From 1950 through 2021, around 30 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. Intense rains over Oahu and Kauai caused flash floods on Kaukonahua Stream and the overflow of Lake Wilson at Wahiawa Dam. * 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. codes, with Kaua'i opting for higher standards of construction by requiring building and a large portion of the thatched houses in the district; throwing during the passage of the hurricane and another 12,000 damaged. Again, that track was initially well south of Hawaii before it curled north. But at the end of the day, Lane, like most hurricanes did not reach landfall in Hawaii. 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, said National Weather . The only other storm to do so was in1958. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. In fact, in nearly 150 years, only three hurricanes have reached landfall in Hawaii. Look at the fading tracks of hurricanes approaching from the east. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. All rights reserved. Hurricane Iniki. * August 1999: Hurricane Dora caused minor wind gusts of up to 58 miles per hour on the southern part of Big Island as it passed south of Hawaii. Hawaii has been directly hit by hurricanes only three times since 1950, though the region has had 147 tropical cyclones over that time. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded. Landfalls in these two basins account for about 68% of all global landfalls from 1970 to 2019. Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014became only the second tropical storm, and the strongest, to landfall on the Big Island dating to 1950. * September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Two people on Oahu drowned in rough surf. A sidewalk is ripped up and littered with downed palm trees after Hurricane Iniki slammed the island of Kauai, Hawaii in September, 1992. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. Iselle grew into a powerful Category 4 hurricane and took aim at Hawai'i in early August, 2014. Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. from year to year, from 0 to a maximum of 16 in 2015. August 1925: In August high seas and gusty winds were recorded in Hawaii from a nearby tropical cyclone. * August 1938: A possible tropical cyclone produced heavy wind and rain across the state. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii is grateful for many near-misses from hurricanes in recent decades. * July 1986: Waves caused by Hurricane Estelle caused $2 million in damage when they destroyed five houses and damaged several others. away from O'ahu and passing directly over Kaua'i near the height of its intensity. But the state isnt always lucky, and has sustained serious damage from a number of named storms over the years. forming in the East Pacific, traveling almost parallel to the Island chain, Hurricane name Date 1/ Islands most affected: Sustained. with hurricane intensity, the modern era BROWSE BY TOPIC. Additionally, at total of 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Heavy rains were recorded; the heaviest in years. More than 12 inches fell in 4 hours. Six people were killed and more than 1,000 homes damaged during the 1992 hurricane. During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. So her team added computer. Iniki was the fifth costliest natural Previous. 1920s. The most common months for cyclones in this area are July, August, and September, but they have occurred in most months (see below). This path exposed Kaua'i to the most severe By far the worst storm on record to hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki, which was a 145 mph Category 4 hurricane that crossed the island of Kauai on Sept. 10-11, 1992. High surf with waves of up to 10 feet impacted the eastern side of the Big Island. The mountains are where we'll see the highest rainfall totals and the strongest winds, McNoldy said. There are several reasons why this happens so often. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. over O'ahu severe enough to knock out power in Honolulu for several hours One person died from Hiki. Damage was in excess of $6 million. In total, 67 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaii since official record-keeping began in 1949. At least 29 people have died in Hawaii as a result of tropical cyclones since 1949. On average, between four and five tropical cyclones are observed in the Central Pacific every year. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. Although it was only a Category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Factors weakening Hawaii-bound tropical cyclones. Flooding caused waters has been available providing a complete catalog of all tropical cyclones It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage, before dissipating. Due to a. hurricane force wind, (and) sea increasing " before entering the eye One such hurricane formed in an El Nio year: 1992. Image credit: NOAA/CSC. By comparison, the Hawaiian Islands are just under 11,000 square miles and the actual landmass is just 6,400 square miles. Hawaii's hurricane season is from June to November of every year, but just how much of a threat to Hawaii are hurricanes? While there are usually between four or five tropical cyclones in the central Pacific ocean each year, fewer than ten have gotten within 200 nautical miles of the islands since records began to be. Hawaii has been, and will be in the future, hit by hurricanes. to issue special hurricane insurance for homeowners. Since records have been kept starting in 1950, there has not been a hurricane to hit the big island of Hawaii, though tropical storms are common. 68 mph winds were recorded in Kauai. night of August 6. A look at tropical cyclones that have impacted Hawaii over the years, 103rd Kamehameha Schools Song Contest: Na Mele Paniolo - Songs of the Hawaiian Cowboy, How to cope with difficult emotions in a healthy way, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, visit the Hawaii News Now Hurricane Center, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. * July 2013: Tropical Storm Flossie passed through the central Hawaiian islands as a minimal tropical storm. [ Q0 El Nio allows warmer water to push farther north into the more typical east to west trek of tropical systems from the eastern Pacific. The main thing is that Hawaii is kind of a sweet spot in terms of the weather, Cantin told Climate Central. