Hurricane Inga (1969)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Inga is the third longest-lived Atlantic hurricane on record. The 11th tropical cyclone
and 9th named storm of the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season
, Inga developed on September 20 in the central Atlantic and tracked westward. After attaining tropical storm status, the system deteriorated into a depression, but once again intensified several days later. The storm eventually peaked in strength on October 5, with winds corresponding to Category 3 on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Throughout its path, Inga underwent several changes in direction and oscillations in strength, before dissipating on October 15, 25 days after it formed. Despite its duration, Inga caused little damage, and mostly remained over open waters.
in the Atlantic Ocean
developed into a tropical depression. On the next morning, the National Hurricane Center
reported that the system became a tropical storm while centered about 930 mi (1,496.7 km) east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico
. At the time, the storm was moving towards the west at 14 mph (22.5 km/h). At the time, Inga was a very small tropical cyclone; gale-force winds extended less than 100 mi (160.9 km) from the center. However, by September 23, the storm had become disorganized and sprawling. Later that day, Inga weakened back into a tropical depression.
The depression continued west-northwestward, passing north of the Leeward Islands
, before drifting northwestward. It once again attained tropical storm status on September 28, while situated well to the east of the Bahamas. Inga continued to intensify, and achieved hurricane status at 0000 UTC on September 30, at which point it turned northeastward. The storm then abruptly, yet gradually, turned towards the south, and ultimately completed a counter-clockwise loop as it bent back westward. Steering currents were weak, and the hurricane continued to proceed slowly. Late on October 3, it turned to the northwest, still as a Category 1 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm then curved northeastward and intensified to Category 2 status at 0000 UTC on October 5.
Inga accelerated somewhat as it passed to the southeast of Bermuda
. By the morning hours of October 5, it was determined that the hurricane posed no significant threat to the island. At 1200 UTC, the storm's lowest known barometric pressure of 964 millibars was recorded. Shortly thereafter, it briefly strengthened to Category 3 status; the cyclone peaked with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). As it moved towards the open waters of the Atlantic and entered a cooler environment, it deteriorated to Category 1 intensity on October 6. The hurricane slowed again, and as cold air became entrained into its circulation, it began to lose tropical characteristics.
However, Inga once again intensified and reattained Category 2 intensity on October 7. At this point, the hurricane was drifting generally eastward. However, in time the storm turned towards the south and began to weaken. Operationally, the storm was believed to have downgraded to a tropical storm on October 8 and regained hurricane status thereafter, but instead it likely maintained Category 1 intensity steadily until October 10. After the storm finally degenerated into a tropical storm, it curved southwestward. The storm's center became ill-defined and elongated at the storm continued to lose strength. Heading westward, Inga was downgraded to a tropical depression before dissipating fully on October 15, about 290 mi (466.7 km) from where it initially attained hurricane status.
in August–September 1899 and Hurricane Ginger in September–October 1971. The fourth, fifth, and sixth longest-lived storms are Hurricane Kyle
in 2002, Hurricane Carrie in 1957, and Hurricane Inez
in 1966, respectively. At the time of its existence, however, Inga was believed to have been the longest-lived Atlantic tropical cyclone on record. The National Hurricane Center issued 72 total advisories on the storm.
While the storm remained predominately over the open ocean, its outer fringes produced 80 mph (128.7 km/h) wind gusts on Bermuda. The strong winds caused power failures, which were promptly restored. Residents were advised to monitor the storm in case of sudden changes in direction.
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...
and 9th named storm of the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season
1969 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1969 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1969, and lasted until November 30, 1969. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was among the most active on record, with 18 tropical cyclones, 12...
, Inga developed on September 20 in the central Atlantic and tracked westward. After attaining tropical storm status, the system deteriorated into a depression, but once again intensified several days later. The storm eventually peaked in strength on October 5, with winds corresponding to Category 3 on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Throughout its path, Inga underwent several changes in direction and oscillations in strength, before dissipating on October 15, 25 days after it formed. Despite its duration, Inga caused little damage, and mostly remained over open waters.
