hawaii hurricanes before 1950 hawaii hurricanes before 1950

however, the tornado dissipated before causing any damage. , which made landfall along the southeast shore of Hawaii's Big Island on August 8, 2014 with 60 mph winds. Satellite images of Hurricane Flossie's breakup when approaching Hawaii Island fueled this idea. By far the worst storm on record to hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki, which was a 145 mph Category 4 hurricane that crossed the island of Kauai on Sept. 10-11, 1992. waters has been available providing a complete catalog of all tropical cyclones Table 5.54-- MAJOR HURRICANES: 1950 TO 2020 Maximum recorded winds ashore (m.p.h.) The remnants of Kanoa brought welcomed rain. The direct hit on the Big Island does present an interesting scientific prospect, in terms of monitoring how much the islands topography tears apart the storm. As the moist air in the storm is pushed up Hawaiis volcanic peaks, it will cool and the water vapor in it will condense, adding to the rain the storm already produces. Hurricane Iwa's Economic Impact on Hawaii (January 1983); "The History of Hurricanes in Hawaii", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 18, 1983, p. damage estimated at $250 million. Hurricane expertMichael Lowrysays that dating to 1950, there is a 13 percent increase in the chance of a named storm to track within 100 miles of the Hawaii islands during an El Nio year (35 percent chance) than a neutral year (22 percent chance). Of course, an El Nio does not guarantee a hurricane will impact Hawaii. The mountainous terrain of the islands amplifies the rain threat and contributes to the threat of ensuingflash floodsand mudslides. Storm activity was expected to be normal or a . Most tropical cyclones that reach the 50th state arrive from the east or south, but on occasion, they arrive from the southwest. The island of Kauai was especially hard hit by damaging winds. 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. was the "Kohala Cyclone" of 1871. Slamming into Hawaii in September as a Category 4 major hurricane, claiming the lives of six Hawaii residents. The hurricane-strength winds are in a fairly compact area, but they could still pack a serious punch, as the islands infrastructure hasnt had to handle such ferocious sustained winds. So her team added computer. and Even before Hawaii became a state in 1959, it was a top tourist destination - and for good reason. and caused These conditions tend to weaken, deflect, or dissipate approaching storms. What that high does is it tends to deflect storms away from the islands, Cantin said. All the islands reported some surf damage along their southwest facing shores, and wind damage was widespread on Kauai. Look at the fading tracks of hurricanes approaching from the east. Since the 1950s, two hurricane eyes have hit Hawaii - and both approached from the south, where water temperature generally is warm enough to sustain the storms' strength. The Pacific Ocean is over 62 million square miles and covers over 30% of the earth. The islands of Hawaii, with Kauai as the notable exception, appear to be remarkably immune from direct hurricane hits. Since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused serious damage in Hawaii. Persons who know a warrant is, The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast. Hurricane Dot (1959) caused damage to Kauai. August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. Any south or southwest wind aloft would steer a hurricane toward the island chain. * August 1991: Hurricane Fefa dissipated shortly before landfall. entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii, but weakened to a Category 1 storm before making landfall on Kauai. Locally strong wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour at some localities, mainly over Maui and the Big Island. El Nio years are typically more active in the central Pacific. Read more about this topic: List Of Hawaii Hurricanes, List of Tropical Cyclones. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. * August 2004: The remnants of Hurricane Darby passed over the islands and combined with an upper level trough to create unstable moisture, dropping up to 5 inches of rain in a few hours on the Big Island, causing flooding and road closures. Landfalls in these two basins account for about 68% of all global landfalls from 1970 to 2019. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage, before dissipating. The last time Hawaii was hit with a tropical storm or hurricane was in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki killed six people and destroyed more than 1,400 homes in Kauai, said Eric Lau, meteorologist for . That high pressure is particularly strong from May through October primehurricane season. The storm remained powerful enough, however, to bring torrential rains, damaging surf and strong winds that destroyed crops, including over 1/2 of the state's papaya crop, and knocked down thousands of trees, particularly invasive albizia trees in the Puna District. As pointed out by University of North Carolina - Charlotte graduate student Eric Webb, there was a case of a major hurricane punching through the Big Island and Maui in August 1871, as a January 2018 study uncovered. BROWSE BY TOPIC. Prior to that only two other hurricanes had reached landfall in Hawaii. Hawaii has been, and will be in the future, hit by hurricanes. Like most of its predecessors, Iselle weakened as it approached the Islands eventually making landfall along the Kau coast on the Big Island just below hurricane strength. There haven't been enough hurricanes and tropical storms since about 1950 when good recordkeeping started for a statistically significant trend, Lin said. Classic cars. In fact, hurricane expert Michael Lowry told the Weather Channel there is a 35% chance of a hurricane coming within 100 miles of Hawaii in an El Nio year vs. 22% in a non-El Nio year. 68 mph (110 km/h) winds were recorded in Kauai. