Hurricane Julia (2010) facts for kids
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Julia near peak intensity on September 15
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| Formed | September 12, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 28, 2010 |
| (Extratropical after September 20) | |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 948 mbar (hPa); 27.99 inHg |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | Minimal |
| Areas affected | Cape Verde Islands |
| Part of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Julia was a very powerful storm that formed in the Atlantic Ocean in 2010. It became a Category 4 hurricane, which is one of the strongest types of hurricanes. Julia was special because it formed farther east in the Atlantic than any other Category 4 hurricane ever recorded since we started using satellites to track storms.
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What Was Hurricane Julia?
Hurricane Julia was a tropical cyclone that grew very strong. It was part of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. A tropical cyclone is a spinning storm system that forms over warm ocean waters. When these storms get very strong, they are called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.
Julia's Journey Across the Atlantic
Julia started forming on September 12, 2010. It quickly grew stronger. In just 24 hours, it went from a weaker storm to a Category 4 hurricane. This means its winds were incredibly fast.
How Strong Was Julia?
At its strongest, Hurricane Julia had winds blowing at about 140 miles per hour (225 km/h). The lowest air pressure inside the storm was 948 millibars. Low pressure usually means a very strong storm. Luckily, even though Julia was powerful, it caused very little damage and no one was hurt.
Julia and Her "Big Brother" Igor
On September 15, 2010, there were two huge hurricanes in the Atlantic: Julia and Hurricane Igor. Both were Category 4 storms. Igor was an even bigger hurricane than Julia. Its strong winds actually pushed against Julia. This made Julia's winds get weaker over time. It's like a bigger kid pushing a smaller kid around.
The End of Julia's Story
Hurricane Julia lasted for about 13 days. By September 20, 2010, Julia was far out in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center, which tracks storms, issued its final warning for Julia. At that point, Julia's winds were much weaker, around 46 miles per hour. It soon turned into a low-pressure system, which is just a leftover area of swirling air. Julia then became part of the history books for the 2010 hurricane season.
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