Hurricane Juan (1985) facts for kids
Hurricane Juan near peak intensity south of Louisiana on October 28
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| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 26, 1985 |
| Extratropical | November 1, 1985 |
| Dissipated | November 3, 1985 |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 971 mbar (hPa); 28.67 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 12 |
| Damage | $1.5 billion (1985 USD) |
| Areas affected | Gulf Coast of the United States (especially Louisiana), central United States, Canada |
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Part of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Juan was a powerful and unpredictable storm that caused a lot of flooding in 1985. It was the tenth named storm of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season. Juan formed in the central Gulf of Mexico in late October. It moved north and became a hurricane on October 27, with winds reaching 85 mph (140 km/h).
Juan was unusual because it looped twice near the Louisiana coast. It first made landfall near Morgan City on October 29. After weakening, it moved back over the ocean and then made a second landfall near Pensacola, Florida, on October 31. The storm then moved north and its moisture caused severe flooding in the Mid-Atlantic states.
Juan was the third hurricane to hit Louisiana that year. It formed quickly, leaving little time for people to prepare or for workers to leave oil rigs at sea. Sadly, nine people were lost in accidents at sea off Louisiana. On land, the hurricane brought huge amounts of rain, with over 17 inches (450 mm) falling in Galliano, Louisiana. This rain, combined with a high storm surge, flooded 50,000 homes and many farms in southern Louisiana. The damage in Louisiana alone was close to $1 billion (in 1985 money). Juan caused about $1.5 billion in total damage and led to 12 deaths.
Contents
Understanding Hurricane Juan
How Hurricane Juan Formed and Moved
Hurricane Juan started as a mix of a tropical wave and a weather system called an "upper-level low" over the central Gulf of Mexico on October 24. This caused many thunderstorms to form. Strong winds also began to blow across the northern Gulf.
On October 26, a tropical depression formed about 380 mi (610 km) southwest of New Orleans. It quickly grew into Tropical Storm Juan. At first, it was more like a "subtropical cyclone," meaning its winds were not strongest right at the center. Juan moved in a strange, wobbly way, then headed north-northeast. By October 27, it became a hurricane with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h).
Juan slowed down on October 28 as it got closer to Louisiana. It reached its strongest winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) that day. The hurricane then made a loop just off the coast of southern Louisiana. It made landfall near Morgan City on October 29.
After hitting land, Juan weakened to a tropical storm and made another loop over southern Louisiana. It moved back over the water into Vermilion Bay. On October 31, the storm crossed the Mississippi River Delta and sped up towards the northeast. It reached a second peak strength of 70 mph (110 km/h) before making its final landfall west of Pensacola, Florida, later that day.
Juan then moved north through Alabama and became an "extratropical" storm over Tennessee on November 1. This means it changed from a tropical storm into a different type of weather system. The moisture from Juan helped create more rain in the region. Finally, another weather system called a cold front absorbed the remains of Juan on November 3.
Getting Ready for the Storm
Before Juan hit, about 100 people left the area around Port Arthur, Texas. In Louisiana, about 6,550 people evacuated. However, many people on Grand Isle stayed behind and later became trapped by the storm surge. About 6,000 people also left their homes in Mississippi because of the flood risk.
Many schools along the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi closed. Beaches near Brownsville, Texas were also shut down. On October 28, Louisiana's Governor Edwin Edwards declared a state of emergency for 13 parishes. This allowed for faster help and resources. Officials also warned about possible flash floods in many parts of Louisiana. Alabama's Governor George Wallace also declared a state of emergency, and shelters opened along the coast.
Because Juan moved so strangely and was so large, weather warnings covered a big part of the northern Gulf Coast. People were generally not ready for the storm because it developed so quickly. A forecaster from the National Hurricane Center said Juan was like "a spinning top" that would move unpredictably.
How Hurricane Juan Affected People and Places
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Hurricane Juan caused 12 deaths, with nine people lost at sea due to accidents involving oil rigs or boats. The storm caused about $1.5 billion in damage (in 1985 money). This made it one of the costliest hurricanes in the United States at that time. The damage included losses to the oil industry, ruined crops, and widespread flooding, especially in Louisiana. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that Juan injured 1,357 people, though most injuries were minor.
Juan hit less than two months after Hurricane Elena affected the same area, adding more damage to places that were already struggling.
Damage at Sea
For about five days, Juan brought strong winds to the northern Gulf of Mexico. Some offshore oil rigs reported winds of 92 mph (148 km/h) with gusts up to 110 mph (176 km/h). The high waves damaged several rigs, and two even overturned. One rig collapsed onto another about 35 mi (56 km) south of Golden Meadow, Louisiana. These rigs were built to handle 45 ft (14 m) waves, but Juan created waves almost 70 ft (21 m) high. The strong winds and waves made it hard to evacuate workers from the rigs early.
A boat carrying evacuees overturned, leading to one death and two hospitalizations. The United States Coast Guard rescued many workers, saving at least 160 people. Another boat, the Miss Agnes, capsized during a rescue mission, and two crew members went missing. A jackup rig also overturned near the Mississippi River, causing three deaths.
Rainfall and Flooding
Because Juan looped twice near the coast, it brought a lot of rain from eastern Texas to the western Florida Panhandle. The highest rainfall in the United States was 17.78 in (452 mm) in Galliano, Louisiana. Other areas like Biloxi, Mississippi, Fairhope, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, also saw over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain.
