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1989 HURRICANE HUGO
- SUMMARY & IMAGES |
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DATES: 9-25 September, 1989
HIGHEST WINDS: 160 mph
LOWEST PRESSURE: 918 mb |
DAMAGE: $10 Billion (1989 USD)
$15.6 Billion (2005 USD)
FATALITIES: 70-100 (Direct) |
AREAS AFFECTED: Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Dominica, British & U.S.
Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, North Carolina |
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Hurricane Hugo was a large and powerful hurricane that devastated
portions of the Caribbean and South Carolina in September, 1989. A
tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa, on September 9th.
Moving westward, it reached tropical storm strength on September 11th,
and hurricane strength on the 13th. Hugo rapidly intensified and briefly
reached Category Five intensity, with sustained winds of 160 mph, while
well out in the Atlantic. A NOAA reconnaissance flight into Hugo, at
this time, was severely damaged, necessitating an emergency evacuation
from the storm. Turning to the west-northwest, Hugo entered the
Caribbean as a Category Four hurricane, passing directly over
Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, and the eastern tip of Puerto Rico,
winds in these locations were estimated to have been near 150 mph. Hugo
weakened as it interacted with Puerto Rico, but quickly re-strengthened
over the Atlantic. Continuing towards the northwest, Hugo made a final
landfall near Charleston, South Carolina on the evening of September
21st, as a Category Four, with sustained winds of 135 mph. Accelerating,
Hugo moved rapidly north-northwest spreading hurricane conditions far
inland. Hugo finally weakened to tropical storm near Charlotte, North
Carolina. The storm continued north as an extra-tropical low, tracking
over the Eastern Great Lakes and parts of Eastern Canada. Hugo was
responsible for $10 Billion (1989 USD) in damage and, at the time, was
the costliest hurricane in U.S. history. Though sources differ on the
number of fatalities, Hugo is estimated to have killed between 70-100
people. View a PDF the full 1989 seasonal report from the
Monthly Weather Review, or the post-storm
Natural Disaster Survey Report.
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Track of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Hugo made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 18th and in South Carolina on September 21st. In this AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) false-color image, A strengthening Hurricane Hugo is approaching landfall in South Carolina on the afternoon of September 21, 1989. The category four storm crossed the coast just north of Charleston with sustained winds of 135 mph and gusts near 160 mph. Hurricane Hugo reaches Category Five intensity on the evening of September 15, 1989. The storm's minimum central pressure reached a low of 918 mb (27.11in) and maximum sustained winds increased to 160 mph. The tropical Atlantic Ocean is driven into a fury by Hurricane Hugo on the afternoon of September 15, 1989. This photo taken from a NOAA reconnaissance aircraft penetrating the hurricane at an altitude of 1500 feet graphically illustrates the huge waves and long white streaks of sea-foam produced by the hurricane-force winds. Surface winds at the time of this photo are estimated at 115 mph. Winds increase along the northeast coast of Puerto Rico at Fajardo as Hurricane Hugo approaches on the evening of September 17, 1989. Spreading out well in advance of the storm, Hurricane Hugo's cirrus shield advances across San Juan, Puerto Rico in this image looking southeast. At the time of this photo, Hugo's center is east-southeast of St.Croix, BVI on the afternoon of September 17, 1989. An ominous sunset and stiffening breeze on the evening of September 17, 1989 herald the arrival of Hurricane Hugo. This image was taken on the southeast coast of Puerto Rico at Playa de Humacao. The damage caused by Hurricane Hugo's violent winds is graphically evident at the Sunny Isles Condominium in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Gusts to 150 mph ravaged the 20-story building ripping entire windows, including the frames, from the concrete. With the extensive window and glass door failures, the interior of the structure was decimated from the effects of wind and water. September 18, 1989 An interior bathroom is the only thing left standing on the second floor of this home in Luquillo, Puerto Rico after the first half of Hurricane Hugo on the morning of September 18, 1989. This image was taken during the arrival of the