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Krazy Kat is a comic strip created by George Herriman that appeared in weekday and Sunday U.S. newspapers between 1913 and 1944. It was first published in William Randolph Hearst's New York Evening Journal. Set against a dreamlike portrayal of Herriman's vacation home of Coconino County, Arizona, Krazy Kat's mixture of surrealism, innocent playfulness, and poetic language have made it a favorite of comics aficionados and art critics for more than eighty years. The strip focuses on the relationship triangle between its title character, a carefree and innocent cat of indeterminate gender (but often referred to in prose as female), her antagonist Ignatz Mouse, and the protective police-dog Officer Bull Pupp. Krazy nurses an unrequited love for the mouse, but Ignatz despises her and constantly schemes to throw a brick at her head; for unknown reasons, Krazy takes this as a sign of affection. Officer Pupp, as Coconino County's administrator of law and order, makes it his unwavering mission to interfere with Ignatz's brick-tossing plans and lock the mouse in the county jail. (more...)
A Category 5 Atlantic hurricane is a tropical cyclone that reaches Category 5 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, within the Atlantic Ocean to the north of the equator. They are among the strongest tropical cyclones that can form on Earth, having 1-minute sustained wind speeds of at least 137 knots (254 km/h; 158 mph; 70 m/s). The United States National Hurricane Center currently estimates that 11 tropical cyclones between 1851 (the first Atlantic hurricane season to be included in the official Atlantic tropical cyclone record) and 1959 peaked as Category 5 hurricanes. However, because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, some such cyclones may have remained undetected. Since 1960, 29 Atlantic hurricanes have reached Category 5.
Background
Within the Atlantic Ocean to the north of the Equator, hurricanes are officially monitored by the United States's National Hurricane Center (NHC), however, other meteorological services, such as Météo-France, the United Kingdom's Met Office and Environment Canada also monitor the basin. Within the region, a Category 5 hurricane is a tropical cyclone which reaches Category 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, that is, a tropical cyclone that has 1-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds of 137 knots (254 km/h; 158 mph; 70 m/s) or greater at 10 metres (32.8 ft) above ground.[1]
A total of 40 tropical cyclones have been estimated to have peaked as Category 5 hurricanes on the SSHWS, with the first occurrence recorded in 1924. No Category 5 hurricanes were observed officially before 1924. It can be presumed that earlier storms reached Category 5 strength over open waters, but the strongest winds were not measured. Although anemometer, a device used for measuring wind speed, was invented in 1846, during major hurricane strikes the instruments were often blown away or damaged, leaving the hurricane's peak intensity unrecorded. For example, as the Great Beaufort Hurricane of 1879 struck North Carolina, the anemometer cups were blown away when indicating 138 mph (222 km/h).[2]
As of May 2018[update], a reanalysis of weather data was ongoing by researchers who may upgrade or downgrade Atlantic hurricanes.[3] For example, the 1825 Santa Ana hurricane is suspected to have reached Category 5 strength.[4] Furthermore, paleotempestological research aims to identify past major hurricanes by comparing sedimentary evidence of recent and past hurricane strikes. For example, a "giant hurricane" significantly more powerful than Hurricane Hattie (Category 5) has been identified in Belizean sediment, having struck the region sometime before 1500.[5]
Records
Officially, the decade with the most Category 5 hurricanes is 2000–2009, with eight Category 5 hurricanes having occurred: Isabel (2003), Ivan (2004), Emily (2005), Katrina (2005), Rita (2005), Wilma (2005), Dean (2007), and Felix (2007). The previous decades with the most Category 5 hurricanes were the 1930s and 1960s, with six occurring between 1930 and 1939.[6] The most Category 5 hurricanes recorded in a single season is four, in 2005. The most consecutive years to feature at least one Category 5 hurricane each is four, from 2016 to 2019.[7]
Nine Atlantic hurricanes—Camille, Allen, Andrew, Isabel, Ivan, Dean, Felix, Irma and Maria—reached Category 5 intensity on more than one occasion; that is, by reaching Category 5 intensity, weakening to a Category 4 status or lower, and then becoming a Category 5 hurricane again. Such hurricanes have their dates shown together. Camille, Andrew, Dean, Felix, Irma, and Maria each attained Category 5 status twice during their lifespans. Allen, Isabel, and Ivan reached Category 5 intensity on three separate occasions. The 1932 Cuba hurricane holds the record for the most time spent as a Category 5 hurricane (although it took place before satellite or aircraft reconnaissance, so this record may be somewhat suspect). Irma holds the record for the longest continuous span as a Category 5 storm in the satellite era.[6][8]
Of the 40 Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes on record, 1 has been recorded in July, 8 in August, 22 in September, 6 in October, and 1 in November. There have been no officially recorded June or off-season Category 5 hurricanes.[6]
The July and August Category 5 hurricanes reached their high intensities in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. These are the areas most favorable for tropical cyclone development in those months.[6][9]
September sees the most Category 5 hurricanes, with over half of the total. This coincides with the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which occurs in early September.[10] September Category 5s reached their strengths in any of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and open Atlantic. These places are where September tropical cyclones are likely to form.[9] Many of these hurricanes are either Cape Verde hurricanes, which develop their strength due to a long track over warm waters,[11] or else intensify over the warm Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico.