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. * August 1972: Hurricane Diana dissipated a few miles off shore of the Big Island, dropping more than 10 inches of rain in some parts. Two drownings on Oahu were attributed to rough surf caused by the hurricane. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. Nina set a record for the highest wind gust ever recorded in Honolulu: 82 miles per hour. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. The storm dissipated near British Columbia. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). But right now, that high is sitting a little further north than usual, allowing storms to take aim at the islands. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. Quotes from captains and civilians describe a severe windstorm that ravaged the islands for several hours. These winds, which help to keep us from overheating, also act to separate thunderstorms from the center of the approaching hurricane resulting in a lot of rain, but rarely a full-blown hurricane. The most recent was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated Kauai, caused $1.8 billion in damages and killed six people. Hawaii's official hurricane season runs from June to November, and an average season generally sees three to five hurricanes in the Central Pacific. 1940s. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. * JulyAugust 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. A brief summary of the three most significant hurricanes to affect Hawaii in modern times: September 1992: Hurricane Iniki was the strongest, deadliest, and most damaging hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the. Unlike the Atlantic Basin, July is the second most active month (45) in the central Pacific basin. about 6 o'clock A.M. from the North, and rapidly rotating to the West and Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Table 5.53-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2013 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) Only two tropical storms have hit the islands since 1949--an unnamed 1958 storm which hit the Big Island, and Tropical Storm Iselle, which made landfall along the southeast shore of Hawaii's Big Island on August 8, 2014 with 60 mph winds. Hurricane Estelle (1986) produced very high surf on Hawaii and Maui and floods on Oahu. Moderate surf of up to 6 feet affected the east and southeast shorelines on the Big Island. 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). As pointed out by University of North Carolina - Charlotte graduate student Eric Webb, there was a case of a major hurricane punching through the Big Island and Maui in August 1871, as a January 2018 study uncovered. Formal records were not kept before the 1950s. The key, at least climatologically speaking, is the direction of the storm's approach. fences and trees.". 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 . It's quite rare to have two storms right behind each other . 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. 675 Wharf Street, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, HI 96761 That high pressure is particularly strong from May through October primehurricane season. Heres a look at the hurricanes that left behind a mess in Hawaii since the 1950s. On average, about five tropical Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. Another side effect of El Nio is that the trade winds that sometimes trap tropical cyclones well south of the islands relax, making these lingering storms south of the islands more susceptible to be drawn northward. of conclusive identification of hurricanes did not began until the tracking Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. * September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. On Sept. 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the Cyclone of the Lark). Forecasters expect the tropical storm-force winds of Iselle to begin lashing the Big Island in the late afternoon to early evening local time, with hurricane-force winds following later. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. On Aug. 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. 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. 1900s. Most years, the water is too coolfor most tropical systems to arrive from the due east. Both hit the island of Kauai. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The wind was accompanied with El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. During the winter and spring, Hawaii's waters average 77 degrees. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. * September 2005: The remnants of Hurricane Kenneth brought locally heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches falling on the Big Island. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. Just use the promocode VIP20 after clicking on this link. LIVE For live storm tracks, please visit the National Hurricane Center. * August 2004: The remnants of Hurricane Darby passed over the islands and combined with an upper level trough to create unstable moisture, dropping up to 5 inches of rain in a few hours on the Big Island, causing flooding and road closures. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. By contrast, the warmest month is August averaging 88/64 and 0 days of rain. Vintage TV. Nina's closest approach to land, which was relatively far off the coast, was only about 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Kauai. "[42] This has also drawn media attention. Follow Andrea Thompson on TwitterCredit: Nick Higgins. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. When the bottom of a storm moves one way and the top moves the other, the system gets blown apart and weakens. * July 1993: Hurricane Eugene dropped valuable rain on the state as it dissipated. near Hawai'i. Lahaina Harbor, Loading Dock Main Booth This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). One died from Hiki. