On This Day in 1957: Hurricane Nina Thrashes Hawaii

Hurricanes are relatively rare events in the Hawaiian Islands, though the state is still susceptible to tropical storms and hurricanes. Several hurricanes, such as Lane in 2018, Iniki in 1992, and Iwa in 1982, caused major damage through severe winds and heavy rain. A lesser-known storm that delivered substantial impacts to the island chain was Hurricane Nina in 1957.  
 
The very active tropical cyclone season of 1957 appeared to be coming to an end in the final week of November in the wake of a strong winter cold front. However, to the south of Hawaii, a tropical disturbance was gaining steam on November 29. As the disturbance took advantage of its location within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, it developed into a tropical storm, and by the morning of November 30, Air force Reconnaissance Squadron found it had intensified into a Category One hurricane.  
 
At this time, the western islands of the Hawaiian chain were alerted to the probability of hurricane winds. During the evening of November 30, Nina’s forward speed began to slow and its direction changed from north-northeast to north, putting it on a trajectory toward Kauai. After slowly moving northward on December 1, Nina started to move north-northwestward before turning sharply to the west on December 2. From there, a high pressure system southeast of Japan guided the southward, and it eventually dissipated on December 6.  
 
In the end, Nina did not actually hit land while active. At its closest approach late on November 30th into December 1, Nina was centered about 120 miles west-southwest of Kauai and as it neared the island chain, the south coast of Kauai saw very high surf, with heights of 35 feet reported. This surf resulted in most of Kauai's estimated damage of $100,000. Nina also produced over 20 inches of rain, with the highest total being 20.42 inches at Wainiha. The highest wind speed on Kauai was 92 mph at Kilauea Light on December 1. Oahu was strongly impacted by the storm too, with moderate rains and 45 mph winds. Honolulu Airport recorded gusts of 82 mph, which is an all-time record, on the evening of November 30 when Nina’s eye was located 300 miles south-southwest of Honolulu.  
 
This was the first and last time a Central Pacific hurricane was named "Nina". The name was not retired, but because of the use of a current naming list using the Hawaiian language, the name "Nina" will likely not be used again. 
 
Source: weather.gov 
---------- 
Story Image: Rainstorm captured in Hawaii. (via Pixabay.com)