Hurricane Michelle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hurricane Michelle

Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Michelle at peak intensity on November 4
Formed	October 29, 2001
Dissipated	November 6, 2001
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure	933 mbar (hPa); 27.55 inHg
Fatalities	17 direct, 26 missing
Damage	$2 billion (2001 USD)
Areas affected	Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, Bahamas
Part of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Michelle was a very powerful storm that happened in November 2001. It was one of the strongest hurricanes that year. Michelle was so strong that it reached Category 4. This means it had super fast winds, over 130 miles per hour! It was also one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit Cuba.

Michelle started as a weaker storm, called a tropical depression, and hit Nicaragua. It then grew much stronger. When it hit Cuba, it was at its most powerful. After leaving Cuba, it became weaker, turning into a Category 1 hurricane. Michelle also affected the Bahamas. This hurricane caused a lot of damage, costing billions of dollars. Sadly, about 35 people lost their lives because of the storm.

Why Was Michelle's Name Retired?

Hurricane names are sometimes retired if a storm causes a lot of damage or deaths. This is done to honor the victims and to avoid using that name again for future storms. The name Michelle was retired because of how much damage it caused.

After Michelle, the name Melissa was chosen to be used instead. The name Melissa was first used in 2007 for Tropical Storm Melissa.

Images for kids

• 

  Warnings and watches associated with Hurricane Michelle as it made landfall on Cuba on November 4

• 

  Tropical Depression Fifteen affecting Central America on October 30

• 

  Rainfall totals from Hurricane Michelle in Florida