At that time, the hurricane was located about 130 mi (210 km) southwest of Lihue. The flight also observed a minimum barometric pressure of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg), which was the lowest ever observed in the Central Pacific at the time. On September 11, a reconnaissance aircraft observed maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h), with gusts to 173 mph (278 km/h), making it a Category 4 hurricane. The approaching trough caused Iniki to accelerate to the north-northeast toward the western Hawaiian islands. On September 10, a reconnaissance aircraft flew into Iniki, observing sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), which is a major hurricane, or a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The hurricane slowed and curved toward the north while continuing to intensify. On September 9, Iniki strengthened into a hurricane, and the next day it passed about 300 miles (480 km) south of Ka Lae, or the southernmost point of the Big Island of Hawaii. Typically, the subtropical ridge keeps storms away from the Hawaiian islands. The storm moved around the western edge of the subtropical ridge, which was weakening due to an upper-level trough that was moving eastward from the International Date Line. Iniki gradually intensified as its track shifted to the north. Iniki (left) as a newly formed tropical storm next to Hurricane Orlene, on September 8 On September 8, the CPHC upgraded the depression to tropical storm status, giving it the name Iniki, which is Hawaiian for a sharp and piercing wind. Steered by a subtropical ridge to the north, the depression continued westward, or slightly south of due west. On that day, the CPHC anticipated that the depression would dissipate within 24 hours, and the agency ceased issuing advisories however, the depression reorganized on the next day, and warnings were re-issued. On September 6, the depression crossed 140° W, entering the area of warning responsibility of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC). Warm sea surface temperatures, 2–5° F (1–3° C) above normal, were considered a positive factor. This was due to the convective structure having poorly-defined outflow, or ventilation. Upon its formation, the depression had a ragged area of convection, and the National Hurricane Center anticipated minimal strengthening over the subsequent few days. On September 5, Tropical Depression Eighteen-E developed from the wave, located about 1700 miles (2700 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, or 1550 miles (2500 km) east-southeast of Hilo. It moved westward across northern South America and later Central America, centering the eastern Pacific Ocean on August 28. The origin of Iniki is unclear, but it possibly began as a tropical wave that exited the west African coast on August 18. Though not directly in the path of the eye, Oʻahu experienced moderate damage from wind and storm surge.Įxtratropical cyclone / Remnant low / Tropical disturbance / Monsoon depression Damage was greatest on Kauaʻi, where the hurricane destroyed more than 1,400 houses and severely damaged more than 5,000. Despite the lack of early warning, only six deaths ensued. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) failed to issue tropical cyclone warnings and watches 24 hours in advance. The storm struck just 18 days after Hurricane Andrew, the costliest tropical cyclone ever at the time, struck Florida.
At the time, Iniki was the third-costliest United States hurricane. Iniki caused around $3.1 billion (1992 USD) in damage and six deaths, making it the costliest natural disaster on record in the state. Iniki dissipated on September 13 about halfway between Hawaii and Alaska. It was the first hurricane to hit the state since Hurricane Iwa in the 1982 season, and the first major hurricane since Hurricane Dot in 1959. It had recorded wind gusts of 225 mph (360 km/h) as evidenced by an anemometer that was found blown into the forest during clean up. After turning north, Iniki struck the island of Kauaʻi on September 11 at peak intensity it had winds of 145 mph and reached Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. It attained tropical storm status on September 8 and further intensified into a hurricane the next day. Forming on September 5, 1992, during the strong 1990–1995 El Niño, Iniki was one of eleven Central Pacific tropical cyclones during that season. Hurricane Iniki ( / iː ˈ n iː k iː/ ee- NEE-kee Hawaiian: ʻiniki meaning "strong and piercing wind") was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. Part of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season $3.1 billion (1992 USD) (Second-costliest Pacific hurricane on record) Hurricane Iniki at peak intensity just south of KauaʻI on September 11
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