Timeline of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season

Map of the Northern Atlantic Ocean with color-codded tracks representing hurricane paths.
Season summary map

The 1987 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average season, having fewer named storms than in a normal year,[1][2] that resulted in little impact throughout the Atlantic basin; the United States recorded no hurricane-related fatalities, making the 1987 season the fourth to do so since 1976. The season officially began on June 1, 1987 and ended on November 30; however, a pre-season storm, Tropical Depression One, led to the season's starting on May 25. Storm activity ended several weeks early; the final storm of the season, Tropical Depression Fourteen, dissipated on November 4.[1] This timeline includes information that was not operationally released, meaning that information from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not operationally warned upon, has been included. This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipations during the season.

The season had fourteen tropical depressions, of which seven intensified into tropical storms—an average season has ten tropical storms[2]—three became hurricanes and one, Emily, became a major hurricane.[nb 1] The inactivity throughout the basin was linked to persistent, strong vertical wind shear; most of the season's storms were unable to intensify due to the shear, resulting in a low number of named storms and hurricanes.[1] The two most notable storms of the season were Hurricanes Arlene and Emily. Hurricane Arlene spent roughly 14.5 days as a tropical storm before intensifying into a hurricane, the longest span between these intensities on record.[3][nb 2] Hurricane Emily was the only major hurricane of the season; its wind speeds peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h) before impacting the Dominican Republic. Three fatalities occurred in the Dominican Republic because of the storm and damages were estimated up to $80.3 million (1987 USD).[1][4][5][6]

Events

Timeline of tropical activity in 1987 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Depression Fourteen (1987) Hurricane Floyd (1987) Hurricane Emily (1987) Hurricane Arlene (1987) 1987 Gulf Coast tropical storm Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

May

Satellite image of a weak tropical cyclone. The storm has an exposed center situated just south of deep convection. Cirrus clouds extend to the northeast of this area; no land is visible in the image.
Satellite image of Tropical Depression One on May 26
May 24
May 30
  • 8:00 am EDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression One makes landfall on Great Abaco Island in the northern Bahamas with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[7]
  • 2:00 pm EDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression One passes over the Berry Islands with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[7]
May 31
  • 8:00 am EDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression One makes its closest approach to the Florida Keys, tracking within 20 mi (30 km) of Lower Matecumbe Key with winds of 30 mph (45 km/h).[7]
  • 8:00 pm EDT (0000 UTC June 1) – Tropical Depression One dissipates in the Florida Strait.[7]

June

June 1
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins.[8]
  • There was no tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin during June 1987.[1]

July

  • There was no tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin during July 1987.[1]

August

August 9
Satellite image of a tropical storm at crossing the Texas coastline. The storm is in the shape of the number "9" with bulging clouds near the bottom. Southeast Texas, northeast Mexico and southwestern Louisiana are visible in the image.
Tropical Storm Two on August 10
  • 7:00 am CDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Two forms about 260 mi (420 km) southeast of Houston, Texas.[9][10]
  • 1:00 pm CDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Two intensifies into a Tropical Storm but is not assigned a name.[9][10]
August 10
August 11
  • 2:00 pm EDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Three intensifies into Tropical Storm Arlene roughly 255 mi (215 km) northeast of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas.[9][11]
August 13
  • 11:00 am AST (1500 UTC) – Tropical Storm Arlene makes its closest approach to Bermuda, tracking roughly 45 mi (75 km) to the north with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h).[9][11]
  • 8:00 pm AST (0000 UTC August 14) – Tropical Depression Four forms about 840 mi (1,350 km) east-southeast of Barbados.[7]
August 14
  • 8:00 pm EDT (0000 UTC August 15) – Tropical Depression Two re-emerges into the Gulf of Mexico.[9][10]
August 15
A map of a path across the Atlantic Ocean. The Eastern United States and the Canadian Maritimes are seen on the left side of the image, while Bermuda is seen closer to the center. Cuba is also depicted on the bottom-left.
Track map of Hurricane Arlene
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Four dissipates roughly 55 mi (90 km) northeast of the British Virgin Islands.[7]
  • 2:00 pm EDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Two makes landfall in Gulf County, Florida with winds of 20 mph (25 km/h).[9][10]
August 17
  • 2:00 am EDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Two dissipates over southeastern Georgia.[9][10]
August 18
  • 2:00 am AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five forms roughly 170 mi (275 km) west of Dakar, Senegal.[9][12]
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five tracks over the southern Cape Verde Islands with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[9][12]
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five strengthens into Tropical Storm Bret about 85 mi (140 km) west-northwest of Brava, Cape Verde.[9][12]
August 20
  • 2:00 am AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Bret reaches its peak intensity with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) while located about 710 mi (1,145 km) west-northwest of Brava, Cape Verde.[9][12]
Satellite image of a weak tropical cyclone. The storm is characterized by disorganized cloud cover that encompasses most of the image. No land masses are visible in the image.
Tropical Depression Six on August 31
August 22
August 23
August 24
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Bret degenerates into a tropical wave over the central Atlantic Ocean.[9][12]
August 30
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Six forms roughly 515 mi (830 km) west-southwest of Brava, Cape Verde.[7]

