Hurricane Lenny Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Hurricane Lenny
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Lenny south of Saint Croix at its peak intensity
Formed	November 13, 1999
Dissipated	November 23, 1999



Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 155 mph (250 km/h)
Lowest pressure	933 mbar (hPa); 27.55 inHg



Fatalities	17 direct
Damage	$330 million (1999 USD) (US territories only)
Areas affected	Colombia, Puerto Rico, Leeward Islands

Part of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Lenny was the last major hurricane, hurricane, named storm and depression of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. There are three main reasons to remember Lenny. One, it was strongest November Atlantic hurricane; two, the damage it caused in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and three, it moved the opposite way storms usually moved across the Caribbean Sea. Some people at the National Hurricane Center nicknamed it "Wrong Way Lenny". Lenny left $330 million in damage, this amount is likely not all the damage. This is because it was reported for U.S. territories only, such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Retirement

Because the damage was high and likely higher, the name Lenny was retired. In 2005 the name Lee was used instead. The name Lee in 2005 was not retired, so Lee is on the list for 2011 and 2017.