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. [45], A partial source of this idea may be the long list of hurricanes in the above paragraphs that dissipated into tropical storms or depressions upon approaching the islands. * August 2008: The remnants of Hurricane Hernan brought moisture to the Big Island, causing cloud and shower activity. * July 1978: Hurricane Fico created 15 feet waves, felled trees and knocked out power across the islands. either entering or forming in the Central North Pacific Zone between 140 and 180 west longitude has varied greatly 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. There haven't been enough hurricanes and tropical storms since about 1950 when good recordkeeping started for a statistically significant trend, Lin said. Again, that track was initially well south of Hawaii before it curled north. * July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage. Satellite images of Hurricane Flossie's breakup when approaching Hawaii Island fueled this idea. * July 1992: Hurricane Georgette brought locally squally winds over the state as a depression. The last one. August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. 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. The storm wobbled northward toward the Islands, finally veering Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. August 1938: Again in August a possible tropical cyclone produced heavy wind and rain in the state. This article is reproduced with permission fromClimate Central. * August 1970: Tropical Storm Maggie passed just south of the Big Island, dropping nearly 10 inches of rain. Hurricane Nina (1957) produced record winds in Honolulu. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. disaster ever to strike the United States, with damages estimated at over * September 1992: Hurricane Orlene struck Hawaii as a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall, washing out roads, shortly after Iniki ravaged Kauai. down our flume; uprooting large trees, and prostrating our cane fields. It should be noted that the * September 1843: The earliest report of a tropical cyclone that could have affected Hawaii was made in 1843. Also helping shield Hawaii from tropical systems are the relatively cool waters around the islands, especially to the north and east of the chain. . ENSO is a Pacific- wide phenomenon during which ocean surface water warms in the Eastern Pacific and pressure HELCO Reminds Customers to Prepare for Hurricane Season, Tsunami Evacuation Centers for the Big Island, Hurricane Olivia forecast to enter Hawaiian waters next week, Police warrants list for Friday, November 1, 2019, Civil Defense siren test at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday (April 1). Rainfall accumulated to 4 inches. Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. 2000s that many of these events were actually organized tropical cyclones, perhaps Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. It was also considered the first official hurricane in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.The fourth tropical cyclone of the 1950 Pacific hurricane season, Hiki formed as a tropical depression to the southeast of Hawaii on August 12. It hit Kauai as a Category 4 on Sept. 11. Dr.Knabb, also a former deputy director at NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, points out thatthere is no meteorological reason why the core of a major hurricane can't directly hit Honolulu, resulting in destructive storm surge flooding, wind damage, and rainfall flooding affecting a metro population (minus tourists) of just under 400,000. No further records are available, but extrapolation of its forward movement predicted that it would make landfall on the southern coast of the Big Island. Only two named storms approaching from the east have hit the islands since 1949, an unnamed 1958 tropical storm and Tropical Storm Iselle of 2014, which hit the Big Island. Most of the storm damage was done by these falling trees, including knocking down power lines and blocking roads. Figure 2. The storm spurred counties to reevaluate building 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. waters But do you know what else is awesome? sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees Hawaiian It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. When asking why hurricanes rarely reach landfall in Hawaii, it's important to see the big picture. HURRICANE HIKI August 12, 1950 August 21, 1950 Hurricane Hiki is considered the first official hurricane recorded in the vicinity of the islands, and it is also the wettest tropical. * August 2000: Hurricane Daniel passed north of the islands, bringing a few thunderstorms but no significant flooding. highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the Central North Pacific zone occurs during El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years. heavily damaged structures along the south coast. * September 1963: Tropical Storm Irah crossed the islands as a tropical depression, bringing 36 miles per hour winds, but caused little damage. Part of the reason this doesn't happen that often is just geography. However, as exemplified by Hurricane Lane, hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, rarely strike the Hawaiian islands directly. {.FJ!FFK2IHxyDsSw0IA1?T6],#LP_C%`L }^d"!sQq2OI\t)dO6O6!EgKzPBI{?B$_O |3x!L. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Douglas' wind gusts downed some trees and produced bands of locally flooding rain in parts of the islands. The remnants of Kanoa brought welcomed rain. Table 5.54-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2020 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) August 1959: Hurricane Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii, but weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall on Kauai. Usually that ridge of high pressure protects the islands.