Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. fences and trees.". near Hawai'i. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. 1960s It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11, killing six and causing $2 billion in damage. Hawaii typically records four or five hurricanes each year, although as many as 11 have occurred, including during the 1992 and 1994 seasons. about 6 o'clock A.M. from the North, and rapidly rotating to the West and A brief summary of the three most significant hurricanes to affect Hawaii in modern times: was the strongest, deadliest, and most damaging hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. One fisherman was reported missing. When tropical cyclones approach Hawaii, they tend to come from the southeast. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Knowledge awaits. 68 mph (110 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. August is the peak month for tropical cyclones in the central Pacific basin, chalking up twice as many (74) as September (37) from 1971-2013, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. In other words, hurricanes aren't even physically possible in Hawaii for over half of the year. Since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused serious damage in Hawaii. codes, with Kaua'i opting for higher standards of construction by requiring Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. On Aug. 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. In El Nio years, this idea changes some. There haven't been enough hurricanes and tropical storms since about 1950 when good recordkeeping started for a statistically significant trend, Lin said. before passing directly over Kaua'i on the Thanks for reading Scientific American. Hurricane Iniki. The article was first published on August 7, 2014. Rainfall up to 5 inches was also reported in Oahu. All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. hurricane force wind, (and) sea increasing " before entering the eye Since records have been kept starting in 1950, there has not been a hurricane to hit the big island of Hawaii, though tropical storms are common. Hurricane Dot (1959) caused damage to Kauai. * November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a Category 1 hurricane that formed south of Hawaii. On Aug. 6, Dot began weakening, and at its landfall in Kauai, Dot was only a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Iselle, which retained hurricane strength after showing signs of weakening, is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 on the Big Island on Thursday night, bringing with it strong winds and torrential rains. The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. Well you can! Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. An example from the Big Island Miraculously, only six deaths were Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped over 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in 14 hours. Sea-surface temperatures are typically warmer the further south you get in the northern Pacific, which means a tropical cyclone moving toward Hawaii from the south would have a better chance of surviving to the islands. On July 28, 2013, the storm appeared headed for a direct hit to the Big Island, home to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). * August 1988: Hurricane Uleki approached the state. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care, Tropical storms and hurricanes are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, but 2014 is one of their most active years on record. 1800s. of conclusive identification of hurricanes did not began until the tracking No Dot-related deaths were recorded. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded. was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii. High surf with heights of up to 15 feet were reported on the windward sections of Big Island. By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the Island of Lanai? Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. As noted in Chapter 6, environmental conditions in the Hawai'i region offer some protection from powerful storms. Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. Wave heights between 15 and 20 feet was reported on Kauai. Quotes from captains and civilians describe a severe windstorm that ravaged the islands for several hours. Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. Two people were injured by lightning. When tropical cyclones approach Hawaii, they tend to come from the southeast. Nina's closest approach to land, which was relatively far off the coast, was only about 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Kauai. The only other storm to do so was in1958. These winds, which help to keep us from overheating, also act to separate thunderstorms from the center of the approaching hurricane resulting in a lot of rain, but rarely a full-blown hurricane. Three hurricanes struck the island of Kauai hard, including the most. Copyright 2020 Hawaii News Now. This is because water currents bring cooler water from Alaska, down the eastern Pacific Ocean alongthe U.S. West Coast and into the central Pacific. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped more than 20 inches of rain in 14 hours. A sidewalk is ripped up and littered with downed palm trees after Hurricane Iniki slammed the island of Kauai, Hawaii in September, 1992. * August 2004: The remnants of Hurricane Darby passed over the islands and combined with an upper level trough to create unstable moisture, dropping up to 5 inches of rain in a few hours on the Big Island, causing flooding and road closures. Oahu has not been directly hit by a hurricane, though hurricanes have passed very close to the island. No further records are available, but extrapolation of its forward movement predicted that it would make landfall on the southern coast of the, August 9, 1871: Indigenous newspapers record a major category 3 hurricane causing significant damage across the islands of, November 1874: In November, a possible tropical cyclone may have dropped over 20 inches (510mm) of rain on, December 190203: A low-pressure system (known later as "The Froc Cyclone") that took a path similar to that of a tropical cyclone, passed through, October 1906: In October a tropical cyclone passed about 60 miles (97km) south of, November 1906: 90 miles (140km) south of Honolulu on November 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. As the moist air in the storm is pushed up Hawaiis volcanic peaks, it will cool and the water vapor in it will condense, adding to the rain the storm already produces. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. Another side effect of El Nio is that the trade winds that sometimes trap tropical cyclones well south of the islands relax, making these lingering storms south of the islands more susceptible to be drawn northward. The storm dissipated near British Columbia. November 1957: Hurricane Nina was a category one hurricane that formed in November south of Hawaii. Finally, if you've ever visited Maui, you're sure to have noticed the wind. Part of the reason this doesn't happen that often is just geography. Dot swung northward after apparently Both Iniki and 'Iwa struck Hawai'i during ENSO Both hit the island of Kauai. List of Hawaii hurricanes; 2012 Hawaii hailstorm; References This page was last edited on 26 June 2022, at . * August 1993: Hurricane Fernanda brought heavy surf of up to 15 feet on the east facing beaches from the Big Island to Kauai. High surf with waves of up to 10 feet impacted the eastern side of the Big Island. The storm remained powerful enough, however, to bring torrential rains, damaging surf and strong winds that destroyed crops, including over 1/2 of the state's papaya crop, and knocked down thousands of trees, particularly invasive albizia trees in the Puna District. Hurricane Dot arrived in 1959 and an unnamed storm occurred in 1871. * JulyAugust 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. further damage to fields of pineapple and other crops. More than three dozen hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, have impacted the Hawaiian islands since 1950, causing at least 12 deaths. The ocean surface temperature is usually near or below 27 C, a threshold for hurricane formation and survival, and wind shear that saps a storm's energy is common over the islands. 1950s. * July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. Unlike the Atlantic Basin, July is the second most active month (45) in the central Pacific basin. by Dr Jeff Masters, Weather Underground, October 16, 2014 (excerpt). The direct hit on the Big Island does present an interesting scientific prospect, in terms of monitoring how much the islands topography tears apart the storm. * 1982 Iwa 1, Find out more: Virtually all hurricanes near the Hawaiian Islands since 1949 have approached from the southeast, south or southwest. The dissipation of storms is even more evident in a closer view map (from Wikipedia) of the Central North Pacific zone. Six people were killed and more than 1,000 homes damaged during the 1992 hurricane. Plantation manager, D.D. , %*|? In total, 67 tropical cyclones have affected Hawaii since official record-keeping began in 1949. "[42] This has also drawn media attention. The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm. One such hurricane formed in an El Nio year: 1992. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which would . Quick Links Last Year's Storms All Storms USA Major Storms of the Last Decade Category 3-5 USA 2010-2019 Strongest North Atlantic Hurricanes Category 5 All-time Hurricane Katrina 2005 Impact Storm heavily damaged structures along the south coast. The figure below shows a 10-year moving average of tropical cyclone global landfalls from 1950 to . * January 1971: Although not having existed in the Central Pacific as a tropical cyclone, the extratropical low that was Tropical Storm Sarah in the West Pacific passed over Hawaii in mid January, causing high winds and heavy rain. Rainfall totals are expected to reach 5 to 8 inches across the islands, with some isolated pockets possibly seeing as much as 12 inches. waters has been available providing a complete catalog of all tropical cyclones . , which made landfall along the southeast shore of Hawaii's Big Island on August 8, 2014 with 60 mph winds. LIVE For live storm tracks, please visit the National Hurricane Center. During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. Hurricane expertMichael Lowrysays that dating to 1950, there is a 13 percent increase in the chance of a named storm to track within 100 miles of the Hawaii islands during an El Nio year (35 percent chance) than a neutral year (22 percent chance). 