Global InformationTimeline of the 1991 Atlantic hurricane season information
| Timeline of the 1991 Atlantic hurricane season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Season summary map | |||||
| Season boundaries | |||||
| First system formed | July 2, 1991 | ||||
| Last system dissipated | November 2, 1991 | ||||
| Strongest system | |||||
| Name | Claudette | ||||
| Maximum winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-minute sustained) | ||||
| Lowest pressure | 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg) | ||||
| Longest lasting system | |||||
| Name | Claudette | ||||
| Duration | 8.25 days | ||||
| |||||
The 1991 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average Atlantic hurricane season that produced twelve tropical cyclones, of which eight strengthened to become named tropical storms; four of these became hurricanes, of which two further intensified into major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale).[nb 1][2] The season officially began on June 1, 1991, and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic Ocean.[3] The first system, Tropical Storm Ana, developed on July 2 while the last system, the unnamed Perfect Storm, dissipated on November 2.
The most destructive storm of the season was Hurricane Bob, which brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina near peak intensity on August 19, then made landfall twice in Rhode Island later that day.[4] Bob killed at least seventeen people along its path and caused extensive damage in New England, totaling $1.5 billion (1991 USD); this made it one of the ten costliest hurricanes on record for the United States at the time.[5][6] The season's other significant storm was a powerful nor'easter known as the Perfect Storm. It began as an extratropical cyclone off the coast of eastern Nova Scotia late on October 28, being steered southward and then westward by a ridge to its north. Late the following day, the system absorbed Hurricane Grace to its south, contributing to substantial intensification. Its strength and large size created an enormous area of high seas over the western Atlantic Ocean during late October and early November.[2] It caused severe coastal damage in the northeastern United States, with impacts noted as far south as Puerto Rico. Damages exceeded $200 million (1991 USD)[7] and thirteen people were killed.[8] Six of the fatalities occurred when the Andrea Gail and her crew were lost amidst the treacherous conditions; the events surrounding her sinking inspired Sebastian Junger's 1997 book The Perfect Storm, which was adapted into a 2000 film of the same name.[9] As the cyclone executed a counter-clockwise loop south of New England, it gradually acquired tropical characteristics, becoming a minimal hurricane on November 1, and after weakening into a tropical storm, made landfall in Nova Scotia the next day.
This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It includes information that was not released throughout the season, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as a storm that was not initially warned upon, has been included.
By convention, meteorologists use one time zone when issuing forecasts and making observations: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and also use the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC).[10] The National Hurricane Center uses both UTC and the time zone where the center of the tropical cyclone is currently located. The time zones utilized (east to west) prior to 2020 were: Atlantic, Eastern, and Central.[11] In this timeline, all information is listed by UTC first, with the respective regional time zone included in parentheses. Additionally, figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest five units (knots, miles, or kilometers) and averaged over one minute, following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Avila, Lixion; Pasch, Richard (November 1992). "Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1991". Monthly Weather Review. 120 (11). American Meteorological Society: 2688–2696. Bibcode:1992MWRv..120.2688A. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1992)120<2688:ATSO>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ "Hurricanes Frequently Asked Questions". Miami, Florida: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. June 1, 2023. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Bob TCR 2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Mayfield, Max (August 10, 1992). "Hurricane Bob Preliminary Report (Page Four)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Mayfield, Max (August 10, 1992). "Hurricane Bob Preliminary Report (Page Five)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ McCown, Sam (August 20, 2008). ""Perfect Storm" Damage Summary" (PDF). National Climatic Data Center. Silver Spring, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Wankum, Mike (November 8, 2021). "30th anniversary of 'Perfect Storm' that devastated New England coast". WCVB-TV. Boston, Massachusetts: Hearst Television. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ McGinnes, Meagan (October 29, 2016). "25 years ago, the crew of the Andrea Gail was lost in the 'perfect storm'". Boston.com. Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Globe Media Partners. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Understanding the Date/Time Stamps". Silver Spring, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ "Update on National Hurricane Center Products and Services for 2020" (PDF). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. April 20, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
Cite error: There are <ref group=nb> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=nb}} template (see the help page).