Hurricane Bonnie (1998)
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| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Bonnie on August 26 shortly before landfall |
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| Formed | August 19, 1998 | |
| Dissipated | August 30, 1998 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 954 mbar (hPa; 28.18 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 3 direct | |
| Damage | $720 million (1998 USD) $952 million (2008 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
Leeward Islands, North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic States | |
| Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Bonnie was the second named storm, first hurricane and first major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. A Cape Verde-type hurricane, Bonnie formed in August 1998 where it skirted the northern Leeward Islands before making landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina as a Category 3 storm. Bonnie caused three fatalities and left $720 million dollars (1998 USD, $843 million (2006 USD) in damage. Bonnie was also the third hurricane to hit the coast of North Carolina in three years.
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[edit] Storm history
After an inactive start to the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, a tropical wave, which exited the coast of Africa on August 14, organized into Tropical Depression Two on August 19 while east of the Lesser Antilles. Under the influence of a strong high pressure ridge, the depression tracked quickly to the west-northwest, where it was able to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bonnie on the 20th. On the 21st, the storm passed north of the Lesser Antilles, where it caused little damage.
Though Bonnie was strengthening as it headed to the northwest, the wind field was very asymmetric, due to its fast forward motion. However, the storm slowed and organized, and reached hurricane status on August 22 while north of Puerto Rico. With a favorable upper-level environment, it reached its peak of 115 mph on the 23rd. The steering currents greatly weakened, causing Bonnie to drift to the northwest until the subtropical ridge re-intensified. Bonnie continued to the northwest, encountering cooler waters and dry air, yet consistently retaining its peak of 115 mph winds, as measured by Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Just prior to landfall, Bonnie weakened due to its unfavorable conditions, and hit near Wilmington, North Carolina as a 110 mph hurricane on August 27. The hurricane weakened over coastal North Carolina, and turned to the northeast in response to a middle level trough. After weakening to a tropical storm on the 27th, it quickly re-strengthened over the warm Gulf Stream waters, and became a hurricane again on August 28. Bonnie reached winds of 85 mph, and accelerated to the northeast, where cooler waters weakened it to a tropical storm late on the 28th. The storm turned to the east, passing south of the Canadian provinces, and became extratropical on August 30.
[edit] Preparations
Numerous hurricane watches and warnings were issued from South Carolina to Virginia and over a million residents and tourists heeded mandatory evacuation orders. Forecasters predicted that Bonnie would bring a storm surge of 9-11 feet and severe beach erosion was expected from the storm. [1] In addition, swimming was banned for fears of rip currents from the approaching storm. [2]
[edit] Impact
Hurricane Bonnie was the third hurricane to directly hit the coast of North Carolina in three years. Hurricane Bonnie made landfall just under major hurricane status, bringing intense winds throughout North Carolina and Virginia. Frying Pan Shoals, located in the open waters off of Cape Fear, experienced both the highest sustained winds with 87 mph and the highest gusts with 105 mph. On land there were two reports of hurricane force winds, though numerous locals experienced tropical storm force winds. Because the winds were relatively light, the wind damage was not extreme, though it caused widespread tree, roof, structural, and crop damage. 1.3 million people lost power between North Carolina and Virginia from the storm, of which 282,000 occurred in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Hampton Roads experienced the greatest amount of damage, possibly reaching into the hundreds of millions of dollars. In all, Hurricane Bonnie caused a damage estimate of $720 million (1998 USD, $843 million 2006 USD).
Initially feared as a repeat of Hurricane Fran of 1996, Bonnie ended up not being as damaging or as deadly as Fran. Three people were killed because of the hurricane, one of which may have been indirect.
The name was not retired and was re-used in 2004, and will be again in 2010.
