| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Hurricane Raymond on October 15 | |
| Formed | October 8, 1983 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 20, 1983 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 968 mbar (hPa); 28.59 inHg |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Hawaii |
| Part of the 1983 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Raymond was a powerful major hurricane that formed during an abnormally active 1983 Pacific hurricane season. The eighteenth named storm, tenth hurricane and seventh major hurricane of the season. Raymond threatened the Hawaiian Islands enough for a hurricane watch to be issued. Instead, it turned north. It then veered south and made landfall near Molokai as a tropical depression. Raymond brought beneficial rains.
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 depressionA tropical wave crossed the Nicaragua coast on October 5. It moved westward at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h). A deep-layer mean high center was over Mexico and a well-developed ridge extended westward towards the Hawaiian Islands.[1] By 0600 UTC October 8, it was upgraded to a tropical depression while located 763 mi (1,228 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. The tropical depression moved west over 84 to 86 °F (29 to 30 °C) waters. The depression intensified to a tropical storm on October 9. Tropical Storm Raymond continued moving westwards, accelerated and rapidly intensified. On October 10, its maximum winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h), and was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. Subsequently, a small but distinct eye became visible near the center. Raymond continued to rapidly intensify. Roughly 24 hours after becoming a hurricane, the tropical cyclone reached its peak intensity of 145 mph (235 km/h)* over 1,000 mi (1,610 km)* away from the Baja California Peninsula.[1]
Shorty after its peak, Raymond began to weaken and on October 12, the storm was downgraded into a Category 3 system. The next day, the storm weakened into a Category 2 hurricane, only to re-intensify over the next few days.[2] With sea surface temperatures remaining warm, the system crossed into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility.[1] Moving rapidly west, the system showed a large and well-defined eye. During the night of October 14, Raymond considerably slowed its forward motion speed and started moving on a more northerly track. The eye began to become less defined; meanwhile, the symmetric shape of the hurricane became more elongated. The weakening trend was later confirmed by a Hurricane Hunter aircraft, which reported winds of 968 mbar (28.6 inHg) and winds of 105 mph (170 km/h)*. Shortly thereafter, Raymond was lowered to a Category 1 hurricane and several hours later, a tropical storm as wind shear took toll on the storm. Meanwhile, the storm moving slowly northwest and underwent several loops. At 1800 UTC October 18, Raymond was downgraded to a tropical depression and was soon devoid of deep convection. It was now moving west to west-southwest. As a weak tropical depression, Tropical Depression Raymond made landfall near Molokai midday on August 20. Raymond soon dissipated inland.[3]
Preparations and impact
editBecause meteorologists were predicting that the storm may pose a threat to the Hawaiian Islands, the CPHC issued a hurricane watch for Hawaii.[3] A high-surf advisory also was issued. As Raymond approached Hawaii, the cyclone kicked up very high surfs that pounded the Big island of Hawaii. On the east end of the Hawaiian Island chain was battered by 10–15 ft (3.0–4.6 m) waves.[4] In addition, Raymond brought beneficial rains and gusty winds on all islands. Precipitation ranged from 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) on Maui. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph (64 to 80 km/h) were reported on the Big Island during the afternoon of October 19. There was one casualty when a sailor was lost overboard off the craft "Hazana"; the boat was traveling from Tahiti to San Diego, but the course was altered to Hawaii because of the storm.[5] While only minor damage was reported as a result of the hurricane, a fishing vessel did also issue a Mayday for help because of the storm.[3]
See also
edit- Hurricane Iwa — The previous hurricane that affected Hawaii
- List of Category 4 Pacific hurricanes
References
edit- ^ a b c Gunther, E. B.; Cross, R. L. (1984). "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1983". Monthly Weather Review. 112 (7): 1419–1440. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1984)112<1419:ENPTCO>2.0.CO;2.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 26, 2024). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2023". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. A guide on how to read the database is available here.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "The 1983 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
- ^ "HURRICANE RAYMOND APPROACHES HAWAII". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1983-10-16. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1984)112<1419:ENPTCO>2.0.CO;2.
- ^ "Domestic News". United Press International. November 22, 1983.
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