1997 Atlantic hurricane season facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1997 Atlantic hurricane season

First storm started:	May 31, 1997
Last storm ended:	October 17, 1997
Strongest storm:	Hurricane Erika - 946 mbar, 125 mph winds
Number of storms:	7 named storms
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	1
Cost of damage:	$110 million (1997 USD) $150 million (2008 USD)
People killed:	11

The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season was a period when tropical storms and hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It officially ran from June 1 to November 30, 1997. However, one storm actually started a day early, on May 31. This season was not very busy, with only seven storms strong enough to be given names.

Overall, the 1997 season did not cause much damage or many deaths. About 11 people lost their lives, and the total damage was around $110 million. Hurricane Danny was the only storm that caused major effects on land during this season.

Storms of 1997

Unnumbered Subtropical Storm

Subtropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	June 1 – June 2
Intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1003 mbar (hPa)

A subtropical storm began on June 1 from an area of low pressure. At the time, weather experts did not know it was a subtropical storm. This storm lasted only a short time, ending on June 2.

Tropical Storm Ana

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	June 30 – July 4
Intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1000 mbar (hPa)

Ana started on June 30 as a tropical depression. It formed off the coast of South Carolina. The next day, it became a tropical storm. By July 3, Tropical Storm Ana became weaker and turned back into a depression. It ended completely on July 4.

Hurricane Bill

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	July 11 – July 13
Intensity	75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  986 mbar (hPa)

Bill was a hurricane that did not last long. It began on July 11 and quickly grew into a tropical storm that same day. On July 12, it became a hurricane. Hurricane Bill then ended on July 13.

Tropical Storm Claudette

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	July 13 – July 16
Intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  1003 mbar (hPa)

Claudette started on July 13. It was a few hundred miles southeast of North Carolina. The storm stayed weak. For a few hours, it weakened to a tropical depression. However, it soon became a tropical storm again. Tropical Storm Claudette ended on July 16. Its leftover parts were last seen near the Azores on July 23.

Hurricane Danny's Path

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	July 16 – July 26
Intensity	80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  984 mbar (hPa)

Danny started in the northern Gulf of Mexico on July 16. It began as a tropical depression. The storm quickly grew stronger. By July 18, it was a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Danny made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on July 18. Danny also hit the Mobile Bay area twice on July 19. It was still a Category 1 hurricane then.

The storm weakened very fast over land. By July 20, it was only a tropical depression. Later, Danny became a tropical storm again on July 24. It then moved into the Atlantic Ocean. Danny passed close to Nantucket before it ended on July 26. Hurricane Danny caused 9 deaths and about $100 million in damage.

Tropical Depression Five

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	July 17 – July 19
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  1008 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Five began on July 17. It moved towards the northwest. On July 18, it started showing signs of weakening. Tropical Depression Five ended on July 19.

Hurricane Erika's Journey

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 3 – September 20
Intensity	125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min),  946 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Erika started on September 3 as Tropical Depression Six. It moved north-northwest. By the next day, it had become a hurricane. Erika passed near the Virgin Islands on September 6. At that time, it was a Category 1 hurricane.

On September 7, Hurricane Erika quickly got much stronger. It reached its peak as a Category 3 hurricane on September 8. Erika began to get weaker on September 9. It mostly moved east and northeast before it ended on September 20. This happened near the Azores. Erika caused 2 deaths and about $10 million in damage.

Tropical Storm Fabian

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 5 – October 8
Intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  1004 mbar (hPa)

Fabian started on October 5, north of Puerto Rico. Tropical Storm Fabian moved north and ended on October 8. Storms that came before Fabian might have caused heavy rain in the Lesser Antilles.

Tropical Storm Grace

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 16 – October 17
Intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  999 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Grace was the last storm of 1997. It started on October 16 near the Dominican Republic. Grace made a sharp turn to the northeast. It then ended on October 17.

Storm Names of 1997

Here is a list of names that were planned for the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season. Names that were not used are shown with a special mark.

Name Retirement

The World Meteorological Organization decides if hurricane names should be "retired." This means the name won't be used again if a storm caused a lot of damage or deaths. No names from the 1997 season were retired. Because of this, all the names on this list were used again in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season.

Images for kids

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  Map showing how much rain fell from Hurricane Danny in the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico de 1997 para niños