A look back at Hurricane Iris...

[Anonymous]

Iris is a storm that is definitely worth a second look. It was memorable in MANY ways.

1. Iris was EXTREMELY tiny and was as small (if not smaller) than the Great 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.

2. Caused massive damage in Belize.

3. Took an odd Southern track at landfall.

4. Killed 31 people.

5. Intensified at the rate of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane:

90 mph
110 mph
140 mph
145 mph --- LANDFALL: MONKEY RIVER TOWN, BELIZE

6. Weakened more rapidly than any other storm in a long time:

145 mph
140 mph
80 mph
40 mph
35 mph

7. Moved VERY, VERY quickly.

8. Most significant and strongest storm to hit Belize since Hurricane Hattie in 1961.

9. Was very much like the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane in many ways.

10. Was actually said to have not been at all peaked out and would have probably become a category 5 in a matter of 2-4 hours.

Here's a pic from The Weather Channel of Iris JUST as she began to RAPIDLY strengthen:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/anthro/caribar ... /Iris3.jpg

Any comments, thoughts, or pics on Iris? I'd like to see a movie of Iris' life.

[Hurricanehink]

Iris was retired, and the name used in 2007 will be Ingrid.

There was some uncertainty of whether Iris would make it over the mountains, and even when it did, some still thought it made it when Manuel formed. However, the new NHC policy starting some time after 1996's Cesar says that if a storm stays alive over Central America, it would keep its name in the EPAC.

Its track was closely followed by Tropical Storm Jerry, but Jerry dissipated near Iris was named.

Iris was also a textbook example of hurricanes rappidly strengthening just before landfall. Iris was at 140 M.P.H. but started to weaken. Just before landfall, it went up to 145 M.P.H.

None of the forecasts had Iris getting to Catagory 3 strength prior to Iris getting to 105 M.P.H. winds, though they mentioned the possibility.

At landfall, winds were estimated to be 150 M.P.H. However, the advisory winds were down, so Iris's strength may be upped in the re-analysis in a few years. The tropical cyclone report has Iris's landfall and top wind speed of 145.

For a great movie of Iris's life, go here http://vortex.plymouth.edu/hur_dir/2001 ... iris01.mpg Other storms from 1998-present are here http://vortex.plymouth.edu/tropical.html but only the life of the storm operationally. You can't even see Iris's eye there!

[Anonymous]

Thanks Hink, Iris was a big one. No pun intended.

[Stormsfury]

Some pics of Hurricane Iris...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the pics/vids. Iris did not have perfect symmetry at landfall.

[AussieMark]

This shows how even strong hurricanes can be very small.

Michelle formed like 2-3 weeks later and was at least twice the size as Iris. Yet was comparable in size if u beleive the figire of 145 mph as peak as Michelle officially reached 140 mph.

[Anonymous]

I get confused with 115 kts-120 kts, and 135 mph-140 mph.

Michelle never got to 140 mph, but stayed 135 mph or 115 kts. Why does the NHC say 120 kts. Same with Bret. Did Bret and Michelle really reach 140 mph?

[AussieMark]

Officially they peaked at 120 kts which converted in miles and rounded off is approximately 140 mph.

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on the size of Iris and the 1935 storm? Do you think they were the same in intensification and size? Was Iris smaller and did it intensify faster?