Hurricane Iris (1995)

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Hurricane Iris

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)

Hurricane Iris as a category 2 hurricane.

Formed

August 22, 1995

Dissipated

September 4, 1995

Highest
winds

110 mph (175 km/h) (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

965 mbar (hPa)

Damage

unknown

Fatalities

5 direct

Areas
affected

Leeward Islands, Western Europe

Part of the
1995 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Iris was the ninth named tropical cyclone and fifth hurricane of an active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. Iris was one of four storms to form simultaneously in the Atlantic during the 1995 season. Forming on August 22, Iris slowly drifted across the Leeward Islands as a tropical storm before reaching hurricane strength. After peaking at Category 2 strength, Iris then accelerated and became extratropical on the September 7. Iris remnants reached western Europe as a 75mph extratropical storm.

During its duration, Iris made two Fujiwhara interactions, the first was with Hurricane Humberto while the second was with Tropical Storm Karen which was later absorbed by Iris. Iris produced torrential rainfall across the Leeward Islands while at tropical storm strength. The rainfall caused isolated reports of landslides that killed five people.

1 Storm history
2 Preparations, Impact and Naming
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Storm history

Storm path

Iris began as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 16. It moved westward with a disorganized center of circulation that persisted until the August 19. On August 21, the tropical wave became Tropical Depression Ten , based on Dvorak technique estimates. Six hours later, the depression became Tropical Storm Iris. Iris took a path to the northwest and quickly strengthened on August 23. On that day, a hurricane hunter flight revealed that the winds were stronger than the satellite estimates. The data from the recon flight prompted Iris to be upgraded to hurricane status. ^[1]

A satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean on August 24 including Humberto, Iris, Jerry, and two waves that would ultimately become Karen and Luis

Iris then moved to the west-southwest at 12 mph (19 km/h) , the change in course was due to the interaction with Hurricane Humberto which was 750 miles (1207 km) away. On August 25, Iris then encountered an upper level low that was centered over Puetro Rico. The low caused increased wind shear which weakened Iris back to tropical storm strength. In addition, steering currents ahead of the storm caused Iris to move northwestward though the entire length of the Leeward Islands. As wind shear decreased, Iris steadily strengthened as it moved on a northward path away from the Leeward Islands where it regained hurricane status on the 28th. On August 30, Iris underwent a second Fujiwhara interaction with Tropical Storm Karen. The interaction caused Karen to be absorbed by Iris by September 3, as a result, Iris storm path briefly became erratic. Iris reached a peak intensity of 110 mph and a low barometric pressure of 965 millibars before transversing into a powerful extratropical storm. The extratropical remnants of Iris, struck northwestern Europe on September 7. ^[1]

[edit] Preparations, Impact and Naming

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center, issued a tropical storm watch for the Leeward Islands. The French government also issued advisories for Martinque and Guadeloupe. The following day, the tropical storm watches were changed to tropical storm warnings as Iris drifted closer. The British Virgin Islands were placed under a tropical storm watch which later changed to warning on August 26.^[2]^[3]^[4]

In Trinidad and Tobago, a feeder band from Iris brought 60 km/h winds from the south. The winds caused heavy seas and minor damage to small boats. ^[5] A weather station east of Guadeloupe recorded 52 mph (83 km/h) winds with gusts up to 62 mph (100 km/h). Winds ranging from 41-56 mph (67-91 km/h) were reported in the Leeward Islands. In addition to the winds, Iris produced heavy rainfall across the Leeward Islands. Rainfall up to 17.2 inches (43.2 cm) were reported in Martinique while 6 inches (15.2 cm) of rain fell in Antigua. The heavy rains caused numerous landslides that killed four people in Martinique and one in Guadeloupe. Rainfall also caused flooding in Antigua and the rest of the Leeward Islands.^[1]

Because the damage was minimal, the name Iris was not retired in the spring of 1996, so it was reused again in 2001. The name Iris has since been retired in the spring of 2002. Because of this the name Iris was used only three times since hurricane naming began in 1950. ^[6]