Hurricane Emily (1987)

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Hurricane Emily
Bahamas, Bermuda
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Part of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Emily was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck Hispaniola in September 1987. It was the first hurricane in the Caribbean Sea since

tropical storm, Emily rapidly tracked northeastward through the Atlantic Ocean, undergoing a second phase of rapid intensification before passing directly over Bermuda on September 25. The following day the final public advisory from the National Hurricane Center was issued on the storm as it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
.

Hurricane Emily brought heavy rains and strong winds in the Windward Islands on September 21, leaving numerous homes damaged and severe losses in the banana industry. Losses throughout the islands amounted to $291,000. In the Dominican Republic, despite the storm's high intensity, relatively moderate damage occurred. Three people were killed by the storm and damages amounted to $30 million. Unexpected intensification of the storm led to severe impact in Bermuda. Overall, the storm caused over $80 million in damages, killed 3, and injured 16 people.

Meteorological history

Tracking map of a hurricane. The path depicted in the image starts to the east of the Lesser Antilles and curves into Hispaniola before passing Bermuda.
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Hurricane Emily originated out of a tropical disturbance, associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), that moved off the west coast of Africa on September 13. Tracking westward at a low latitude, the system fluctuated in organization, with the development and weakening of deep convection and weak outflow for several days. By September 18, the disturbance entered a region where there was sinking air, an inhibiting factor of tropical cyclone development. Two days later, the system separated from the ITCZ and quickly developed into a tropical depression, the twelfth of the season, while located about 605 miles (974 kilometers) southeast of Barbados.[1]

Gradual intensification took place throughout September 20, attaining the status of tropical storm by 1800 UTC and received the name Emily. The storm tracked in a general west-northwest direction around the edge of a strong

hurricane hunters recorded flight-level winds of 155 mph (249 km/h).[3][4]

reconnaissance mission
on September 22

Slight weakening took place late on September 22 and early on September 23 as the hurricane neared

Bahamas as a quasi-stationary frontal system influenced Emily. Moving generally towards the north, the center of circulation passed very close to Inagua and Mayaguana on September 24.[2]

By midday on September 24, the system became embedded within the mid-latitude

explosive intensification with the central pressure decreasing at 2.5 mbar per hour. By 0600 UTC, Emily had re-attained hurricane intensity and at 1145 UTC, the center passed directly over Bermuda with winds of 85 mph (137 km/h). Soon after, the storm reached its secondary peak intensity with winds of 90 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mbar (hPa; 28.76 inHg).[2]

Hurricane Emily continued tracking northeast throughout September 25 into the following day with increasing speed. By late on September 25, the forward motion of the storm had reached 50 mph (80 km/h). The storm now began to undergo an extratropical transition with forward speed peaking at 68 mph (109 km/h), the second-highest forward motion ever recorded in a tropical cyclone.

baroclinic zone, the hurricane completed its transition at 1800 UTC on September 26, resulting in the issuance of the final advisory on the storm.[6]

Preparations

A satellite image of a hurricane. The storm has strong thunderstorm development around its small center and Bermuda is completely obscured by it
Hurricane Emily near Bermuda

As Tropical Storm Emily quickly approached the

Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. This watch was later upgraded to a warning as the storm was expected to regain intensity over the Bahamas.[8]

Following the anticipation of a more westerly track on September 23,[2] a hurricane watch was issued for the northwestern Bahamas, later superseded by a warning, and a hurricane warning was declared for eastern Cuba. Early on September 24, all watches and warnings for the Caribbean Islands, including the Bahamas, were discontinued as Emily moved out over the Atlantic Ocean.[2][8] On September 25, a special advisory was issued for Bermuda as tropical storm-force winds were likely to impact the island.[8] Following the unexpected intensification,[2] another special advisory was issued stating that hurricane-force winds would impact the island during the day on September 25. This advisory was discontinued following the storms' passage later that day.[8]

Throughout the Windward Islands, schools and businesses were closed ahead of the storm.

