coast of Hispaniola , and a tropical storm warning was also issued for the Dominican Republic. Haitian officials declared a state of alert in three southern provinces and allocated about $ 1 million (1999 USD) in hurricane funds. Residents in flood-prone areas were advised to evacuate in southern Haiti and in

15582-827: The north and curve near the eastern coast of the United States or stay on a north-westward track and enter the Gulf of Mexico . Since 1851, a total of 105 tropical storms have formed during July. Since 1870, ten of these storms reached major hurricane intensity; out of them, only Hurricane Emily of 2005 and Hurricane Beryl of 2024 , attained Category 5 hurricane status. The easternmost forming storm and longest-lived during July, Hurricane Bertha in 2008 , formed at 22.9°W and lasted 17 days. A decrease in wind shear from July to August contributes to an increase in tropical activity. An average of 2.8 Atlantic tropical storms develop annually in August. On average, four named tropical storms, including one hurricane, occur by August 30, and

15729-465: The official end of the Atlantic hurricane season occurs on November 30, the dates of October 31 and November 15 have also historically marked the end date for the hurricane season. December, the only month of the year after the hurricane season, has featured the cyclogenesis of fourteen tropical cyclones. Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005 was the latest tropical cyclone to attain tropical storm intensity, as it did so on December 30. However,

15876-422: The past thirty years, the peak intensity of these storms has shifted poleward in both hemispheres at a rate of approximately 60 km per decade, amounting to approximately one degree of latitude per decade. Atlantic storms are becoming more financially destructive, since five of the ten most expensive storms in United States history have occurred since 1990. According to the World Meteorological Organization ,

16023-474: The path of Hurricane Lenny on November 18 through 19. On Saba, there was an unofficial wind gust of 167 mph (269 km/h) before the instrument blew away. The island sustained damage to several buildings, including airport facilities. On the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin, rainfall peaked at 27.56 in (700 mm) in Philipsburg . The rains resulted in mudslides and flooding and were

16170-554: The potential damage and flooding a hurricane will cause upon landfall . The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale is based on the highest wind speed averaged over a one-minute interval 10 m above the surface. Although the scale shows wind speeds in continuous speed ranges, the US National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center assign tropical cyclone intensities in 5-knot (kn) increments (e.g., 100, 105, 110, 115 kn, etc.) because of

16317-522: The primary form of impact on the island. For 36 hours, the island experienced tropical storm conditions, and there were three times when the winds surpassed hurricane force. Sustained winds on the island peaked at 84 mph (135 km/h) at the Princess Juliana International Airport ; these were the highest sustained winds observed on land. The airport also reported a wind gust of 104 mph (167 km/h). As

16464-545: The rainfall and the island's flat topography. The flooding contaminated the water storage facilities and all private wells. About 95 percent of the crops in Barbuda were destroyed. Damage in the country of Antigua and Barbuda totaled $ 51.3 million, and there was one death. The hurricane's waves reached 20 ft (6.1 m) along the coasts of Saint Kitts and Nevis , washing up to 600 ft (180 m) inland. Several businesses were flooded, and some beach erosion

16611-1065: The roof, and inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows. Poorly constructed signs and piers can receive considerable damage and many trees are uprooted or snapped. Mobile homes, whether anchored or not, are typically damaged and sometimes destroyed, and many manufactured homes suffer structural damage. Small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings . Extensive to near-total power outages and scattered loss of potable water are likely, possibly lasting many days. Hurricanes that peaked at Category 2 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Alice (1954), Ella (1958), Ginny (1963), Fifi (1974), Diana (1990), Gert (1993), Rosa (1994), Erin (1995), Alma (1996), Marty (2003), Juan (2003), Alex (2010), Richard (2010), Tomas (2010), Carlotta (2012), Arthur (2014), Sally (2020), Olaf (2021), Rick (2021), Agatha (2022), and Francine (2024). Devastating damage will occur Tropical cyclones of Category 3 and higher are described as major hurricanes in

16758-480: The roofs of many houses in eastern St. Croix and knocked down trees and power lines. The winds left severe damage to vegetation after fruits and vegetables were blown away. Rainfall peaked at 10.47 in (266 mm), which caused widespread flooding of many properties in the island's western portion. In Frederiksted , the hurricane produced a storm surge of 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 m) along with high waves that washed out roads and damaged coastal structures. There

