| 1997 Atlantic Hurricane Season |
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The 1997 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 , 1997 , and lasted until November 30 , 1997 . These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most Tropical Cyclone s form in the Atlantic Basin . The 1997 season was a relatively inactive season for tropical weather, with only seven named storms (eight total) forming. El Niño is credited with reducing the number of storms in the Atlantic, while increasing the number of storms in the 1997 Pacific Hurricane Season and 1997 Pacific Typhoon Season . It was the first time since 1961 that there were no active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin during the entire month of August. Hurricane Danny killed four people, and caused an estimated $100 million in damage when it made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River . Hurricane Erika, the strongest storm of the season, passed within 75 nm of the Lesser Antilles , far enough away to prevent hurricane conditions from reaching land. STORMS Subtropical Storm One A cluster of thunderstorms developed over Florida in late May. A shortwave trough brought it to the northeast, enhancing convection around a developing center of circulation. The low pressure area, which formed on May 31 , developed into a subtropical depression on June 1 . It reached subtropical storm strength 6 hours later as it moved rapidly parallel to the East Coast Of The United States . The convection continued to wrap around the center, and despite unfavorable conditions from an approaching cold front, it reached a peak of 50 mph late on June 1 while off the coast of North Carolina . It turned to the east, and became extratropical late on June 2 while southeast of Massachusetts as it was merged by a cold front. Operationally, it was treated as a frontal low, but post-analysis suggested it remained separate throughout its lifetime, and was classified as an unnamed subtropical storm. Tropical Storm Ana A frontal low pressure system off the coast of South Carolina developed into Tropical Depression One on June 30 . It moved slowly eastward, and attained tropical storm status on July 1 . After peaking at 45 mph, a shortwave trough brought Ana to the northeast, where vertical shear caused the storm to lose what little convection it had. Ana weakened to a tropical depression on the 3rd, and became extratropical on the 4th over the western Atlantic Ocean. There were no damages reported and Ana never affected land. Hurricane Bill In early July, a large upper-level low developed from the mid-oceanic trough northeast of Puerto Rico . Convection increased over a low level trough, and as the upper level moved southwestward, upper level shear weakened greatly. This allowed for a center organize within the convection, and was classified a tropical depression near the Bahamas on July 11 . Though it had a high pressure of 1013, the system was in an area of higher pressures, and reached tropical storm later on the 11th under favorable conditions. Embedded within the westerlies, Bill moved quickly to the northeast and reached hurricane status on the 12th over progressively cooler waters, defying forecasts of its demise. The cool waters weakened Bill to a tropical storm on the 13th, and it was absorbed by a front later that day. A tropical storm warning was issued for Bermuda, but Bill passed the island without incident. Tropical Storm Claudette A non-tropical low became Tropical Storm Claudette on July 13 while about 275 n mi south-southeast of Cape Hatteras . Claudette moved north and then turned east as it was pushed by a frontal system. It would merge with the front on July 16 . Claudette caused no reported damage. Hurricane Danny A non-tropical cluster of thunderstorms organized into a tropical low over the northern Gulf Of Mexico in mid July. On July 17 , this low had strengthened into Tropical Storm Danny. Danny moved east-northeast, and reached hurricane strength just before landfall near Buras, Louisiana . Because of the narrowness of that piece of land, most of Danny remained over water and it lost little strength, and made landfall near Mullet Point, Alabama on the 19th . After stalling for a day, Danny moved northward and weakened to a tropical depression. The depression headed north across Alabama , then turned to the east and emerged over the Atlantic Ocean near the North Carolina / Virginia border on July 24 . The depression immediately restrengthened into Tropical Storm Danny. Danny took a northward turn, and came within 25 n mi of Nantucket Island on July 26 . It then turned out to sea and was absorbed by a front on the 27th . Hurricane Danny caused four direct deaths, and $100 million in estimated damages. Hurricane Erika On September 3 , a tropical depression formed 1000 n mi east of the Lesser Antilles . It strengthened into Tropical Storm Erika later that day, and was a hurricane by the 4th . Hurricane Erika travelled west-northwest, and came within 75 n mi of the Lesser Antilles. Then on the 7th , Erika began a sharp turn to the north-northeast. After passing well east of Bermuda, Erika turned east and began weakening over cooler water. On September 15 , Erika passed over the western Azores . It became extratropical the next day, and dissipated on the 20th off the coast of Ireland . Hurricane Erika caused minimal damage in the Caribbean . Two surfers drowned off the coast of Puerto Rico . Tropical Storm Fabian Fabian formed north of Puerto Rico on October 5 . It moved northeast and became extratropical on October 8 . No damage is directly associated with Fabian. Tropical Storm Grace An extratropical low formed just north of Hispaniola on October 15 , and the next day gained enough tropical characteristics to be classified as a tropical storm. It moved east-northeast until it was absorbed by another system on the 17th . Tropical Storm Grace caused no reported damage. 1997 STORM NAMES The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1997. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 2003 Season . This is the same list used for the 1991 Season except for Bill, which replaced Bob . A storm was named Bill for the first time in 1997. Names that were not assigned are marked in . Retirement See Also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes The World Meteorological Organization retired no names used in the 1997 season. It is the most recent season with no retired names. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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