 Hurricane Iwa approachingKauaʻi on November 23 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 19, 1982 (1982-11-19) |
| Dissipated | November 25, 1982 (1982-11-25) |
| Category 1 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 90 mph (150 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 968mbar (hPa); 28.59 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 4 total |
| Damage | $312 million (1982USD) |
| Areas affected | Hawaii |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1982 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Iwa, taken from theHawaiian language name for thefrigatebird (ʻiwa, lit. "Thief"), was at the time the costliest hurricane to affect the state ofHawaii. Iwa was the twenty-third tropical storm and the twelfth and final hurricane of the1982 Pacific hurricane season. It developed from an activetrough of low pressure near theequator on November 19. The storm moved erratically northward until becoming a hurricane on November 23, when it began accelerating to the northeast in response to strong upper-level flow from the north. Iwa passed within 25 miles of the island ofKauaʻi with peak winds of 90 mph (140 km/h) on November 23 (November 24Coordinated Universal Time), and the next day it becameextratropical to the northeast of the state.
The hurricane devastated the islands ofNiʻihau,Kauaʻi, andOʻahu with wind gusts exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h) and rough seas exceeding 30 feet (9.1 m) in height. Maui andMolokaʻi also experienced strong winds and heavy rainfall, although less severe compared to Kauaʻi and Oʻahu. Iwa severely damaged or destroyed 2,345 buildings, including 1,927 houses, leaving 500 people homeless. Damage throughout the state totaled $312 million (1982 USD$, 1.02 billion 2024 USD). One person was killed from the high seas, and three deaths were indirectly related to the hurricane's aftermath.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionA very activetrough of low pressure persisted along theequator in the middle of November, with westerly surface winds and windspread convection located along the trough from 140° W to 140° E. An organized circulation developed nearPalmyra Atoll on November 18, and steadily developed as it drifted westward.[1]Though very late in the season, warm temperatures to the south of theHawaiian Islands due to the strongestEl Niño in many years allowed the disturbance to develop into Tropical Storm Iwa on November 19 while located about 970 miles (1,560 km) southwest of thesouthernmost point in Hawaii. The storm tracked slowly northward after forming and initially remained a weak tropical storm. After turning to the northeast, Iwa began slowly intensifying, and on November 23 after turning to the north-northwest Iwa strengthened into a hurricane while located 580 miles (930 km) southwest of the southern tip of Hawaii.[1][2]
Shortly after becoming a hurricane, Iwa turned and accelerated to the northeast in response to strong upper level flow to its north. The hurricane possessed sufficient moisture, instability, and upper divergence for continued intensification, and Iwa reached peak winds of 90 mph (140 km/h) late on November 23 while located 245 miles (394 km) southwest ofWaimea on the island ofKauaʻi. Its forward speed increased to 30 to 40 mph, and Iwa passed just north of the island of Kauai on November 23 (November 24 in UTC). The right semicircle of the storm extended across Kauaʻi andOʻahu, with gusts from 100 to 120 mph (160 to 190 km/h). After passingHawaii, the convection of Iwa rapidly deteriorated as it gradually losttropical characteristics. Late on November 24, the hurricane degenerated into a tropical storm, and on November 25 Iwa became anextratropical cyclone while located about 600 miles (970 km) northeast of Hawaii.[2]
| Precipitation | Storm | Location | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | mm | in | |||
| 1 | 1473 | 58.00 | Lane 2018 | Kahūnā Falls, Hawaii | [3] |
| 2 | 1321 | 52.00 | Hiki 1950 | Kanalohuluhulu Ranger Station | [4] |
| 3 | 985 | 38.76 | Paul 2000 | Kapapala Ranch 36 | [5] |
| 4 | 732 | 28.82 | Hone 2024 | Volcano Island | [6] |
| 5 | 635 | 25.00 | Maggie 1970 | Various stations | [7] |
| 6 | 519 | 20.42 | Nina 1957 | Wainiha | [8] |
| 7 | 516 | 20.33 | Iwa 1982 | Intake Wainiha 1086 | [9] |
| 8 | 476 | 18.75 | Fabio 1988 | Papaikou Mauka 140.1 | [9] |
| 9 | 387 | 15.25 | Iselle 2014 | Kulani NWR | [10] |
| 10 | 381 | 15.00 | One-C 1994 | Waiākea-Uka, Piihonua | [11] |
Hurricane Iwa produced estimated gusts reaching 120 mph (190 km/h) acrossKauaʻi andOʻahu. The acceleration of the hurricane concentrated the energy of its swells, resulting in high waves andstorm surge across the Hawaiian Islands, though primarily near the path of the center. It is estimated the storm surge reached eight feet (two meters) on the south coast of Kauaʻi.[2] There, the surge reached 900 feet (270 m) inland, exceeding a100-year flood event for the area.[12] The heaviest rainfall reported from the island chain was from the Intake Wainiha 1086 site, where 20.33 inches (516 mm) was measured.[9] Possible tornadoes were reported in association with a rain squall in Oʻahu.[2] Waves on the coast of Oʻahu reached 16.4 feet in height (3 m),[13] and waves on southern Kauaʻi surpassed 30 feet (9.1 m) in height.[14]
