Hurricane Lili (1984)
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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Lili at peak intensity |
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| Formed | December 12, 1984 | |
| Dissipated | December 24, 1984 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 980 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | None Reported | |
| Fatalities | None Reported | |
| Areas affected |
Dominican Republic | |
| Part of the 1984 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Lili was the final tropical cyclone of the 1984 Atlantic hurricane season, and was one of only four Atlantic storms on record to reach hurricane status in the month of December. The storm remained over open waters for much of its long life, the longest duration for a tropical cyclone outside of the hurricane season.
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[edit] Storm history
In the second week of December, a frontal trough stalled south of Bermuda. An upper level disturbance moved over the area on December 9, and produced widespread convection along the frontal wave. The system moved to the northeast, and was classified a subtropical storm on December 12 while 275 miles northeast of Bermuda, based on a developing circulation within the convection.
With winds of 60 mph and strengthening, the Subtropical Storm drifted northeastward, but on December 13 a high pressure system to its north forced the storm southeastward. An upper level cutoff low developed over the storm, bringing the system southward through the central Atlantic Ocean. A break in the ridge allowed the storm to turn to the northeast, where its forward motion accelerated to nearly 40 mph.
After turning to the northwest, a high pressure system again halted its northward movement, and the storm drifted to the south-southeast on December 18. Conditions favored further strengthening, and the subtropical storm reached 70 mph winds later on the 18th. Satellite estimates indicate the storm attained hurricane status on the 19th, but it was not until December 20, when a nearby ship reported 75 mph winds. Based on this, as well as a minimum central pressure of 980 mbar and increased organization, the storm was named Hurricane Lili, after 8 days of moving through the central Atlantic.
Lili continued southward with peak winds of 80 mph, and higher pressures developed to its northeast. It accelerated to the southwest, where upper level shear its fast forward speed created an unfavorable environment. Lili struggled to retain its hurricane status for 3 days, but succumbed to the shear on December 23 by weakening to a tropical storm. It quickly fell apart as it approached the Leeward Islands and eastern Greater Antilles, and dissipated just off the coast of the Dominican Republic on December 24.
[edit] Rare formation
When Lili reached hurricane status on December 20, it became one of only four Atlantic tropical storms to reach hurricane strength in the month of December. The other three are an unnamed tropical storm in the 1887 season, Hurricane Alice, and Hurricane Epsilon.
Lili's 12 days of existence was the most of any off-season tropical cyclone. The next closest are Hurricane Able in 1951 and Hurricane Alma in 1970.
[edit] Impact
Because of Lili's rapid movement, a Hurricane Watch was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As the storm weakened, the watches were discontinued. Lili did move through Hispaniola as an area of squally weather, but there was little, if any damage associated from the storm.
Lili remains the only tropical cyclone to require hurricane watches during December.
[edit] Lack of retirement
Because its effects were minimal, the name Lili was not retired, and was used again for the 1990 season and 1996 before being retired in the 2002 season and it was replaced by Laura in 2008.