Juan also caused high tides along the Gulf Coast, reaching 8.2 ft (2.5 m) in Bayou Bienvenue in Louisiana. The storm also created 15 tornadoes, mostly weak ones. Two tornadoes in Mississippi damaged mobile homes, and at least three in Alabama caused minor building and tree damage.
Impact in Texas
Juan was one of the latest storms to hit Texas that year. The heavy rain caused flooding in southeastern Texas, especially in low-lying areas. Some roads had to close, but homes were not badly damaged. Tides were about 4 ft (1.2 m) above normal near Galveston, causing some coastal flooding. Strong winds, with gusts of 58 mph (93 km/h), knocked down trees and power lines, leading to power outages.
Impact in Mississippi and Alabama
In Mississippi, Juan's heavy rain flooded about 340 homes and businesses. High winds and waves damaged ports and several boats. The seafood industry also suffered losses. Beach erosion damaged coastal roads. The total cost of the storm in Mississippi was about $776,000.
In Alabama, Juan's winds were not very strong, but its rain helped make October the wettest on record for Mobile. This caused street flooding, but homes were mostly safe. However, some farmers lost a lot of their soybean and pecan crops. Damage in Alabama was minor, estimated at over $65,000.
Impact in Florida
In Florida, high waves caused flooding, beach erosion, and damaged seawalls that were already weakened by Hurricane Elena. One house on Captiva Island was washed away. The storm also spawned 15 tornadoes along the Florida Panhandle, causing $1 million in damage. These tornadoes injured six people and damaged many buildings. One tornado hit Okaloosa Island and Fort Walton Beach, damaging two hotels.
Impact in Louisiana
Because Juan moved so slowly over Louisiana, it dropped over 10 in (250 mm) of rain across much of the southern part of the state. This heavy rain, along with high waves and a storm surge of 5 to 8 ft (1.5 to 2.4 m), flooded many low-lying and coastal areas. The hurricane's unpredictable path stopped farmers from harvesting their crops for three days. Widespread flooding damaged soybean and sugar crops. About 200 cattle drowned, and thousands were left stranded. Crop damage was estimated at over $304 million, with total damage in the state reaching nearly $1 billion.
Juan also hurt the shrimp industry, washing many shrimp offshore and killing others. The storm caused about $2.9 million in damage to oil facilities, including pipelines. Overall, Juan flooded about 50,000 houses in Louisiana, causing $250 million in property damage.
Near Port Fourchon, the storm surge damaged parts of Highways 1 and 3090, and flooded about 1,200 homes. Two levees were washed out, flooding 100 houses near Lockport. In Terrebonne Parish, the strong storm surge swept away cars, knocked a home off its foundation, and damaged a levee. In this parish, 800 homes were flooded, and 15,000 people lost their homes.
The storm surge also destroyed a large part of the levee protecting Grand Isle, flooding the island with 4 ft (1.2 m) of ocean water. Most of the island lost power. In Jefferson Parish, which includes Grand Isle, the storm surge entered 2,233 homes and flooded about 3,100 cars.
Juan caused significant beach erosion along the Chandeleur Islands. These islands are important natural barriers that protect mainland Louisiana from storms. Large parts of the Louisiana coastline lost 40 to 100 ft (12 to 30 m) of beach because of the storm.
Inland and Mid-Atlantic Flooding
Further inland from the Gulf Coast, Juan brought lighter rain, but some areas in Arkansas received over 6 in (150 mm). The rain from Juan reached the southeastern United States, with over 11 in (280 mm) on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. It also affected the Mid-Atlantic states, with some areas in Pennsylvania getting over 2 in (50 mm).
The moisture from Juan and a low-pressure system in the Mid-Atlantic made the ground very wet. This set the stage for a major flooding event when another low-pressure area stalled near Washington, D.C. on November 5. This led to severe flooding in Virginia and West Virginia, causing $1.4 billion in damage and 62 deaths.
Helping After the Storm
Aftermath and Recovery Efforts
On October 29, Louisiana's Governor Edwin Edwards asked President Ronald Reagan to declare the area a disaster zone. President Reagan agreed on November 1. This declaration provided federal help to many parishes in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Transportation estimated that highways in the state needed $3 million in repairs.
Oil companies lost several days of production because the hurricane forced them to close. The Louisiana National Guard helped farmers by dropping hay to stranded cattle for two weeks.
The American Red Cross needed more funds to help people after Juan and other recent disasters. They asked for emergency donations to continue their important work. The agency had already provided about $8 million in aid to families in southern Louisiana. Along the Apalachicola Bay, the oyster industry was severely damaged by Juan and other hurricanes that year, leaving many oystermen without work. The high waves from Juan led the United States Minerals Management Service to suggest more inspections for older oil rigs and better evacuation plans.
Even though Juan caused a lot of damage, its name was not removed from the list of hurricane names. It was the first Atlantic storm to cause over $1 billion in damage without its name being retired.
See also
- Tropical Storm Allison (2001) – a weak, slow-moving tropical storm that also caused damaging floods in Texas and Louisiana
- Hurricane Isaac (2012) – a slow-moving hurricane that struck Louisiana, causing widespread flooding
