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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Timeline Of The 1991 Atlantic Hurricane Season
The 1991 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average Atlantic hurricane season that produced twelve tropical cyclones, of which eight strengthened to become named tropical storms; four of these became hurricanes, of which two further intensified into major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale). The season officially began on June 1, 1991, and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic Ocean. The first system, Tropical Storm Ana, developed on July 2 while the last system, the unnamed Perfect Storm, dissipated on November 2.

The most destructive storm of the season was Hurricane Bob, which brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina near peak intensity on August 19, then made landfall twice in Rhode Island later that day. Bob killed at least seventeen people along its path and caused extensive damage in New England, totaling $1.5 billion (1991 USD); this made it one of the ten costliest hurricanes on record for the United States at the time. The season's other significant storm was a powerful nor'easter known as the Perfect Storm. It began as an extratropical cyclone off the coast of eastern Nova Scotia late on October 28, being steered southward and then westward by a ridge to its north. Late the following day, the system absorbed Hurricane Grace to its south, contributing to substantial intensification. Its strength and large size created an enormous area of high seas over the western Atlantic Ocean during late October and early November. It caused severe coastal damage in the northeastern United States, with impacts noted as far south as Puerto Rico. Damages exceeded $200 million (1991 USD) and thirteen people were killed. Six of the fatalities occurred when the Andrea Gail and her crew were lost amidst the treacherous conditions; the events surrounding her sinking inspired Sebastian Junger's 1997 book The Perfect Storm, which was adapted into a 2000 film of the same name. As the cyclone executed a counter-clockwise loop south of New England, it gradually acquired tropical characteristics, becoming a minimal hurricane on November 1, and after weakening into a tropical storm, made landfall in Nova Scotia the next day.

This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It includes information that was not released throughout the season, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not initially warned upon, has been included.

By convention, meteorologists use one time zone when issuing forecasts and making observations: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and also use the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC). The National Hurricane Center uses both UTC and the time zone where the center of the tropical cyclone is currently located. The time zones utilized (east to west) prior to 2020 were: Atlantic, Eastern, and Central. In this timeline, all information is listed by UTC first, with the respective regional time zone included in parentheses. Additionally, figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest five units (knots, miles, or kilometers) and averaged over one minute, following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury.

Timeline

1991 Perfect StormHurricane Grace (1991)Hurricane BobSaffir-Simpson scale

June

June 1

July

July 2

The track of a tropical storm off the United States East Coast; it begins east-northeastward before gradually curving to the east
Tropical Storm Ana's path off the United States East Coast from July 2–5

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

August

August 16

A hurricane with its eye close to the northeastern United States; most of its clouds are on the northern side of the circulation
Hurricane Bob approaching New England shortly after peak intensity early on August 19

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

The track of a tropical depression near Cape Verde
Tropical Depression Four's path near and to the west of Cape Verde from August 24–26

August 24

August 26

  • 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. AST) – Tropical Depression Four dissipates.

August 28

August 31

September

September 4

September 5

A powerful hurricane over the central Atlantic Ocean to the south-southeast of Bermuda, with a tightly-wound cloud pattern around a clear eye
Hurricane Claudette near peak intensity on September 7

September 6

September 7

September 8

A weak and disorganized tropical storm with amorphous convection and a visible center of circulation
Tropical Storm Danny after peak intensity on September 10

September 9

September 10

September 11

The track of a tropical storm over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is in the approximate shape of an uppercase "L" rotated 45 degrees to the right, with the longer side also curving slightly to the right
Tropical Storm Erika's path over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from September 8–12

September 12

October

October 15

October 16

A tropical storm with an apparent overall circulation pattern, but the convection is not particularly well-organized, with several blobs and a couple relatively straight bands
Tropical Storm Fabian late on October 15

October 24

October 25

October 26

October 27

October 28

October 29

Two cyclones over the northern Atlantic Ocean, connected by a line of clouds
The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Grace being absorbed into the Perfect Storm late on October 29

October 31

November

November 1

November 2

November 30

  • The 1991 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends.