| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Lili as a Category 3 hurricane over the Bahamas | |
| Formed | October 14, 1996 |
| Dissipated | October 29, 1996 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 10 |
| Damage | ≥ $660 million (1996 USD) |
| Areas affected | Central America, Cuba, Bahamas, Ireland, Great Britain |
| Part of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Lili was a relatively long-lived hurricane during the very active 1996 Atlantic hurricane season. Lili formed on October 14 from a tropical wave, which emerged from the coast of west Africa on October 4. The tropical wave which developed into Lili was slow to form due to unfavorable wind shear in the Atlantic and eastern Caribbean Sea. Even after development occurred on October 14, further strengthening of Lili was gradual, having not attained tropical storm status until October 16 and hurricane status on October 17. After making landfall on Cuba, Hurricane Lili accelerated northeastward, briefly peaking as a category 3 hurricane near the Bahamas. For almost an entire week, Hurricane Lili oscillated in intensity while fluctuating several times in forward speed. Over two weeks had passed before Lili finally transitioned into an extratropical storm north of the Azores on October 29.
Hurricane Lili caused considerable damage across Central America, Cuba, and the Bahamas, and United Kingdom. Damage from Hurricane Lili totaled at $660 million (1996 USD, $924 million 2012 USD), with $150,000 (1996 USD, $210 thousand 2012 USD) in the United States, $362 million (1996 USD, $507 million 2012 USD) in Cuba, and £150 million (approximately $300 million 1996 USD, $420 million 2012 USD) damage in the United Kingdom.
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On October 4, a tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa; this wave was accompanied with a large cyclonic rotation. Unfavorable upper level wind shear did not allow the wave to further develop. The wave tracked west for the next a week, having reached the Windward Islands on October 11. Continuing west, the wave reached the southwestern Caribbean Sea on October 13. When it reached the southwestern Caribbean, the wave developed a closed, well defined circulation. It was upgraded to the 12th tropical depression of the season on October 14 at 1200 UTC. The depression accelerated in a northwestward direction, brushing Central America in its path. On October 16 at 0600 UTC, the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm, thus given the name Lili. During this time, Tropical Storm Lili executed a small cyclonic loop, while a few hundred miles north of the Swan Islands. Early on October 17, Lili attained hurricane strength, reaching winds of 75 mph and 986mbar in pressure.
Hurricane Lili grazed the Isle of Youth on October 18, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to the island. Later that day, Lili made landfall in Matanzas Province, Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane, winds were close to 100 mph (160 km/h). Despite the mountainous terrain, the storm did not weaken, with the same pressure reading of 975 being observed at landfall and when Lili reemerged into the Atlantic Ocean. After reemerging over warm waters, Lili further strengthened as it approached the Bahamas. The eye of the storm passed over San Salvador Island and Great Exuma on the 19th before heading out into the North Atlantic. Late on October 19, a major trough in the westerlies allowed Lili to accelerate northeastward, reaching a forward speed of almost 29 mph (47 km/h). On October 20 at 0000 UTC, Hurricane Lili had attained its peak intensity for a brief time, reaching 115 mph winds and a 960mbar in pressure. Later that day, the storm weakened back to Category 2 status, and the center passed 130 mi (210 km) to the southeast of Bermuda.
Over the next few days, Lili's wind speeds gradually decreased. A mid-level short-wave high pressure ridge caused Lili to slow in forward speed on October 22. Lili began to accelerate quickly northeastwards again, briefly restrengthening into a Category 2 hurricane. Lili again started a weakening trend soon after, and by October 26, was downgraded to a tropical storm, where it was centered approximately 300 miles (480 km) northwest of the Azores. On October 27, the storm was declared extratropical, 350 miles north of the Azores. It remnants maintained tropical storm force winds as they crossed the British Isles on October 28, bringing heavy rain and winds to the Islands. The remnants of Lili were absorbed by a much larger extratropical system on the European mainland over October 29. That system continued to move along the Jet Stream, affecting many places with rain and strong winds.[1]
Lili killed ten people throughout its lifetime. Eight were reported in Central America, and two in the United Kingdom. Damage figures for Central America and the Bahamas are unavailable, but total damages in Central America, Cuba, and the British Isles were estimated at $662 million (1996 USD, $927 million 2012 USD).
