HURRICANE ERIKA

HEADLINE: 1700 9/15/97 - Despite still having 60 mph winds, Erika has been declared extatropical because of its position, which is not far from Spain! (In right of above sat image). The azores experienced tropical storm force winds today (see obs below). No further statements will be issued. HEADLINE: 1200 9/14/97 - She's not done yet! Erika is regaining strength as a tropical storm and is heading towards the Azores (see obs below). HEADLINE: 2000 9/9/97 - Erika continues out to sea. HEADLINE: 0800 9/9/97 - Erika continues to the N and NE as a strong Category III storm. Large waves and stron riptides could be experienced along the Carolina coast today. (TEXT)The Weather Channel's official declaration this morning: "The hurricane will not reach the Eastern United States." HEADLINE: 1700 9/8/97 - Erika is a strong category III hurricane with winds of 125 mph sustained. She is moving northeastward, not expected to affect land. HEADLINE: 2300 9/7/97 - The hurricane continues to increase in strength and move slowly away from the islands. HEADLINE: 1700 9/7/97 - Surface Obs list below updated. Hurricane Erika has strengthened quickly to 115mph. Fortunately it is continuing to move away from the islands. Best-guess forecasts still have it turning to the NE next week. The strong winds blowing down the mountains on Puerto Rico caused unusual temperatures in the 100's today (see Surface Obs below). From the NHC: "...ERIKA NOW HAS 105 MPH WINDS...BUT MOVING AWAY FROM THE NORTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN... THE HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND PUERTO RICO IS DISCONTINUED AT 5 PM AST...2100Z." NEW! LINK TO CURRENT DOPPLER RADAR FROM SAN JUAN PERTO RICO! HEADLINE: 1100 9/7/97 - Surface Obs list below updated. Hurricane Erika has slowed to a stop. This may be in anticipation of its getting caught up by the trough off the east coast and jettisoned to the NE out of the way of landmasses. From the NHC: "...ERIKA NEARLY STATIONARY... A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND PUERTO RICO." HEADLINE: 2300 9/6/97 - Surface Obs list below updated. Erika continues with winds of 85 mph, although the biggest winds on the islands today are hard pressed to reach 30mph. The storm is slowing down as expected. From the NWS: "...ERIKA MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST... A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO..." HEADLINE: 1700 9/6/97 - The hurricane is moving north of the islands and should not greatly affect land for the next day. From the NHC: "...ERIKA EXPECTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND FOR PUERTO RICO. THE HURRICANE WATCH IS LIKELY TO BE DISCONTINUED TONIGHT." NEW! SURFACE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE STORM -- SEE BELOW HEADLINE: 1400 9/6/97 - Hurricane Erika's pressure fell and winds rose slightly. Thankfully the storm's main punch is staying north of the islands. The Weather Channel Hurricane Specialist John Hope noted that the storm is not expected to hit the Eastern US. I suspect this forecast is because of this: Erika will likely be taken out to sea by the frontal system that brought the Eastern US the cold weather last week. From the NHC: "...ERIKA PASSING TO NORTH OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...STRONGEST WINDS REMAINING OVER THE OPEN WATERS...A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM WEST OF THE ISLAND OF BARBUDA WEST-NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH ST. MARTIN. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND FOR PUERTO RICO. HURRICANE WARNINGS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED FROM BARBUDA SOUTHWARD." HEADLINE: 0800 9/6/97 - Hurricane Erika increased in strength slightly overnight to 80 mph. From the NHC: "...ERIKA CLOSE TO THE NORTHEASTERN LEEWARD ISLANDS... A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS FROM ANTIGUA AND MONTSERRAT NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH ST. MARTIN. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND FOR PUERTO RICO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS DISCONTINUED FOR DOMINICA AND GUADELOUPE." HEADLINE: 2000 9/5/97 - The Hurricane is headed for the islands. From the NHC: "...ERIKA GRADUALLY APPROACHING THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN...A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS FROM ANTIGUA AND MONTSERRAT NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH ST. MARTIN. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GUADELOUPE AND DOMINICA. A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND FOR PUERTO RICO." HEADLINE: 1100 9/5/97 - Despite the Hurricane Center's predictions to the contrary, Erika is now a hurricane. From the NHC: "...ERIKA BECOMES A HURRICANE... AT 11 AM AST...1500Z...THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE CARIBBEAN HAVE ISSUED A HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE LEEWARD ISLANDS FROM ANTIGUA AND MONTSERRAT NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH ST. MARTIN. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GUADELOUPE AND DOMINICA. ALSO AT 11 AM...A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS AND FOR PUERTO RICO." HEADLINE: 0800 9/5/97 - The tropical storm is not expected by the NHC to become a hurricane today... however they are sending in a recon plane later today. From the NHC: "...ERIKA THREATENS THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN... A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN ISLANDS FROM DOMINICA NORTHWESTWARD TO ANGUILLA. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MAY BE ISSUED FOR PUERTO RICO LATER TODAY." HEADLINE: 2000 9/4/97 - Erika experienced some shearing today which slowed its intensification, and minor changes in strength are expected Friday. From the NHC: "...ERIKA THREATENS THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS... A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF ANTIGUA... MONTSERRAT...BARBUDA...NEVIS...ST KITTS...AND ANGUILLA. THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH WILL LIKELY BE REPLACED BY TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS EARLY FRIDAY. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE DUTCH PORTION OF ST. MAARTEN." HEADLINE: 0700 9/4/97 - The Tropical Storm strengthened over night; it is expected to become a hurricane by tomorrow. Erika is over 700 miles east of the Anitlles. HEADLINE: 1700 9/3/97 - Erika is a minimal tropical storm, moving NW towards the islands. HEADLINE: 0700 9/3/97 - Finally, after over a month with no tropical activity, Tropical Depression has formed in the eastern Atlantic from an impressive looking tropical wave that had formed over the weekend.

Erika is gone, but check back here soon for The Best Of Erika: Video, Animations, Photos, Maps!