It turned north towards Hawaii and became major Hurricane the next day. Iniki had become a Category 5 hurricane — as large as they get! Despite the storm’s demotion from a Category 5 to a Category 4, many locals are comparing Hurricane Lane to the devastating Hurricane Iniki, which hit Hawaii in 1992. Photos by Bob Kauai Jasper. At 3:30pm, Hurricane Iniki’s eye came ashore and traversed the western half of the island, leaving most of Kauai’s population within the dangerous right hemisphere of the storm. Until the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, Iniki was the thrd most destructive hurricane in U. S. history and the most … Image: Wikipedia . On September 11, Iniki peaked as Category 4 hurricane and hit Hawaii with wind of 145 mph. Hurricane Iniki Physical Processes. It killed six people and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 homes. Hurricane Iniki was the third hurricane to hit Kauai in the past 50 years (after Dot in 1959 and Iwa in 1982), but the direct destruction wrought by Iniki was unprecedented. About 80% of Kauai operated without electricity for two weeks after the event. All of Kauai Electric's 24,469 customers were affected. Immediately after the storm, many were relieved to have survived the worst of the Category 4 hurricane; their complacency turned to apprehensiveness due to lack of information, as every radio station was out and there was no news available for several days. Total cost of damages was around $1.8 billion (which is more like $3 billion in 2016 dollars). Two storms formed off-season, Hurricane Ekeka and Tropical Storm Hali in the Central Pacific. It struck mainly the island of Kauai in the summer of 1992, leaving behind a path of destruction and caused almost $2 billion in damage. The total economic impact to Kauai and the state exceeded $2 billion. Throughout the month, the Center for Preparedness and Response will publish posts that highlight the work of public health departments as it relates to personal health preparedness themes. Iniki made landfall on Kauai as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 145 mph, becoming just the second hurricane to come ashore on the islands in recorded history. Twenty five years ago, Hurricane Iniki tore through the eastern Pacific Ocean, slamming Hawaii and causing monumental damage. The massive Category 4 storm damaged or destroyed 90 percent of the island’s homes and buildings. The exact intensity of Hurricane Iniki’s winds at landfall is unclear, but estimates range between 130 and 145mph. Hurricane Iwa, taken from the Hawaiian language name for the frigatebird (ʻiwa, lit. ... 1992, Hurricane Iniki reached its peak intensity — and was headed straight for Kauai. This hurricane, similar to Iniki in intensity (category 4), approaching Honolulu from a southern or an east/southeast direction, making landfall west of the airport near Ewa or Barbers Point is the worse possible in terms of anticipated damage by strong winds and surge flooding. On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai, causing over $3 billion in damage and six deaths. Iniki (a category 4 hurricane) was the strongest and most destructive hurricane to hit the Hawaiian Islands in recorded history. Weather Underground provides tracking maps, 5-day forecasts, computer models, satellite imagery and detailed storm statistics for tracking and forecasting Hurricane Iniki Tracker. Storm surge from Iniki. This is a page dedicated to those affected on September 11, 1992 when Hurricane Iniki slammed into the island of Kauai. After passing over the island of Kauai, Iniki passed about 159 nm to the east of 51001. Hurricane Maria formed off the west coast of Africa on September 12, 2017. 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