Hurricane Raymond (1983)

Template:Infobox tropical cyclone Hurricane Raymond was a powerful storm that affected Hawaii as a tropical depression in the 1983 Pacific hurricane season. As the eighteenth named storm, tenth hurricane and seventh major hurricane of the season, it originated from a tropical wave that crossed Nicaragua moving westward, then, a ridge center was over Mexico and a well-developed ridge extended westward towards the Hawaiian Islands. Despite the presence of strong wind shear, it was upgraded to a tropical depression 764 mi (1,230 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas on October 8. The depression moved over 84 to 86 °F (29 to 30 °C) waters, intensifying into Tropical Storm Raymond on October 9. Intensifying quickly, Raymond attained hurricane status on October 10. Hurricane Raymond subsequently developed a small but distinct eye. Rapidly intensifying, the storm rapidly moved west. Raymond was upgraded into a major hurricane late on October 10. Raymond reached its peak winds of 145 mph (235 km/h) as a moderate Category 4 hurricane roughly 24 hours after becoming a hurricane. At the time of its peak, the hurricane was located about 800 mi (1,285 km) south of San Diego. Raymond is believed to have held on to peak intensity for almost two days. The hurricane subsequently weakened and was only a Category 2 by October 13, but it re-intensified over the next few days. With continued warm waters, the system crossed into the CPHC warning zone, reaching a secondary peak of 140 mph (230 km/h) on October 14 while becoming one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the region. By then, Raymond had begun a movement to the northwest. The eye later became poorly defined while the symmetric shape of the hurricane became elongated. The Hurricane Hunters confirmed the weakening trend, reporting a pressure of 968 mbar (28.6 inHg). Hurricane Raymond weakened to a tropical storm on October 16 as wind shear took its toll on the storm. Meanwhile, the storm drifted northwest and underwent several loops. Two days later the storm resumed its westward motion as it weakened to a tropical depression. It became devoid of deep convection and made landfall on Molokai on October 20 while still tropical depression. Shortly thereafter, Raymond dissipated inland.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave crossed Nicaragua on October 5, moving westward. A ridge center was over Mexico and a well-developed ridge extended westward towards the Hawaiian Islands. Despite the presence of strong wind shear, it was upgraded to a tropical depression 764 mi (1,230 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas on October 8. The depression moved over 84 to 86 °F (29 to 30 °C) waters, intensifying into Tropical Storm Raymond on October 9. Intensifying quickly, Raymond attained hurricane status on October 10. Hurricane Raymond subsequently developed a small but distinct eye. Rapidly intensifying, the storm rapidly moved west. Raymond was upgraded into a major hurricane late on October 10.Raymond reached its peak winds of 145 mph (235 km/h) as a moderate Category 4 hurricane roughly 24 hours after becoming a hurricane. At the time of its peak, the hurricane was located about 800 mi (1,285 km) south of San Diego.Raymond is believed to have held on to peak intensity for almost two days.

The hurricane subsequently weakened and was only a Category 2 by October 13, but it re-intensified over the next few days With continued warm waters, the system crossed into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's warning zone, reaching a secondary peak of 140 mph (230 km/h) on October 14 while becoming one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the region. By then, Raymond had begun a movement to the northwest. The eye later became poorly defined while the symmetric shape of the hurricane became elongated. The Hurricane Hunters confirmed the weakening trend, reporting a pressure of 968 mbar (28.6 inHg). Hurricane Raymond weakened to a tropical storm on October 16 as wind shear took its toll on the storm. Meanwhile, the storm drifted northwest and underwent several loops. Two days later the storm resumed its westward motion as it weakened to a tropical depression. It became devoid of deep convection and made landfall on Molokai on October 20 while still tropical depression. Shortly thereafter, Raymond dissipated inland.

Preparations and impact

Because meteorologists were predicting that the storm may pose a threat to the Hawaiian island group, the CPHC issued a hurricane watch for Hawaii. A high-surf advisory also was issued. As Raymond approached Hawaii, the cyclone kicked up very high surfs that pounded the big island. On the east end of the Hawaiian Island chain was battered by 10–15 ft (3.0–4.6 m) waves. In addition, Raymond brought beneficial rains and gusty winds on all islands. Precipitation ranged from 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) on Maui. There was one casualty when a sailor, Richard Sharp, was killed overboard off the 44-foot (13 m) yacht "Hazaña"; the boat, which was dismasted, was traveling with his girlfriend, Tami Oldham Ashcraft, from Tahiti to San Diego, but the course was altered to Hawaii because of the storm.

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