WEATHER SYSTEMS IMPACTING THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 2008 Prepared by the staff of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service
TROPICAL STORM DOLLY Formed 194 miles west of Grand Cayman July 19 th. The tropical storm force winds from the system remained west of Grand Cayman, hence no Tropical Storm watch or Warning was issued. The passage of weather was covered under Severe Weather Statements July 19-21. The system produced cloudiness and heavy showers with an accumulation of 4.58 inches measured at the Owen Roberts International Airport July 19th and 20th.
TROPICAL STORM FAY AUGUST 16-18 2008 FINAL REPORT
BIRTH OF TROPICAL STORM FAY. At 4 p.m. Friday August 15th 2008 Tropical Storm Fay: Located near 18.5 N 69.4 W or 35 miles E of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Moving W at 14 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 40 mph.
TROPICAL STORM WATCH issued for the Cayman Islands. At 10 a.m. Saturday August 16th 2008 Tropical Storm Fay: Located near 19.0 N 73.7 W or 95 miles WNW of Port Au Prince, Haiti: Moving W at 15 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING issued for CAYMAN BRAC AND LITTLE CAYMAN. At 7 p.m. Saturday August 16th 2008 Tropical Storm Fay: Located near 19.3 N 75.8 W or 262 miles W of Sister Islands: Moving W at 14 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.
CPA Cayman Islands: 73 miles 12 p.m. Sunday August 17 2008
The Government of the Cayman Islands discontinued all WARNINGS. At 7 a.m. Monday August 18th 2008 Tropical Storm Fay was located near 23.2 N 81.2 W or NE of Veradero, Cuba. The storm was moving NNW at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.
CAYMAN ISLANDS Data from the National Hurricane Center indicate CPA 73 miles Maximum sustained wind speeds never reached tropical storm force. Rainfall 1.42 inches in Cayman Brac 7 p.m. Sunday August 17 until 7 a.m. Monday August 18
HURRICANE GUSTAV AUGUST 29-30 2008 FINAL REPORT
Tropical Depression #7 forms. At 10 a.m. Monday August 25th 2008 the depression: located near 15.5 N 70.1 W or 260 miles SE of Port Au Prince, Haiti: Moving NW at 15 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
Hurricane WATCH issued for the Cayman Islands. At 7 p.m. Tuesday August 26th 2008 Hurricane Gustav: Located near 18.5 N 73.3 W or 60 miles W of Port Au Prince, Haiti: Moving NW at 7 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.
Storm unpredictably moves slowly SW across Jamaica.
Start TS winds in the Cayman Islands
Tropical Storm Gustav becomes a hurricane. At 4 p.m. Friday August 29th 2008 Hurricane Gustav: Located near 19.2 N 79.7 W or 100 miles E of Grand Cayman: Moving NW at 12 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.
Hurricane Gustav moved through the Cayman Islands passing within 12 miles of Little Cayman Monday night August 29th 2008. At 10 p.m. Friday August 29th 2008 Hurricane Gustav was located near 19.5 N 80.4 W or 25 miles west southwest of Little Cayman. The storm was moving northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph. Category 1
The Government of the Cayman Islands discontinued the Hurricane warning. At 10 a.m. Saturday August 30th 2008 Hurricane Gustav was located near 21.2 N 82.1 W or 168 miles northwest of Little Cayman. The storm was moving northwest at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph.
