Here’s a map that shows just how lucky Hawaii has been when it comes to hurricanes and tropical storms, courtesy of the Weather Underground and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
Tropical storms and hurricanes crisscrossing the Pacific since 1949 have missed the Hawaiian Islands more often than not.
NOAA
As you can see, the state has only received two direct hits from hurricanes since 1949, although that hasn’t prevented other storms from wreaking havoc here.
For instance, in 1982 Hurricane Iwa became one Hawaii’s most devastating hurricanes, causing hundreds of millions of dollars of damage, even though it skirted the island of Kauai.
The Weather Underground provided a brief summary of Hawaii’s hurricane history Thursday along with updates on Tropical Storm Ana, which weakened Wednesday night but still poses a threat.
You can also play with NOAA’s Historical Hurricane Tracks tool to build your own storm maps.
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About the Author
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Nick Grube is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at nick@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @nickgrube. You can also reach him by phone at 808-377-0246.