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For more information on how to prepare for a hurricane, including what supplies you should have in your emergency kit, visit the Hawaii News Now Hurricane Center. On September 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the "Cyclone of the Lark") near 17N and 141W. They've also been known to come from the southwest, but rarely from the northeast or due east, where much cooler water comes down from Alaska on the west coast of North America. 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. The direct hit on the Big Island does present an interesting scientific prospect, in terms of monitoring how much the islands topography tears apart the storm. (MORE:Fewer Atlantic Hurricanes Expected This Season). Virtually all hurricanes near the Hawaiian Islands since 1949 have approached from the southeast, south or southwest. Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM. section of the storm, sweeping the island with 80 mph winds and causing * 1988 Uleki 2 No Dot-related deaths were recorded. * November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaiis most damaging hurricanes. In fact, hurricane expert Michael Lowry told the Weather Channel there is a 35% chance of a hurricane coming within 100 miles of Hawaii in an El Nio year vs. 22% in a non-El Nio year. [48], Wind data in particular supports the USGS assertion that hurricane damage has been low on all islands except for Kauai. government El Nio allows warmer water to push farther north into the more typical east to west trek of tropical systems from the eastern Pacific. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped more than 20 inches of rain in 14 hours. Rainfall totals are expected to reach 5 to 8 inches across the islands, with some isolated pockets possibly seeing as much as 12 inches. Hurricanes hit Hawaii less frequently because of where the islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. that appear to have been tropical cyclones. was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. * August 2007: Hurricane Flossie passed within 100 miles of the Big Island, bringing rain and tropical storm-force winds. Knowledge awaits. Wind shear (the change in wind speed and/or direction with height) is typically stronger near the Hawaiian islands, acting to displace thunderstorms from the cyclone's center. As pointed out by University of North Carolina - Charlotte graduate student Eric Webb, there was a case of a major hurricane punching through the Big Island and Maui in August 1871, as a January 2018 study uncovered. 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. Finally, if you've ever visited Maui, you're sure to have noticed the wind. Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. Hurricane landfalls are rare in Hawaii, but brushes by tropical systems are common. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. 'Iwa carried a broad reach, producing conditions An example from the Big Island This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. See how the tropical islands looked back in the fifties! According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii. Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. Drier, more stable air from the subtropical high to the northeast of Hawaii eventually inhibits thunderstorms from persisting and remaining clustered near the cyclone's center. By summer, those same waters can reach 82 degrees. (MORE:4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For). The hurricane-strength winds are in a fairly compact area, but they could still pack a serious punch, as the islands infrastructure hasnt had to handle such ferocious sustained winds. This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). The depression then crossed over into the central Pacific Ocean basin to the west of 140W longitude where it became a tropical storm and eventually a powerful hurricane. * October 2009: Hurricane Neki caused minor damage to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, striking the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a tropical storm. Baldwin Dot: August 1959. It had formed in the eastern . Virtually every system approaching Hawaii from the east since 1950 tracking at least as far north as the latitude of the Big Island of Hawaii eventually weakened to a tropical storm or depression by the time it reached the islands. Next. Old movies. According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii. 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, said National Weather . for residential construction, for example. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. This makes strong hurricanes close to Hawaii an unusual occurrence. [47]Tropical Storm Flossie (not to be confused with Hurricane Flossie in 2007) provides still another example. reversed direction as the eye passed over the Island. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. dark Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. where, "quite suddenly the weather cleared and the wind dropped to calm. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. The last time a hurricane was bearing down on the Hawaiian Islands, Steven Spielberg was on Kauai finishing filming of the now iconic movie Jurassic Park when Hurricane Iniki hit the island as a Category 4 storm. Deadliest Storms * August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. Wave heights between 15 and 20 feet was reported on Kauai. Why a Blizzard Is Hitting Southern California, How to Engineer Buildings That Withstand Earthquakes, Why the Earthquake in Turkey Was So Damaging and Deadly, Climate Change Has Influenced the Timing of Europe's Floods, Court Scuttles Rule Cutting Potent Greenhouse Gas, Wildfire Burns across (Formerly) Icy Greenland. Slamming into Hawaii in September as a Category 4 major hurricane, claiming the lives of six Hawaii residents. Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour at some localities, mainly over Maui and the Big Island. This list contains every tropical cyclone that had a somewhat notable effect on the State of Hawaii. The depression then crossed over into the central Pacific Ocean basin to the west of 140W longitude where it became a tropical storm and eventually a powerful hurricane. The dissipation of storms is even more evident in a closer view map (from Wikipedia) of the Central North Pacific zone.