675 Wharf Street, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, HI 96761 COPYRIGHT 2021 HAWAII OCEAN PROJECT. * August 1970: Tropical Storm Maggie passed just south of the Big Island, dropping nearly 10 inches of rain. Damage was in excess of $6 million. This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). Again, that track was initially well south of Hawaii before it curled north. connected to the storm. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. 1930s. * August 2008: The remnants of Hurricane Hernan brought moisture to the Big Island, causing cloud and shower activity. * September 2005: The remnants of Hurricane Kenneth brought locally heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches falling on the Big Island. This is because water currents bring cooler water from Alaska, down the eastern Pacific Ocean alongthe U.S. West Coast and into the central Pacific. * October 2009: Hurricane Neki caused minor damage to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, striking the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a tropical storm. If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, saidNational Weather Servicemeteorologist Michael Cantin. either entering or forming in the Central North Pacific Zone between 140 and 180 west longitude has varied greatly The storm was weakening as it neared the Islands, with maximum sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees and caused major . there have been numerous reports of high winds and stormy conditions in Hawaiian Iwa killed one person and did $250 million in damage, making it the second most damaging hurricane to ever hit Hawaii. Classic cars. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. Well you can! Minor power outages and rain made traffic conditions hazardous. sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage. Old movies. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii is grateful for many near-misses from hurricanes in recent decades. systems in the South Pacific reverse or weaken. On average, about five tropical The most recent was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated Kauai, caused $1.8 billion in damages and killed six people. so extensive, it caused an insurance crisis in Hawai'i, prompting the State On Sept. 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the Cyclone of the Lark). Surf reached 10 feet along the Puna and Kau shorelines. * August 1994: Tropical Depression One-C passed just south of the islands, causing severe flooding in Hilo. * August 1999: Hurricane Dora caused minor wind gusts of up to 58 miles per hour on the southern part of Big Island as it passed south of Hawaii. Damage was The island of Kauai was especially hard hit by damaging winds. South, and increasing in fury, reached its climax "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . * July 1992: Hurricane Georgette brought locally squally winds over the state as a depression. However, as exemplified by Hurricane Lane, hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, rarely strike the Hawaiian islands directly. August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. Jonathan Belles, Jon Erdman and Linda Lam, Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains. August 1959: Hurricane Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii, but weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall on Kauai. Wind shear (the change in wind speed and/or direction with height) is typically stronger near the Hawaiian islands, acting to displace thunderstorms from the cyclone's center. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage, before dissipating. It's been more than two decades since the last hurricane hit the 50th state. All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. [citation needed], Hawaii's apparent immunity to most hurricanes, Before Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a standard homeowner's, Damage consistent with category 4 winds; rated category 3 due to terrain effects, Last edited on 23 November 2022, at 18:17, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument, List of wettest tropical cyclones to affect Hawaii, Tropical Cyclones During the Years 1900-1952, The 1957 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1958 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1959 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, 1963 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific, 1966 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific, The 1970 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1971 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1972 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1976 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1978 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1982 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1983 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1985 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1986 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1988 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1989 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1991 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, "Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update", The 1993 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 1999 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 2000 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 