16905-415: The sale of alcohol, and ordered a freeze on the price of emergency supplies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated six medical assistance teams, three medical support teams, and two advance medical assessment units. The agency stored five days' worth of food in schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Before the hurricane's arrival, U.S. Virgin Islands governor Charles Wesley Turnbull declared

17052-813: The same 33 ft (10.1 m) height, and that is the definition used for this scale. The five categories are described in the following subsections, in order of increasing intensity. Example hurricanes for each category are limited to those which made landfall at their maximum achieved category on the scale. Very dangerous winds will produce some damage Category 1 storms usually cause no significant structural damage to most well-constructed permanent structures. They can topple unanchored mobile homes , as well as uproot or snap weak trees. Poorly attached roof shingles or tiles can blow off. Coastal flooding and pier damage are often associated with Category 1 storms. Power outages are typically widespread to extensive, sometimes lasting several days. Even though it

17199-402: The scale as being too simplistic, namely that the scale takes into account neither the physical size of a storm nor the amount of precipitation it produces. They and others point out that the Saffir–Simpson scale, unlike the moment magnitude scale used to measure earthquakes , is not continuous, and is quantized into a small number of categories. Proposed replacement classifications include

17346-403: The scale was developed by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson , who at the time was director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). In 1973, the scale was introduced to the general public, and saw widespread use after Neil Frank replaced Simpson at the helm of the NHC in 1974. The scale was created by Herbert Saffir, a structural engineer , who in 1969

17493-474: The season . As of September 2021, there have been 88 tropical cyclones in the off-season, with the most recent being Tropical Storm Ana in May 2021. The first tropical cyclone of the 1938 Atlantic hurricane season , which formed on January 3, became the earliest-forming tropical storm, as post-hurricane reanalysis concluded about the storm in December 2012. Hurricane Able in 1951 was initially thought to be

17640-547: The seasons of 1900–25; however, many intense storms formed during 1870–99. During the 1887 season , 19 tropical storms formed, of which a record 4 occurred after November 1; 11 of the storms strengthened into hurricanes. Few hurricanes occurred from the 1840s to 1860s; however, many struck in the early 19th century, including an 1821 storm that made landfall over New York City. Some historical weather experts say these storms may have been as high as Category 4 in strength. These active hurricane seasons predated satellite coverage of

17787-482: The second Hurricane Alice in 1954 was the latest forming tropical cyclone to attain hurricane intensity. Both Zeta and Alice were the only two storms to exist in two calendar years – the former from 1954 to 1955 and the latter from 2005 to 2006. No storms have been recorded to exceed Category 1 hurricane intensity in December. In 1999 , Hurricane Lenny reached Category 4 intensity on November 17 as it took an unprecedented west-to-east track across

17934-425: The second most damage among the past 11 decades, with only the decade of 1926–1935 surpassing its costs. The most damaging single storm is the 1926 Miami hurricane , with $ 157 billion of normalized damage. Partially because of the threat of hurricanes, some coastal regions had sparse populations between major ports until the advent of automobile tourism; therefore, the most severe portions of hurricanes striking

18081-496: The stagnant water caused an increase in mosquitoes. The government of Dominica provided 42 families with temporary shelters. With a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, the government worked to complete a sea wall along a highway south of its capital Roseau. The Saint Lucian government provided housing to 70 families. In Grenada, workers repaired the road system to allow fuel transportation across

18228-458: The storm knocked out the water and power supply and forced several families to evacuate their damaged houses. The small island Carriacou , located north of Grenada, sustained damage to the road to its primary airport. At least 10 homes were destroyed in the country, and damage totaled $ 94.6 million; this represented 27 percent of the island's gross domestic product. Effects from the storm reached as far south as Trinidad and Tobago . In

18375-583: The storm, and the ferry between the island and Saint Martin was halted and moved to a safe location. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, the National Emergency Management Agency was activated on November 16. Officials there advised residents living near ghauts to evacuate, and one shelter was located in each district of the country. In addition, stores were open for longer hours to allow people to stock up on supplies. Most businesses and schools were closed in Antigua and Barbuda during

