What Was Hurricane Igor Known For?
Hurricane Igor did more than $200 million worth of damage to Newfoundland, which was at the time, more than any other storm ever to hit the province. At its peak, it was the most powerful hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, having become a category 4 storm when at its strongest. Despite never hitting the mainland United States, it hit Bermuda as a powerful storm and continued to travel north.
Hurricanes usually die out when hitting more northern waters, but Hurricane Igor remained very powerful. Despite losing some strength as it ventured towards Newfoundland, Hurricane Igor was able to maintain hurricane strength. It hit Newfoundland with sustained winds of 140 km/h (87 mph), putting it on the upper end of category 1 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It also had wind gusts of over 170 km/h (105 mph), which if they had been sustained, would have made it a more powerful category 2 storm.
The damage Hurricane Igor did to Newfoundland was enough to have the name retired. From the 2016 season on, the name “Igor” was replaced by “Ivan” in the rotation of hurricane names.
When Was Hurricane Igor?
Hurricane Igor lasted from September 6th-23rd, 2010, and maintained hurricane status from September 8th-21st. The area of low pressure that eventually became Hurricane Igor formed off the coast of Africa on September 6th 2010, gaining strength as it slowly travelled west. Two days later, it had built up enough strength to become a tropical depression, and by the 12th, had reached hurricane strength. By the 14th, the storm had reached its peak of 250 km/h (155 mph), placing it at the upper echelon of category 4. It gradually weakened until it hit Newfoundland as a category 1 storm on September 21st. It continued to weaken upon hitting land but was able to remain powerful enough to be a named storm until September 23rd.
How Powerful Was Hurricane Igor?
Hurricane Igor was the most powerful hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, having winds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph), putting it on the upper end of category 4. There were 3 other Category 4 storms that season, the others being Danielle, Earl, and Julia, although none of them were quite as powerful as Igor. It hit Bermuda, and later Newfoundland as a hurricane that was on the upper end of category 1 with winds of 140 km/h (87 mph), weakening soon after hitting Newfoundland.
What Path Did Hurricane Igor Take?
Like most Atlantic hurricanes, Igor began as a smaller storm off the coast of Africa. It slowly moved across the Atlantic, with its wind speed fluctuating until it hit hurricane strength of 119 km/h (74 mph), at which point its power skyrocketed until it reached the upper echelon of category 4. Some meteorologists speculated that Igor would be powerful enough to become a Category 5 storm. Although it didn’t quite reach that strength, its winds were less than 5 km/h short and maintained category 4 status for almost five days.
After reaching its peak, it approached land. Although it missed the Leeward Islands by a few hundred miles, it produced swelling and large waves on the islands. It then travelled towards Bermuda, hitting it on September 20th, and continued north until slamming into Newfoundland a day later, losing hurricane status soon after hitting the province. Within the next couple of days, it was absorbed by another, similar storm which finally died after heading towards Greenland.
How Long Did Hurricane Igor Last?
Hurricane Igor was powerful enough to be a named storm for a total of 18 days, being at hurricane strength for 14 of those days.
How Much Damage Did Hurricane Igor Do Before Hitting Newfoundland?
Most of the places affected by Hurricane Igor were indirectly impacted, as they were places that it missed. However, it came close enough to these places to cause waves and swelling on the shoreline. The place with by far the most serious damage received other than Newfoundland was Bermuda, which was hit by the hurricane.
The effects of Igor were impacting Bermuda on September 17, three days before the hurricane hit the island. Anticipating plenty of damage, as the storm was expected to hit as a category 3 hurricane, schools and airports were closed on the 20th and 21st. Luckily, the storm weakened substantially in the days leading up to impact, and only did $500,000 worth of damage, and caused 27,500 people to lose power.
How Much Damage Did Hurricane Igor Do To Newfoundland?
Hurricane Igor did a total of $200 million worth of damage while crossing over Newfoundland, the most of any storm to ever impact the province. As a result, the storm was labelled a once-in-a-century event. Even though Newfoundland contains many of the windiest cities in Canada, the storm was still strong enough to deal substantial damage.
Igor caused a storm tide of over 1 metre, with offshore waves of over 25 metres being recorded by local buoys. The storm also damaged 30 metres of the Trans-Canada Highway, washed out a bridge of the Burin Peninsula, cut off power to over 50,000 people, and destroyed many public roads. “Everything we had is gone underwater. Our truck is covered. Ski-Doos covered. Everything,” one woman from Trouty said. Trouty was hit particularly hard.
Over 20 communities called a state of emergency, and over 150 were temporarily isolated from each other due to damage to roads and other connecting infrastructure.
How Many People Did Hurricane Igor Kill?
Hurricane Igor killed one person. A man named Allan Duffett was killed when he was swept upstream in the storm surge.
What Was The Response To Hurricane Igor?
Many people and organizations assisted in helping the people of Newfoundland after the storm cleared. “Tomorrow we’ll be on the ground, in the regions, in as many communities as we can as myself, and ministers and members, to see what the needs are. We are prepared to throw all resources at this as soon as we’re in a position to do so,” said Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams of the recovery effort. Many non-profit grounds also helped out. “I’d just like to throw a bouquet out to Salvation Army here in Clarenville, and to the Canadian Red Cross,” said one woman, who went on to state, “They treated us like royalty.”
The recovery efforts show true Canadian spirit in helping those in need of it.