Hurricane Lenny facts for kids
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Lenny south of Saint Croix at its peak intensity
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| Formed | November 13, 1999 |
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| 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 a powerful storm that formed in November 1999. It was the last major hurricane, hurricane, named storm, and tropical depression of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Lenny was quite unusual for a few important reasons.
First, it became the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in the month of November. Second, it caused a lot of damage, especially in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Third, and most surprisingly, it moved in a very strange direction. Most storms in the Caribbean Sea move from east to west. But Hurricane Lenny moved from west to east! Because of this, some people at the National Hurricane Center called it "Wrong Way Lenny." The hurricane caused about $330 million in damage, but this number only includes damage reported in U.S. areas like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The actual total damage was likely much higher.
Why Hurricane Lenny's Name Was Retired
Hurricane names are retired when a storm causes a lot of damage or deaths. This is done to prevent people from using the name again, out of respect for those affected. Because Hurricane Lenny caused so much damage, its name was officially retired.
This means the name "Lenny" will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane. Instead, for the 2005 season, the name "Lee" was chosen as a replacement. The name Lee did not cause enough damage to be retired. So, "Lee" is still available and was used again in 2011 and 2017.
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Tropical cyclones of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Images for kids
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Hurricane Lenny south of USVI
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Property damage on the island of Saint Croix
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Rainfall totals from Lenny
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Damage to the Frederiksted Pier in St. Croix
See also
In Spanish: Huracán Lenny para niños
