Talk:2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Specialized Archives: May, June , July, August, September, October, November, \\ ACE calcs

Please put all discussion unrelated to articles on the Hurricane Wikia.

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Tropical Cyclone Reports

01L.Arthur - released July 28, 2008
02L.Bertha - released October 20, 2008
03L.Cristobal - released October 1, 2008, updated December 15, 2008
04L.Dolly - released January 22, 2009
05L.Edouard - released November 14, 2008
06L.Fay - released February 9, 2009
07L.Gustav - released January 26, 2009
08L.Hanna - released December 17, 2008
09L.Ike - released January 23, 2009, updated February 4, 2009
10L.Josephine - released December 5, 2008
11L.Kyle - released December 5, 2008
12L.Laura - released February 4, 2009
13L.Marco - released November 14, 2008
14L.Nana - released December 3, 2008
15L.Omar - released February 4, 2009
16L.Sixteen - released November 19, 2008
17L.Paloma - released January 26, 2009, updated February 4, 2009

Cristobal

Just released today. Pressure dropped a bit but the peak intensity was unchanged. CrazyC83 (talk) 19:01, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

• Minor revisions made this week that I just noticed. The ACE has been updated. CrazyC83 (talk) 01:17, 19 December 2008 (UTC)

Bertha

Peak intensity increased to 125mph, pressure raised to 952mb. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 15:01, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

No real surprise, there were hints it may have been as strong as 135 mph but that is not to be. Updated the ACE calcs. CrazyC83 (talk) 15:17, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

Edouard

One death confirmed. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 19:51, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

Updated the article for such, plus more details on the damage. CrazyC83 (talk) 19:59, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

Marco

Nothing new, smallest tropical storm in Atlantic confirmed. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 19:51, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

Sixteen

Intensity lowered to 30mph and pressure increased to 1004mb. Death toll: 11 direct, 7 indirect, 6 missing. Maximum rainfall 21.52 inches in Balday beacon, Belize. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 19:20, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Nana

Pressure lowered to 1004mbar. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 18:54, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

Kyle

Winds increased to 85mph. Death toll in Puerto Rico increased to six. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 22:55, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Article updated to show such. CrazyC83 (talk) 01:18, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

Josephine

Nothing new. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 22:55, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Hanna

Real damage figure and intensity bumped to 85 mph. The death toll on the TCR remains a guess due to isolating from other storms. CrazyC83 (talk) 16:08, 17 December 2008 (UTC)

At least 500 fatalities. Total in Haiti is 793 with hundreds missing. Cyclonebiskit (talk) 16:12, 17 December 2008 (UTC)

Was all of Hanna's 160 million in damage from just Haiti, just the US, or both? It doesn't give a specific cost for each. Where did this come from? 76.235.160.175 (talk) 21:21, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

160 million in the US only, no damage total from Haiti but the damages from all four storms that hit totaled to ~$1 billion (don't include this in an article). Cyclonebiskit (talk) 21:27, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

That is correct, isolating damage numbers in the articles is proving difficult (Ike and Gustav combined in Cuba did $9.4B but no single-storm numbers are given). CrazyC83 (talk) 01:20, 19 December 2008 (UTC)

There actually are single storm numbers by Cuba's damage from 2008. Ike and Gustav both did 4 billion in damage to Cuba and Paloma did 1.4 billion. Is there ever going to be a Haiti report from Hanna, though? there can't not be one; the NHC has to get all of the reports done by April (I think), but since the TCR has been released, and Hanna's Haiti damage is still unknown, will there ever be a report on this? 76.235.207.61 (talk) 02:25, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

There are ongoing OCHA reports for the impacts in Haiti. I'll check though them later to see if any have a damage total. Cyclonebiskit 02:38, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

Due to the low property values in Haiti (which is a really impoverished country), I don't think the costs will be very high there. CrazyC83 (talk) 02:57, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Dolly

It is now out. Downgraded to Cat 1 at landfall but kept at Cat 2 at peak intensity. Damage in the US $1.05 billion, only 1 direct death (the rest were not mentioned and are now indirect). CrazyC83 (talk) 19:43, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

• Link for convenience. –Juliancolton ^{Tropical Cyclone} 19:47, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

Ike

$18 billion in damage in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Further damage inland. [1] –Juliancolton ^{Tropical Cyclone} 16:21, 23 January 2009 (UTC)

