&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Debby_1982-09-17_2100Z.png) Debby at peak intensity south of Nova Scotia on September 18, 1982 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 13, 1982 |
| Dissipated | September 20, 1982 |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 950 mbar (hPa); 28.05 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Areas affected | Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bermuda, Eastern United States, Eastern Canada, Europe |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Debby was the strongest tropical cyclone of the 1982 Atlantic hurricane season, with sustained winds reaching 130 mph (210 km/h). The fourth named storm, second hurricane, and the only major hurricane of the season, Debby developed near the north coast of Hispaniola from a westward moving tropical wave on September 13. Forming as a tropical depression, it headed northwestward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Debby the following day. Thereafter, Debby rapidly intensified into a hurricane early on September 15. The hurricane then curved northeastward and grazed Bermuda as a Category 2 hurricane on September 16. It continued to strengthen, and by September 18, Debby briefly peaked as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. After reaching peak intensity, Debby slowly weakened and passed south of Newfoundland early on September 19. Thereafter, the system accelerated, moving eastward as swiftly as 60 mph (97 km/h) as it weakened to a tropical storm the next day. Debby became extratropical cyclone well west of the British Isles later on September 20, while the remnants were quickly absorbed into a larger storm system.
Overall, impact was generally minor in the Lesser Antilles, with only light to moderate rainfall in the Dominican Republic and United States Virgin Islands. However, parts of Puerto Rico reported heavy rainfall, causing about 600 families to evacuate due to the threat of flooding. Water entered a number of homes in Guayanilla. One person drowned near Naguabo. Landslides also damaged many interior roads. Although expected to strike the island, Debby passed west of Bermuda. Although high winds caused some power outages and knocked over trees, damage overall was minor. In addition, Debby dropped rainfall and generated moderately strong winds on Newfoundland. The storm system that Debby was absorbed by reached northern Finland on September 22, where it produced intense winds and storm surge, causing two deaths.