GRAND CAYMAN CPA 63 miles Derived information using HURRTRAK Maximum sustained wind speeds 56 mph gusting to 66 mph. Higher wind speeds were likely along the north and east coasts. Measured wind speeds Maximum sustained wind speed measured in East End was 59 mph and 47 mph at the airport. These were measured by the Automatic weather stations from the NEOC. Storm surge was minimal at best, although some flooding occurred along the coastal areas in North Sound due to the addition of high tides and the piling up of water. The National Weather Service measured 2.71 inches at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
SISTER ISLANDS CPA 12 miles Little Cayman; 24 miles Cayman Brac Derived information using HURRTRAK Maximum sustained wind speeds 82 mph gusting to 102 mph for Little Cayman; 76 mph gusting to 95 mph. Measured wind speeds Maximum sustained wind speed from the Cayman Brac NEOC automatic weather station 63 mph Cayman Brac; no data for Little Cayman. Storm surge was estimated at 2 to 4 feet and wave heights of 15 to 20 feet. Cayman Brac NEOC automatic weather station 9.42 inches over two days August 29/30; Central Caribbean Marine Institute 6.25 inches
DAMAGE Damage limited to the Sister Islands. There were no casualties; but two persons sustained minor injuries in Little Cayman and were treated by medical personnel. Widespread property damage, most of which is considered minor to moderate. Major property damage and/or total loss limited to boat docks. Fallen trees and other debris littered about 75% of both Islands. Cayman Brac: US $780,000 Little Cayman: US $975,000
HURRICANE IKE SEPTEMBER 7-9 2008 FINAL REPORT
Tropical Depression #9 forms. At 10 a.m. Monday September 01st 2008 located near 17.6 N 39.5 W or 1470 E of the Leeward Islands: Moving W at 16 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
TD #9 strengthens to TS Ike: 4 p.m. Monday September 01 Located near 17.7 N 40.6 W or 1400 miles east of the Leeward Islands. TS Ike was moving W at 16 mph with max winds near 50 mph.
Ike becomes a Hurricane. At 4 p.m. Wednesday September 03rd 2008 Ike: located near 21.6 N 52.7 W or 670 ENE of the Leeward Islands: Moving WNW at 18 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 80 mph.
TROPICAL STORM WATCH issued for the Cayman Islands. At 7 a.m. Sunday September 07th 2008 Hurricane Ike: Located near 21.0 N 72.8 W or E of Great Inagua Island: Moving W at 14 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 135 mph.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING issued for the SISTER ISLANDS/ Start TS winds Sister Islands. At 10 a.m. Monday September 08th 2008 Hurricane Ike: Located near 21.1 N 78.5 W or 127 miles NE of the Sister Islands: Moving W at 14 mph: Maximum sustained winds near 100 mph.
CPA Cayman Islands: 112 miles 2 p.m. Monday September 08 2008
The Government of the Cayman Islands discontinued all WATCHes and WARNINGs. At 7 a.m. Tuesday September 09th 2008 Hurricane Ike was located near 22.4 N 82.4 W or 40 miles S of Havana, Cuba. Ike was moving WNW at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph.
CAYMAN ISLANDS Data from the National Hurricane Center indicate CPA 112 miles 2 p.m. Monday September 08 2008 Maximum sustained wind speeds 38 mph. Rainfall 0.78 inches in Cayman Brac
HURRICANE PALOMA NOVEMBER 7-8 FINAL REPORT
HURRICANE PALOMA DEBRIEF Life of Paloma Impact on the Cayman Islands Data Pictures Lessons Learnt
HURRICANE PALOMA DEBRIEF Life of Paloma
TD #17 forms: 4 p.m. Wed Nov 5 14.0 N 81.8 W or 115 miles southeast of Cabo Gracias A Dios. TD#17 was moving NW 5 mph with max winds near 30 mph
TD #17 strengthens to TS Paloma:4 a.m. Thurs Nov 6 15.1 N 82.2 W or 65 miles east of Cabo Gracias A Dios. TS Paloma was moving NNW at 7 mph with max winds near 40 mph.
Cayman issues Hurricane Watch: 10 a.m. Nov 06 TS Paloma located near 15.6 N 82.3 W or 265 SSW of Grand Cayman. TS Paloma was moving NNW at 7 mph with max winds near 45 mph.
Cayman issues Hurricane Warning: 4 p.m. Nov 06 TS Paloma located near 16.3 N 81.8 W or 210 S of Grand Cayman. TS Paloma was moving N at 8 mph with max winds near 65 mph.
