Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1997 - NOAA

SEPTEMBER 1999 RAPPAPORT2023FIG. 7.GOES-8 visible satellite image of Hurricane Erika at 1215 UTC 8 Sep 1997 when the hurricane was near its peak intensity.41 kt from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on 7September, when Erika was centered 125 n mi northnortheastof this location. Undoubtedly, stronger windsoccurred over the high terrain of the islands from theVirgin Islands east and southward through Antigua andMontserrat. The largest rainfall total reported from theislands is 82.6 mm from St. Thomas.The NHC received a large number of ship reports ofwind speeds of 34 kt or higher in northern latitudeswhile Erika passed through the North Atlantic shippinglanes.The highest sustained surface wind report seen fromthe Azores Islands was 26 kt with a gust to 39 kt atLajes Air Base at 1900 UTC on 15 September as Erika’scenter was passing 180 n mi to the northwest. A reportfrom Flores at 2300 UTC on 15 September gave a gustto 76 kt. Lajes also had a gust to 91 kt atop a 61-mtower. A rainfall total of 59.7 mm was reported fromFlores.3) CASUALTY AND DAMAGE STATISTICSThe only effects to Puerto Rico were from the largewaves and swells generated by the hurricane. Two surfersdied in the northern and eastern waters due to thehigh wave action. Most of the islands of the northeasternCaribbean suffered minor damage from wave action andminor wind damage likely occurred at high elevations.The passage of the hurricane caused the lower-troposphericwinds to blow from the southwest and advecta cloud of falling ash over Antigua from the activevolcano on Montserrat.4) WARNINGSHurricane warnings were issued for a number of theislands of the northeastern Caribbean Sea. Althoughhurricane conditions did not occur in the warning area,the storm passed sufficiently close to the islands to justifythe warnings. NHC advisories indicated that tropicalstorm conditions could occur in the Azores Islands.g. Tropical Storm Fabian, 4–8 OctoberAround 22 September, a tropical wave passed Dakar,Senegal, accompanied by a well-marked wind shift andconsiderable cloudiness between 8 and 12N. The wavemoved westward for several days, with no significantchange in the associated convective activity, andreached the Lesser Antilles on 29 September. Surface