Hurricane Emily (1987)
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| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Emily near peak of 125 mph on September 22 |
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| Formed | September 20, 1987 | |
| Dissipated | September 26, 1987 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 958 mbar (hPa; 28.3 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 3 | |
| Damage | $61 million (1987 USD) $108 million (2006 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
Lesser Antilles, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Bermuda | |
| Part of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Emily, the sixth tropical storm and second hurricane of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season, was a major hurricane that brought extensive damage to Hispaniola and Bermuda.
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[edit] Storm history
On September 13, a disturbance associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone moved off the coast of Africa. It moved westward across the Atlantic at a low latitude of 5º to 10º North, where sinking air prevented it from organizing. When it reached a position of 700 miles east-southeast of Trinidad and Tobago, it separated from the ITCZ, and developed into a tropical depression on September 20. It moved quickly to the west-northwest, and reached tropical storm status later that day while approaching the Windward Islands.
On September 21, Tropical Storm Emily crossed through the Lesser Antilles, and continued its west-northwest motion due to a subtropical high pressure system to its northeast. Emily continued to the west-northwest, and strengthened into a hurricane on September 22. The last hurricane in the Caribbean Sea was Hurricane Katrina in 1981, making the six-year gap the longest on record for the Caribbean. Upper level outflow became nearly ideal with a strong anticyclone over the hurricane, and a strong pressure gradient, warm water temperatures, and small size allowed for continued development. Because of this, Emily rapidly intensified to a peak of 125 mph throughout the 22nd.
The high pressure that was guiding Emily to the west moved eastward, allowing the hurricane to turn to the northwest. The cyclone weakened prior to landfall, and hit southern Dominican Republic as a 110 mph hurricane on September 23. Emily rapidly weakened over Hispaniola, and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean as a 65 mph tropical storm later on the 23rd. The storm passed quickly through the Bahamas, and was expected to become extratropical as it turned northeastward out to sea. Instead, Emily restrengthened as it raced to the northeast. The hurricane passed directly over Bermuda on September 25 as a 90 mph hurricane. Emily gradually weakened over colder waters, and became extratropical later on the 26th.[1] Hurricane Emily was the first storm to make landfall on Bermuda since Hurricane Arlene in August, 1963.
[edit] Impact
Emily moved through the Lesser Antilles as a tropical storm. Its winds and rain led to considerable crop damage, with moderate damage including downed power lines and trees. No deaths were reported, and damage is unknown.
In the Dominican Republic, Emily's heavy flooding caused widespread mud slides, killing 3 people. 5,000 people were left homeless in the aftermath of the storm. The farming industry was especially impacted, with $30 million (1987 USD) in losses occurring.
Because the storm was not expected to be a strong storm when it passed Bermuda, the islanders were caught off guard with the 90 mph winds. Cars and boats were effected the most, though houses experienced severe damage during the storm's passage as well. Hurricane Emily caused $35 million in damage to the island, though no one was killed. In addition, Emily was the strongest hurricane to hit Bermuda since 1948.
Thousands of migratory birds were effected as well. More than 10,000 Bobolinks, for example, were forced to take refuge on Bermuda during the storm's passage through the Atlantic.
In all, Emily caused $65+ million (1987 USD, $109.3 million in 2005 USD) in damage. Despite its effects, the name was not retired, and was reused in 1993, 1999, and 2005, and is on the 2011 list of names.