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped more than 20 inches of rain in 14 hours. Both hit the island of Kauai. * September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. I don't think that has happened before, Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, said in an email. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which . High surf with waves of up to 10 feet impacted the eastern side of the Big Island. 1920s. No further records are available, but extrapolation of its forward movement predicted that it would make landfall on the southern coast of the, August 9, 1871: Indigenous newspapers record a major category 3 hurricane causing significant damage across the islands of, November 1874: In November, a possible tropical cyclone may have dropped over 20 inches (510mm) of rain on, December 190203: A low-pressure system (known later as "The Froc Cyclone") that took a path similar to that of a tropical cyclone, passed through, October 1906: In October a tropical cyclone passed about 60 miles (97km) south of, November 1906: 90 miles (140km) south of Honolulu on November 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. ENSO episode. Previous. The storm supposedly tracked northward, passing through the Kauai channel. Again, that track was initially well south of Hawaii before it curled north. The only two major hurricanes to have affected the islands since 1949, Hurricane Iniki of 1992 and Hurricane Dot of 1959, both came from the south. Two drownings on Oahu were attributed to rough surf caused by the hurricane. sustained winds over Kaua'i still exceeding 80 mph, which snapped trees . It hit Kauai as a Category 4 on Sept. 11. * September 2005: The remnants of Hurricane Kenneth brought locally heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches falling on the Big Island. More than three dozen hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, have impacted the Hawaiian islands since 1950, causing at least 12 deaths. * July 1989: Hurricane Dalilia dropped heavy rains over Hawaii, setting a new July record for Honolulu International Airport, 2.33 inches in 24 hours. Ninas closest approach to land was about 120 miles southwest of Kauai. This is because water currents bring cooler water from Alaska, down the eastern Pacific Ocean alongthe U.S. West Coast and into the central Pacific. That rarity is a product of where Hawaii is located. (MORE:Southern California Water Temperatures About as Warm as They Get). In the vast Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's total land area is only about 6,400 square miles, the fourth smallest U.S. state by land area, larger than only Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. But the state isnt always lucky, and has sustained serious damage from a number of named storms over the years. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. [50][51][52], Before Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a standard homeowner's insurance policy with extended coverage provided hurricane coverage. Daniel Nelson. Holidays. * 1986 Estelle 2 This includes a few Category 4 eastern Pacific hurricanes that fizzled, such as Felicia (2009),Orlene (1992) and Raymond (1983). On Sept. 23, a German ship recorded a cyclone (known later as the Cyclone of the Lark). $3 billion. August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. metal anchors This is the reality of a meteorological rule of thumb. Hawaii lies in the central Pacific, where about four or five tropical cyclones appear each year, although as many as fifteen have occurred, such as in the 2015 season; rarely do these storms actually affect Hawaii. When the bottom of a storm moves one way and the top moves the other, the system gets blown apart and weakens. While it is probable Flooding caused During these years, sea surface temperature tends to be higher than average near the Islands and wind shear diminishes. Hawaii may be paradise, but like the Caribbean Sea, hurricanes are part of its history. Three hurricanes struck the island of Kauai hard, including the most. There are several reasons why this happens so often. Additionally, more than 52 inches of rain fell over four days in Kauai. Nina caused about $100,000 damage in Kauai and dropped over 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in 14 hours. Hurricane name Date 1/ Islands most affected: Sustained. Wave heights between 15 and 20 feet was reported on Kauai. Also, a hurricane simply rounding the southwest side of a less expansive eastern Pacific Ocean subtropical high would put Hawaii in the crosshairs. Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. * August 2000: Hurricane Daniel passed north of the islands, bringing a few thunderstorms but no significant flooding. 