hurricane hurricane august known tropical cyclone strike hurricane forming disturbance august storm began general westward movement life storm intensified steadily category hurricane august kept steady intensity reached entering intensification began august hurricane reached peak intensity mph maintaining intensity hours hurricane began weaken passing south hawaii weakening phase similar intensification storm lost intensity slowly turn northwest dropped hurricane intensity august storm entered area vertical wind shear causing dissipate soon responsible damage shipping causing high waves hit biggest impact hurricane hurricane caused damage station island damaging military installations including related program anti satellite weapons system additionally threat contamination island stored agent orange brought vietnam eventual destruction sea dutch owned ship inspection island following hurricane indicated contamination gallons sat steel barrels salt beaches nearly years overall damage hurricane totalled million meteorological history precursor tropical disturbance stalled roughly miles south mexico august disturbance tracked starting days disturbance slowly intensified tropical storm august given day ship called star track reported winds mph atmospheric pressure inhg point miles south center storm point storm began general westward motion continue life high pressure areas north track traversing storm kept consistent intensity late august started intensifying hurricane day august hurricane passed entered reached category strength entering hurricane began intensifying steady rate august peaked minimum category hurricane intensity hours hurricane began slow weakening trend despite reaching lowest pressure inhg wind speeds decreased august hurricane turn west northwest brought path hurricane passed miles northeast august nearly hours hurricane force winds passing turned northwest eventually weakened tropical storm august shortly weakening tropical storm entered area higher vertical wind shear ultimately led dissipation august best track intensity largely varies best track lists strengthening intensity tropical storm category peak weakening dissipation straightforward manner category intensity strengthening track varies shows weakening category shortly entering basin followed category difference shows having reached category second time august prior weakening reached peak intensity finally best track gives peak intensity category category impact initial intensification responsible damaging ship area ship schooner people aboard impacted high winds rough seas resulting damage led ship taking gallons water hour hurricane hunter aircraft route hurricane found ship receiving news area helped guide rescue aircraft vessel resuming reconnaissance flight indian freighter vessel arrive towed regina los_angeles took days took aboard passengers regina captain crew stayed board regina arrived day took regina tow escorted vessels days regina towed entire way los_angeles affected later hurricane diana stranded people treated injuries board vessel rescue attempt affected yacht called briefly threatened hurricane prior rescued crew ship damaged miles coast california reported yacht little trouble avoiding hurricane passing south hawaii hurricane affected south coasts big island waves measuring feet high addition threat swells caused high surf warnings posted entire hawaiian chain worst impact experienced hurricane prior year tons nerve gas gas transferred okinawa hurricane watch posted idea evacuation considered decision reached day storm arrive threat stored gas dispersed led island evacuated precaution need evacuation increased hurricane gaining speed island decision arsenal island secured personnel island evacuated honolulu initially people including base commander volunteered stay shelters order clear runway hurricane passed volunteers evacuated risk found great hurricane island hit high winds feet waves hours fears island inundated total rainfall inches measured likely lower actual total instrument measuring rainfall partially piece coral storm passed flight reported damage looked minor team arrived island inspect gas escaped runway usable unit later reported island clear north northwest sides structures island reported hit combination sand coral roofs blown weather station island lost roof ceiling tiles interior instruments remained intact vehicles heavy equipment island reported moved storm inspection indicated computers island incurred case fungal growth biggest impact program defense project anti satellite weapons facilities guidance computers destroyed system repaired program terminated shortly march hurricane figure million damage reported having caused records addition hurricane strike set records active related impact evacuations marked time major base left base surveillance following storm weather station island measured wind speed mph highest recorded years measurements previous record mph recorded occasions gust recorder station remained inactive storm station recorded record low pressure inhg previous lowest inhg unknown time
Hurricane Celeste (1972)