| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Orlene at peak intensity | |
| Formed | September 2, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 14, 1992 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 934 mbar (hPa); 27.58 inHg |
| Fatalities | None |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Hawaii |
| Part of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Orlene was a powerful and long-lived category 4 hurricane that formed during the 1992 Pacific hurricane season. The 15th named storm, 9th hurricane and the 6th major hurricane of the season, Hurricane Orlene formed on September 2. It tracked from Mexico to the Big Island of the Hawaiian Islands and made landfall on the Hawaiian Islands on September 14 as a weak tropical depression. No deaths were reported, and damage was minor.
Meteorological history
edit
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
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
Tropical Depression Seventeen-E formed September 2, rapidly intensifying to a tropical storm the next day, then a Category 1 hurricane late that day. Orlene peaked at Category 4 major hurricane status on September 6 with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a pressure of 934 mbars. The system held intensity for a day or so, with gradual weakening due to shear over the area, but the shear relaxed over the cyclone early on September 9, with brought about a quick restrengthening phase on September 9, although it stopped, and the weakening trend resumed later that day.
Orlene weakened back to a tropical storm on September 10, and finally a depression on September 12, around the same time that it moved into the Central Pacific. [1] Tropical Depression Orlene entered the central Pacific early on September 12 crossing 140°W longitude near 23°N latitude with sustained winds estimated at 35 mph. The top of Orlene had been sheared off earlier, but the storm maintained its character while embedded in the trade flow, moving on a slightly south of west course toward the Hawaiian Islands. Orlene made landfall on Hawaii as a minimal tropical depression on September 14. It became post-tropical shortly after landfall and the CPHC issued their final advisory.[2]
Impact
editThe weakened depression made landfall on the 14th, passing in over the Ka'u district of the Big Island of Hawaii. While the system was dissipating, it retained enough moisture and thermal energy to produce some heavy thunderstorms as the weak cyclonic circulation rose over the mountainous island. Some localized heavy downpours between 4 and 8 inches of rain were reported. Flash flooding and washed out roads occurred in some normally dry areas near the summit of Mauna Kea and along the North Kona and Kohala coast lines. No deaths were reported.[2] [3]
See also
edit- Hurricane Iniki — Worst Hawaiian hurricane in recorded history
- List of Category 4 Pacific hurricanes
References
edit- ^ "Hurricane Orlene Tropical Cyclone Report". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
- ^ a b "1992 Central Pacific hurricane season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
- ^ "NEWS: Drought spreads across Hawaii". Google News. September 1992.
External links
editHurricane Orlene (1992) tracking from Storm Pulse
Tropical cyclones of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season | ||
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