 Hurricane Dorian between the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas on August 28 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | August 26–29, 2019 |
| Category 1 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Highest gusts | 110 mph (175 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 993 mbar (hPa); 29.32 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 indirect |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico |
Part of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season | |
| History
Effects Other wikis | |
Hurricane Dorian caused relatively minor damage across the eastern Caribbean in late August 2019. Originating from a westward moving tropical wave, Dorian organized into a tropical cyclone on August 24 and reached the Lesser Antilles on August 26 as a tropical storm. Turning northwest, the system unexpectedly intensified to a hurricane as it struck the Virgin Islands on August 27. Antecedent to the storm's arrival, local governments across the archipelago issued tropical cyclone warnings and watches, readied public shelters, closed airports, and placed emergency crews on standby. Many of the threatened islands were still reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September 2017 and fears arose over embattled power grids. In the areas first affected, impacts were limited to gusty winds and modest rainfall. Effects were greater in the Virgin Islands where wind gusts reached 111 mph (179 km/h); however, damage was light. Multiple landslides occurred across the islands and Puerto Rico with only a handful of structures suffering damage. One person died in Puerto Rico while preparing for the storm.