- Hurricane Kate (1985)
Infobox Hurricane
name=Hurricane Kate
Type=hurricane
Year=1985
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Kate (1985).jpg
Formed=November 15, 1985
Dissipated=November 23, 1985
1-min winds=105
Pressure=954
Da
Inflated=1
Fatalities=15
Areas=Cuba ,Florida , Georgia
Hurricane season=1985 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Kate was the sixth hurricane to hit the United States during the
1985 Atlantic hurricane season , tying a record. Forming late in the season, it killed 15 people and caused $530 million (2005 USD) in damage on its long path throughCuba ,Florida , and Georgia between November 18 and November 22, 1985. Kate is the latest-forming major hurricane on record in the Atlantic, and is one of the latest hurricanes to strike the United States.Meteorological history
In the autumn of 1985, a strong high pressure system persisted over the southeastern
United States , while a major trough existed over the southwestern United States. With the exception of a minor cold front, the waters of theGulf of Mexico and westernAtlantic Ocean remained favorable for tropical development up until November, with water temperatures near 27 °C (80 °F), and little upper-level shear. When a tropical wave reached a position north of theLesser Antilles andPuerto Rico , it was able to organize under the favorable conditions, and became Tropical Storm Kate on November 15.An anticyclone developed over the
Florida Keys , providing Kate with the opportunity to strengthen. After drifting northwestward, Kate accelerated to the west over the southernBahamas , becoming a hurricane on November 16 and a 110 mph (175 km/h) hurricane on the 19th. It hit northernCuba on the 19th, where 200,000 people inHavana were evacuated. With the eyewall over land, Kate weakened to a 90 mph (155 km/h) hurricane before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on the night of the 19th.Hurricane Kate maintained its organization while crossing northern Cuba, and quickly re-strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico. It rapidly intensified on November 20 to a 120 mph (195 km/h) major hurricane. An approaching frontal trough brought Kate to the northeast, where slightly cooler waters over the northern Gulf of Mexico weakened the hurricane. It hit
Mexico Beach, Florida late on the 21st as a 95 mph hurricane, and quickly weakened over land. After crossing Georgia, Kate approached very cold waters and increasing upper-level shear, causing the hurricane to become extratropical on November 23 while southeast ofNorth Carolina .Late formation
Kate was unusual because it became a major hurricane in November, one of only 5 storms to do so. Other storms that became major hurricanes in November include Hurricane Greta of the 1956 season, a hurricane during the 1912 season,
Hurricane Michelle in 2001 andHurricane Lenny of 1999. Kate was also the latest-season major hurricane, having become a major hurricane on November 20. Kate was also one of the latest landfalls, as well as the strongest U.S. landfall in November, hitting with 105 mph winds.Impact
Cuba
In preparation for the hurricane's arrival, 300,000 people evacuated low-lying coastal areas. Heavy flooding and 125 mph (200 km/h) gusts destroyed 4,382 houses and damaged 88,207 on
Cuba 's northern coastline. Downed trees and power lines were common along the coast and 10 people were killed in Cuba from the hurricane. Kate's winds and flooding resulted in significant crop damage, destroying significant amounts of the sugarcane and banana harvests. Over 3,600 square miles (9,300 square kilometers) of sugar cane were destroyed, while 155,000short ton s (136 million kilograms) of sugar cane were lost. [http://wwwnotes.reliefweb.int/w/RWB.NSF/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/53213dbb2dd36df4c1256570004c8424?OpenDocument] In all, damage totaled to $400 million (1985 USD, $710 million 2005 USD). [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/NHR-Cuba.pdf]Following the storm's passage, the crop losses prompted the Cuban government to request for international aid. The affected population needed food for 60 days, over 10,000
metric ton s (10 million kg) of flour, and over 1,200 tons of cooking oil. Countries around the world contributed over $17 million in either money or food. [http://wwwnotes.reliefweb.int/w/RWB.NSF/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/53213dbb2dd36df4c1256570004c8424?OpenDocument]Northern Gulf Coast
Over 100,000 people were evacuated from the
Florida Panhandle prior to Kate's arrival. Just 2 months afterHurricane Elena caused significant damage to the oyster industry, Hurricane Kate destroyed much of what little was left inApalachicola Bay . Lack of production caused many oystermen to lose their jobs, and many fishermen before and after the storm were suffering due to lack of fish. In addition, severely eroded coastlines lost even more beach from a 10 foot (3 m) storm surge and strong waves. [http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/library/kate-td-1985-11-24-02.pdf] Rainfall amounts along the coast ranged from a trace to a maximum of 5.8 inches (150 mm) inPanama City, Florida . Along the coastline, there was extensive road damage, with potholes up to 4 feet (1.2 m) in length alongU.S. Route 98 . [http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/library/kate-td-1985-11-24-01.pdf] Kate's strong winds and rain damaged at least 600 houses and water craft, amounting to $300 million (1985 USD) in damage. A total of five people were killed inFlorida .Hurricane Kate passed just west of Tallahassee, but because it was becoming extratropical, damage was limited to downed trees and minor structural damage. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1985.pdf] Flooding and power outages across 90% of the city forced a curfew, taking days to clean up. A positive aspect of the storm was the economic boost from coastal evacuees. Restaurants, hotels, and stores were full from those taking refuge from the storm. [http://www.tallytown.com/redcross/library/kate-td-1985-11-24-02.pdf]
Lack of Retirement
Because the damage caused by Kate was not extreme and the death toll relatively low, the name was not retired. Due to lack of sufficient tropical activity, Kate was not used in 1991 or 1997, but it was used for the 2003 season and will reappear on the list for the 2009 season.
Records
Kate was a strange storm by being only one of 6 major hurricanes in November; the others were two unnamed storms in 1912 and 1932, Greta in 1956, Lenny in 1999 and Michelle in 2001. Kate was the latest of these, reaching Category 3 on November 20. Also, Kate was the strongest U.S. landfall in November (105 mph winds), and made landfall at about 85 degrees west longitude, the westernmost November landfalling hurricane, and made landfall at about 30 degrees north latitude, the northernmost landfalling November hurricane. It could also be the latest U.S. landfalling hurricane on record, but there is a dispute about a storm in 1925 that could have hit the U.S. as a hurricane in December, but reanalysis shows it never even was a hurricane, leaving Kate as the latest hurricane to hit the U.S.
External links
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1985.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/cohab/hurricane/kate/kate.htm Hurricane Kate (1985)]
* [http://www.eglin.af.mil/weather/hurricanes/history.html Hurricanes in Western Florida]
* [http://www.littletownmart.com/fdh/hurr-kate.htm Hurricane Kate Damage]
* [http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/1985/KATE/track.gifHurricane Kate Track (Unisys)]
* David Longshore. "Hurricane Kate." Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones. David Longshore. New York: Facts on File, 1998, Pg; 208-209.See also
*
List of tropical cyclones
*List of Atlantic hurricanes
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