Meteorological history
On September 20, a tropical disturbanceTropical 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...
in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
developed into a tropical depression. On the next morning, the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
reported that the system became a tropical storm while centered about 930 mi (1,496.7 km) east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. At the time, the storm was moving towards the west at 14 mph (22.5 km/h). At the time, Inga was a very small tropical cyclone; gale-force winds extended less than 100 mi (160.9 km) from the center. However, by September 23, the storm had become disorganized and sprawling. Later that day, Inga weakened back into a tropical depression.
The depression continued west-northwestward, passing north of the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
, before drifting northwestward. It once again attained tropical storm status on September 28, while situated well to the east of the Bahamas. Inga continued to intensify, and achieved hurricane status at 0000 UTC on September 30, at which point it turned northeastward. The storm then abruptly, yet gradually, turned towards the south, and ultimately completed a counter-clockwise loop as it bent back westward. Steering currents were weak, and the hurricane continued to proceed slowly. Late on October 3, it turned to the northwest, still as a Category 1 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm then curved northeastward and intensified to Category 2 status at 0000 UTC on October 5.
Inga accelerated somewhat as it passed to the southeast 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...
. By the morning hours of October 5, it was determined that the hurricane posed no significant threat to the island. At 1200 UTC, the storm's lowest known barometric pressure of 964 millibars was recorded. Shortly thereafter, it briefly strengthened to Category 3 status; the cyclone peaked with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). As it moved towards the open waters of the Atlantic and entered a cooler environment, it deteriorated to Category 1 intensity on October 6. The hurricane slowed again, and as cold air became entrained into its circulation, it began to lose tropical characteristics.
However, Inga once again intensified and reattained Category 2 intensity on October 7. At this point, the hurricane was drifting generally eastward. However, in time the storm turned towards the south and began to weaken. Operationally, the storm was believed to have downgraded to a tropical storm on October 8 and regained hurricane status thereafter, but instead it likely maintained Category 1 intensity steadily until October 10. After the storm finally degenerated into a tropical storm, it curved southwestward. The storm's center became ill-defined and elongated at the storm continued to lose strength. Heading westward, Inga was downgraded to a tropical depression before dissipating fully on October 15, about 290 mi (466.7 km) from where it initially attained hurricane status.
Impact and records
Hurricane Inga lasted for nearly 25 days between September 20 and October 15. This made it the third longest-tracked Atlantic hurricane on record, behind the Hurricane San Ciriaco1899 Hurricane San Ciriaco
1899 San Ciriaco hurricane, also known as the 1899 Puerto Rico Hurricane, was the longest-lived Atlantic hurricane and the eleventh deadliest tropical cyclone in the basin. It was an intense and long-lived Atlantic Cape Verde-type hurricane which crossed Puerto Rico over the two day period August 8...
in August–September 1899 and Hurricane Ginger in September–October 1971. The fourth, fifth, and sixth longest-lived storms are Hurricane Kyle
Hurricane Kyle (2002)
Hurricane Kyle was the fourth longest-lived Atlantic tropical or subtropical cyclone on record. The eleventh named storm and third hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, Kyle developed as a subtropical cyclone on September 20 to the east-southeast of Bermuda. Looping westward, it...
in 2002, Hurricane Carrie in 1957, and Hurricane Inez
Hurricane Inez
Hurricane Inez was a deadly, destructive, powerful and very long-lived Cape Verde-type hurricane that carved an erratic path through the Lesser Antilles, Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, Florida, and Mexico in 1966...
in 1966, respectively. At the time of its existence, however, Inga was believed to have been the longest-lived Atlantic tropical cyclone on record. The National Hurricane Center issued 72 total advisories on the storm.
While the storm remained predominately over the open ocean, its outer fringes produced 80 mph (128.7 km/h) wind gusts on Bermuda. The strong winds caused power failures, which were promptly restored. Residents were advised to monitor the storm in case of sudden changes in direction.
See also
- List of extreme weather events
- 1969 Atlantic hurricane season1969 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1969 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1969, and lasted until November 30, 1969. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was among the most active on record, with 18 tropical cyclones, 12...