Hurricane Fefa

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This article is about the Pacific hurricane of 1991. For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Fefa (disambiguation).
Hurricane Fefa
Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Hurricane Fefa over the open eastern Pacific

Hurricane Fefa over the open eastern Pacific
Formed July 29, 1991
Dissipated August 8, 1991
Highest
winds
120 mph (195 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure 959 mbar (hPa)
Damage None reported
Fatalities None reported
Areas
affected		 Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands
Part of the
1991 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Fefa was a major hurricane of the 1991 Pacific hurricane season that despite causing minimal effects its name was removed from the list of tropical cyclone names. Fefa is a rare Pacific hurricane to have its name retired. The sixth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, the storm developed from a tropical wave on July 29 about 975 miles (1575 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. It moved west-northwestward, and under generally favorable conditions it strengthened to attain peak winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) on August 2. Fefa turned to the west towards Hawaii, and slowly weakened until dissipating near the island of Hawaii.

The hurricane produced rough surf, moderate wind gusts, and locally heavy rainfall during its passage over Hawaii. No damages or deaths were reported. Two people were injured in the island of Hawaii due to lightning strikes from the storm.

Contents

[edit] Storm history

Storm path
Enlarge
Storm path

A westward-moving tropical wave exited the coast of Africa on July 17. It tracked across the unfavorable Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea without development, and after crossing Central America it entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 25. The cloud pattern and convection began to become better organized on July 28, and shortly thereafter a mid-level circulation developed. It continued to organize, and subsequent to the development of a low-level circulation it formed into Tropical Depression Seven-E while located about 975 miles (1575 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas on July 29.[1] Operationally, tropical cyclone advisories were not initiated until visible satellite images confirmed the low-level circulation 12 hours after the depression formed.[2]

Located over warm waters with fair upper level outflow,[2] the depression quickly intensified and attained tropical storm status twelve hours after forming.[1] Upon strengthening into a tropical storm, Fefa developed a curved cloud band over the southern and eastern portion of the center.[2] The storm slowly strengthened as it tracked west-northwestward, a motion due to the presence of a high-pressure ridge to its north.[3] Fefa initially strengthened slowly; on the day after it became a tropical storm the center was located on the western edge of the deep convection.[4] On July 31, convection began increasing over the center,[5] and it is estimated it intensified into a hurricane later that day while located about 710 miles (1145 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.[1]

Initially, Fefa was forecasted to intensify slightly after reaching hurricane status to reach peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).[6] However, it quickly intensified after a large, ragged eye developed early on August 1.[7] On August 2, the eye organized further, and Fefa strengthened to attain a peak intensity of 120 mph (195 km/h) while located about 940 miles (1510 km) west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas.[1] Based on higher Dvorak numbers, the hurricane could have peaked with winds stronger than 120 mph (195 km/h).[8] Fefa encountered cooler waters shortly after peaking in intensity, and subsequently began to weaken.[9] The hurricane gradually weakened as it turned more to the west, a change in motion due to building high pressures to its north, and on August 3 the winds of Fefa dropped to 85 mph (135 km/h)[8] due to cooler water and dry air.[10]

Tropical Storm Fefa to the east of Hawaii
Enlarge
Tropical Storm Fefa to the east of Hawaii

As Fefa turned more to the west, it paralelled the cooler waters, allowing the eye to remain distinct as the hurricane remained well-organized.[11] Despite moving over marginally warm sea surface temperatures and becoming involved with the Stratocumulus cloud field to its north, the hurricane restrengthened on August 4[12] to reach a secondary peak intensity of 105 mph (170 km/h) while located about 1265 miles (2070 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawai'i. After maintaining 105 mph (170 km/h) winds for about 18 hours, Fefa weakened slightly due to increasing wind shear from a cold-core trough as it entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center area of responsibility. As the shear increased, the cyclone weakened more rapidly, and on August 6 it weakened to a tropical storm while located about 650 miles (1060 km) east of the island of Hawaii.[8] Initially, forecasters predicted Fefa to turn to the northwest to the north of the Hawaiian Islands. However, the storm continued moving almost due westward as it steadily weakened. Aircraft Reconaissance flew into Fefa three times as it neared Hawaii. Late on August 7, Fefa weakened to a tropical depression a short distance of the island of Hawaii, and early on August 8 the depression began dissipating and degenerated into a tropical wave after moving onshore. The remnants tracked west-northwestward and passed south of the Hawaiian Islands until dissipating on August 9 to the northwest of Kauai.[13]

[edit] Impact

The prolongest westward track of Hurricane Fefa produced swells of up to 15 feet (4.5 m) in height. The swells hit eastward facing beaches along the island of Hawaii. The swells washed debris and sea water onto coastal roads near Punaluu Black Sand Beach, resulting in the roads being closed following the storm.[13] Southwestern Maui experienced rough surf, as well.[14] Despite being a weak tropical depression and a tropical wave while moving through the Hawaiian Islands, Fefa produced locally strong wind gusts of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) in the islands of Hawaii and Maui.[13]

Prior to moving across the island of Hawaii, strong thunderstorms developed in the northeastern portion of the remnant circulation of Fefa. The thunderstorms developed further as they moved over the slopes of Mauna Kea and Kohala. The thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall in areas, resulting in flash flooding in Kohala and Hamakua. Hurricane Fefa resulted in no known deaths. Lightning from the storm caused two injuries. A man in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was hurt when lightning struck where he was walking. A man in Hilo was burnt when lightning moved through telephone wires.[13] The storm resulted in no reported damage.[15]

The name Fefa was replaced with Felicia for the 1997 Pacific hurricane season. In a World Meteorological Organization document, Fefa was listed as a retired Pacific name, though it is unknown whether the name was removed due to its damage in Hawaii or due to other reasons. Some possible reasons listed for the removal of a name are pronunciation ambiguity, a socially unacceptable meaning in another language, or because the storm name represented a significant human disaster.[16]

[edit] See also

Portal:Tropical cyclones
 Tropical cyclones Portal

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Max Mayfield (1991). Hurricane Fefa Tropical Cyclone Report Page 1. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  2. ^ a b c Max Mayfield (1991). Tropical Depression Seven-E Discussion One. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  3. ^ Pasch (1991). Tropical Storm Fefa Discussion Three. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  4. ^ Max Mayfield (1991). Tropical Storm Fefa Discussion Six. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  5. ^ Rappaport (1991). Tropical Storm Fefa Discussion Seven. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  6. ^ Gerrish (1991). Hurricane Fefa Discussion Eight. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  7. ^ Avila (1991). Hurricane Fefa Discussion Thirteen. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  8. ^ a b c Max Mayfield (1991). Hurricane Fefa Tropical Cyclone Report Page 2. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  9. ^ Avila (1991). Hurricane Fefa Discussion Seventeen. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  10. ^ Avila (1991). Hurricane Avila Discussion 21. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  11. ^ Avila (1991). Hurricane Avila Discussion Twenty-Two. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  12. ^ Pasch (1991). Hurricane Fefa Discussion Twenty-Three. NHC. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  13. ^ a b c d Central Pacific Hurricane Center (1991). The 1991 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  14. ^ Charles H. Fletcher III, Eric E. Grossman, Bruce M. Richmond, and Ann E. Gibbs (2002). Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  15. ^ Maura White (2006). Oblique View of Hurricane Fefa, Pacific Ocean. JSC Digital Image Collection. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  16. ^ World Meteorological Organization (2006). Regional Association IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) Hurricane Operational Plan. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
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