Santo Domingo ahead of the storm.[10] Although the storm never tracked towards Florida, state officials advised residents to prepare for the storm.[11] Officials were in the "awareness stage" of hurricane preparation as they were discussing the possibility of impact from Emily.[12] In the Turks and Caicos, residents were evacuated from low-lying areas to shelters throughout the islands.[13]

On September 25, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued its first information bulletin ever related to a tropical cyclone as Emily was moving into Canadian offshore waters. The agency was created less than a month earlier, and warned for the potential of heavy rainfall and strong winds in the ocean southeast of Newfoundland.[14][15]

Impact and aftermath

Map depicting rainfall in Puerto Rico
Rainfall totals from Hurricane Emily in Puerto Rico

Tracking through the

St. Vincent, the banana industry sustained severe losses, with roughly 70% of the crop destroyed.[16][17] Schools throughout the island were closed prior and during the storm.[18] Up to 3 in (76 mm) of rain fell within six hours on the island,[16] causing flooding that forced eight families to evacuate their homes.[9] Damage on the island amounted to $191,000, mainly from landslides.[19] The outer bands of Emily produced moderate rainfall across portions of southwest Puerto Rico, peaking at 4.63 in (118 mm).[20]

In the

Red Cross was also deployed to the region to assist those left homeless by the storm.[21] In all, Emily caused $80.3 million in damage and killed three people.[16][22]

Although Emily passed over Haiti, it produced little damage and no loss of life. The lack of fatalities was linked to the amount of forest remaining over the mountains of the country, estimated at 25% of their original size, compared to the 1.4% remaining in 2004.[24] In the Bahamas, Emily produced winds up to 60 mph (97 km/h) along with rainfall up to 1.35 in (34 mm).[23]