There was also a change in the best track, Julian. Ike weakened to a cat. 3 as it hit the Bahamas, but restrengthened into a cat. 4 at it's Cuba landfall. I have a possible record about this. Since Ike hit Cuba as a cat. 4, and Gustav hit Cuba as a cat. 4 as well, would it mark the first time 2 hurricanes of at least category 4 strength have hit Cuba in the same season? I know no other such year with this record. 76.235.170.181 (talk) 04:13, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Yep. –Juliancolton ^{Tropical Cyclone} 23:48, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Another record (minor record at that), fifth fastest 6 hour intensification (tied with four other storms) with a 30 knot increase in 6 hours from 18 UTC on Sep. 3 to 00 UTC on Sep. 4. Overall 24 rapid intensification was a 70 knot increase (if that ranks somewhere as a record, it wasn't stated in the TCR). Cyclonebiskit 23:09, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

By intensification standards, I only think storms like Wilma or Felix should be mentioned, but if there is a good source for Ike, sure. The 2 cat 4's in Cuba is confirmed though (Ike and Gustav) check the best track if you have any doubts on that. 76.235.170.181 (talk) 01:49, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

The record I put was from the Tropical Cyclone Report. Cyclonebiskit 01:55, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

Well, if you think it should be there, then you can put it in. I watched Ike on TV at the time. By 5 P.M. EDT, Ike became a category 1 storm. 3 hours later, it became a category 3. 3 hours after that, Ike was a cat. 4, and finally, on the next advisory, Ike reached it's peak. The record about Gustav and Ike both hitting Cuba at cat. 4 strength should probrably be mentioned, too. 76.235.170.181 (talk) 11:41, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

I'll search through the best tracks and see what I can find about Cat:4's and Cuba. Cyclonebiskit 15:27, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

Yep, no other season has had two Category 4's making landfall in Cuba at that intensity. Cyclonebiskit 15:33, 28 January 2009 (UTC)

TCR Updated on February 4. Damage increased to $24B in the US ($28.2B once Cuba, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos are added, and still higher due to damage in Hispaniola, Jamaica and Canada not accounted for). Missing total reduced to 34, and the best track in Cuba was adjusted. CrazyC83 (talk) 05:16, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Gustav and Paloma

Both are out with updated damage and fatality figures. Paloma weakened to Cat 2 before landfall in Cuba, Gustav was 105 mph at Louisiana landfall. CrazyC83 (talk) 17:41, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

184 knot wind gust for Gustav is confirmed, world record for a tropical cyclone. Cyclonebiskit 17:52, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Yep, although not representative of its true intensity (if it was used for a basis, Gustav would have likely been upgraded to Cat 5 as it was on the west side of the storm). CrazyC83 (talk) 20:22, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

And double landfall in Jamaica. HurricaneSpin (talk) 23:43, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

Also, Paloma was a 100 mph storm at it's Cuba landfall, so this season isn't the first one with three major hurricanes to hit Cuba, but Ike was upgraded to a cat. 4 at it's landfall there, so it is the first with 2 cat 4's hitting Cuba rather than 3 cat 3's hitting. 76.235.170.181 (talk) 22:32, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

Paloma TCR Updated on February 4. Minor changes to the best track, included a corrected landfall location. CrazyC83 (talk) 05:33, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Laura and Omar

Both are now out. Omar confirmed as 135 mph (category 4). No real surprises with Laura. CrazyC83 (talk) 21:36, 4 February 2009 (UTC)

Fay

Winds upped to 70mph damages totaled to $560 million. Cyclonebiskit 15:57, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Is that all of the TCR's? I believe it is, but there still isn't a Haiti report from Hanna or Gustav. 76.235.187.223 (talk) 22:10, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

That's all of them. There are no sub-reports issued by the NHC but other sources may still be working on recording the events that happened. Cyclonebiskit 01:45, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

I guess a sesonal track map will be released soon. HurricaneSpin (talk) 02:44, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

Barring a reclassification of some other storm (best candidate would be the Carolinas storm in late September, but it will be likely left as a frontal hybrid low), that is it. Some of them will be updated from time to time though. CrazyC83 (talk) 06:34, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

So, I guess, unless any reanalysis comes in, that's it for this season, and we have to prepare for the upcoming one. 76.235.175.27 (talk) 03:05, 15 February 2009 (UTC)

Dont Forget that we have country reports, coming in at the minute for the Hurricane Committee meeting, which takes place soon.Jason Rees (talk) 14:46, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

I see that the meeting is April 20.