2003 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, The 2004 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season, 2005 Tropical Cyclones in the Central North Pacific, "Rescuers find body of Kauai hiker swept away by rushing river", "Remnants of Fernanda to bring humidity, possible thunderstorms", "Hurricane Hector Intermediate Advisory Number 33A", Lane Possibly Breaks Hawaii Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Record, "1 death from Hawaii storm Lane reported on Kauai", "Power Interrupted as Storm Remnants Hit Hawaii's Big Island", "Tropical Storm Erick Advisory Number 24", "NWSChat NOAA's National Weather Service", Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone published by the USGS Page 11, Maui not immune to hurricane strike published by, Video of Hurricane Flossie's breakup upon approach to Hawaii Island, US article: Hurricane Felicia strengthens, heads toward Hawaii, August 09, 2009, Western Regional Climate Center - Historic Wind Measurements, FEMA Definitions for Wind-Borne Debris Region, FEMA Definitions for Hurricane-Prone Region, History of Hurricanes in Hawaii, University of Hawaii, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Hawaii_hurricanes&oldid=1123431237, September 1843: The earliest report of a tropical cyclone that could have affected Hawaii was made in 1843. Sea-surface temperatures are typically warmer the further south you get in the northern Pacific, which means a tropical cyclone moving toward Hawaii from the south would have a better chance of surviving to the islands. During the winter and spring, Hawaii's waters average 77 degrees. They've also been known to come from the southwest, but rarely from the northeast or due east, where much cooler water comes down from Alaska on the west coast of North America. Over land, maximum sustained winds exceeded 140 mph, gusting to 175 mph, Nina moved north and took a sharp turn to the west without actually striking the state. [43][44] and caused "The wind commenced No Dot-related deaths were recorded. * July 1994: Tropical Storm Daniel dumped 5 inches of rain over the windward slopes of Big Island. Hurricane Estelle (1986) produced very high surf on Hawaii and Maui and floods on Oahu. This makes strong hurricanes close to Hawaii an unusual occurrence. The frequency of tropical storms Both hit the island of Kauai. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. Storm activity was expected to be normal or a . was the "Kohala Cyclone" of 1871. By summer, those same waters can reach 82 degrees. one of the most severe ENSO years on record. Table 5.54-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2020 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) By the big picture, we mean the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii lies in the central Pacific, where about four or five tropical cyclones appear each year, although as many as fifteen have occurred, such as in the 2015 season; rarely do these storms actually affect Hawaii. * September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. Two drownings on Oahu were attributed to rough surf caused by the hurricane. The storm wobbled northward toward the Islands, finally veering Rain was heavier elsewhere, with up to 8 inches falling near the North Shore. dark August 1958: On August 7, a tropical storm seemed to rapidly appear directly off the coast of Hilo. It had formed in the eastern . Usually that ridge of high pressure protects the islands.. * September 2005: An upper level trough which had resulted in the remnants of Hurricane Jova brought unstable conditions to Hawaii, allowing locally heavy rainfall to occur. Hawaii Free Press - All Rights Reserved. passing just to the west of Kaua'i. (MORE:4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For). [4] that many of these events were actually organized tropical cyclones, perhaps Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. From 1950 through 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. * September 1992: Hurricane Orlene struck Hawaii as a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall, washing out roads, shortly after Iniki ravaged Kauai. Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Rockslide In Californias Santa Monica Mountains, 4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For, Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get, Fewer Atlantic Hurricanes Expected This Season. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts in excess of 100 miles per hour. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. When asking why hurricanes rarely reach landfall in Hawaii, it's important to see the big picture. Hurricanes approaching from the east typically fall apart before they reach Hawaii due to the cool waters and dry air that lie to the east of the islands. and As pointed out by University of North Carolina - Charlotte graduate student Eric Webb, there was a case of a major hurricane punching through the Big Island and Maui in August 1871, as a January 2018 study uncovered. The storm slammed into Hawaii in September as a Category 4 hurricane and was blamed for six fatalities. Hurricane Nina (1957) produced record winds in Honolulu. Image credit: NOAA/CSC. On average, the coldest month is January, with high temperatures of 82 and average lows of 64 with 3 days of rain. Along the southern coast, many structures were wiped out by storm surge flooding and large, battering waves. Andrea Thompson, an associate editor at Scientific American, covers sustainability. I don't think that has happened before, Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, said in an email. about 9 AM when it suddenly lulled into a calm fearfully in contrast with Storm surge and overwash and www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/poster/hurricane/, Olivia is forecast to approach the main Hawaiian Islands from the east early next week, but it is too soon, The listed individuals are wanted by the Hawaii Police Department because of outstanding warrants. It's this high-pressure zone that keeps Hawaii's weather fairly consistent throughout the year. Earlier windstorms that struck Hawaii were not labeled as hurricanes. