Hurricane Hanna (2008)

This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2008. For other storms of the same name, see Tropical Storm Hanna.

Tropical Storm Hanna
Current storm status Tropical storm (1-min mean)
Satellite image Forecast map
As of:	5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) September 5
Location:	28.0°N 78.0°W ± 30 nm About 125 mi (200 km) NNW of Great Abaco About 430 mi (690 km) S of Wilmington, NC
Sustained winds:	55 knots | 65 mph | 100 km/h (1-min mean) gusting to 65 knots | 75 mph | 120 km/h
Pressure:	985 mbar (hPa) | 29.09 inHg
Movement:	NW at 17 kt | 20 mph | 31 km/h
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Hanna is the eighth tropical cyclone and fourth hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands on August 28. At least 150 deaths have been reported in Haiti, due to flooding, in the northern part of the country. It has been downgraded to a tropical storm status on Wednesday September 3, and is currently expected to move towards the north and make a potential landfall in North Carolina on Friday September 5, 2008.

Storm history

Track of Hurricane Hanna through 1200 UTC September 4

During late August, 2008, a tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa and tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean. After several days, an associated area of low pressure gained deep convection and organization. On August 28, while to the east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, the low formed into Tropical Depression Eight. Later that day, it attained tropical storm status, and as such was named Hanna by the National Hurricane Center. At the time, the low-level center of circulation was partially exposed on the western edge of the convection, indicating westerly wind shear. Tracking westward primarily under the steering current of a large ridge to the north, the convective pattern began to redevelop late on August 28. Since forecast, models predicted the storm would weaken and move southwestward due to outflow associated with nearby Hurricane Gustav. Despite this, the storm began entering a favorable environment, and was forecast to intensify. An upper-level low that had been producing wind shear moved away from the system, though light shear continued. At the same time, the low-level center once again became separated from the convection, which was primarily confined to a cyclonic banding feature in the eastern half of the circulation. It remained weak as it moved erratically westward while east of the Bahamas on August 30. Due to the influence of Hurricane Gustav's large circulation, Hanna suddenly took a sharp southerly turn and slowed down to drift while located to the north of the Turks and Caicos islands. On September 1, as Hanna drifted to the south-southwest, convection increased and the storm began to intensify. Later that day around 1:30pm EDT, an Air Force Reconnaissance Aircraft found winds within Hanna supportive of hurricane development intensifying, and presently the National Hurricane Center upgraded Hanna to a hurricane. Early on September 2, strong wind shear in association with Hurricane Gustav began to affect Hanna and the storm was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Preparations

In the Turks and Caicos, streets were cleared and schools and airports were closed ahead of Hanna's arrival. Transportation on and off the Island has been stopped until the system lightens or passes.

NASA also announced that the movement of the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the launchpad from the Kennedy Space Center would be pushed up a day due to the threat of Hanna.

In Wilmington, North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington canceled all classes and activities for Friday September 5th in preparation for the storm, and issued an advised voluntary evacuation. Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia canceled all class and activities on Friday and Saturday and issued a mandatory evacuation due to fears of a power outage. Nearby William and Mary has not made any similar plans.

Impact

Deaths by country

Haiti	137
United States	3
Total	140

Turks and Caicos Islands

On September 1 widespread rain and strong winds were reported in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos as a result of Hanna. No major damage or fatalities were reported in either area. Hanna returned to the area and in the Turks and Caicos, floods hit low-lying neighborhoods throughout the archipelago. The popular tourist destination of Providenciales saw considerable flooding in neighborhoods such as Kew Town, Five Cays and the Blue Hills. Also a medical clinic on the Grand Turk Island suffered roof damage.

Haiti

Haiti, already rain-saturated by Fay and Gustav, was hit hard by flooding and mudslides from several days of heavy rainfall, particularly in the city of Gonaïves which suffered catastrophic damage in 2004 from Hurricane Jeanne. Nearly the entire city was flooded with water as high as 2 meters (6.6 feet) deep, and some had to be rescued on their roofs. In Les Cayes, a hospital had to be evacuated as it was swamped by floodwaters. At least 5,000 people there were moved to public shelters due to the flooding. The United Nations have ordered relief convoys to the hard-hit region, including rafts to help rescue victims. As of late on September 4, Haiti's government said the death toll from Tropical Storm Hanna has more than doubled to 137, with most of the deaths coming in the flooded port city of Gonaives, where the destruction is described as "catastrophic". Haitian authorities said the tally could grow once officials are able to make their way through Gonaïves. "The assessment is only partial, because it is impossible to enter the city for the moment", Gonaïves Mayor Stephen Moise said.

United States

While in the Atlantic near the Bahamas, high surf and rip currents were produced by Hanna off the Southeast US coast. A 14-year-old boy drowned at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park near Hollywood, Florida as a result of the rip currents brought up by the distant Hanna. Two more deaths were reported off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida as they drowned in the high seas. Because of the threat of a medium-term impact on the state and anticipated track of the storm, the governors of Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina declared a state of emergency for their states and commonwealth.

Current storm information

As of 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) September 5, Tropical Storm Hanna is located within 30 nautical miles of 28.0°N 78.0°W, about 125 mi (200 km) north-northwest of Great Abaco Island and about 430 mi (690 km) south of Wilmington, North Carolina. Maximum sustained winds are 55 knots (65 mph, 100 km/h), with stronger gusts. Minimum central pressure is 985 mbar (hPa; 29.09 InHg), and the system is moving northwest at 17 kt (20 mph, 31 km/h).

Hanna is a large storm; tropical storm-force winds extend out up to 315 mi (510 km) from the center of Hanna. lick ma boob

Rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm) are expected along the U.S. East Coast from South Carolina to southeastern Virginia, with isolated amounts to 10 inches (150 mm) possible. Storm surge levels of 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) are possible to the east of the landfall point on the Carolina coast.

Watches and warnings

As of 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) September 5, the following warnings and watches are in effect:

Hurricane watch	United States: the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts from Edisto Beach, SC northward to Currituck Beach Light, NC, including Pamlico Sound
Tropical storm warning	Bahamas: The northwestern islands United States: the Atlantic coast from Altamaha Sound, GA northward to Chincoteague, VA, including Pamlico Sound and Albemarle Sound, and northward into Chesapeake Bay to Smith Point
Tropical storm watch	United States: the Atlantic coast from Chincoteague northward to Sandy Hook, NJ including Chesapeake Bay north of Smith Point, the Tidal Potomac, Washington, D.C. and Delaware Bay

For latest official information see:

• The NHC's latest public advisory on Tropical Storm Hanna.
• The NHC's latest forecast/advisory on Tropical Storm Hanna.

See also

• List of Atlantic hurricanes
• 2008 Atlantic hurricane season