September

September 2
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Six dissipates about 895 mi (1,440 km) west of Antigua and Barbuda.[7]
September 5
A map of a path across a portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The track starts near the west coast of Africa, and heads generally northwestward. South America is depicted on the lower-left side of the map.
Track map of Tropical Storm Dennis
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Seven forms roughly 445 mi (720 km) west of Brava, Cape Verde.[9][13]
  • 8:00 pm AST (0000 UTC September 6) – Tropical Depression Eight forms around 115 mi (185 km) northwest of Tobago.[7]
September 6
  • 8:00 pm EDT (0000 UTC September 7) – Tropical Depression Nine forms roughly 145 mi (235 km) northeast of Freeport, Bahamas.[7]
September 7
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Seven strengthens into Tropical Storm Cindy about 1,050 mi (1,690 km) northwest of the Cape Verde Islands.[9][13]
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eight makes landfall with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua shortly before dissipating.[7]
September 8
September 10
  • (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Ten strengthens into Tropical Storm Dennis while located about 275 mi (445 km) south of Brava, Cape Verde.[9][14]
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – The last advisory on Tropical Storm Cindy is released as it becomes extratropical over the northern Atlantic.[9][13]
September 13
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eleven forms near 375 mi (605 km) northeast of Barbados.[7]
September 17
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eleven dissipates about 280 mi (450 km) northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.[7]
September 18
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Dennis weakens into a tropical depression while located around 660 mi (1,060 km) northeast of Barbados.[9][14]
September 19
  • 8:00 pm AST (0000 UTC September 20) – Tropical Depression Twelve forms roughly 605 mi (975 km) southeast of Barbados.[9][15]
September 20
A photograph of the eye of a hurricane. One of the engines of a hurricane hunter aircraft can be seen in the bottom right portion of the image. Scattered clouds at the bottom give way to water. In the middle, the eyewall of the storm is clearly seen and near the top, there are wispy cirrus clouds. A portion of the top of the image shows the sky.
The eye of Hurricane Emily as seen by the Hurricane Hunters during a reconnaissance mission on September 22
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Dennis transitions into an extratropical cyclone over the central Atlantic.[9][14]
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Twelve strengthens into Tropical Storm Emily while located about 245 mi (395 km) southeast of Barbados.[9][15]
September 21
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Emily makes landfall in St. Vincent with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h).[9][15]
September 22
  • 2:00 am AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Emily intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane.[9][15]
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Emily intensifies into a Category 2 hurricane.[9][15]
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Emily reaches its peak intensity with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) as it intensifies into a Category 3 hurricane.[9][15]
  • 11:00 pm AST (0300 UTC) – Hurricane Emily weakens to a Category 2 hurricane and makes landfall near Barahona, Dominican Republic with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h).[9][15]
September 23
  • 2:00 am AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Emily weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.[9][15]
  • 8:00 am AST (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Emily weakens into a tropical storm.[9][15]
September 25
  • 2:00 am AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Emily re-intensifies into a hurricane while located about 235 mi (380 km) southwest of Bermuda.[9][15]
  • 7:45 am AST (1145 UTC) – Hurricane Emily makes landfall in Bermuda with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h).[9][15]
September 26
  • 2:00 pm AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Emily transitions into an extratropical cyclone over the northeastern Atlantic.[9][15]

