Hurricane Erin (1995)

Hurricane Erin

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Erin hitting Florida Panhandle
Formed	July 31, 1995
Dissipated	August 6, 1995
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 100 mph (155 km/h)
Lowest pressure	973 mbar (hPa); 28.73 inHg
Fatalities	6 direct; 7 indirect
Damage	$700 million (1995 USD)
Areas affected	Bahamas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Jamaica
Part of the 1995 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Erin was the fifth named tropical cyclone and the second hurricane of the unusually active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. Erin began as a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa on July 22, but the storm crossed most of the Atlantic ocean without developing. On July 31, it developed a closed circulation and became Tropical Storm Erin. It made landfall on the central eastern Florida coastline as a Category 1 hurricane on August 2 and again along the Florida Panhandle as a Category 2 hurricane on August 3, causing a moderate amount of damage. The system reached its peak strength of 100 mph (155 km/h) and 973 millibars in central pressure just prior to the second landfall.

Hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches were issued for both coasts of Florida prior to Erin's two landfalls. Tornado and flood watches and warnings were also issued for these areas as a preparation for the impacts from Erin.

The total monetary damage estimate in the United States from Erin is $700 million (1995 USD). The monetary damages from the system primarily came from downed trees, crop damages, and ship damages. There was various other damages that also occurred as a result of Erin. Erin was the first hurricane to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

On July 22, a tropical wave emerged into the eastern Atlantic Ocean, off the western coast of Africa. It moved westerly or west-northwesterly through most of its life due to the influence of the Bermuda High and a second high pressure over the Mid Atlantic states. The system had two distinct low-level circulation centers, and a large area of convection. By July 27, both circulations were generating deep convection a few hundred miles to the northeast of the Leeward Islands. These centers began to exhibit sustained winds of around 30 mph (50 km/h) on July 28, but there was not a completely closed circulation needed to become a Tropical Depression.