Hurricane Kyle (2008)

Storm Active: September 25-29

A tropical wave moving west through the northern Caribbean developed into Tropical Storm Kyle on September 25. Because of a stationary front off the Atlantic coast, Kyle was turned northward. Due to strong west to east sheer, Kyle's convection stayed away from the right side of the system. After being hindered by Hispaniola, the system was free of land, and therefore rapidly strengthened into Hurricane Kyle on the 27. Kyle then briefly reached its peak intensity of 80 mph and a pressure of 994 millibars. Soon, Kyle accelerated northward before making landfall in Nova Scotia as an extratropical storm on the 29.



Hurricane Kyle. Note the lopsidedness of the convection.



Track of Kyle.

Tropical Storm Josephine (2008)

Storm Active: September 2-6

As August ended, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa and developed. On September 2, the disturbance was upgraded to Tropical Depression Ten. Josephine briefly exhibited an unusually organized system (see below) but it disappeared shortly after as the system transformed. The system's peak intensity (65 mph winds and pressure of 994 millibars was reached when there was almost nothing left of the system in terms of convection. After a brief redevelopment, Josephine was ripped apart by a high-pressure system to the north. Soon after, Josephine became a remnant low. The system was monitored and for over a week the remnants tracked generally west, nut on September 14, Josephine finally dissipated over the Bahamas. No major effects resulted from this system.



Josephine at peak intensity. Note the lack on cloud activity around the center of circulation.



Track of Josephine.



Image of Josephine briefly showing major hurricane-like strength. Note its similarity in appearance to a southern hemisphere cyclone.

Hurricane Ike (2008)

Strom Active: September 1-14

In late August, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. On September 1, it became Tropical Depression Nine. It started to rapidly strengthen and by September 4, it had already reached it s peak intensity of 145 mph winds and a pressure of 935 millibars. It continued on a more northerly track so it did not have any major effects in Puerto Rico or the Leeward Islands. A high-pressure system to the north of Ike not only steered to more southward but also weakened the system and soon it was only a Category 2. It did regenerate before landfall back to a weak Category 4 hurricane with 135 mph winds. Then, as a strong Category 3 it made its first landfall in western Cuba. Interaction with land weakened the system and when it made landfall in Cuba again, it was only a Category 1. Ike reentered the Gulf of Mexico on September 9. Over the next day it strengthened back to a Category 2. The wind field of Ike expanded rapidly and became abnormally large, with tropical storm force winds extending 275 mph out form the center and hurricane force winds 120 mph fro the center. The system reached 110 mph winds before landfall but the hurricane force winds were so widespread that the storm surge was resembled that of a Category 4. Ike made landfall before sunrise on September 13. The system weakened over land and quickly became a depression and turned north-east. It left a trail of destruction up through western New England before finally dissipating. 147 deaths resulted from Ike, almost half of them in the United States. Also, Ike was the third costliest hurricane on record in the U.S. behind Andrew and Katrina.



Ike at peak intensity over the warm Atlantic waters.



Track of Ike.

Hurricane Hanna (2008)

Storm Active: August 28-September 6

During the last week of August a tropical wave moved off Africa. By August 28, it was strong enough to be called Tropical Depression Eight. The next day Eight was upgraded to Tropical Storm Hanna. The storm tracked west-north-westward until it was stopped by a front and it slowly drifted south-west into the Turks. Hanna couldn't strengthen because of the more powerful Hurricane Gustav's intake of moist air. Also, strong shear whipped in from the north. But soon, these effects lessened and by midday on September 1, Hanna had become a hurricane with 80 mph winds and a pressure of 983 millibars. Hanna was weakened by shear over the next day into a tropical storm but started to turn northwest and by September 5 was moving at 20 mph, approaching the coast of the Carolinas. Overnight it made landfall and weakened to 65 mph winds. Then, it accelerated past New England and sped off the coast into extratropical waters. Hanna caused 529 deaths in Haiti along with 8 in the U.S.

The above image shows Hanna at peak intensity on September 1.

Hanna's stall near Hispaniola caused a great deal of flooding and unfortunately numerous casualties in north Haiti.