October

October 9
Satellite image of a minimal hurricane passing through the Florida strait. Two large areas of deep cloud cover make up most of the storm, with cirrus clouds extending to the northwest and sparse cloud cover to the northeast. The Yucatán Peninsula is seen at the bottom left, part of Cuba and Haiti are also at the bottom right.
Hurricane Floyd on October 12
  • 2:00 am EDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Thirteen forms roughly 85 mi (140 km) northeast of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.[9][16]
October 10
  • 8:00 pm EDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Thirteen strengthens into Tropical Storm Floyd while located about 230 mi (370 km) south-southwest of Grand Cayman Island.[9][16]
October 11
  • 8:00 pm EDT (0000 UTC October 12) – Tropical Storm Floyd makes landfall in western Cuba near Guane.[9][16]
October 12
  • 8:00 am EDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Floyd intensifies into a Category 1 hurricane as it reaches its peak windspeeds of 75 mph (120 km/h).[9][16]
  • 2:00 pm EDT (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Floyd tracks over the Florida Keys with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h).[9][16]
  • 8:00 pm EDT (0000 UTC) – Hurricane Floyd weakens into a tropical storm.[9][16]
October 13
  • 2:00 pm EDT (1800 UTC) –Tropical Storm Floyd transitions into an extratropical cyclone to the northeast of the Bahamas.[9][16]
October 31

November

A track map of Tropical Depression Fourteen throughout the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The track starts out south of Jamaica and heads generally northwest, crossing Cuba and making landfall in Florida.
Track map of Tropical Depression Fourteen
November 2
  • 8:00 pm EDT (0000 UTC November 3) – Tropical Depression Fourteen makes landfall in southern Matanzas Province, Cuba with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[17]
  • Exact time unknown – Tropical Depression Fourteen makes landfall in southern La Habana Province, Cuba with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[17]
November 4
  • 8:00 am EDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fourteen makes landfall near Tampa, Florida.[17]
  • 2:00 pm EDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fourteen dissipates over Florida.[17]
November 30
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
  2. ↑ Guide on how to read the HURDAT track files
  3. ↑ The figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (knots, miles, or kilometers), following the convention used in the National Hurricane Center's operational products for each storm. All other units are rounded to the nearest digit.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robert A. Case and Harold P. Gerrish (April 1988). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1987" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  2. 1 2 National Hurricane Center (June 5, 2009). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  3. ↑ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division (February 17, 2016). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  4. ↑ Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report: Page Four". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  5. ↑ Nicholas DeGraff (August 25, 1999). "Natural Hazards and Disasters: Landslides in St. Lucia". University of California, Santa Cruz. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  6. ↑ "The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis". The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Non-developing Atlantic Depressions 1967-1987". National Hurricane Center. 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory; Hurricane Research Division (2009). "Frequently Asked Questions: When is hurricane season?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Hurricane Research Division (2009). "Atlantic Hurricane Best Track Database (HURDAT)". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Harold. P. Gerrish (November 18, 1987). "Tropical Storm Two Preliminary Report: Page Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dr. Harold. P. Gerrish (October 16, 1987). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Arlene". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gilbert B. Clark (September 1987). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Bret". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 Robert A. Case (October 3, 1987). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Cindy". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Miles B. Lawrence (October 6, 1987). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Dennis". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Harold P. Gerrish (November 12, 1987). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Emily". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gilbert B. Clark (October 27, 1987). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Floyd". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Robert A. Case (November 17, 1987). "Tropical Depression Fourteen Preliminary Report: Page Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
Preceded by
1986		 Atlantic hurricane seasons timelines
1987 		Succeeded by
1988

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