Tropical Cyclone Encounters In the

Bahamas Between 1981 and

1988
General Meteorology
Charvari Watson-Rahming
Friday October 2nd, 2015
 Objectives
• Define the term “Tropical Cyclone”.
• List the cyclones that made landfall in the
Bahamas between 1981-1988
• Identify the storms that had a substantial impact
on the Bahamas
• List and discuss the importance of the sectors
most affected
• List other pertinent information regarding the
storms
• Summarize findings in a synopsis
 What is a Tropical Cyclone?
• A tropical cyclone is the generic term for a
non-frontal synoptic scale low-pressure
system over tropical or sub-tropical waters
with organized convection (i.e. thunderstorm
activity) and definite cyclonic surface wind
circulation (Holland 1993).
 Hierarchy of Tropical Cyclones
Term Wind Speed (knots)

Tropical Depression < 34

Tropical Storm 34-63

Hurricane < 63

Hurricane Intensity Wind Speed (Knots)

Category 1 64-82
Category 2 83-95
Category 3 96-112
Category 4 113-136
Category 5 >137
 Summary of Atlantic Hurricane
Seasons 1981 - 1988
14

12
12
11 11 11

10

8
7 7 7

6 6 6
6
5 5 5

4 4 4 4
4
3 3 3 3

2 2
2
1

0
1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988

Named Storms Hurricanes Tropical Storms

 Summary: Tropical Cyclones Making
Year
Landfall
Name
In The Bahamas
Category
(1981
Date of Impact
– 1988)
Maximum Winds
1981 Arlene Tropical Storm May 8th 58
1981 Gert Hurricane – 2 11th September 98
1981 Katrina Hurricane – 1 6th November 75
1983 Barry Tropical Storm 24th August 46
1983 Dean Tropical Storm 26th September 40
1984 Isidore Tropical Storm 27th September 58
1984 Josephine Hurricane – 1 10th October 81
1985 Gloria Hurricane – 4 25th September 144
1985 Isabel Tropical Storm 8th October 69
1985 Kate Hurricane – 2 19th November 109
1987 Emily Tropical Storm 23rd September 63
1987 Floyd Tropical Storm 13th October 69
 Hurricane Katrina (1981)
• 11th named tropical cyclone in the region
• Formed from a system of clouds over the western
Caribbean Sea
• Timeline
– 4th November - Developed into a tropical storm while
drifting over the Cayman Islands
– 6th November (a.m.) - Made landfall in Eastern Cuba
– 6th November (p.m.) – Made landfall in Eastern
Bahamas, crosses over Long Island and
continues northeast, south of Exuma and Near
San Salvador
Track of Hurricane Katrina
 Impacts of Hurricane Katrina (1981)
• Received up to 14 inches of rain (360 mm)
• Agricultural damages in Long Island
– Watermelon
– Tomatoes
– Corn
• Financial Impact
– With a population of over 5,000, Long Island is the
leading stock-rearing island and its farmers also grow
corn, peas, bananas, pineapples and other crops.
– Flood damage jeopardized the integrity of the crops
and prevented income for commercial farmers.
 Tropical Storm Isidore (1984)
• 9th named tropical cyclone in the region
• Last of 8 named storms occurring in September
– (most named storms occurring in one month since 1886)
• Developed near the southeast Bahamas from a frontal
system producing a closed low level circulation
– Same frontal system spawned a prior cyclone (Hortense)
• Timeline
– 25th September - Develops into a depression
– 26th September – Intensifies into TS, Moves through Bahamas
passing across San Salvador, Southern Cat Island and Northern
Andros
– 28th September – Moves past Florida twice, causing extensive
flooding and damage
Track of Tropical Storm Isidore
 Impacts of Tropical Storm Isidore
• Cyclone produced flood rains and gales
• Financial Sector – Banks were closed for a few days
– Significant financial impact due to the delay of transactions
– the sector contributes an estimated 15% of the country's
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Central Bank
2015)
– Employed about 3680 persons in both domestic and
offshore sectors (1995)
– Average wages of individuals approximately at
$33,000 per annum (1995)

