Volume 5    Number 1

Hurricane Fabian

In September 2003, Hurricane Fabian grew to a huge category-3 hurricane and raced across the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Fabian slammed into the island of Bermuda, causing death and destruction there. The staff of ReefNews sends their heartfelt condolences to those who suffered loss from this storm.

On September 2, 2003, Hurricane Fabian was moving west and was approaching the northern Windward and Leeward islands in the southeastern Caribbean. But upper-level winds (that is, winds high in the earth's atmosphere) pushed Fabian aside and sent it moving north.

Fabian gained energy from the warm ocean and grew to a category-3 hurricane. At its peak, Fabian had winds of 140 miles per hour, with gusts of nearly 180 miles per hour. The eye of Hurricane Fabian was over 25 miles wide, and was clearly visible in many of the satellite photos.

On Friday, September 5, 2003, the eye of Hurricane Fabian passed just west of Bermuda, the worst possible path for Bermuda. The storm's winds are highest just to the east of the eye, so these winds slammed Bermuda with the worst possible damage.

Notice how the clouds move around the eye of the hurricane in a counter-clockwise direction.

The satellite photos in this ReefNews movie are from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Visit their website at http://www.noaa.gov. Information about Hurricane Fabian came from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Visit their website at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov to learn more about hurricanes.

This ReefNews movie uses Macromedia Flash MX.

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