TS Paloma strengthens to A Hurricane: 7 p.m. Thurs Nov 6. Hurricane Paloma located near 16.9 N 81.7 W or 165 S of Grand Cayman. Hurricane Paloma was moving N at 12 mph with max winds near 75 mph.
Start TS winds GCM: 1 p.m. Friday November 7
Start TS winds Little Cayman: 3 p.m. Friday November 7
CPA GCM: 33 miles 8 p.m Friday November 7
Start Hurricane winds Little Cayman: 2 a.m. Saturday November 8
CPA Cayman Brac: 7 miles 5 a.m. Saturday November 8
End Hurricane winds Sister Islands: 10 a.m. Saturday November 8
End Tropical Storm winds Cayman Brac: 3 p.m. Saturday November 8
ALL CLEAR ISSUED: 7 p.m. Saturday November 8
HURRICANE PALOMA DEBRIEF Impact on the Cayman Islands Data
METEOROLOGICAL DATA CPA GCM: 31 miles 8 p.m. Friday November 7. CPA Little Cayman: 12 miles 3 a.m. Saturday November 8. CPA Cayman Brac: 7 miles 5 a.m. Saturday November 8. Derived information using HURRTRAK Max wind GCM = 68 mph gusting to 85 mph. Max wind Little Cayman = 132 mph gusting to 165 mph. Max wind Cayman Brac = 138 mph gusting to 172 mph. Measured wind speeds Little Cayman No data Cayman Brac 151 mph (180 feet elevation) 916-1656 nrg systems wind explorer 9200 Grand Cayman 42 mph gusting to 59 mph
Impact on the Cayman Islands Pictures Grand Cayman received minimal damage impact mostly confined to the eastern districts. Some property damage on Little Cayman, but in light of the very powerful winds that were experienced there, Little Cayman came through remarkably well. Extensive damage to most wooden structures in Cayman Brac - numerous roof failures. Damage related to wave action was limited; however, there was some storm surge damage. Hurricane Paloma made no distinction of the economic status of the population in Cayman Brac - all were affected alike. West End and Creek the two neighbourhoods with the most major damage to buildings - a combined total of ninety-two, or 42% of all buildings receiving major damage. Rainfall totals 17.77 inches (Brac NEOC AWOS)
Wind damage
Wind damage
Wind damage
Wind damage
Wind damage to metal dock warehouse
Mixture of heavy rains and storm surge flood some roads
Mixture of heavy rains and storm surge flood portion of runway
HURRICANE PALOMA DEBRIEF Impact on the Cayman Islands Lessons Learnt
LESSONS LEARNT AND RECOMMENDATIONS A.. RESPONSE - The residents responded very well for the most part. There was a degree of complacency noted however with the passage of late season Hurricane Paloma. This may have been due to the fact that the country had experienced the passage of its first cold front for the upcoming winter season. This is viewed by many as an end to the hurricane season. During the onset of tropical storm force winds there was slow moving bumper to bumper traffic in the vicinity of the major grocery stores on Grand Cayman. Added educational items are needed for the media each month of the season. B. TRACKING - Sudden changes in motion and rapid changes in intensity are near impossible to forecast but are extremely dangerous, life-threatening characteristics of hurricanes. The northwest Caribbean is an area known for such difficulties and there is a notable absence of a weather RADAR. This critical tool would assist with real time movement and intensity of storms allowing for more accurate and timely information that the weather service could pass on to emergency managers for the country. A RADAR is a critical requirement of the Early Warning System for the Cayman Islands to help in this regard. C. DATA COLLECTION Robust Automatic Meteorological Observing Systems are needed, especially in the Sister Islands, to provide data during the passage of a storm; allowing the weather service to issue actual measurements of parameters like maximum wind speeds etc. This will help to avoid any confusion with arm chair professionals. Currently Grand Cayman has a number of automatic weather observing stations as well as the main office of the National Weather Service. Cayman Brac has two noted automatic weather observing stations and an office for the weather service is in the process of being manned. Little Cayman has at this time no such system but the installation of an automatic weather observing station is planned
Paloma: Changing direction of motion. RADAR would have helped detect quicker.