Hurricane Joan–Miriam facts for kids
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Joan making landfall in Nicaragua.
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| Formed | October 10, 1988 |
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| Dissipated | November 2, 1988 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 932 mbar (hPa); 27.52 inHg |
| Fatalities | 216-334 total (all as Joan) |
| Damage | $2 billion (1988 USD) |
| Areas affected | Windward Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama (as Joan), El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico (as Miriam), Nicaragua (as both) |
| Part of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season 1988 Pacific hurricane season |
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Hurricane Joan was a very strong and dangerous hurricane that happened in 1988. It caused a lot of damage and sadly, over 200 people lost their lives because of it. Joan was so powerful that it reached Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. This means it had winds of at least 130 miles per hour (209 km/h).
What made Hurricane Joan special was that it crossed from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean. When it did this, it changed its name to Tropical Storm Miriam. This doesn't happen very often!
Contents
Joan's Journey Across the Atlantic
Hurricane Joan started as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa on October 10, 1988. It slowly moved west across the Atlantic Ocean. As it traveled, it gathered strength and became a tropical storm.
By October 17, Joan had become a hurricane. It passed near the northern coast of South America, affecting countries like Venezuela and Colombia. The storm continued to grow stronger as it moved towards Central America.
How Strong Was Hurricane Joan?
On October 22, Hurricane Joan reached its peak strength. It became a powerful Category 4 hurricane. At this point, its winds were blowing at about 145 miles per hour (230 km/h). The pressure inside the storm dropped to 932 millibars, which is very low and shows how intense it was.
Joan then made landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane. This caused huge destruction in the country.
The Damage It Caused
Hurricane Joan brought heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surges to many areas. The storm caused a lot of damage, especially in Nicaragua.
- Nicaragua: This country was hit the hardest. Many homes were destroyed, and crops were ruined. Roads and bridges were washed away, making it hard for people to get help.
- Colombia: Before reaching Nicaragua, Joan caused flooding and landslides in Colombia. Many people had to leave their homes.
- Other Areas: Countries like Costa Rica, Panama, and the Windward Islands also felt the effects of Joan. There was flooding and some damage to buildings.
The total damage from Hurricane Joan was estimated to be around $2 billion (in 1988 money). This was a huge amount of money for the affected countries.
From Joan to Miriam
After hitting Nicaragua, Hurricane Joan moved across Central America. It crossed over land and entered the Pacific Ocean. This is quite rare for a hurricane!
When it entered the Pacific, it was still a tropical cyclone, but it was weaker. Because it was now in a new ocean basin, it was given a new name: Tropical Storm Miriam. Miriam continued to move west, bringing rain to parts of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico before it finally faded away on November 2, 1988.
Why Joan's Name Was Retired
Because Hurricane Joan caused so much death and destruction, its name was officially retired. This means that the name "Joan" will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane. This is done to remember the serious impact of such storms and to avoid confusion in the future.
Images for kids
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Hurricane Joan off the Colombian coast on October 18
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Tropical Storm Miriam on October 23
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Tropical Storm Joan shortly after passing over the Guajira Peninsula on October 17
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Joan-Miriam's rainfall in Mexico
See also
In Spanish: Huracán Joan-Miriam para niños