18522-520: The storm, while in Dominica, the airport was closed. Further south, there was little warning for the hurricane in Grenada, and most people left their boats in the water. Across the eastern Caribbean, Hurricane Lenny damaged vital infrastructure, including roads and piers in the tourism-dependent islands. Most of the islands' tourism areas were on western-facing beaches, many of which were unprepared for

18669-418: The storms remained intense enough at landfall to be considered some of the strongest, most powerful land falling hurricanes – three of the ten hurricanes on the list constitute the three most intense Atlantic landfalls in recorded history. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane made landfall at peak intensity, making it the most intense Atlantic landfall. Though it weakened slightly before its eventual landfall on

18816-628: The system became better organized; a Hurricane Hunters flight later that day discovered a surface circulation and winds of about 35 mph (56 km/h). The data indicated the development of Tropical Depression Sixteen at 1800  UTC , about 175 mi (282 km) south of the Cayman Islands . The depression's convection was fairly disorganized, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) did not anticipate any strengthening for three days. For much of its existence,

18963-497: The target of one-minute maximum sustained winds that is 75 mph or more (64 knots, 33 m/s, 119 km/h). Most North Atlantic tropical cyclones form between August 1 and November 30, when most tropical disturbances occur. The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) monitors tropical weather systems for the North Atlantic Basin and issues reports, watches, and warnings. It is considered to be one of

19110-430: The time was likely to succumb to winds of such intensity. Nonetheless, their central pressures are low enough to rank them among the strongest recorded Atlantic hurricanes. Owing to their intensity, the strongest Atlantic hurricanes have all attained Category 5 classification. Hurricane Opal , the strongest Category 4 hurricane recorded, intensified to reach a minimum pressure of 916 hPa (27.05 inHg),

19257-590: The typical size of tropical cyclones, the density of shipping tracks over the Atlantic basin, and the amount of populated coastline. Few above-normal hurricane seasons occurred from 1970 to 1994, and even less have occurred since 1995. Destructive hurricanes struck frequently from 1926 to 1960, especially in New England. In 1933 , twenty-one Atlantic tropical storms formed; the only years with more of them were 2005 and 2020 , which saw 28 and 30 storms, respectively. Tropical hurricanes occurred infrequently during

19404-401: The west, it produced unparalleled waves of 10–16 ft (3.0–4.9 m) along the western coast of St. Martin, which damaged or destroyed many boats. During its passage, Lenny left widespread damage to the infrastructure, including to the airport, harbor, resorts, power utilities, schools, and hospitals. While passing over Antigua, Hurricane Lenny dropped 18.32 in (465 mm) of rain at

19551-409: The western Pacific, most notably typhoons Tip , Halong , Mawar , and Bolaven in 1979, 2019, 2023 and 2023 respectively, each with sustained winds of 190 mph (305 km/h), and typhoons Haiyan , Meranti , Goni , and Surigae in 2013, 2016, 2020 and 2021 respectively, each with sustained winds of 195 mph (315 km/h). Occasionally, suggestions of using even higher wind speeds as

19698-465: The western island of Guadeloupe, the hurricane produced a significant wave height of 9.8 ft (3.0 m), with estimates as high as 13 ft (4.0 m). There were five deaths, especially from drowning and electrocution in Guadeloupe and damage in the island totaled at least $ 100 million. Although there were no tropical-storm sustained wind recorded as the storm didn't really impacted

19845-546: The windows are either made of hurricane-resistant safety glass or covered with shutters. Unless most of these requirements are met, the catastrophic destruction of a structure may occur. The storm's flooding causes major damage to the lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Many coastal structures can be completely flattened or washed away by the storm surge. Virtually all trees are uprooted or snapped and some may be debarked, isolating most affected communities. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if

19992-406: The year, setting the record for most Category 4 hurricanes in a season. The hurricane then made its closest approach to Puerto Rico, passing about 75 mi (121 km) southeast of Maunabo . Shortly thereafter, Lenny attained peak winds of 155 mph (249 km/h) while passing 21 mi (34 km) south of the island of Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands . This made it

20139-463: The year. Since 1870, there have been 32 off-season cyclones, 18 of which occurred in May. In the same period, nine storms formed in December, three in April, and one each in January, February, and March. During four years ( 1887 , 1953 , 2003 , and 2007 ), tropical cyclones formed in the North Atlantic Ocean both during or before May and during December. 1887 holds the record for being the year with

20286-408: Was Hurricane Patricia in 2015 in the east Pacific; it had a pressure reading of 872 mbar. Preceding Wilma is Hurricane Gilbert , which held the record for the most intense Atlantic hurricane for 17 years. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane , with a pressure of 892 mbar (hPa; 26.34 inHg), is the third strongest Atlantic hurricane and the strongest documented tropical cyclone before 1950. Since

20433-449: Was also severe beach erosion in western St. Croix; high waves dumped 6.5 ft (2.0 m) of sand onto coastal roads about 100 ft (30 m) inland, and also washed several boats ashore. The National Weather Service described the damage as "moderate". Elsewhere in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lenny produced a storm surge of about 1.8 ft (0.55 m) in St. Thomas . Sustained winds on

20580-539: Was commissioned by the United Nations to study low-cost housing in hurricane-prone areas. In 1971, while conducting the study, Saffir realized there was no simple scale for describing the likely effects of a hurricane. By using subjective damage-based scales for earthquake intensity like the Modified Mercalli intensity scale or MSK-64 intensity scale and the objective numerical gradation method of

20727-502: Was formerly known as the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale , or SSHS . To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have one-minute-average maximum sustained winds at 10 m (33 ft) above the surface of at least 74 mph (64 kn, 119 km/h; Category 1). The highest classification in the scale, Category 5 , consists of storms with sustained winds of at least 157 mph (137 kn, 252 km/h). The classifications can provide some indication of

20874-581: Was killed. Further south, high waves in Saint Lucia washed away beaches, a seawall, and coastal walkways. At least 40 houses were damaged along the coast, which left several families homeless. Damage in the country totaled $ 6.6 million. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , the hurricane washed away four buildings and damaged five others. About 50 people were left homeless in the country. In western Grenada , high waves affected much of

21021-412: Was made, with a minimum wind speed of 192 mph (309 km/h), with risk factors such as the effects of climate change and warming ocean temperatures part of that research. In the NHC area of responsibility, only Patricia had winds greater than 190 mph (85 m/s; 165 kn; 305 km/h). According to Robert Simpson, co-creator of the scale, there are no reasons for a Category 6 on

21168-702: Was minimal, limited to minor flooding and mudslides. The Virgin Islands National Park in St. John reported over $ 1.6 million in damage (1999 USD). In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the hurricane left about $ 330 million in damage (1999 USD), but caused no deaths. In Virgin Gorda in the nearby British Virgin Islands, the hurricane produced sustained winds of 55 mph (89 km/h), with gusts to 85 mph (137 km/h). Rainfall amounted to around 4 in (100 mm) and caused

21315-628: Was reported. The hurricane destroyed 46 homes and damaged 332 others to varying degree. Home damage forced four families to evacuate. Heavy rains caused mudslides on Saint Kitts, and heavy damage occurred in Old Road Town . Damage in the country amounted to $ 41.4 million. In Montserrat, damage was reported along its western coastline. After high waves capsized a boat, a crew of three required rescue. Guadeloupe received record precipitation amounts in some areas, generally ranging from 6 to 19 inches (150 to 480 mm). On Basse-Terre ,

21462-627: Was the subject of a number of seemingly credible false news reports as a "Category 6" storm, partly in consequence of so many local politicians using the term. Only a few storms of this intensity have been recorded. Of the 42 hurricanes currently considered to have attained Category 5 status in the Atlantic, 19 had wind speeds at 175 mph (78 m/s; 152 kn; 282 km/h) or greater. Only 9 had wind speeds at 180 mph (80.5 m/s; 156 kn; 290 km/h) or greater (the 1935 Labor Day hurricane , Allen , Gilbert , Mitch , Rita , Wilma , Irma , Dorian , and Milton ). Of

21609-434: Was widespread flooding and erosion. Damage in the United States territories totaled about $ 330 million. The highest precipitation total was 34.12 in (867 mm) at the police station on the French side of Saint Martin . On the island, the hurricane killed three people and destroyed more than 200 properties. In nearby Antigua and Barbuda , the hurricane killed one person; torrential rainfall there contaminated

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