Meteorological Analysis
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Erika originated from a tropical wave which moved off the African coast on
August 31st. The wave organized as it moved westward under the subtropical
ridge and became a tropical depression on September 3rd, about 1000 nm E
of the Lesser Antilles. The tropical depression then continued to strengthen
despite mildly unfavorable environmental conditions and became tropical
storm Erika on the 3rd. Erika quickly strengthened into a hurricane by the 4th.
Erika then began to slow by the 5th as it approached a weakness in the
subtropical ridge, and turned north on the 8th as a trough approached. The
islands of the northeastern Caribbean breathed a sigh of relief as the
storm moved safely away. Erika reached its maximum intensity of 125 mph on
the 8th, about 300 nm N of the Greater Antilles. Erika then passed within
300 nm of Bermuda on the 10th and became caught in the westerlies by the
11th. Shear increased at this time, and combined with cooler waters Erika
weakened into a tropical storm on the 12th. Erika continued east and north,
impacting the Azores on the 15th with tropical storm conditions. Erika then
became extratropical on the 16th as it raced away from the Azores. Erika
finally dissipated on the 20th, about 200 nm SW of Ireland.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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2 deaths are attributed to Erika. These deaths were from heavy surf which
impacted Puerto Rico as Erika passed to the north and east. There was little
damage in association with Erika, with only some minor wind damage at
higher elevations in the northeastern Caribbean. Erika also caused ash from
the Montserrat volcano to rain down on Antigua.
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Erika Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Erika
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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6 GMT 09/03/97 10.9N 44.1W 35 1006 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 09/03/97 11.5N 45.5W 35 1005 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 09/03/97 12.3N 47.1W 40 1004 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/04/97 13.1N 48.5W 45 1002 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/04/97 13.9N 49.9W 60 1001 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/04/97 14.6N 51.7W 65 1000 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/04/97 15.2N 53.7W 75 999 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/05/97 15.6N 55.3W 75 998 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/05/97 16.0N 56.4W 75 997 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/05/97 16.4N 57.4W 75 996 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/05/97 17.0N 58.3W 75 990 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/06/97 17.5N 59.2W 75 988 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/06/97 18.1N 60.0W 80 986 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/06/97 18.6N 60.9W 80 982 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/06/97 19.0N 61.7W 85 980 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/07/97 19.4N 62.4W 85 979 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/07/97 19.7N 62.8W 85 978 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/07/97 20.2N 63.1W 85 975 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/07/97 20.6N 63.2W 105 970 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/08/97 21.2N 63.2W 110 966 Category 2 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/08/97 21.8N 63.2W 115 961 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/08/97 22.5N 62.9W 120 957 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/08/97 23.2N 62.5W 125 952 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/09/97 24.1N 62.0W 125 948 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/09/97 25.2N 61.4W 125 946 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/09/97 26.5N 60.8W 125 947 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/09/97 27.9N 60.2W 125 951 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/10/97 29.3N 59.6W 120 955 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/10/97 30.8N 58.9W 115 960 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/10/97 32.2N 58.3W 110 965 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/10/97 33.6N 57.5W 105 970 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/11/97 34.8N 56.4W 90 973 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 09/11/97 35.7N 55.1W 85 977 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 09/11/97 36.4N 53.6W 80 984 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 09/11/97 37.1N 51.9W 75 988 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 09/12/97 37.6N 49.9W 70 990 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/12/97 38.0N 48.0W 65 994 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/12/97 38.5N 46.2W 65 995 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/12/97 38.9N 44.9W 60 995 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/13/97 39.0N 44.0W 50 995 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/13/97 38.9N 43.2W 50 995 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/13/97 38.5N 42.3W 50 995 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/13/97 38.1N 41.3W 50 995 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/14/97 37.8N 40.2W 50 995 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/14/97 37.6N 39.1W 60 992 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/14/97 37.6N 37.9W 65 989 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/14/97 37.8N 36.5W 65 987 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/15/97 38.2N 35.0W 70 984 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 09/15/97 38.9N 33.4W 65 984 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 09/15/97 39.7N 31.7W 60 983 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 09/15/97 40.9N 29.9W 60 984 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 09/16/97 42.2N 28.2W 60 985 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/16/97 43.5N 26.5W 60 987 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/16/97 45.0N 24.5W 60 989 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/16/97 46.0N 22.5W 65 991 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/17/97 46.8N 21.0W 70 993 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/17/97 47.0N 20.0W 70 994 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/17/97 46.5N 19.0W 70 992 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/17/97 46.0N 20.0W 65 994 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/18/97 47.2N 19.8W 60 996 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/18/97 48.0N 19.0W 50 998 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/18/97 48.5N 18.0W 45 1000 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/18/97 48.8N 17.5W 45 1000 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 09/19/97 48.9N 17.0W 40 1000 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 09/19/97 48.9N 16.2W 35 1000 Extratropical Storm
12 GMT 09/19/97 49.0N 15.3W 35 1005 Extratropical Storm
18 GMT 09/19/97 49.0N 14.0W 30 1009 Extratropical Storm
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Satellite Image
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