Hurricane Edouard (1996) facts for kids

Hurricane Edouard was a very powerful hurricane that happened in 1996. Its winds reached an incredible 145 miles per hour! This made it the strongest hurricane that year. Edouard stayed a "major hurricane" for about eight days, which is a long time for such a strong storm.

At first, people thought Hurricane Edouard would hit the Northeastern United States very hard. However, it ended up being much less severe there than expected. Even so, Edouard caused big waves that tragically led to two people losing their lives on the coast of New Jersey. The southeastern coast of Massachusetts felt some strong winds, but the damage on Nantucket Island was very small.

The name Edouard was not "retired" because the storm didn't cause enough serious damage. When a hurricane causes a lot of destruction or deaths, its name is usually retired so it's not used again. Since Edouard didn't cause widespread severe damage, its name was used again in the 2002, 2008, and 2014 Atlantic hurricane seasons. It will also be used again in 2020.

What Was Hurricane Edouard?

A hurricane is a huge, spinning storm that forms over warm ocean waters. It has very strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricane Edouard was a powerful example of this type of storm. It reached what is called Category 4 strength, meaning its winds were extremely fast.

Edouard's winds were measured at 145 miles per hour. To give you an idea, that's faster than most cars drive on a highway! It was also a "major hurricane" for about eight days. This means it kept its strength as a Category 3 or higher storm for a long time.

Edouard's Journey and Impact

When Hurricane Edouard was forming, weather experts watched it closely. They thought it might make a direct hit on the Northeastern United States. This would have caused a lot of damage. Luckily, the storm changed its path slightly.

Even though it didn't hit directly, Edouard still had an impact. Along the coast of New Jersey, the hurricane created very large and dangerous waves. Sadly, these waves caused two people to lose their lives. In Massachusetts, especially near Nantucket Island, there were strong winds. However, the damage was not severe, mostly just minor.

Why Was the Name Edouard Used Again?

After a hurricane, meteorologists (weather scientists) decide if the storm's name should be "retired." This happens if a hurricane causes a lot of damage, deaths, or is very memorable for its impact. Retiring a name means it will never be used again for another hurricane.

Because Hurricane Edouard did not cause widespread destruction or a very high number of deaths, its name was not retired. This is why you might see the name "Edouard" appear again in future hurricane seasons. It's a way to reuse names when the storms aren't extremely devastating.

Images for kids

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  Hurricane Edouard to the south-southeast of Massachusetts on September 1, 1996.

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Edouard (1996) para niños