Hurricane Gustav (2008)

Storm Active: August 25-September 2

On August 25, a wave in the south-east Caribbean became Tropical Depression Seven. A mere three hours later, the Depression became Tropical Storm Gustav. It continued to develop and became a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds shortly before make landfall in south-west Haiti. The system was strong, but the circulation was relatively tight, and hurricane force winds were not widespread. It quickly weakened to a tropical storm and turned west while the eye was still over land and emerged on the 27th. It only had 45 mph winds and was very weak as it hit Jamaica but still caused major flooding. Over the 85 degree waters of the north Caribbean it intensified into a hurricane within half a day. By noon on August 30, Gustav had become the second major hurricane of the season. It had 145 mph sustained winds in the eyewall and had doubled in size as it hit the Isle of Youth, Cuba. It made landfall in mainland Cuba with 150 mph winds and an internal pressure of 941 millibars. It weakened as it emerged into the Gulf, but probably will gain strength as it approaches Louisiana. Gustav picked up speed before landfall and hit south-east Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph winds at 11 o'clock Eastern Time, September 1. Even over land Gustav remained organized and convection continued to flare up around the center and it slowly weakened and moved north-west. It weakened to a low on September 4 and dissipated the next day. In total Gustav caused $20 billion in damage and 125 deaths, 25 of them being in the United States.



Gustav shortly after landfall.



Track of Gustav.

Tropical Storm Fay (2008)

Storm Active: August 15-25

On August 7, a strong tropical wave moved off Africa. Over the next few days, it fluctuated in strength and on August 15, the tropical wave finally became Tropical Sotrm Fay with 40 mph winds and a pressure of 1006 mb. It made landfall in the Dominician Republic and then Cuba as it moved steadily west-north-west. Then,it turned north and hit the Florida Keys on August 18. Less then a day later Fay slammed into Florida with 60 mph winds and a pressure of 998 mb. Fay reached its peak intensity of 65 mph and a pressure of 986 mb over Florida on August 19. The next day, Fay emerged into the Atlantic Ocean with 45 mph winds. Fay strengthened back to 60 mph before drifting westward into Florida once again. Soon after it made it seventh and final landfall (a record fourth landfall in Florida) and continued north-east. Flooding was recorded from Fay up into New England over the next few days.



Fay at peak intensity over south-central Florida.



Track of Fay.

Tropical Storm Edouard (2008)

Storm Duration: August 3- 6

A tropical wave formed in the north Gulf of Mexico on August 2. It intensified the next day into Tropical Depression Five, a and shortly after, Tropical Storm Edouard. Tropical Storm Edouard currently has winds of 45 mph and a pressure of 1002 millibars as it drifts slowly west towards Texas. Over the next day, Edouard gained strength and by early August 5, it had 65 mph winds and a pressure of 997 millibars as it was making landfall. It made landfall soon after and weakened quickly. It was totally gone by August 6. No major damage resulted from this storm.



Tropical Storm Edouard approaching Texas.

Basins Where Tropical Cyclones Form

Basically, tropical cyclones form all over the world. They form in the north Atlantic, the North-east Pacific, the North-west Pacific, the South-east Pacific (including Australia), the South Indian. and the North Indian Ocean. Although many cyclones (over 30% of the total) many also form elsewhere. In addition,in the Atlantic and north-east Pacific they are called hurricanes, in the north-west Pacific they are called Typhoons, and in all other basins they are simply referred to as cyclones.



Click on image to enlarge it.

All tropical cyclones in the world from 1985-2005. Note the lone tropical cyclone in the South Atlantic in the time period. This had the strength of a Category 2 hurricane at landfall. It was named Cyclone Catarina because it made landfall in close proximity to Santa Catarina, Brazil. It caused approximately 5 fatalities and $400,000,000 worth of damage (wealth adjusted for 2008.)
Image from Wikipedia.

Hurricane Dolly (2008)

Storm Active: July 20-25

Around July 13, a tropical wave formed just east of the Winward islands and tracked slowly through the Caribbean. It was named Tropical Storm Dolly on July 20. Over the next day it crossed the Yucatan pennisula and emerged in the Gulf of Mexico. Dolly intensified rapidly on July 22 and by noon, had 70 mph winds and a minimum pressure of 991 millibars. Dolly kept being upgraded and by noon, Dolly was a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds and a pressure of 964 millibars. By this time, heavy rain along with tropical storm force winds were over parts of Texas and Mexico. Soon after, Dolly made landfall. Over ten inches of rain were dumped locally over the next three days, but eventually, Dolly dissipated. Dolly had caused twenty deaths and $1.5 billion in damage.




Dolly at peak intensity before reaching landfall.




Track of Dolly.

Tropical Storm Cristobal (2008)

Storm Duration: July 18-23

On July 15, a wave organized west of Florida. But before it had time to develop, it crossed over Florida. It emerged and organized on July 17. Then, very late on July 18, the wave became Tropical Depression Three with 30 mph winds and a pressure of 1009 millibars. On July 19, Tropical Depression Three became Tropical Storm Cristobal just off the coast of Charleston. Shortly after, it became Tropical Storm Cristobal with 45 mph winds and a pressure of 1005 millibars. Cristobal's strength fluctuated over the next few days and stedily moved off the coast but it quickly weakened and became extratropical on July 23.

All times are in Eastern standard time.



Tropical Depression Three shortly before being named.



Track of Cristobal.