2001 Computer Area hurricane

## History

### Dates

July 18-August 15, 2001 (Extratropical between July 26 and 29 and after August 14)

### Peak intensity

220 mph, 858 hPa (Second strongest in the Computer Ocean behind the 1936 hurricane)

## General Information

### Season

2001

In **mid-July to mid-August of 2001, an extremely powerful and record-breaking hurricane** struck the Computer Area. The system is regarded as the strongest storm to ever strike the region. The system was unnamed operationally due to the CWC not existing until 2009.

## History

On July 17, an area of low-pressure formed, and it gained tropical storm force-winds just prior to transitioning into a tropical cyclone on July 18. The system would move moderately slow and become a hurricane on July 19, which would precede its initial Category 5 peak intensity: late on July 21, the storm became a major hurricane with winds of 120 mph before reaching its first peak intensity of Category 5 on July 24 with 175 mph winds, however, a sudden burst of northerly wind shear weakened it dramatically and it transitioned into a tropical storm equivalent extratropical cyclone on July 26. On July 29, the system restored tropical storm status as it began to undergo rapid intensification from a tropical storm with winds of 65 mph to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph. After this, the storm would reach Category 4 status with sustained winds of 130 mph on July 31. Shortly after this, the system would reach its second peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph, however, an increase in westerly wind shear caused the system to weaken back to a high-end Category 3 hurricane during the night of August 1. The system would maintain strength with sustained winds of 125 mph throughout the majority of August 2. This would be followed by yet another period of rapid intensification, bringing the system from a 125-mph Category 3 hurricane to a 160-mph Category 5 hurricane by August 4. The system would continuously remain at Category 5 status upon until its record-breaking landfall of 220 mph winds and a central pressure of 858 hPa. The system would weaken moderately after its initial landfall, dropping down to sustained winds of 185 mph, which was still extremely strong for a hurricane this far north. After this, a secondary peak intensity of 200 mph was recorded on August 8. This strength of 200 mph would be maintained into the following day, which was August 9. The next day, which was August 10, cool waters and wind shear finally took a toll on the system, causing it to weaken to a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph on August 10, and to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph by August 11. By August 12, the system had weakened to a high-end Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 110 mph. After this, the system retained major hurricane status as a large Category 3 storm. The system would reach its final peak intensity as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph on August 13. By August 14, the system would begin to experience extremely high wind shear from an incoming early season polar vortex, which minimally weakened the storm and dropped the system's core temperature from 82°F to 22°F, a drop of 60°F. This caused the sudden transition to an extratropical cyclone with winds of 115 mph and the system would dissipate with winds of 75 mph by the next day.