Storm surge caused $150,000 (1996 USD, $210 thousand 2012 USD) along the coast of New Hampshire. The state of Florida received up to a foot of rain in the days preceding Lili's passage as a frontal zone on its northern periphery led from moderate to heavy rainfall mainly along the Gold coast.[2] Some areas of New England received up to 13 in (330 mm) of rain in Rockingham County when a frontal zone drew moisture northward from the hurricane.[3]
Lili's strong winds and heavy rains forced the closing of José Martí International Airport in Havana; an estimated 247,000 people were evacuated. Up to 29.41 in (747 mm)of rain fell across the island.[4] In Isla de la Juventud, the winds plucked some 16,000 tons of grapefruit and oranges from trees while 20 ft (6 m) waves swept beach-side cottages out to sea. In Villa Clara, all 28 sugar refineries were severely damaged. In Old Havana, dozens of old, poorly built buildings collapsed in the storm's fury. The storm destroyed 2,300 buildings while damaging another 47,000. Much of the sugar, banana, coffee, and citrus harvests were ruined. Total damages were estimated at $362 million (1996 USD, $507 million 2012 USD).[5]
Few affects from Hurricane Lili were reported in the Bahamas, although several impacts were recorded on San Salvador Island. While there was minimal damage done on the east side of San Salvador, there was extensive damage on the western side. In addition, there was extensive damage to trees at higher elevations, although many other crops had been damaged by wind. There was also damage to houses reported, especially in Cockburn Town and Victoria Hill, where some houses sustained major roof damage, while few had completely lost the roof. Severe beach erosion was reported near French Bay, with waves sweeping the public dock out to sea. Despite the damage recorded, there were no estimates associated with Hurricane Lili in the Bahamas.[6]
On the October 28 and October 29, 1996, the United Kingdom was hammered by what The Times called "arrival from America of Hurricane Lili." Lili produced a 92 mph (148 km/h) gust at Swansea, South Wales, while bringing a four ft (1.20 m) storm surge that inundated the River Thames. In Somerset, 500 holiday cottages were severely damaged. A United States oil drilling platform, under tow in the North Sea, broke loose during the storm and nearly ran aground at Peterhead. On the Isle of Wight, a sailing boat was beached at Chale Bay; luckily all five occupants were rescued. The most damaging storm to have struck the United Kingdom, since the Great Storm of 1987, Lili killed two people and left £150 million (1996 pounds; $300 million 1996 USD, $420 million 2012 USD) in damage. The storm also broke a four-month drought over southwest England.
Criticism followed after Hurricane Lili, mainly the disaster relief in Cuba. Many Cuban exiles debated on whether to get involved with the disaster relief. On issues involving Cuba and the exile community, offering disaster relief is an emotional decision fraught with political implications.[7]
Things became more complicated when two rescue planes were allegedly shot down and anti-Castro radio stations urging listeners to withhold relief money. Tomas Garcia-Fuste, WCMQ programming director said it violates the Helms-Burton Act, which penalizes companies that do business with Cuba. Fuste also said Castro purposely exaggerated the damage done by the hurricane—to get exiles to send much-needed food and medicine that they normally would not send. He and other advocates feared that Castro's government will steal the supplies.[7]
President Bill Clinton approved humanitarian aid to the Cuban victims through the Catholic Church.[8]
The political impact from Hurricane Lili were similar to the fallout from Hurricane Flora of 1963, Hurricane Charley of 2004, as well as Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina of 2005. Political and historic tension between the communist government and the exiles and U.S. had hampered relief efforts and aid to the victims. "Don't let politics blind you from helping us", said one victim.[8]
