Hurricane Raymond (1983)

Hurricane Raymond was a powerful major hurricane that formed during an abnormally active 1983 Pacific hurricane season. The eighteenth named storm, tenth hurricane and seventh major hurricane of the season. Raymond threatened the Hawaiian Islands enough for a hurricane watch to be issued. Instead, it turned north. It then veered south and made landfall near Molokai as a tropical depression. Raymond brought beneficial rains.

Meteorological history
A tropical wave crossed Nicaragua on October 5, moving westward due to a large ridge from Mexico toward the Hawaiian Islands. By 0600 UTC October 8, it was upgraded to a tropical depression 763 mi south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. The depression moved over 84 to 86 F waters, intensifying into Tropical Storm Raymond on October 9. Intensifying quickly, Raymond attained hurricane status on October 10, and subsequently a small but distinct eye became visible near the center. Raymond continued to rapidly intensify, reaching its peak winds of 145 mph roughly 24 hours after becoming a hurricane.

The hurricane subsequently weakened to a Category 2 by October 13, but it re-intensified over the next few days. With continued warm waters, the system crossed into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, reaching a secondary peak of 140 mph on October 14. By then, Raymond had begun a movement to the northwest. The eye later became poorly defined while the symmetric shape of the hurricane became elongated. The Hurricane Hunters confirmed the weakening trend, reporting a pressure of 968 mbar. Raymond weakened to a tropical storm on October 16. Two days later the storm resumed its westward motion as it weakened to a tropical depression. It became devoid of deep convection, and shortly after making landfall in Molokai, Raymond dissipated on October 20.

Preparations and impact
Because meteorologists were predicting that the storm may pose a threat to the Hawaiian Islands, the CPHC issued a hurricane watch for Hawaii. A high-surf advisory also was issued. As Raymond approached Hawaii, the cyclone kicked up very high surfs that pounded the Big island of Hawaii. On the east end of the Hawaiian Island chain was battered by 10 - 15 ft waves. In addition, Raymond brought beneficial rains and gusty winds on all islands. Precipitation ranged from 1 to 2 in on Maui. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were reported on the Big Island during the afternoon of October 19. There was one casualty when a sailor was lost overboard off the craft "Hazana"; the boat was traveling from Tahiti to San Diego, but the course was altered to Hawaii because of the storm. While only minor damage was reported as a result of the hurricane, a fishing vessel did also issue a Mayday for help because of the storm.