During the worst of the storm, 5,800 people were evacuated from shoreline areas ofKauaʻi to temporary shelters. Strong waves sank or grounded several small vessels on the southwestern coast of Kauaʻi,[2] with 44 of the 45 boats atPort Allen being sunk.[14] The worst of the damage from the hurricane occurred inPoipu, where the rough surf destroyed or severely damaged several exposed luxury hotels and condominiums. Elsewhere on the island, damage was greatest in areas where there was no protective barrier reef offshore. Several small aircraft were damaged at Lihue airport from the winds, including many overturned small planes.[2] The winds destroyed several buildings across the island, including one of Kauaʻi's oldest churches and a warehouse. Additionally, the winds destroyed the roof of a bank.[15] Strong winds initially left the entire island of Kauaʻi without power.[16] Highway 56 on the east side of the island was obstructed by fallen telephone poles, forcing residents to drive on the unpaved, red dirt cane roads usually reserved for haulingsugar cane from the fields. Rising waters washed out multiple roads near the coastline. The strong winds destroyed nearly allpapaya andbanyan trees on the island.[17] The hurricane destroyed or greatly damaged 1,907 homes on the island and caused minor damage to 2,983 others, leaving one-eighth of the island's homes unlivable.[18]
.jpg)
Rough seas killed a person on theUSSGoldsborough inPearl Harbor when the seaman hit astanchion,[1] with four others injured on the ship. One of the four injured was swept overboard two miles (three kilometers) from the harbor. Before the arrival of the hurricane, around 1,000 evacuated the low-lying coastline to shelters.[15]Rough waves destroyed four and damaged twodeep-water communication cables between Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.[13] InOʻahu, damage from wind and surf was heaviest on the southwest coast betweenNānākuli andMākaha. The storm surge washed sand into streets inWaikīkī and flooded cars in areas of basement parking. Wind damage was greatest in areas where winds blew from southerly directions off of mountains. The winds damaged several small aircraft and aDouglas DC-3 plane inHonolulu. Gusty winds shattered glass windows in theHonolulu International Airport, injuring several passengers.[2] Some flights in and out of the Honolulu airport were delayed, while other domestic airports were temporarily closed.[15] The passage of the hurricane damaged at least 6,391 homes, 21 hotels, and two condominium buildings on the island.[19] Additionally, 418 buildings, including 30 businesses, were destroyed on Oʻahu.[18]
Surf damage was reported throughout the Hawaiian islands.[2] 120 people were treated for injuries,[15] though most were minor.[2] An estimated 500 people throughout Hawaii were left homeless due to the hurricane.[15] Damage on the private island ofNiʻihau was severe. An aerial survey indicated 20 homes were destroyed and 160 were damaged, indicating that the hurricane affected nearly all of the island's 226 residents. Reportedly no one was injured on Niʻihau.[18] At the time, Hurricane Iwa was the costliest storm to hit the state of Hawaiʻi,[12] with damage totaling $312 million (1982 USD$, 1.02 billion 2024 USD).[20]
Thelast femaleKauaʻi ʻōʻō (Moho braccatus) was lost in the storm. Her mate was recorded singing in solitary until he went silent and presumably died in 1987, marking the extinction of their species.[21]
Three days after Hurricane Iwa passed the state,GovernorGeorge Ariyoshi declared the islands of Kauai and Niʻihau as disaster areas and began filing papers for a federal disaster declaration.[22] On November 28, five days after the hurricane struck,PresidentRonald Reagan declared the islands of Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, and Oʻahu as a disaster area. The declaration allocated federal funds to aid the affected citizens.[19] The state Department of Education decided to close all schools on Kauaʻi indefinitely.[18]
The thousands of residents without power celebratedThanksgiving by cooking turkeys on outdoor grills or smokers.Army andAir Force planes delivered 20,000 Thanksgiving rations to the thousands left in temporary shelters. The United States military also airlifted generators to Kauaʻi due to several days of power outages.[22] By three weeks after the hurricane, utility crews restored power to nearly all major areas in Oʻahu, while 5,000 remained without power in Kauaʻi.[18] By around a month after the hurricane passed the island, utilities were restored to most of the entire island. All roads and highways were cleared, as well.[17] One 25th Infantry Division soldier at Schofield Barracks died while cleaning up after the hurricane.[1] Two people died in a traffic accident due to malfunctioning traffic lights.[23]
In 1983, theWorld Meteorological Organization retired the nameIwa from the Central Pacific lists oftropical cyclone names. It was initially replaced withIo, which was changed toIona in 2007. Iwa was the first name retired in the basin following implementation of the modern system of Central Pacific tropical storm naming.[24][25]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Eastern | |
|---|---|
| Central | |
Tropical cyclones of the1982 Pacific hurricane season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
