Hurricane Oscar (2024) facts for kids
Hurricane Oscar passing north of Hispaniola on October 19
|
|
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 19, 2024 |
| Category 1 tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 986 mbar (hPa); 29.12 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | ≥6 |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected |
|
|
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season |
|
Hurricane Oscar is an active tropical cyclone currently at tropical storm status and weakening over eastern Cuba after making landfall near Baracoa as a Category 1 hurricane. The fifteenth named storm and tenth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Oscar originated from a long-tracked tropical wave which moved off of the west coast of Africa on October 10. It did not undergo tropical cyclogenesis until October 19, due to adverse atmospheric conditions. On that same day, the compact storm had a round of rapid intensification and was upgraded to Category 1 hurricane status. Oscar became the smallest hurricane on record, with a hurricane wind field of about five-to-six-mile (8.0 to 9.7 km). Shortly afterward, hurricane watches and warnings were issued across the Turks and Caicos Islands, Southeastern Bahamas, and Cuba.
Contents
Meteorological history
An area of investigation off the coast of West Africa was noted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on October 4, and slowly developed in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean for several days. By October 10, the tropical disturbance was declared an invest, with the NHC designating it as Invest 94L as disorganized showers and thunderstorms were spotted in the system. The disturbance then entered unfavorable environment in the succeeding days, resulting to several fluctuations in its chances of formation until it reached north of the Greater Antilles on October 18, when the NHC noted that the invest's chances to form have significantly dwindled. However, the next day, the storm rapidly consolidated north of Hispaniola, becoming a tropical storm in the next few hours and receiving the name Oscar. Rapid intensification then ensued, which was verified by a Hurricane Hunters flight that found Oscar to be stronger than estimated; at 18:00 UTC, it was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). At this point, Oscar was a very small storm with traits similar to thunderstorm clusters. Oscar would then make two landfalls at hurricane strength: one was made on Inagua with 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) winds, and another in Cuba.
Forecast errors and distinctions
Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center noted that Oscar "...kind of snuck up a little bit on us". As the predecessor to Oscar made its way north of the Greater Antilles, models began to stop showing tropical development in their forecasts.
Oscar was the smallest hurricane on record with a five-to-six-mile (8.0 to 9.7 km) wide hurricane-force wind field. Due to Oscar's size, most satellites were unable to precisely measure its actual strength. RADARSAT, high-resolution Canadian satellites, had shown intensities of around Category 2 or 3 strength prior to landfall.
Preparations and impacts
Lucayan Archipelago
On the afternoon of October 19, the Government of The Bahamas issued a hurricane warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands and Southeastern Bahamas. The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority closed JAGS McCartney International Airport, Norman B. Saunders International Airport, and Leon Wilson Airport. The Bahamian Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority activated its team on October 19.
Matthew Town experienced winds from the core of Oscar. On Grand Turk, where the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands is located, Oscar knocked down some trees and removed the roofs of at least one house. However, as there was a low tide, the hurricane caused minimal impacts in the islands. A shelter in Inagua housed 24 people.
The DRM Authority sent food items to the southern islands after Oscar had left.
Cuba
The Government of Cuba issued a hurricane watch for the provinces of Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas on October 19. Dissemination of information related to Oscar was impeded by a country-wide blackout.
As Oscar neared Cuba, a station in Cape Maisí saw a peak gust of 103 km/h (64 mph; 103 km/h). In Baracoa, waves produced by the hurricane breached the seawall, causing flooding along the city's coastline. Elsewhere in the province of Guantánamo, preliminary reports stated that some places received more than 10 in (25 cm). Oscar caused severe damage in eastern Guantánamo. More than 1,000 homes were damaged with severe flooding occuring in Baracoa, Imías, and Maisí. Several homes lost their roofs and partially collapsed along with many downed electrical lines. The rainfall and winds led to landslides, which also slowed the fixing of the blackout. At least six people died from the storm.
See also
- Weather of 2024
- Tropical cyclones in 2024
- Timeline of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