A typical Bermudian roof made up of heavy limestone slates

The storm was not expected to be strong when it passed Bermuda. Worse still, most Bermudians were unaware the storm had accelerated and covered a considerable distance overnight, and with no obvious signs of the imminence of its arrival, set off to work or school without making any preparations to protect their homes. Similarly to the 1926 Havana–Bermuda hurricane, the islanders were caught completely off guard by the 90 mph (140 km/h) winds. Cars and boats were affected the most. Wooden accommodation blocks on the United States Naval Air Station Bermuda were destroyed, but the tough building standards and the heavy masonry or concrete construction of buildings outside of the US bases meant that only a small number of houses experienced severe damage during the storm's passage. Bermudian roofs are constructed from heavy limestone slates. Bermudian houses are generally windproof, but are vulnerable to roof damage when the outside air pressure drops in the eye of a cyclonic storm and the expanding air inside a sealed house lifts the roof. The heavy limestone roofs are not easily moved, and are designed to shed slates, opening only a small breach instead of losing the entire roof. As a hurricane approaches, Bermudians close windows and storm shutters on the windward side but leave the leeward side windows open, allowing interior air pressure to rapidly equalise with the exterior without damage to the roof. As Bermudians would normally stay at home during a hurricane, once the storm centre had passed over, they would open the previously windward windows and close those on the opposite side (there is also a considerable difference in exterior air pressure between the windward and leeward sides of a house during a storm). As few were at home when the storm struck, and most had left all of their windows closed and locked, a great many homes suffered minor roof damage in the form of lost slates. This caused considerable difficulty as there were not enough roofers and not enough ready slate to quickly repair the damage, and also not enough tarpaulins either already in possession of home owners are in stock at hardware stores and supplies had to be specially flown in. Hurricane Emily, which Bermudians dubbed "The B****h that came to breakfast", caused $50 million in damage to the island, though no one was killed. About 230 buildings lost their roofs and 16 people were injured due to winds gusting in excess of 112 mph (180 km/h). The United States Naval Air Station Bermuda, where buildings were not constructed to local standards, suffered the greatest damage. An air show had to be cancelled and the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron evacuated, though their Lockheed C-130 Hercules had to be left behind, sheltering in a hangar in which it did not quite fit. The Civil Air Terminal at the air station lost a large portion of its roof during the storm. Several cars and boats were flipped by the storm and a cruise ship carrying 700 people slipped from its moorings.[25][26][27][28] Before the storm's landfall, officials in Bermuda cut power to roughly 90% of the island to protect the power grid.[29] There were also unconfirmed reports of tornadoes associated with the storm. Emily was the strongest hurricane to hit Bermuda since the 1948 season.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  3. ^ Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Nineteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  4. ^ Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Twenty". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  5. ^ "What is the average forward speed of a hurricane?". Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  6. ^ Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Three". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Ten". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c "Hurricane Emily strengthening". The Free-Lance Star. Associated Press. September 22, 1987. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  10. ^ "Hurricane Emily kills 3 in Caribbean". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. September 24, 1987. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  11. ^ Dexter Filkins; Carlos Harrison (September 23, 1987). "County yawns at Hurricane Emily; Officials prepare for possible disaster". Miami Herald. p. 4PB. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ Lori Rozsa (September 23, 1987). "Emily brings hurricanes to mind". Miami Herald. p. 1B. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  13. ^ A. J. Dickerson (September 24, 1987). "Hurricane warning lifted as Emily weakens". The Free-Lance Star. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  14. Environment Canada
    . Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  15. ^ RWH (September 25, 1987). Canadian Hurricane Prognostic Message Issued By Environment Canada at 0830 PM ADT Friday 25 September 1987 (TXT) (Report). Canadian Hurricane Centre. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Robert A. Case and Harold P. Gerrish (April 1988). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1987" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  17. ^ Department of Public Affairs (November 1994). "St. Vincent and the Grenadines". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  18. ^ "Hurricane Emily Strengthens, Posing Threat to Hispaniola". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 22, 1987. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  19. ^ Nicholas DeGraff (August 25, 1999). "Natural Hazards and Disasters: Landslides in St. Lucia". University of California, Santa Cruz. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  20. ^ David M. Roth (2009). "Hurricane Emily - September 21–23, 1987". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  21. ^ a b "Emily regaining strength after hitting Dominican". The Bulletin. United Press International. September 23, 1987. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  22. ^ a b c Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page 4". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  23. ^ a b Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  24. ^ Jane Deren (2008). "Hurricanes and Haiti: A Tragic History" (PDF). Saint Bridget Church. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 27, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  25. ^ Fry Brewe, Jacki. "Jacki Fry Brewer, PRCS - Military Timeline: 1987-1990 NAS Bermuda". navy.togetherweserved.com. togetherweserved.com Inc. Retrieved 2023-04-03. I was stationed in Bermuda when we were suppose to have a Blue Angel airshow but Hurricane Emily decided she wanted first bill so the jets had to fly out but Fat Albert (the C130) didn't have time to depart as we got little warning she was coming. (Emily took an unexpected turn toward the island during the wee hours one Sept morning.) I was safety officer at the time so I had to report to my post after I got CJ situated in a safe place with friends. Our hangars weren't designed to hold and tie down C130s so we towed Fat Albert in as far as we could and put as many people in the cockpit as possible to hold the nose down. The strongest winds hit. The tail of the plane was sticking outside of the hangar and was being pushed side ways and up and down. I stood in front of Fat Albert to observe any further dangerous situations (HA) and watched as the nose of the plane which was inside the hangar bounce up and down like a basketball. This was about 9 or 10 am. That day was known as the morning the bitch came to breakfast. Oh, yes, and Emily took the roof off my apartment on base and caved in all the ceilings. She was such a lady.
  26. ^ "Remembering Hurricane Emily". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke Parish, Bermuda: The Royal Gazette. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  27. ^ "Hurricane in Bermuda Causes Minor Injuries". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 26, 1987.
  28. ^ Staff Writer (September 26, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Buffets Bermuda". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  29. ^ "Hurricane injures 16 in Bermuda". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. September 26, 1987. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2009.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Emily (1987).

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