All but one of the Category 5 hurricanes in October and November (the exception being Michael) reached their intensities in the western Caribbean, a region that Atlantic hurricanes strongly gravitate toward late in the season.[9] This is due to the climatology of the area, which sometimes has a high-altitude anticyclone that promotes rapid intensification late in the season, as well as warm waters.
^ abcdefghiDiscontinuous duration (weakened below Category 5 then restrengthened to that classification)
Other systems
The 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane and Hurricanes Dog (1950), Easy (1951), Cleo (1958), Donna (1960), Ethel (1960) and Carla (1961) were all originally estimated to have Category 5 sustained wind speeds. However, later systematic studies by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project found that the wind speeds associated with these systems were overestimated and downgraded them to either Category 4 or 3. Most recently, Hurricane Iota (2020) was operationally considered to be a category 5 hurricane, with estimated 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 160 mph (260 km/h).[67] However, during their routine post-analysis best track process after the season, the NHC downgraded Iota to a Category 4 hurricane as a result of post season reanalysis, which suggested that there was a high bias in windspeeds derived from the Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer instrument.[67]
Number by month
Number of recorded Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes by month[6]
Month
Number of hurricanes
July
1
August
7
September
25
October
6
November
1
Landfalls
Nearly all Atlantic Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall at some location while a tropical or subtropical cyclone. This is primarily because of their proximity to land in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, where the usual synoptic weather patterns carry them towards land, as opposed to the westward, oceanic mean track of Eastern Pacific hurricanes.[68] Nineteen of the storms made landfall at least once while at Category 5 intensity;[6] 2007 and 2017 are the only years in which two storms made landfall at this intensity.[6] All but five landfalling systems (the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane, Carol, Esther, Mitch and Isabel) did so at major hurricane strength.
Many of these systems made landfall shortly after weakening from a Category 5 hurricane. This weakening can be caused by dry air near land, shallower waters due to shelving, interaction with land, eyewall replacement cycles, increased vertical wind shear, or cooler waters near shore.[48][citation needed] The only Atlantic Category 5 hurricanes that did not make landfall while a tropical or subtropical cyclone were Hurricane Lee, which still made landfall as an extratropical cyclone in Nova Scotia, and Hurricane Lorenzo, which still brought hurricane-force winds to the Azores. These two storms are therefore not included in the table below.
The following table lists these hurricanes by landfall intensity.
^Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (June 8, 2010). "Current Hurricane Data Sets". Hurricane Research Division. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
^Rappaport, Edward N. "Addendum Hurricane Andrew". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
^ abcStaff writer (2010). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
^Landsea, Christopher W. (2010-06-08). "Tropical Cyclone FAQ A2) What is a "Cape Verde" hurricane?". Hurricane Research Division — Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
^National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Allen July 31 – August 11 (Preliminary Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. pp. 1–6. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
^ abClark, Gilbert B (October 26, 1988). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Gilbert(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. p. 9. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
^ abLawrence, Miles B (November 15, 1989). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Hugo(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. pp. 1–2, 7. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 6, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
^ abRappaport, Edward N (December 10, 1993). Hurricane Andrew: August 16–28 (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
^ abGuiney, John L; Lawrence, Miles B (April 7, 2017). Hurricane Mitch: October 22 – November 5, 1998(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
^ abBeven, John L; Cobb, Hugh (April 7, 2017). Hurricane Isabel: September 6–19, 2003(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
^ abStewart, Stacy R (December 16, 2004). Hurricane Ivan September 2 – 24, 2004(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
^ abFranklin, James L; Brown, Daniel P (March 10, 2006). Hurricane Emily July 11 – 21, 2005(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original(PDF) on April 14, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
^ abcKnabb, Richard D; Rhome, Jamie R; Brown, Daniel P (December 20, 2005). Hurricane Katrina: August 23 – 30, 2005(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
^ abKnabb, Richard D; Brown, Daniel P; Rhome, Jamie R (March 17, 2006). Hurricane Rita: September 18 - 26, 2005(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
^ abFranklin, James L (January 31, 2008). Hurricane Dean: August 13 – 23, 2007(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
^ abCangialosi, Jong P, Layton, Andrew S and Berg, Robbie (March 9, 2018). Hurricane Irma: August 30 – September 12, 2017(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 13, 2018.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Pasch, Richard J; Penny, Andrew B; Berg, Robbie (January 4, 2023). Hurricane Maria: September 16 – 30, 2017(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
^Avila, Lixion A; Stewart, Stacy R; Berg, Robert J; Hagen, Andrew B (December 16, 2019). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019)(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 23, 2022.