Hurricane Joaquin facts for kids

Hurricane Joaquin (say "wah-keen") was a very strong storm called a tropical cyclone. It caused a lot of worry for places like The Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States.

Joaquin became the most powerful cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean in 2015. It passed over some of the warmest ocean water ever recorded, nearly 86°F (30°C).

What Was Hurricane Joaquin?

How Hurricane Joaquin Formed

The storm started to form on September 28. It became a tropical storm named Joaquin on September 29. Just one day later, it grew even stronger and became a full hurricane.

Where Hurricane Joaquin Traveled

After forming, Hurricane Joaquin moved towards The Bahamas. It spent some time moving around there. Later, the storm also threatened Bermuda.

The Impact of Hurricane Joaquin

Sadly, 34 people died because of the storm. This included 33 people who were on a ship called El Faro.

Because Hurricane Joaquin was such a strong and deadly storm, its name was taken off the list for future hurricanes. This means the name Joaquin will not be used again. It was replaced with the name Julian.

Images for kids

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  Hurricane Joaquin moving around The Bahamas on October 2.

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  GOES animation of Hurricane Joaquin from September 28 to October 7.

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  The forecast track for Joaquin on September 30, showing it might hit the United States.

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  A closer look at Joaquin's path through The Bahamas from September 29 to October 3.

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  A Water vapor view of Joaquin as it passed through The Bahamas on October 2.

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  Satellite image showing where the ship El Faro was in relation to Hurricane Joaquin on October 1.

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  An infrared satellite view showing Joaquin as it got closest to Bermuda on October 5.