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Hurricane Kate (1985)
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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 through Cuba, 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.
he autumn of 1985, a strong high pressure system persisted over the southeastern United States, while a major trough existed over the southwestern United States.
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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 through Cuba, 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 the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic 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 the Lesser Antilles and Puerto 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 southern Bahamas, becoming a hurricane on November 16 and a 110 mph (175 km/h) hurricane on the 19th. It hit northern Cuba on the 19th, where 200,000 people in Havana 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 of North Carolina.
Late formation
Kate was unusual, because it became a major hurricane in November, one of only 7 storms to do so. Other storms that became major hurricanes in November include The Jamaica Hurricane of 1912, The Great Cuba Hurricane in 1932, Hurricane Greta in 1956, Hurricane Lenny in 1999, Hurricane Michelle in 2001, and Hurricane Paloma in 2008. 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 155,000 short tons (136 million kilograms) of sugar cane were lost. In all, damage totaled to $400 million (1985 USD, $710 million 2005 USD).
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 tons (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.
Northern Gulf Coast
Over 100,000 people were evacuated from the Florida Panhandle prior to Kate's arrival. Just 2 months after Hurricane Elena caused significant damage to the oyster industry, Hurricane Kate destroyed much of what little was left in Apalachicola 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.
Rainfall amounts along the coast ranged from a trace to a maximum of 5.8 inches (150 mm) in Panama City, Florida. Along the coastline, there was extensive road damage, with potholes up to 4 feet (1.2 m) in length along U.S. Route 98. 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 in Florida.
Hurricane Kate passed just west of Tallahassee, but because it was becoming extratropical, damage was limited to downed trees and minor structural damage. 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.
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 7 major hurricanes in November; the others were two unnamed storms in 1912 and 1932, Greta in 1956, Lenny in 1999, Michelle in 2001 and Paloma in 2008. 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 ° west longitude, the westernmost November landfalling hurricane, and made landfall at about 30 ° 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
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- 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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