| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Juan near peak intensity | |
| Formed | October 26, 1985 |
| Dissipated | November 1, 1985 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 971 mbar (hPa; 28.67 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 24 direct, 50 indirect |
| Damage | $2.8 billion (1985 USD) (Includes indirect losses) |
| Areas affected | Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Panhandle |
| Part of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Juan was a hurricane that formed in October 1985 and looped twice near the Louisiana coast, causing torrential flooding for several days. Juan was the costliest hurricane of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season, and at the time was among the costliest of all historical U.S. hurricanes. Juan was the last of three hurricanes to affect Louisiana during the season, including Danny in August and Elena in early September.
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An upper level low pressure system combined with a tropical wave developed a broad trough of low pressure over the central Gulf of Mexico on October 24. A rapid increase in cloudiness and convection led to the formation of a tropical depression on October 26. A high pressure system to its northeast forced it westward, where it became Tropical Storm Juan later on October 26.
At the time and throughout its lifetime, Juan was very disorganized, and resembled a subtropical cyclone with its winds well away from the center. A developing trough brought the storm northward, where it became better organized. Early on October 28, Juan reached hurricane strength, and hours later it reached a peak of 85 mph (140 km/h) winds.
Under the influence of a large scale upper-level low pressure area, Juan executed a cyclonic loop off the Louisiana coast later on October 28. It turned northward, and hit near Morgan City, Louisiana on the morning of October 29. Still under the influence of the low, Juan again looped to the southeast, and weakened to a tropical storm over land on October 29, and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on October 30 over Vermilion Bay.
Juan paralleled the southern Louisiana coastline and crossed the extreme southeast portion of the state on October 31. Over the open waters of the Gulf, Juan restrengthened to a 70 mph (110 km/h) storm, just before hitting near the Alabama/Florida border that night. Once over land, Juan rapidly weakened, and became extratropical over Tennessee on November 1. Its remnants accelerated northward into Canada by the morning of November 3. Of interest, an upper level low closed off in the wake of Juan, forming a new occluded cyclone, which added to the rainfall totals across Virginia and West Virginia. The combined impact of Juan and the occluded cyclone that formed in its wake led to a flood of record size across West Virginia.
Hurricane Juan caused US$1.5 billion ($3.06 billion 2012 USD), in damage most of it from crop damage. At the time, Juan was the 8th costliest hurricane in history, and is currently the 24th.[1] It later caused extensive flooding across the Mid-Atlantic states as a partial remnant, causing an additional $1.3 billion and 50 deaths not included in its final effects.
Early in its lifetime, Juan caused 25 to 35 foot (7.5 to 10.5 meter) swells, damaging several offshore oil platforms and overturning two. High winds prior to the storm's development encumbered evacuation efforts. Because of this, nine people died, either from toppled oil rigs or from drowning while being transported from the rigs. The oil industry suffered greatly from the hurricane, both due to the lack of production and from lost oil rigs.
Because the hurricane looped twice near the coastline, Hurricane Juan brought extensive rainfall along the northern Gulf Coast, particularly across Louisiana and Texas. Deweyville, Texas received a maximum of 8.7 inches (220 mm) and Mobile, Alabama reached a total of 11.9 inches (302 mm), while Louisiana reported over to 10 inches (254 mm), with a storm maximum of 17.78 inches (452 mm) of rain in Galliano according to information compiled from the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Storm surge was moderate, peaking at 8.2 feet (2.5 m) on the southern portion of Louisiana, though tides returned to below normal levels when offshore winds forced the surge out to sea. A few small tornadoes were reported along Juan's outer edges, though little damage was reported.
Severe coastal flooding resulted in significant crop damage and loss of livestock in southern Louisiana. Thousands of houses were flooded and destroyed, mainly around Lake Pontchartrain, though property damage was seen from Texas through the Florida Panhandle, albeit much less than Louisiana. 2 people drowned from the flood waters in Louisiana, and 1 person died in a boating accident of the Texas coast. There were 1,357 injuries reported by FEMA, though most were minor.[2] Total damage from Hurricane Juan amounted to $1.5 billion (1985 USD), making it one of the costliest hurricanes at the time and making it the costliest non-retired hurricane name.[3]
Though not directly related to the hurricane, Juan's tropical moisture combined with another low pressure system to drop large amounts of moisture across the Appalachian Mountains and the Mid-Atlantic. Many locations reported record amounts of rainfall from West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.[4]
Flooding in West Virginia was the worst in the state's history. The worst hit areas were the Cheat River and South Branch Potomac River basins. The remnants of Juan caused 38 fatalities and $578 million from the flooding.[4]
Flash flooding on November 4 and 5 resulted in overflown rivers across much of Virginia, including the Roanoke River which rose 23 feet above its banks. The flooding resulted in 12 casualties in Virginia, with $800 million in damage (1985 USD).[5]