Hurricane Ivan (1998)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Ivan was the tenth named storm of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season
. It was a Category 1 hurricane that did not affect land as a hurricane or tropical storm. Like Hurricane Jeanne later in the season, Hurricane Ivan was originally seen as a threat to the Azores
, but it passed far enough to the north that no effects were seen there.
Hurricane Ivan began as a tropical wave that formed over Africa on the Prime Meridian
. As it tracked westward, some deep convection diminished. By September 16 it emerged into the Atlantic from the coast of west Africa. Changes in intensity throughout its duration were gradual, as it either slowly strengthened or weakened. This was due to both relatively warm water temperatures as well as relatively high wind shear. Ivan became extratropical on early September 27 as it moved toward Europe
.
Hurricane Ivan shared the Atlantic with Hurricanes Georges
, Jeanne
and Karl
. There were no reports of damage or fatalities associated with Hurricane Ivan, which was only a primary concern to the North Atlantic shipping industry.
on September 14. Deep convection diminished as the wave neared the west coast of Africa. On September 16 the remaining deep convection from the tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic near Dakar, Senegal. Deep convection redeveloped as the wave passed to the south of the Cape Verde
Islands on September 17. Convection became more deep and concentrated toward the center on September 18.
On September 20 at 1500 UTC the tropical wave was upgraded to Tropical Depression Nine. The newly formed tropical depression was located about 545 miles (877.1 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands. It was predicted to quickly become a tropical storm. Later that day at 0300 UTC (September 21) Tropical Depression Nine was upgraded to a tropical storm and given the name Ivan.
Ivan became a tropical storm while roughly 580 miles (933.4 km) west of Cape Verde Islands. Tropical Storm Ivan moved generally to the north west before moving to the north and then to the north-north west. By September 23 at 2100 UTC, Tropical Storm Ivan was upgraded to a hurricane. At about this time, Ivan moved on a relatively northward course. Soon thereafter, Hurricane Ivan turned to the northeast and began to accelerate. It gradually strengthened reaching peak intensity on September 26 at 0600 UTC. Maximum sustained winds reached 90 mph (144.8 km/h) and minimum pressure was at 975 mbar.
Hurricane Ivan began to weaken slightly shortly after peak intensity. As Ivan passed nearly 200 mi (321.9 km) north of the northern Azores
it weakened and the eye feature began to disappear, which indicated that it was losing tropical characteristics. On September 27 at 0600 UTC, Tropical Storm Ivan was declared extratropical as it raced across the northeast Atlantic with a forward speed of about 35 mph (56.3 km/h). The remnants of Ivan were last noted later that day at around 1800 UTC.
, Hurricane Karl was located over the Central Atlantic, and Hurricane Jeanne was located in the southeastern Atlantic. Hurricane Ivan was one of four simultaneously active hurricanes in the Atlantic, the first such occurrence since August 22, 1893. Three hurricanes also co-existed in the Atlantic on September 11, 1961, with a possible fourth.
1998 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1998, and lasted until November 30, 1998. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin; however, the season extended through December 1 as Hurricane Nicole remained...
. It was a Category 1 hurricane that did not affect land as a hurricane or tropical storm. Like Hurricane Jeanne later in the season, Hurricane Ivan was originally seen as a threat to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, but it passed far enough to the north that no effects were seen there.
Hurricane Ivan began as a tropical wave that formed over Africa on the Prime Meridian
Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian is the meridian at which the longitude is defined to be 0°.The Prime Meridian and its opposite the 180th meridian , which the International Date Line generally follows, form a great circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.An international...
. As it tracked westward, some deep convection diminished. By September 16 it emerged into the Atlantic from the coast of west Africa. Changes in intensity throughout its duration were gradual, as it either slowly strengthened or weakened. This was due to both relatively warm water temperatures as well as relatively high wind shear. Ivan became extratropical on early September 27 as it moved toward Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Hurricane Ivan shared the Atlantic with Hurricanes Georges
Hurricane Georges
Hurricane Georges was a very destructive, powerful and long-lived Cape Verde-type Category 4 hurricane. Georges was the seventh tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season...
, Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne (1998)
Hurricane Jeanne was the tenth named storm of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a Category 2 hurricane that did not affect land while tropical, although it brushed the Cape Verde Islands. Hurricane Jeanne was seen as a threat to the Azores. However, Jeanne caused some gusty winds in the...
and Karl
Hurricane Karl (1998)
Hurricane Karl was one of four active hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean on September 26, 1998. The 11th tropical cyclone and named storm of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, Karl developed from a non-tropical low pressure system that was noted off the coast of the Carolinas...
. There were no reports of damage or fatalities associated with Hurricane Ivan, which was only a primary concern to the North Atlantic shipping industry.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave that would eventually become Hurricane Ivan was first seen near the Prime MeridianPrime Meridian
The Prime Meridian is the meridian at which the longitude is defined to be 0°.The Prime Meridian and its opposite the 180th meridian , which the International Date Line generally follows, form a great circle that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.An international...
on September 14. Deep convection diminished as the wave neared the west coast of Africa. On September 16 the remaining deep convection from the tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic near Dakar, Senegal. Deep convection redeveloped as the wave passed to the south of the Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
Islands on September 17. Convection became more deep and concentrated toward the center on September 18.
On September 20 at 1500 UTC the tropical wave was upgraded to Tropical Depression Nine. The newly formed tropical depression was located about 545 miles (877.1 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands. It was predicted to quickly become a tropical storm. Later that day at 0300 UTC (September 21) Tropical Depression Nine was upgraded to a tropical storm and given the name Ivan.
Ivan became a tropical storm while roughly 580 miles (933.4 km) west of Cape Verde Islands. Tropical Storm Ivan moved generally to the north west before moving to the north and then to the north-north west. By September 23 at 2100 UTC, Tropical Storm Ivan was upgraded to a hurricane. At about this time, Ivan moved on a relatively northward course. Soon thereafter, Hurricane Ivan turned to the northeast and began to accelerate. It gradually strengthened reaching peak intensity on September 26 at 0600 UTC. Maximum sustained winds reached 90 mph (144.8 km/h) and minimum pressure was at 975 mbar.
Hurricane Ivan began to weaken slightly shortly after peak intensity. As Ivan passed nearly 200 mi (321.9 km) north of the northern Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
it weakened and the eye feature began to disappear, which indicated that it was losing tropical characteristics. On September 27 at 0600 UTC, Tropical Storm Ivan was declared extratropical as it raced across the northeast Atlantic with a forward speed of about 35 mph (56.3 km/h). The remnants of Ivan were last noted later that day at around 1800 UTC.
Impact
The National Hurricane Center underestimated how intense Hurricane Ivan would become, never discussing the possibility it might become a hurricane. On September 26, Hurricane Georges was over the Straits of FloridaStraits of Florida
The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a strait located south-southeast of the North American mainland, generally accepted to be between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and between the Florida Keys and Cuba. The strait carries the Florida Current, the beginning of...
, Hurricane Karl was located over the Central Atlantic, and Hurricane Jeanne was located in the southeastern Atlantic. Hurricane Ivan was one of four simultaneously active hurricanes in the Atlantic, the first such occurrence since August 22, 1893. Three hurricanes also co-existed in the Atlantic on September 11, 1961, with a possible fourth.
See also
- Other storms named Ivan
- List of tropical cyclone names