Hurricane Dora (1999)

Hurricane Dora
Dora at peak intensity on August 12
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 6, 1999
DissipatedAugust 23, 1999
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure943 mbar (hPa); 27.85 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
DamageMinimal
Areas affectedHawaii, Johnston Atoll
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata

Part of the 1999 Pacific hurricane and typhoon seasons

Hurricane Dora was one of few tropical cyclones to track across all three north Pacific basins and the first since Hurricane John in 1994. The fourth named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1999 Pacific hurricane season,[nb 1] Dora developed on August 6 from a tropical wave to the south of Mexico. Forming as a tropical depression, the system gradually strengthened and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Dora later that day. Thereafter Dora began heading in a steadily westward direction, before becoming a hurricane on August 8. Amid warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, the storm continued to intensify, eventually peaking as a 140 mph (220 km/h) Category 4 hurricane on August 12.

Thereafter, Dora fluctuated significantly in intensity due to changes in water temperatures and wind shear, with the storm ranging from peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane to a low-end Category 1 hurricane over a period of four days. While passing well south of the island of Hawaii on August 16, Dora briefly regained major hurricane status. On August 18, the cyclone passed just south of Johnston Atoll as a Category 1 hurricane. Although it never made landfall, Dora produced high surf, gale-force winds, and light rain across the islands of Hawaii and Johnston Atoll, but resulted in minimal damage. While crossing the International Dateline on August 20, Dora weakened to a tropical storm. After weakening to a tropical depression on August 22, Dora dissipated on August 23 while centered several hundred miles north of Wake Island.

  1. ^ Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. National Hurricane Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2019.


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