storm's calm eye. As Hurricane Hugo's eye moves over Northeastern Puerto Rico, stunned residents and storm chasers survey the damage in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. September 18, 1989 Wood-frame construction was no match for Hurricane Hugo's violent winds in Luquillo, Puerto Rico on September 18, 1989. This image was taken during the 30 minute lull of Hugo's eye. An aluminum awning torn loose from a building and propelled by Hurricane Hugo's 150 mph winds proves to be a formidable force for a car in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. September 18, 1989. Downed Australian Pines and snapped Cocoanut Palms frame the landscape between Luquillo and San Juan, Puerto Rico following the violent passage of Hurricane Hugo on the morning of September 18, 1989. Hurricane Hugo's intense winds downed thousands of utility poles across eastern Puerto Rico blocking many major roadways and creating a nightmare with the islands electrical infra-structure. September 18, 1989 Hurricane Hugo's intense winds snapped this utility pole, east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, into three pieces on the morning of September 18, 1989. Toppled trees and shattered windows are the norm at the San Juan, Puerto Rico airport following Hurricane Hugo's passage on the morning of September 18, 1989. Huge metal lamp posts, at the San Juan International Airport, were bent in half by Hurricane Hugo's violent winds on the morning of September 18, 1989. Isla Verde in San Juan, Puerto Rico is a tangled mess of uprooted trees and felled utility poles following Hurricane Hugo's passage on the morning of September 18, 1989. Cumulus cloud "streets" can be seen over and to the east of the northern end of Andros Island in the Bahamas on the afternoon of September 19, 1989, as Hurricane Hugo passes well to the northeast. A strengthening Hurricane Hugo is approaching landfall in South Carolina in the visible satellite image on the afternoon of September 21, 1989. This enhanced infra-red satellite image shows Hurricane Hugo at landfall near Charleston, South Carolina on the evening of September 21, 1989. Hurricane Hugo nears landfall in South Carolina, as seen from the Charleston radar. September 21, 1989. Hurricane Hugo's violent eyewall spreads ashore during the storm's landfall in South Carolina, as seen from the Charleston radar. September 21, 1989. Hurricane Hugo inland over South Carolina, about to cross into North Carolina, as seen from the Charleston radar. September 21, 1989. Romain Retreat, at the southeast corner of Bulls Bay, South Carolina, received the strongest part of Hurricane Hugo's eyewall with estimated sustained winds of 135 mph, gusting to 160 mph and a 20 ft storm surge. Prior to Hugo there were 43 homes in this development. Coastal damage in South Carolina following Hurricane Hugo's passage on September 21, 1989. This base reflectivity image, taken with the lower fuselage radar onboard a NOAA reconnaissance aircraft vividly depicts the pronounced "logarithmic" spiral structure of Hurricane Hugo as well as the storm's extremely violent inner core and eyewall. At the time of this photo, Hugo is near its peak intensity with a central pressure of 918mb (27.11in) and sustained winds of 160mi/h...Category Five. September 15, 1989 This close-up view of Hurricane Hugo's inner-core and eyewall is superimposed with the flight path of a NOAA reconnaissance aircraft which penetrated the eye of the category five hurricane with nearly disastrous results. The numbers along the flight path indicate the peak winds encountered by the NOAA research plane. Just before entering the eye, the plane recorded a ten-second flight-level (1500ft) wind of 190mi/h and over seven "G's" of force in extreme turbulence which dislodged several large pieces of equipment in the aircraft and incapacitated one engine. The seriously underpowered aircraft had to dump fuel and make a perilous climb, within the eye of the hurricane, to reach a higher altitude escape path. September 15, 1989 The violent eyewall of Hurricane Hugo looms ominously in the background as a crippled NOAA reconnaissance aircraft climbs to a higher altitude to escape. September 15, 1989 Airborne radar image of Hurricane Hugo approaching the US Virgin Islands on the afternoon of September 17, 1989. Airborne radar image of Hurricane Hugo approaching the US Virgin Islands on the afternoon of September 17, 1989
Track of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Hugo made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 18th and in South Carolina on September 21st.
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