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Hurricane Lili (1990)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Lili was a moderate tropical cyclone
of the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season
. It began as a subtropical cyclone
over the central Atlantic and became a hurricane while moving westward toward the United States
. Lili did not gain any additional strength before curving away from land and weakening into a tropical storm. After transitioning into an extratropical cyclone
, it made landfall in southeastern Newfoundland. Overall, the hurricane's effects on land were minimal, despite multiple tropical cyclone watches and warnings. Initial uncertainty in its track prompted some concern of a landfall in North Carolina
, but it remained predominately over the open ocean.
. By October 6, the low moved to the surface
, and upon doing so it immediately became a subtropical cyclone
. The system slowly moved toward the southwest for several days, gradually gaining the characteristics of a tropical cyclone
; subsequent to turning westward and accelerating in forward speed, it became a hurricane at 0000 UTC on October 11. Steered by a ridge
to the north, Hurricane Lili continued on its westward track. It never intensified significantly, and reached its peak intensity with windspeeds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum air pressure of 987 mbar
(hPa; 29.15 inHg) concurrently with its upgrade into a hurricane. Afterward, its air pressure began to slowly rise. Late on October 11, the cyclone passed about 140 mi (225.3 km) south of Bermuda
.
As it approached the United States, the storm slowed and began curving northward, passing 195 mi (313.8 km) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It weakened into a tropical storm on October 13. For a time, the system's proximity to Tropical Storm Marco
resulted in hints of the Fujiwhara effect
, in which two tropical cyclone appear to rotate around each other. A high pressure area
over Newfoundland steered Lili northeastward, away from the United States, and the tropical storm once again sped up. It skirted the coast of Nova Scotia
and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
on October 15, dissipating shortly after crossing southeastern Newfoundland.
The hurricane's track was initially uncertain. Some forecasts indicated it would continue westward and make landfall on North Carolina
, while others predicted it would miss land. A "general evacuation" was ordered on Ocracoke Island, while multiple tropical cyclone watches and warnings were posted along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia
. Some residents purchased emergency supplies to prepare for the hurricane. Lili had minimal impact on land, with no deaths or significant damage reported. The North Carolina coast sustained minor beach erosion. A newspaper reported that rainfall from the storm led to flooding in southern Pennsylvania
, particularly in and around Arendtsville
. At least one family was forced to leave their home, and a state highway was temporarily closed. The National Hurricane Center's preliminary report on Hurricane Lili does not confirm the two events were related, however.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
of the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season
1990 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1990 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season since 1969. It officially began on June 1, 1990, and lasted until November 30, 1990. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. It began as a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
over the central Atlantic and became a hurricane while moving westward toward the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Lili did not gain any additional strength before curving away from land and weakening into a tropical storm. After transitioning into an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
, it made landfall in southeastern Newfoundland. Overall, the hurricane's effects on land were minimal, despite multiple tropical cyclone watches and warnings. Initial uncertainty in its track prompted some concern of a landfall in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, but it remained predominately over the open ocean.
Meteorological history
In early October 1990, a non-tropical low pressure system existed in the upper levels of the atmosphere southwest of the AzoresAzores
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...
. By October 6, the low moved to the surface
Surface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
, and upon doing so it immediately became a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
. The system slowly moved toward the southwest for several days, gradually gaining the characteristics of a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
; subsequent to turning westward and accelerating in forward speed, it became a hurricane at 0000 UTC on October 11. Steered by a ridge
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
to the north, Hurricane Lili continued on its westward track. It never intensified significantly, and reached its peak intensity with windspeeds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum air pressure of 987 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa; 29.15 inHg) concurrently with its upgrade into a hurricane. Afterward, its air pressure began to slowly rise. Late on October 11, the cyclone passed about 140 mi (225.3 km) south of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
.
As it approached the United States, the storm slowed and began curving northward, passing 195 mi (313.8 km) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It weakened into a tropical storm on October 13. For a time, the system's proximity to Tropical Storm Marco
Tropical Storm Marco (1990)
Tropical Storm Marco was the only tropical cyclone to make landfall on the United States during the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season. The 13th named storm of the season, Marco formed from a cold-core low pressure area along the northern coast of Cuba on October 9, and tracked northwestward...
resulted in hints of the Fujiwhara effect
Fujiwhara effect
The Fujiwhara effect or Fujiwara interaction, named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonic vortices, causing them to appear to "orbit" each other.-Description:...
, in which two tropical cyclone appear to rotate around each other. A high pressure area
High pressure area
A high-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment. Winds within high-pressure areas flow outward due to the higher density air near their center and friction with land...
over Newfoundland steered Lili northeastward, away from the United States, and the tropical storm once again sped up. It skirted the coast of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
on October 15, dissipating shortly after crossing southeastern Newfoundland.
Preparations and impact
On October 11, a hurricane warning was issued for Bermuda, although it was replaced by a tropical storm warning later that day. However, the storm's effects on the island were limited to rainfall and gusty winds. It also caused strong winds in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.The hurricane's track was initially uncertain. Some forecasts indicated it would continue westward and make landfall on North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, while others predicted it would miss land. A "general evacuation" was ordered on Ocracoke Island, while multiple tropical cyclone watches and warnings were posted along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Some residents purchased emergency supplies to prepare for the hurricane. Lili had minimal impact on land, with no deaths or significant damage reported. The North Carolina coast sustained minor beach erosion. A newspaper reported that rainfall from the storm led to flooding in southern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, particularly in and around Arendtsville
Arendtsville, Pennsylvania
Arendtsville is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough lies on Pennsylvania Route 234 and it is well known for its annual Apple Harvest Festival in the fall...
. At least one family was forced to leave their home, and a state highway was temporarily closed. The National Hurricane Center's preliminary report on Hurricane Lili does not confirm the two events were related, however.
See also
- List of Canada hurricanes
- List of North Carolina hurricanes (1980–present)