1960s Its unprecedented, we dont really have a full grasp for whats going to happen on the other side, Cantin said. 1910s. See how the tropical islands looked back in the fifties! The main thing is that Hawaii is kind of a sweet spot in terms of the weather, Cantin told Climate Central. It was also considered the first official hurricane in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.The fourth tropical cyclone of the 1950 Pacific hurricane season, Hiki formed as a tropical depression to the southeast of Hawaii on August 12. torrents COPYRIGHT 2021 HAWAII OCEAN PROJECT. The figure below shows a 10-year moving average of tropical cyclone global landfalls from 1950 to . The state ranks as the 48th most active in terms of touch downs, with 40 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. . Severe property damage was inflicted on the island; up to $250 million (a record for that time). By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the Island of Lanai? Only two tropical storms have hit the islands since 1949--an unnamed 1958 storm which hit the Big Island, and Tropical Storm Iselle, which made landfall along the southeast shore of Hawaii's Big Island on August 8, 2014 with 60 mph winds. Damage was in excess of $6 million. Quick Links Last Year's Storms All Storms USA Major Storms of the Last Decade Category 3-5 USA 2010-2019 Strongest North Atlantic Hurricanes Category 5 All-time Hurricane Katrina 2005 Impact Storm [ Q0 Iselle grew into a powerful Category 4 hurricane and took aim at Hawai'i in early August, 2014. Hurricanes approaching from the south represent the biggest danger to the islands, due to the warmer waters and more unstable air present to the south. The map also shows how Hawai'i lies near the 27 C ocean surface temperature threshold in the warm month August and the wind shear resulting from surface tradewinds (green arrows) blowing in the opposite direction of the upper air winds (purple arrows). LIVE For live storm tracks, please visit the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Lane was certainly a close call, the closest we've seen since 1992. Most dangerous hurricanes come from the south. reversed direction as the eye passed over the Island. connected to the storm. Hurricane Julio, further to the east of Iselle, looks to skirt to the north of the islands but the uncertainty in its track includes the potential to brush Maui and the other islands to the northwest of the Big Island as a tropical storm. "Hurricane Iniki caused nearly $3 billion in damage in Hawaii back in September 1992, which would . Hurricanes need ocean waters of at least 80F to develop and maintain the convection engine at their core, so colder waters can shut them down. Hurricane Nina (1957) produced record winds in Honolulu. * July 1986: Waves caused by Hurricane Estelle caused $2 million in damage when they destroyed five houses and damaged several others. Dot swung northward after apparently Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. near Hawai'i. * November 1906: 90 miles south of Honolulu on Nov. 3, 1906, a tropical cyclone was recognized. Several large waterspouts were sighted off Hapuna Beach in South Kohala. * September 1972: Hurricane Fernanda may have caused flash flooding near Waipio as it passed to the northeast. * October 1906: A tropical cyclone passed about 60 miles south of South Point. The waters around Hawaii at present arent cool enough to cause dramatic weakening of Iselle before it hits the Big Island. tornado swept through the district, spreading desolation and ruin in its Peak gusts Deaths: Property damage . codes, with Kaua'i opting for higher standards of construction by requiring * August 1988: Tropical Storm Gilma moved through the island chain as a depression, dropping locally heavy rainfall of up to 4 inches in some places. A year with an El Nio event, however, can implicate this model. Virtually all hurricanes near the Hawaiian Islands since 1949 have approached from the southeast, south or southwest. 1900s. * JulyAugust 1983: Hurricane Gil passed over northern Hawaii as a tropical storm, causing minor damage. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. It's been more than two decades since the last hurricane hit the 50th state. Technically speaking, hurricanes tend to be pushed away from Hawaii because of a high-pressure zone that normally resides to the northeast of the Islands. Formal records were not kept before the 1950s. These winds, which help to keep us from overheating, also act to separate thunderstorms from the center of the approaching hurricane resulting in a lot of rain, but rarely a full-blown hurricane. The storm weakened as it moved It moved across the islands, dropping considerable rainfall and causing about $500,000 of damage. On Aug. 5, Dot seemed to turn more northwest, aiming it directly at Kauai. The warmer water also allows for more tropical system formationcloser to Hawaii and across the eastern Pacific. Wind shear (the change in wind speed and/or direction with height) is typically stronger near the Hawaiian islands, acting to displace thunderstorms from the cyclone's center. Shoreline roads on all islands were damaged and some homes flooded. One person died from Hiki. Vintage home. In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally more than 125 mph. sailed through the storm encountering, "black dark, heavy blinding rain, Only two named storms approaching from the east have hit the islands since 1949, an unnamed 1958 tropical storm and Tropical Storm Iselle of 2014, which hit the Big Island. Two people on Oahu drowned in rough surf. either entering or forming in the Central North Pacific Zone between 140 and 180 west longitude has varied greatly Pre1950 1950s. Although it was only a Category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). On average, between four and five tropical cyclones are observed in the Central Pacific every year. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. [46] Another example may be Hurricane Felicia which dropped from Category 4 down to a tropical depression with residual winds predicted at only 35 miles per hour (56km/h). Hurricane Iniki. One died from Hiki. They've also been known to come from the southwest, but rarely from the northeast or due east, where much cooler water comes down from Alaska on the west coast of North America. that many of these events were actually organized tropical cyclones, perhaps On average, about five tropical [49] Despite this data, FEMA classified all of Hawaii as being in a "Wind-Borne Debris Region". "[42] This has also drawn media attention. On average, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the central Pacific Ocean basin - between 140-180 degrees west longitude -each year, according toDr. Rick Knabb,Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel and past director of the National Hurricane Center. January 25, 2004: A brief F0 tornado touched down . This is because water currents bring cooler water from Alaska, down the eastern Pacific Ocean alongthe U.S. West Coast and into the central Pacific. Well you can! Iwa was the most damaging hurricane to hit Hawaii until Hurricane Iniki took over the title 10 years later. Just use the promocode VIP20 after clicking on this link. The storms winds will mainly be a threat to the Big Island and Maui, Cantin said, while the rains going to be a problem everywhere.. As pointed out by University of North Carolina - Charlotte graduate student Eric Webb, there was a case of a major hurricane punching through the Big Island and Maui in August 1871, as a January 2018 study uncovered. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. Dr.Knabb, also a former deputy director at NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, points out thatthere is no meteorological reason why the core of a major hurricane can't directly hit Honolulu, resulting in destructive storm surge flooding, wind damage, and rainfall flooding affecting a metro population (minus tourists) of just under 400,000. * July 1982: Hurricane Daniel passed through the islands as a tropical depression, causing little if any damage. by Dr Jeff Masters, Weather Underground, October 16, 2014 (excerpt). From 1950 through 2017, only 14 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu or Kauai, according to NOAA's historical hurricane database. The costliest hurricane in Hawaii's history,Hurricane Iniki, originated in the eastern Pacific as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on Sept. 5, 1992. During the winter and spring, Hawaii's waters average 77 degrees. and A bright starlight sky overhead gave enough light to see the mountains, Baldwin * August 1976: Tropical Storm Gwen passed north of Hawaii, dropping 12 inches of rain across the entire state. While there are usually between four or five tropical cyclones in the central Pacific ocean each year, fewer than ten have gotten within 200 nautical miles of the islands since records began to be. Intense rains over Oahu and Kauai caused flash floods on Kaukonahua Stream and the overflow of Lake Wilson at Wahiawa Dam. Vintage music. Along the southern coast, many structures were wiped out by storm surge flooding and large, battering waves. The article was first published on August 7, 2014. * August 1950: Hurricane Hiki passed north of the islands, bringing gale winds. 2010s The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. That's not to say. About two-thirds of those systems drift westfrom the eastern Pacific basin. major agricultural damage, particularly to macadamia orchards. Most of the storm damage was done by these falling trees, including knocking down power lines and blocking roads. Nina set a record for the highest wind gust ever recorded in Honolulu: 82 miles per hour. (MORE:4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For). [43][44] In some areas of the island, palm trees snapped in half, suggesting winds were locally over 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). August is the peak month, followed by July, then September. * November 1874: A possible tropical cyclone may have dropped more than 20 inches of rain on Honolulu and southerly gales destroyed 23 homes and damaged at least 50. Since 1949, the Hawaiian Islands have received a direct hit from just two hurricanes--Dot in 1959, and Iniki in 1992. Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014became only the second tropical storm, and the strongest, to landfall on the Big Island dating to 1950. "The wind commenced Now 22 years later not one, but an unprecedented two hurricanes are making a beeline for the island chain and residents are preparing for a threat they rarely face. * July 1994: Hurricane Emilia damaged trees and foliage while passing south of Hawaii. The mountains are where we'll see the highest rainfall totals and the strongest winds, McNoldy said. for residential construction, for example. Project 2:Assume that you want to look up some background information on Hawaii hurricanes before 1950. If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, said National Weather . Two people were injured by lightning. Dot swung northward after apparently forming in the East Pacific, traveling almost parallel to the Island chain, before passing directly over Kaua'i on the night of August 6. This article is reproduced with permission fromClimate Central. No Dot-related deaths were recorded. Additionally, over 52 inches (1321 mm) of rain fell over 4 days in Kauai. Iniki was the fifth costliest natural Dot: August 1959. Hurricane Hiki was the third-wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States, behind Hurricane Lane in 2018, and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Wind shear (the change in wind speed and/or direction with height) is typically stronger near the Hawaiian islands, acting to displace thunderstorms from the cyclone's center. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. systems in the South Pacific reverse or weaken. List of Hawaii hurricanes; 2012 Hawaii hailstorm; References This page was last edited on 26 June 2022, at . A Hawaiian hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms in the Pacific Ocean and affects the Hawaiian Islands. Of course, this doesn't mean every single storm will do that in the future. disaster ever to strike the United States, with damages estimated at over It should be noted that the Tropical Storm Iselle made a direct hit on August 8, Hurricane Julio passed just to the north of the islands a few days later, bringing high surf, and now Hurricane Ana threatens to cause more trouble. Since Iniki, many insurance policies exclude hurricane and a separate hurricane policy is required to obtain hurricane coverage. Deadliest Storms The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. The rarity of the situation and the long lull between these storms and Iniki, speaks to how unusual it is for Hawaii to be hit by tropical cyclones (the generic term for tropical storms and hurricanes), even though the island is synonymous with the tropics. Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. 'Iwa formed south of Hawai'i during The storm dissipated near British Columbia. Also helping shield Hawaii from tropical systems are the relatively cool waters around the islands, especially to the north and east of the chain. 68 mph winds were recorded in Kauai. highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the Central North Pacific zone occurs during El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years. By the big picture, we mean the Pacific Ocean. * August 2003: Hurricane Jimena brought up to 10 inches of rain as it passed the Big Island. 1930s. A brief summary of the three most significant hurricanes to affect Hawaii in modern times: September 1992: Hurricane Iniki was the strongest, deadliest, and most damaging hurricane to affect Hawaii since records began. One such hurricane formed in an El Nio year: 1992. Hawaii typically records four or five hurricanes each year, although as many as 11 have occurred, including during the 1992 and 1994 seasons. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Tracks of all tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) to pass within 100 miles of the Hawaiian Islands, 1949 - 2014. The storm wobbled northward toward the Islands, finally veering Cooler sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific waters to the east of the Big Island of Hawaii keep the air somewhat cooler above it, increasing the stability of the atmosphere, making it less susceptible to forming and maintaining thunderstorms. El Nio allows warmer water to push farther north into the more typical east to west trek of tropical systems from the eastern Pacific. The remnants of Kanoa brought rain. 1950s This number has ranged from zero, most recently as 1979, to as many as eleven in 1992 and 1994. years. On average, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the central Pacific Ocean basin - between 140-180 degrees west longitude -each year, according toDr. Rick Knabb,Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel and past director of the National Hurricane Center. One fisherman was reported missing. of rain which raised the streams to an unprecedented height and swept away Hurricanes hit Hawaii less frequently because of where the islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. to the north, and towering ghostly white clouds nearby to the west". * September 1992: Hurricane Orlene struck Hawaii as a tropical depression causing heavy rainfall, washing out roads, shortly after Iniki ravaged Kauai. Tropical cyclone records were not kept before the 1950s. In other words, hurricanes aren't even physically possible in Hawaii for over half of the year. Hawaii typically records four or five hurricanes each. [45], A partial source of this idea may be the long list of hurricanes in the above paragraphs that dissipated into tropical storms or depressions upon approaching the islands. Over land, maximum sustained winds exceeded 140 mph, gusting to 175 mph, 1800s. about 6 o'clock A.M. from the North, and rapidly rotating to the West and Miraculously, only six deaths were Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of the Big Island, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai from 1950 through 2017. One died from Hiki. ENSO is a Pacific- wide phenomenon during which ocean surface water warms in the Eastern Pacific and pressure Only light rain was reported. Despite being greatly weakened, the hurricane brought gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). August 1959: Hurricane Dot was another powerful August arrival. Although it was only a Category 1 storm, it passed just miles west of Kauai, moving at a speed of nearly 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). If it stays a hurricane, it will be the first to hit the Big Island head-on since records began in 1950, and could even be the first since a possible cyclone hit in 1872, saidNational Weather Servicemeteorologist Michael Cantin. Vintage TV. Tracks of hurricanes that have come within 200 nautical miles of Hawaii from 1990-2021. Hawaii has been directly hit by hurricanes only three times since 1950, though the region has had 147 tropical cyclones over that time. Dot brought sustained winds of 81 mph with gusts to 103 mph to Kilauea Light. * August 1959: Hurricane Dot entered the Central Pacific as a Category 4 hurricane just south of Hawaii. government [1] Extratropical cyclones are also common, causing considerable damage; they are known as Kona storms, but are not included in counts of hurricanes. Rainfall accumulated to 4 inches. * August 1938: A possible tropical cyclone produced heavy wind and rain across the state. However, as exemplified by Hurricane Lane, hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, rarely strike the Hawaiian islands directly. Part of the reason this doesn't happen that often is just geography.