• Education sector – Schools were closed for a few

days
– No financial impact
 Hurricane Kate (1985)
• 11th named tropical cyclone in the region
– Latest to strike the United States on record (November 1985)
• Developed as a result of the combination of a weak tropical
wave with an upper level trough (200 mb) northeast of the
Virgin Islands
• Timeline
– 14th November – Interaction of wave with upper level trough
– 15th November – Attained TS status, named Kate
– 16th November – upper level anti-cyclone (remnant from
trough) builds north eastward above Florida straits, establishes
excellent outflow pattern. Intensifies to hurricane status with
favorable atmospheric and sea temperature conditions
– 19th November – Hurricane Kate moves westward through
southeast Bahamas, jut north off the north coast of Inagua
Track of Hurricane Kate
 Impacts of Hurricane Kate
• Storm accompanied by lots of rain and winds of 90 mph
• Agricultural Impact
– “Ham radio operators reported on Bahamian radio that several
farms on Long Island were severely damaged.”
• Infrastructural Impact
– “There was little news from the sparsely-inhabited Out Islands
struck by Kate Monday. Officials feared the mostly-wooden
buildings on Great Inagua and Crooked Island may have suffered
great damage.”
– “E.R. Hanna, a contractor on Acklins Island, told ZNS television
news by radio telephone that the roof of the post office blew off
in that small Bahamian island. Other than that, Kate only
brought ``lots of rain and wind.``”
 Tropical Storm Floyd (1987)
• 6th named tropical cyclone in the region and third hurricane
– The first October hurricane to hit Florida in 19 years
• Developed from a broad area of low pressure over the Gulf of Honduras
• Timeline
– 9th October – Low pressure system becomes more organized, upgraded to a
tropical depression
– 10th October – Upper level ridge over eastern Caribbean changes the direction of
the depression from a southeastern drift to a northern bearing, strengthens into
a tropical storm
– 11th October – Low level trough situated over the Gulf of Mexico steers TS Floyd
to Western tip of Cuba
– 12th October – Upgraded to hurricane status, approaching trough from the
northwest causes warm moist inflow to storm to be replaced by cool dry air
stationary front across central Florida, storm steered east
– 12th October (p.m.) – Passes east of Florida Cays and south of Miami as a
weakening system due to the disruption of deep convective clouds near the eye.
Disorganized system downgraded back to TS status
– October 13th – TS Floyd moves Northeast of Northern Bahamas, near the
northern tip of Abaco and south of Grand Bahama
Track of Tropical Storm Floyd
 Impacts of Tropical Storm Floyd
• Highest gusts at 48 mph, sustained winds of
40 mph in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
– Caused infrastructural damage to the Freeport
International Airport’s roof
– Tourism and Infrastructural impact minimal
Financial impact – minimal (roof repairs)
 Synopsis of Report
• Out of 66 named storms between the period of 1981-1988, only 12 tropical cyclones
made landfall in the Bahamas’ archipelagic chain
• Out of the 12, only four storms were reported to have contributed significant/
noteworthy damage to the country.
– Inactive years during the Atlantic hurricane season, with the exception of 1987, did not contribute any
storms that made any significant damage
– Active years, with the exception of 1988, contributed cyclonic activity that impacted the Bahamas
• Out of the 4 named cyclones which made an impact on sectors of the country:
– Only one storm (Floyd 1987) exclusively affected the North Western Bahamas
– Three Storms (Katrina 1981, Isidore 1984 and Kate 1985) affected the southeastern Bahamas
– Tropical Storm Isidore was the sole hurricane that swept through the archipelagic chain and affected
the capital.
• None of the 4 named cyclones originated from the traditional trajectory of the South
African Basin and originated in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico
• The damages, in comparison to past and future storms were minimal, only tremendously
affecting the agricultural livelihood of subsistence and commercial farmers in Long Island
over a prolonged period (months compared to a few days)
• There were no reported loss of life during this period
•
References
Bahamas Meteorological Department: “Tropical Cyclones Which Affected The Bahamas”. ©2015
http://www.bahamasweather.org.bs/index.php?page=storm-history
• Carribbbean Hurricane Network :“Climatology of Caribbean Hurricanes – Bahamas and Turks and Caicos” ©
2011
http://stormcarib.com/climatology/BHMS_all_car.htm
• Chase, R.H: “Annual Summary-Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1985”, Volume 114, National Hurricane Center,
NWS NOAA, Miami Florida. July 1986
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1985.pdf
• Chase, R.H et. al.: “Annual Summary-Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1987”,National Hurricane Center, NWS
NOAA, Miami Florida; April 1988: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1987.pdf
• Holland, G.J. (1993): "Ready Reckoner" - Chapter 9, Global Guide to Tropical Cyclone Forecasting, WMO/TC-
No. 560, Report No. TCP-31, World Meteorological Organization; Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqREF.html#H
• Lawrence, M.B. et al: “Annual Summary – Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1981”, Volume 110, National
Hurricane Center, NWS NOAA, Coral Gables Florida. July 1982
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1981.pdf
• Lawrence, M.B. et. al.: “Annual Summary – Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1984” Volume 113, National
Hurricane Center, NWS NOAA, Miami Florida. July 1985
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1984.pdf
• Nevins, B. “Nassau Tourists Annoyed By Storm” Sun Sentinel” November 19th, 1985.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-11-19/news/8502210938_1_waite-nassau-tourist
• Staff Writer (1987-10-14). "Floyd Nicks Bahamas, Fades Into Oblivion". Miami Herald.
Retrieved 2009-07-03.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Floyd_(1987)#cite_note-News2-13
• Staff Writer (September 27, 1984). "Storm Isidore Soaks Nassau, Heads Towards Florida's Coast". The Dallas
Morning News. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Isidore_(1984)#cite_note-12
• Staff Writer (November 10, 1981). "Katrina fizzles out after destructive run". Syracuse Herald-Journal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina_(1981)#cite_note-NEWS3-15