User:Storm05/Hurricane Dora (1999)
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Dora at peak intensity |
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| Formed | August 4, 1999 | |
| Dissipated | August 23, 1999 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 943 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | none | |
| Fatalities | none | |
| Areas affected |
Pacific Ocean | |
| Part of the 1999 Pacific hurricane season and the 1999 Pacific typhoon season |
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Hurricane Dora was a long living hurricane that formed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean on August 4, 1999 and dissipated on August 23, 1999 in the western Pacific Ocean. Dora was the fourth named storm, third hurricane and second major hurricane of the 1999 Pacific hurricane season.
Dora was notable for its long existance, lasting 20 days, making it the longest lived storm of the 1999 season. Dora was also notable for crossing all three pacific basins (Eastern, Central and Western) for the first time since Hurricane John in 1994. [1]
Although it never made landfall, it managed to bring high surf, gale force winds and light rain across southeastern Hawaii and Johnston Island. There was no reported damaage or injuries from Dora.
Contents |
[edit] Storm History
The precursor of Dora was a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on July 23. The system moved across the Atlantic Ocean without development. On August 4, the tropical wave crossed Mexico and entered the Eastern Pacific Ocean where it became Tropical Depression Four-E on August 6. At the time of the formation, forecasters predicted that the depression will rapidly strengthen because forecast models suggested that wind shear will decrease in 24 hours. However, the tropical depression quickly became a tropical storm much earlier than anticipated and was named Dora by the National Hurricane Center. [1][2][3]
Moving westward along a decaying subtropical ridge, Dora steadily increased to hurricane status on August 8 based on Dovark estimates. Weak, wind shear ahead of the storm allowed Dora to strengthen to category 2 strength as a small well defined eye formed. On August 12, warmer waters and low wind shear allowed Dora to reach its peak intensity of 140 mph and the barometric pressure dropped to 943 millibars. During its peak intensity, Dora underwent an eyewall replacement cycle which briefly weakened the storm to a 135 mph (217 km/h) hurricane. After its brief weakening, the storm regained strength and winds were back up to 140 mph (266 km/h). Dora never strengthened any further as the storm encountered cooler waters and light wind shear.[4][1][5]
Weakening back to Category 2 status, Dora crossed the 140°W and entered the Central Pacific Ocean on August 14. Because of that, the National Hurricane Center ceased issuing advisories on Hurricane Dora while the Central Pacific Hurricane Center continued to track the storm which weakened to an 80 mph (129 km/h) hurricane. However, on August 15, Dora reintensifed back to a 115 mph (185 km/h) hurricane as it passed 200 mi (322 km) south of Big Island, Hawaii. The second peak intensity was brief as the storms forward speed increased which caused it to weaken. Dora passed 65 miles south of Johnston Island on August 18 before turning west-northwest and crossing the International Date Line on August 19 as a 70 mph (113 km/h) tropical storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center tracked the remainder of Dora's track as the storm encountered stronger wind shear moving from the southeast. By August 21, the shear disorganized the center of the storm and thus the JWTC downgraded Dora to tropical depression status as the storm was centered 300 mi (483 km) northeast of Wake Island. On August 23, shear finally caused the circulation to separate from the main convection and Dora dissipated 450 miles (724 km) northeast of Wake Island.[6][1][4]
[edit] Preparations and Impact
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued its first advisory on Dora on August 14 as the storm was located 800 mi south of Hilo, Hawaii. Metorologists forecasted the storm to pass 180 miles south of Hilo the following day. The CPHC's forecast models predicted that Dora will remain south of the Hawaiian Islands and not recurve untill it passed the island chain. As a result, the CPHC did not issue and watches or warnings for Hawaii.[5][7][8] On August 16, forecast models at the CPHC predicted that Dora will bypass Johnston Island at a close distance to the south prompting concerns by forecasters that the storm might make a direct landfall on the island (which did not happen because the storm bypassed the island by 70 miles (113 km) to the south). Later, the CPHC predicted that Dora will cross the International Date Line and strike Wake Island as a category 1 typhoon (which did not happen because the storm weakened after crossing 140°W).[9][10][11][1][12]
In Hawaii, Dora generated waves between 8-20 feet which prompted local officals to close all beaches, campsites and nature trails due to the deteorating conditons. The storm produced rainfall of 0.50-1.5 inches (12.7-25.4 mm). However, the rainfall had little impact on a drought that was affecting Hawaii. In Johnston Island, Dora produced wind gusts between 40-45 mph(74-83 km/h)and heavy surf along coastal sections of the island. However, the effects were minimal and there was no reported damage or injuries. [13][4][14]
[edit] Lack of retirement
The name Dora was not retired and was used again in 2005 and will be used in 2011
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Miles B. Larwence (1999). NHC Report on Dora. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 27, 2006.
- ^ Beven. NHC Tropical Discussion Archive #2. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- ^ Franklin. NHC Tropical Discussion Archive #4. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- ^ a b c Gary Padgett. Gary Padgett's report on Hurricane Dora. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- ^ a b Beven. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #29. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- ^ Beven. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #33. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
- ^ Habuzel. Hurricane Dora Weather Advisory Archive #36. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ Habuzel. Hurricane Dora Weather Advisory Archive #37. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ Habuzel. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #44. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ Habuzel. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #45. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ Habuzel. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #46. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ Habuzel. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #48. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ National Weather Service (1999). Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomenon. NOAA. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
- ^ Rosendal. Hurricane Dora Tropical Discussion Archive #50. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
