Ураган Клаус: Обзор и последствия (1990)

Category 1 Atlantic hurricane in 1990
the 1990 hurricane

Hurricane Klaus was a minimal Atlantic hurricane that dropped heavy rainfall across the Lesser Antilles in October 1990. The eleventh tropical cyclone and sixth hurricane of the 1990 Atlantic hurricane season, Klaus developed from a tropical wave on October 3 a short distance east of Dominica. It drifted northwestward, and quickly intensified to attain hurricane status on October 5. Though its closest approach to the Lesser Antilles was within 12 mile (19 km), the strongest winds remained to its northeast due to strong wind shear, which caused Klaus to steadily weaken. After deteriorating into a tropical depression, Klaus briefly restrengthened over the Bahamas before dissipating on October 9 under the influence of developing tropical storm, Marco. Heavy rainfall on Saint Lucia destroyed about 15% of its yearly banana crop. Damage was heaviest on Martinique, where seven casualties occurred and 1,500 people were left homeless as the heavy rainfall caused severe flooding on the island, resulting in some landslides. The remnant moisture of Klaus entered the southeastern United States, dropping heavy rainfall and causing four casualties; the same area was affected with more precipitation a few days later by Tropical Storm Marco. Due to the impact Klaus had on Martinique, the name Klaus was retired from the list of tropical cyclone names.

A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on September 27. It tracked westward to the south of a subtropical ridge, becoming convectively active, and a low level circulation was observed as it passed south of the Cape Verde islands on September 28. The organization of the convection oscillated over the subsequent days, and a few times the system showed signs of developing into a tropical depression. As it approached the Lesser Antilles it organized further, and despite unfavorable upper level wind shear the system developed into Tropical Depression Thirteen on October 3 while located about 115 mile (185 km)/h) east of Dominica. Located in an area of weak steering currents, the depression drifted to the northwest, and about six hours after first developing the cyclone intensified into a tropical storm; the National Hurricane Center designated it with the name Klaus. Upon becoming a tropical storm, Klaus was located in an area of of wind shear, although concurrently it was located over warm water temperatures of Tracking through a highly baroclinic environment, the storm became better organized, and at 1200 UTC on October 5 Klaus attained hurricane status about 30 mile (48 km) east of Antigua; shortly thereafter, it passed 12 mile (19 km) east of Barbuda, its closest point of approach to the Lesser Antilles. Klaus reached peak winds of and a minimum central pressure of , though most of its deep convection and strong winds remained to its northeast due to wind shear.

Shortly after Klaus attained tropical storm status early on October 4, a tropical storm warning was issued for the northern Leeward Islands from Saint Martin to Antigua, which was upgraded to a hurricane warning as its quick strengthening became apparent; additionally, the government of France issued a tropical storm warning for Guadeloupe. A hurricane watch was issued for the Virgin Islands, though it was dropped as Klaus began to weaken. In Guadeloupe, officials advised citizens to transport livestock to safer areas, and also to avoid potentially flooded areas. Prior to its arrival, schools were closed in Martinique, Sint Maarten, and Antigua. The VC Bird International Airport was closed during the passage of the hurricane. The rainfall resulted in severe flooding on Martinique, which accrued to almost 10 feet (3 m) in some locations; two sisters drowned near Saint Joseph after a bridge was washed away. The passage of the cyclone left damaged and power and telephone systems. 750 people evacuated their homes in Le Lamentin due to flooding, Offshore, rough conditions damaged a fishing vessel, leaving its two passengers drifting on the boat for 25 days before being rescued about 640 mile (1030 km) to the north northwest of Martinique. In all, seven people were killed on the island. On Dominica, winds from the hurricane damaged power lines and downed trees in the northern portion of the island. Moderate rainfall continued into the Turks and Caicos Islands, with Grand Turk reporting a total of in 36 hours. As the remnant moisture of Klaus entered the southeastern United States, it produced heavy rainfall between of rainfall in South Carolina, with slightly lower totals in North Carolina. In South Carolina, the rainfall caused a dam to burst, killing four people.

Due to the storm's impacts on the islands of the lesser Antilles, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Klaus from the Atlantic hurricane name lists following the 1990 season. It was replaced with Kyle for the 1996 season.