Featured Article Summary #123

Hurricane Joaquin was a very powerful tropical storm that severely affected several parts of the Bahamas in early October 2015. It was the strongest Atlantic hurricane of non-tropical origin ever recorded in the satellite era. Joaquin formed from a non-tropical low in late September, became a tropical depression and then a tropical storm, and rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane by October 1. Its eye passed near or over multiple Bahamian islands, and after some weakening it strengthened again to near Category 5 strength before turning northeast. The hurricane brought dangerous storm surge, strong winds, and flooding that caused major damage in the Bahamas, including trapped residents and widespread power and infrastructure failures, while the cargo ship El Faro and its 33 crew were lost. Joaquin also caused flooding in Turks and Caicos, damage in Cuba and Haiti, and catastrophic flooding in parts of the southeastern United States, before weakening, becoming extratropical, and eventually dissipating; overall it killed 34 people and caused about $120 million in damage. The NHC first monitored a low pressure system south-southwest of Bermuda on September 25, 2015, which gradually became more organized and was declared a tropical depression on September 28. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Joaquin on September 29, then rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane by October 1 and reached Category 4 strength while passing over Samana Cay. Joaquin later weakened after slowing near the Bahamas due to cooler ocean waters and an eyewall replacement cycle, making landfall on several islands before re-intensifying briefly and peaking as a high-end Category 4. After peaking, Joaquin began weakening as its structure deteriorated and it moved north-northeast, passing near Bermuda and eventually weakening further in a colder environment. It completed its transition into an extratropical cyclone around October 8, then its remnants traveled across the Atlantic, reached Portugal on October 12, and finally dissipated over the Gulf of Cádiz on October 15. Tropical storm and hurricane warnings were issued across the Bahamas starting September 30, leading to school closures, flight cancellations, airport shutdowns for runway checks, and cruise diversions. The National Emergency Management Agency activated its emergency center and advised evacuations, though some residents in the southern islands complained warnings were insufficient and in some cases police helped move people to shelters. In the Turks and Caicos, schools and offices closed and airport operations were briefly suspended, while Cuba also issued tropical storm warnings. In the US, early forecasts prompted states of emergency and an evacuation order for Ocracoke Island, but Joaquin later turned away and did not directly affect the mainland. Bermuda prepared for possible impacts with standby forces, equipment placement, and service cancellations, including ferry/bus disruptions and major flight and airport shutdowns as the hurricane neared. Joaquin was one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Bahamas, affecting nearly 7,000 people with powerful winds, heavy flooding, and storm surge. After the storm, officials reported widespread damage across many islands, including about 836 homes destroyed, and estimated total losses around US$120 million, with much of it tied to infrastructure and housing. Power and communication outages were widespread, and severe flooding and damage to homes, clinics, airports, and utilities left many residents without clean water and forced evacuations. The cargo ship El Faro, carrying 33 people, disappeared near Crooked Island during Hurricane Joaquin after losing propulsion and starting to list around 7:30 a.m. on October 1. Searches found debris, including life rafts and cargo, but no confirmed recovery; the Coast Guard called off operations on October 7, assuming the ship and crew were lost. Later, Navy teams located the wreck in deep water, confirmed it as El Faro, and retrieved the voyage recorder nine months afterward; investigations blamed the captain mainly for misjudging the storm and not responding properly, while also noting the ship’s outdated safety practices.