Early september cyclones (sans Gustav and Hanna)

If this blog is starting to look like a demented "hurricane hunter" pet project - my apologies... Unfortunately, the tropical storms of 2008 hit the poorest areas of the world (Haiti, Cuba, Dominicana...) inflicting unspeakable damage and suffering. I feel compelled to document just a bit of their history. Besides, there isn't much going on in the US... If you are after the US election coverage, read The Huff if you are a democrat (or change your party affiliation if you are any of the "others"...you'll be a much happier person...guaranteed..!)

Please help the hurricane victims everywhere, especially in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba!


Hurricane/TS Ike/Tropical Depression Nine Formed September 1 2008 (Labor Day in the US.) Upgraded to a tropical storm, Ike, the 9th named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season that afternoon. Initial bearing - the Bahamas (as a hurricane) on Sunday. September 3 (afternoon) - upgraded to Category 1 hurricane. Rapidly intensified and become Category 3 in the evening. September 4 (morning) become a Category 4 hurricane forecast to roughly follow the Hanna's path (Bahamas, then south-eastern US coast.) September 5 (morning) downgraded to Category 3. May hit Miami straight-up as a major hurricane next Tuesday or Wednesday. September 5 (evening) looks like it is going to squeeze between Cuba and Florida, hit the Keys and cross over into the Gulf heading straight for ..? September 6 (morning) sadly, it looks like Ike will be heading straight for New Orleans. September 6 (noon) downgraded to Category 2 due to hit Turks & Caicos, the Bahamas and Cuba later tonight and tomorrow September 6 (afternoon) intensified, upgraded to Category 4 heading straight for Cuba. September 7 (morning) category 4 hurricane heading for Guantanamo, Cuba and on to La Habana. According to the Turks and Caicos premier Michael Misick, Ike damaged more than 80 percent of the homes on Grand Turk and South Caicos islands. Lots of damage and deaths in Haiti (town of Cabaret seems to take the brunt of the Ike's force with tragic results - at least 22 deaths.) September 7 (afternoon) downgraded to Category 3. The outer bands of Ike have practically closed the city of Gonaïves in Haiti, already flooded by the previous storm, Gustav. September 7 (evening) landed on Cuba (near Punto de Sama) as a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds. September 8 (morning) over Cuba, downgraded to Category 2. Haiti reports at least 500 deaths. Massive devastation in Cuba. September 8 (evening) downgraded to Category 1. Just off the south coast of Cuba. September 9 (morning) still Category1, battering Cuba. Thanx to hurricane preparedness in Cuba there is rarely any loss of life despite frequent storms and hurricanes. The new forecast calls for Ike to head for the central Texas Gulf coast. September 9 (evening) finally off the northern coast of Cuba. Sadly, at least 4 Ike-related deaths reported in Cuba. Still Category 1 and heading for the Texas coast.

Destruction in Pinar del Rio (Cuba.)


September 10 (afternoon) upgraded to Category 2.
September 11 (afternoon) still Category 2, but take a look at its size!


Image source: NOAA/NHC

September 12 (morning/noon) - still Category 2, heading for Galveston and Huston as a huge, destructive storm with "COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF UP TO 20 FEET...WITH A FEW SPOTS TONEAR 25 FEET...ABOVE NORMAL TIDE ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES..." (Source: NHC.) September 12 (evening) still Category 2 (borderline Category 3) September 13 - landed in Galveston, TX at 2:10 AM (CDT) as a Category 2 hurricane. Widespread damage from water, wind and fire in Galveston, Houston and outlying areas. September 13 (noonish) downgraded to TS.
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Image source: NOAA/NHC

TS Josephine/Tropical Depression Ten has formed near the Cape Verde Islands today, Tuesday, September 2 2008. Likely to be upgraded later today to the tenth named tropical storm of the season. Yep, and so it is - Josephine. So, on September 2, 2008 we had four named storms in the Atlantic (see picture.) The yearly average is 11 named storms in the Atlantic so we are almost certain to eclipse that number this year... Expected to peter out this Saturday or Sunday as a tropical depression in high seas without affecting any landmasses. September 5 - still a tropical storm in high seas. September 6 - downgraded to a tropical depression in the middle of Atlantic. September 7 - tropical cyclone no more, a mere disturbance with low potential for redevelopment, but it might strengthen and re-emerge as a tropical cyclone. September 9 - well it didn't redevelop and, poof! it's gone for good!