RA IV Hurricane Committee, Thirty-first session

• Start date: 20-Apr-09
• End date: 24-Apr-09 morning
• Meeting place: Nassau, Bahamas

Weatherlover819 (talk) 08:42, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

Well, we can't assume it will be then; last year's meetings weren't until May 13. I'm not sure why it was that late, but either way, this meeting will be coming soon. 76.235.186.200 (talk) 16:06, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

No - the Hurricane Committee meeting does start on the 20 April - Also last years meeting was from the 23 - 28 April 2008 and im not quite sure where you got May 13 from Jason Rees (talk) 16:53, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

What I meant was Dean, Felix, and Noel weren't actually retired until then - it said they were retired by May 13 in each of the 3 articles. So, although the meetings were in April, the names weren't actually retired until May. If you don't agree, look in the 3 storm articles yourself. 76.253.126.162 (talk) 00:44, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Retired names

Well, the WMO conferences start today, so I think it is time we should talk about retired names. While I don't think any nation has requested any names yet, they should come in very soon. If I would guess, Gustav and Ike are obvious retirement candidates, and Dolly and Hanna are likely retirement candidates. Fay and Paloma are possible; I initially thought Paloma was a likely retirement candidate until the latest damage totals came out, which are just below $1 billion. Also, knowing France, we could perhaps see Omar retired if they request it, despite the fact that it wasn't severely damaging. ANDROS¹³³⁷ 18:44, 20 April 2009 (UTC)

Yeah I agree and also about France in the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season they retired Klaus which only caused about $1 million in damage. --12george1 (talk) 21:08, 20 April 2009 (UTC)

Although the WMO meetings are today, we shouldn't be assuming which names will or won't be retired still. We should wait until the names actually are retired. Paloma still has a good shot though, because the Carribean is more likely to submit a storm like Paloma than we are (Dolly, i'm talking to you), and I'm not sure over Omar or Fay. We shouldn't really be assuming anything more here; at the top of this page, just below the orange box, it says Please put all unrelated discussion on the Hurricane Wikia. Click on the Hurricane Wikia to put speculations on that page; I would do it on the bottom, under Names requested for retirement. End of discussion here. 76.235.202.58 (talk) 21:35, 20 April 2009 (UTC)

And Gustav, Ike & Paloma are gone. Guess who isn't though? HANNA! Definitely one of the biggest surprises in my opinion; 530 dead and no retirement? That seems a little inconsistent, even considering its Haiti. FYI, the new names are Gonzalo, Isaias and Paulette. Gonzalo is probably the most decent, and I can accept Isaias as they are really running out of I names, but Paulette? We have/had Paul & Pauline in the Pacific, we didn't need another variation of Paul... and there are certainly many more elegible female P names out there, as Paloma is the only "P" retiree. 96.30.150.26 (talk) 05:13, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm not that surprised that Hanna wasn't retired. I am not surprised because in 1994, Hurricane Gordon killed more 1,000 people and it wasn't retired. --12george1 (talk) 17:00, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

Yes, Haiti often has odd retirement patterns. –Juliancolton | ^Talk 17:05, 23 April 2009 (UTC)

• I cannot think of many more I names, male or female! They could retire "I" names entirely at the rate...

I'm a little upset about why they didn't retire Hanna, but what's this about Dolly? Paloma caused only 909 million in damage and one' death and was retired. Dolly did 1.35 billion in damage, killed twenty-two people and it wasn't?! If the WMO didn't retire Dolly, then there is NO WAY they would have kicked Paloma off. And then again, with Haiti, Gordon and Hanna weren't, but Noel of 2007, which caused much less in damage/deaths, was. If the WMO didn't retire Gordon for 1,100 deaths, they would have no excuse for retiring Noel for 169. Noel didn't even do 1/7 as many deaths as Gordon, and not even 1/3 as much as Hanna, and was retired. I'm not sure why the WMO is so picky over retiring names now. 76.235.197.175 (talk) 22:16, 23 April 2009 (UTC)