1951. HURRICANE CHARLIE (AUGUST 13-23)
(Data Sources: National Hurricane Center, Longshore, 1998)
Charlie, coming ashore near Kingston as a Category 3 hurricane in the evening of August 17, 1951, will long be remembered as the deadliest hurricane ever to strike the entire south coast of Jamaica. The centre remained at sea to the south of Jamaica, but with winds in the range of 125 mph and rainfall exceeding 20 inches at some places; it caused extensive landslides, riverine flooding, 30 ft waves and a storm surge of some 18 ft.
1988. HURRICANE GILBERT (SEPTEMBER 8-19)
(Data Sources: National Hurricane Center, Longshore, 1998, and RA's observations)
With its outer bands extending some 500 miles across an eye region measuring 8-10 miles, and a minimum central barometric pressure at 26.22 in. (888 mb), Category 5(SSH), Gilbert is the most severe hurricane to be recorded in the Atlantic. It intensified to a Category 5 status twice during its life. Gilbert caused comprehensive damage in 10 countries, accounted for more than 300 deaths, and an economic cost estimated at US$5 billion. Gilbert was a relatively dry hurricane, rated as a Category 3 hurricane (SSHS), 28.49 in. (965 mb) central pressure, approximately 116 mph sustained winds, when it made landfall on Jamaica on September 12, 1988. It traversed the entire length of Jamaica at a speed of nearly 12 mph with its eye grazing the southern coastline. Rainfall of 7-9 inches and gusts at 147 mph, especially on higher elevations, resulted in extensive flooding and landslides which paralysed the normal life in many places across the island. Rainfall gages were destroyed on many parts of the islands, Storm surge levels along the south coast were at some 9 ft.
2004. HURRICANE IVAN (SEPTEMBER 2-24)
(Data Sources: National Hurricane Center Hurricane Ivan Report by S. R. Stewart, June 3, 2005; RA's observations)
Ivan caused comprehensive damage and loss of life on Grenada, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands due to strong winds, storm surge, precipitation and landslides. The island states that were severely impacted were situated in the right-hand sector of the hurricane system as it travelled east to west. The death toll was 17 in Jamaica, 39 in Grenada and 11 elsewhere in the Caribbean. The maximum observed hurricane wind was sustained 130 kt with a gust to 149 knots (kt) on Grand Cayman Island on 12 September. On Jamaica Doppler radar velocity data suggest wind speeds at 97 kt, especially in the hilly areas. Jamaica received more than 25 in (635 mm) of rainfall in many places across the island resulting in riverine flooding, landslides. Elsewhere rainfall was 16.20 inches in Tobago, 13.33 inches in western Cuba and 12.14 inches in Grand Cayman. Storm surge flooding (8-10 ft) and intense wave activity (20-30 ft) affected much of the southern coast of Jamaica resulting in extensive property damage and loss of life.
HURRICANE FACTS
* Hurricanes rotate anticlockwise
* Hurricanes are classified on their wind speeds using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
* Hurricanes form when surface water is above 80°F (26.5°C)
* Storm surges of hurricanes are dependent on offshore bathy-metry, the shape of coastlines, the size of seas/oceans and wind speeds
* Cool waters, land areas and wind shear causes hurricanes to weaken
