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Hurricane Lili (1984)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Lili was one of only five Atlantic tropical cyclone
s on record to reach hurricane status in the month of December. The final of thirteen tropical storms in the 1984 Atlantic hurricane season
, Lili developed as a subtropical cyclone
which originated from a frontal trough
to the south of Bermuda
on December 12. It tracked southeastward, then northward, slowly attaining tropical characteristics
and becoming a hurricane on December 20. Lili turned to the south and southwest, briefly threatening the northern Caribbean
islands before weakening and dissipating near the coast of the Dominican Republic
. The storm produced light rainfall but no damage.
stalled south of Bermuda
. An upper level disturbance moved over the area on December 9, and produced widespread convection along the frontal wave. The system moved to the northeast, and based on a developing circulation within the convection, the National Hurricane Center
classified the system as a subtropical storm
on December 12 while located 275 miles (440 km) northeast of Bermuda
.
With winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and strengthening, the subtropical storm initially drifted northeastward. On December 13, a ridge
of high pressure to its north forced the storm southeastward, and the following day the storm turned to the south after an upper-level cold-core low
developed over the system. A break in the ridge resulted in the storm turning to the northeast, with its forward motion accelerating to nearly 40 mph (65 km/h). After turning to the northwest on December 17, the high pressure system again halted its northward movement, leaving the storm drifting south-southeastward. Conditions favored further strengthening, and the subtropical storm reached 70 mph (115 km/h) winds on December 18. Satellite imagery estimated the storm attained hurricane status on December 19, and a day later ship near the center reported winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). Based on the wind report, as well as a minimum central pressure of 980 mbar
and a well-defined eye
, the storm was classified as Hurricane Lili while located 730 miles (1,180 km) east of Bermuda.
Lili continued generally southward, reaching its peak intensity of 80 mph (130 km/h). Higher pressures developed to its northeast, resulting in the hurricane to accelerate to the southwest. On December 22, Lili finished executing its large cyclonic loop by passing over the same location it passed one week prior. The combination of its increased forward speed, as well as increased levels of vertical wind shear, created an unfavorable environment which caused steady weakening. On December 23, Lili weakened to a tropical storm while located 430 miles (690 km) northeast of Antigua
. It rapidly lost organization as it approached the Leeward Islands
, and dissipated just off the coast of the Dominican Republic
on December 24.
lasted as a hurricane from late November to early December 1998.
Because of its rapid movement, a hurricane watch
was issued for Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands
on December 22. As the storm weakened, the watches were discontinued. In response to the threat of the hurricane, officials posted a small craft advisory along the coastline of northern Puerto Rico
. There, the weakening tropical cyclone produced light rainfall, though there was no reported damage. Lili moved through Hispaniola
as an area of squally weather, but damage, if any, is unknown.
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...
s on record to reach hurricane status in the month of December. The final of thirteen tropical storms in the 1984 Atlantic hurricane season
1984 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1984 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1984, and lasted until November 30, 1984. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The 1984 season was an active one in terms of named storms, but most of them...
, Lili developed as a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
which originated from a frontal trough
Surface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
to the south 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...
on December 12. It tracked southeastward, then northward, slowly attaining tropical characteristics
Tropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
and becoming a hurricane on December 20. Lili turned to the south and southwest, briefly threatening the northern Caribbean
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
islands before weakening and dissipating near the coast of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. The storm produced light rainfall but no damage.
Meteorological history
In the second week of December, a frontal troughSurface weather analysis
Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations...
stalled south 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...
. An upper level disturbance moved over the area on December 9, and produced widespread convection along the frontal wave. The system moved to the northeast, and based on a developing circulation within the convection, 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...
classified the system as a subtropical storm
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
on December 12 while located 275 miles (440 km) northeast 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...
.
With winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and strengthening, the subtropical storm initially drifted northeastward. On December 13, a ridge
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
of high pressure to its north forced the storm southeastward, and the following day the storm turned to the south after an upper-level cold-core low
Cold-core low
A cold-core low, also known as a cold low or cold-core cyclone, is a cyclone aloft which has an associated cold pool of air residing at high altitude within the Earth's troposphere. It is a low pressure system which strengthens with height in accordance with the thermal wind relationship. These...
developed over the system. A break in the ridge resulted in the storm turning to the northeast, with its forward motion accelerating to nearly 40 mph (65 km/h). After turning to the northwest on December 17, the high pressure system again halted its northward movement, leaving the storm drifting south-southeastward. Conditions favored further strengthening, and the subtropical storm reached 70 mph (115 km/h) winds on December 18. Satellite imagery estimated the storm attained hurricane status on December 19, and a day later ship near the center reported winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). Based on the wind report, as well as a minimum central pressure of 980 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
and a well-defined eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
, the storm was classified as Hurricane Lili while located 730 miles (1,180 km) east of Bermuda.
Lili continued generally southward, reaching its peak intensity of 80 mph (130 km/h). Higher pressures developed to its northeast, resulting in the hurricane to accelerate to the southwest. On December 22, Lili finished executing its large cyclonic loop by passing over the same location it passed one week prior. The combination of its increased forward speed, as well as increased levels of vertical wind shear, created an unfavorable environment which caused steady weakening. On December 23, Lili weakened to a tropical storm while located 430 miles (690 km) northeast of Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
. It rapidly lost organization as it approached 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...
, and dissipated just off the coast of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on December 24.
Impact and records
When Lili reached hurricane status on December 20, it became one of only four Atlantic tropical cyclones to reach hurricane strength in the month of December. The other three were an unnamed hurricane in the 1887 season, Hurricane Alice in 1954, and Hurricane Epsilon in 2005. In addition, Hurricane NicoleHurricane Nicole (1998)
Hurricane Nicole was the last hurricane in the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from a frontal low to the south of the Azores on November 24, and quickly strengthened to reach winds of 70 mph as it moved to the west-southwest...
lasted as a hurricane from late November to early December 1998.
Because of its rapid movement, a hurricane watch
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
was issued for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
on December 22. As the storm weakened, the watches were discontinued. In response to the threat of the hurricane, officials posted a small craft advisory along the coastline of northern Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. There, the weakening tropical cyclone produced light rainfall, though there was no reported damage. Lili moved through Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
as an area of squally weather, but damage, if any, is unknown.
See also
- Other storms of the same nameHurricane Lili (disambiguation)The name Lili was used for four tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. Lili is not to be confused with Lily, which was used in the Pacific Ocean....