🌀 Felicia · Category 4 · 145 mph

Monday, August 3, 2009 · 6:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Hurricane Felicia was a powerful Category 4 Pacific hurricane whose remnants caused significant rainfall and flooding on the Hawaiian Islands. Felicia was the third strongest tropical cyclone of the 2009 Pacific hurricane season, as well as the strongest storm to exist in the eastern Pacific at the time since Hurricane Daniel in 2006. Forming as a tropical depression on August 3, the storm supported strong thunderstorm activity and quickly organized. It became a tropical storm over the following day, and subsequently underwent rapid deepening to attain hurricane status. Later that afternoon, Felicia developed a well-defined eye as its winds sharply rose to major hurricane-force on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Further strengthening ensued, and Felicia peaked in intensity as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 935 mbar. After reaching this strength, unfavorable conditions, such as wind shear, began to impact the storm while it took on a northwestward path. Henceforth, Felicia slowly weakened for several days; by August 8 it had been downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, once again becoming a tropical storm the next day. It retraced westward towards Hawaii on August 10, all the while decreasing in organization. On August 11, Felicia weakened to tropical depression status, and soon degenerated into remnant low just prior to passing over the islands. Category 4 hurricane: peak winds of 145 mph (125 knots), lowest pressure 935 mb. August 3 – August 11, 2009. Accumulated cyclone energy: 20.2. Wiki link Track: NOAA National Hurricane Center, HURDAT2 best track EP082009 (public domain).

🌀 Felicia · Category 4 · 145 mph