Antigua

Eastern Caribbean Sea This low-lying volcanic island, left virtually treeless by centuries of sugarcane production, has had a long, sometimes devastating history of tropical cyclone strikes. Located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, Antigua (pronounced An-TEE-ga), is the largest of the 15 major islands that comprise the sprawling Leeward Islands group. The archipelago’s position between latitudes 16 and 19 degrees North places it directly in the path of the midto-late-season hurricanes that spiral across the North Atlantic Ocean from Africa’s Cape Verde Islands.

Between 1664 and 2006, Antigua’s sandy beaches and natural harbor at St. John’s were directly affected by 80 recorded hurricanes. Of these, 23 were major hurricanes, with central barometric pressures of 28.47 inches (964 mb) or lower and winds in excess of 111 MPH (179 km/h). At times this prosperous resort island has even suffered several hurricanes in quick succession, as happened in 1747 when two destructive storms came ashore within one month of each other and in 1837 when two hurricanes struck in less than one week’s time. Similar double strikes also occurred in 1792 and 1876.

Since 1664, Antigua has been struck by at least one June hurricane, although this particular storm was of minor intensity and caused little damage. In July, the probability of a hurricane landfall in Antigua increases slightly, with three reported strikes between 1664 and 1933. But it is in August and September, when the first of the Cape Verde hurricanes arrives in the eastern reaches of the Caribbean, that the number of strikes jumps to a fearsome 19 and 29, respectively. Famous midseason hurricanes in Antigua include the August hurricane of 1681 that pulverized the sugarcane plantations and inundated the beachheads with a 13-foot (4-m) storm surge. In September 1772, several British warships lying at anchor in St. John’s Harbor were driven ashore when a powerful hurricane roared in from Dominica, while the legendary Great Hurricane of 1780 caused heavy rains that October that killed an estimated 6,000 people on the island. Other major hurricanes include an 1806 storm that leveled several hundred buildings, and an intense hurricane in early August 1835 that severely damaged the Royal Naval dockyards at English Harbor.

In addition, Antigua had the unique distinction of being struck by a destructive out-of-season hurricane in late December 1954. Christened Alice, the storm started the New Year by crossing the Caribbean between December 30, 1954, and January 5, 1955. In Antigua, 75-MPH (121-km/h) winds lashed the countryside, knocking down road signs, scattering Christmas decorations, and killing three people. On the night of September 16–17, 1989, Hurricane Hugo, considered the most damaging hurricane to have transited the Caribbean in nearly a half-century, pelted Antigua with sustained 130-MPH (200-km/h) winds and blistering, five–six-inch (127–152 mm) rains. Nearly 900 houses on the island were either destroyed or serious damaged, leaving thousands of people homeless. Downed trees and power lines blocked the streets, while intense rains spawned mudslides and flash floods. One man was killed, and another two reported missing.

During the remarkable 1995 hurricane season, Hurricane Luis, a Category 4 storm of extreme violence, blasted Antigua with sustained, 145-MPH (233-km/h) winds, 12-inch (305-mm) rain squalls, and a six–nine-foot (2–3-m) storm surge on the night of September 5–6, 1995. An enormous cyclonic system that spanned nearly 700 miles (1,127 km) across, Luis’s 60-mile-wide (97-km) eye passed directly over the island, uprooting trees, severing power lines, buckling radio and television transmission towers, demolishing two beachfront hotels, and tearing the roof from the country’s only hospital. More than 32,000 Antiguans were rendered homeless by the 12-hour tempest, while sporadic looting forced the government to cordon off shopping districts in downtown St. John’s with armed soldiers. With more than $375 million in property damage and four deaths to its credit, Luis remains the single-most-destructive hurricane to have struck Antigua during the second half of the 20th century.

On September 5, 1995, Hurricane Luis brought 140-MPH (225-km/h) winds and a central pressure of 27.88 inches (944 mb) to Antigua. Four hotels were swept into the sea and two hospitals effectively

destroyed. Just under one year later, on July 9, 1996, Hurricane Bertha delivered hurricane force winds and rains to Antigua as the system’s eyewall passed directly over the island.

On September 21, 1998, Hurricane Georges passed close to the island, delivering 110-MPH (177- km/h) winds. Two people were killed and many buildings suffered roof damage. There was also severe coastal flooding along the southern coasts. On October 20, 1999, Hurricane José passed directly over Antigua. Bearing a central pressure of 29.05 inches (983 mb), José delivered sustained winds of 80 MPH (129 km/h) and gusts topping 100 MPH (161 km/h). José was moving rather quickly to the northwest at 12 MPH (19 km/h) at the time of landfall in Antigua. On August 22, 2000, Tropical Storm Debby delivered 70-MPH (90-km/h) winds to Antigua as it slipped to the north of the island.