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Historically, Considered the most catastrophic hurricane in Hawaii history, Iniki originated in 1992, which was also an El Nio year. Dr.Knabb, also a former deputy director at NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, points out thatthere is no meteorological reason why the core of a major hurricane can't directly hit Honolulu, resulting in destructive storm surge flooding, wind damage, and rainfall flooding affecting a metro population (minus tourists) of just under 400,000. Additionally, at total of 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Like 'Iwa, Iniki formed south of Hawai'i during a strong The wind was accompanied with The storm spurred counties to reevaluate building Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. Follow Andrea Thompson on TwitterCredit: Nick Higgins. Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014became only the second tropical storm, and the strongest, to landfall on the Big Island dating to 1950. Damages from Dot cost no more than a few million dollars, and rainfall was relatively light; around 4 inches (100 mm). {.FJ!FFK2IHxyDsSw0IA1?T6],#LP_C%`L }^d"!sQq2OI\t)dO6O6!EgKzPBI{?B$_O |3x!L. Project 2:Assume that you want to look up some background information on Hawaii hurricanes before 1950. especially both as hurricanes! Virtually every system approaching Hawaii from the east since 1950 tracking at least as far north as the latitude of the Big Island of Hawaii eventually weakened to a tropical storm or depression by the time it reached the islands. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. Additionally, more than 52 inches of rain fell over four days in Kauai. In fact, in nearly 150 years, only three hurricanes have reached landfall in Hawaii. In Hawaii, where many people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods (yes, we're raising our hands), this is a sc Hawaii Ocean Project Wind shear (the change in wind speed and/or direction with height) is typically stronger near the Hawaiian islands, acting to displace thunderstorms from the cyclone's center. November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaii's most damaging hurricanes. * November 1982: Hurricane Iwa was one of Hawaiis most damaging hurricanes. (MORE:Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get). [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. The world's coral reefs are dying. Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour. Most years, the water is too coolfor most tropical systems to arrive from the due east. At least 29 people have died in Hawaii as a result of tropical cyclones since 1949. Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. It remains the second costliest East/Central Pacific hurricane on record, only behind Hurricane Paul in 1982. Although it was only a category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour. Damage is unrecorded. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. A gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded at South Point. In fact, hurricane expert Michael Lowry told the Weather Channel there is a 35% chance of a hurricane coming within 100 miles of Hawaii in an El Nio year vs. 22% in a non-El Nio year. [47]Tropical Storm Flossie (not to be confused with Hurricane Flossie in 2007) provides still another example. Hawaiian From 1950 through 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. How frequent are hurricanes in Hawaii? Over 1400 homes were destroyed While it is probable over O'ahu severe enough to knock out power in Honolulu for several hours * November 1874: A possible tropical cyclone may have dropped more than 20 inches of rain on Honolulu and southerly gales destroyed 23 homes and damaged at least 50. According to the NOAA historical hurricane database, from 1950 - 2017, only 14 hurricanes have ever passed within 200 miles of Hawaii. Previous. 68 mph (109 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. Hurricanes hit Hawaii less frequently because of where the islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. north to the Island's latitude and curved northeast, Hawaii's official hurricane season runs from June to November, and an average season generally sees three to five hurricanes in the Central Pacific. Hawaii has not been directly hit by a hurricane in 22 years, and only three times since 1950, though it has endured nearly 150 tropical cyclones in that time, according to the AP. The last one to do so was Category 1 Hurricane Ana in October 2014, whose center came within 70 miles of the far western Hawaiian island of Niihau.