Memorable July Hurricanes

 

Hurricane Emily, July 16, 2005 (Source: NOAA)

The tropical Atlantic often sees an uptick in tropical storm and hurricane development during the month of July as conditions become more favorable.  Although not as busy as late August or September, there have been significant July hurricanes.

Chris (2018):  Not particularly strong or destructive, but I’m partial to mentioning my namesake storm.  “Chris” first appeared on the list of names for Atlantic tropical systems in 1982.  It has been a named storm every six years since then and was a hurricane three times.  The most recent version reached its peak intensity as a Category 2 storm on July 11, 2018, with sustained winds of 105 mph.  Fortunately, it was a safe distance off the U.S. east coast and west of Bermuda and it didn’t have any major impacts.

Arthur (2014): Hurricane Arthur menaced beach-goers in North Carolina over the July 4 holiday nine years ago.  The first named storm of the season, Arthur also became the earliest landfalling North Carolina hurricane on record.  At peak intensity, Arthur was a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph and minimum central air pressure of 973 millibars (mb).  It made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina at this intensity early on July 4.  Although damage was relatively minimal, the impacts were high being a holiday weekend since it forced holiday travelers to either postpone their travel plans or leave early.

Bertha (2008):  Bertha had sustained winds of 125 mph and a minimum pressure of 952 mb at peak intensity.  Fortunately, it never made landfall and remained over the open Atlantic Ocean.  But it was a long-lasting system, having been a tropical storm or hurricane from July 3 – July 20.  That made Bertha the longest-lasting July tropical storm or hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean.

Emily (2005):  The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a record-setting year that saw the earliest Category 5 hurricane.  Hurricane Emily briefly reached Category 5 strength on July 16 with sustained winds of 160 mph and a minimum air pressure of 929 mb.  Standard sea level air pressure is 1013 mb.  Fortunately, Emily only caused minor damage in southern Texas, after making landfall in northern Mexico on July 20.  Emily remains the only Category 5 Atlantic hurricane to develop in July.

About a week earlier, Hurricane Dennis was the previous record-holder for strongest Atlantic hurricane to develop in July.  At peak intensity, Dennis was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph.  It weakened before making landfall near Pensacola, Florida as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph.  Dennis would become the first of five hurricanes to have their names retired by the World Meteorological Organization following the 2005 season – the highest such number on record.  Hurricanes and tropical storms have their names retired for being exceptionally damaging or deadly.