Note: This report catalogs recent tropical cyclones across the North Atlantic and East Pacific and places each basin’s tropical cyclone activity in a climate-scale context. It is not updated in real time. Users seeking the real time status and forecasts of tropical cyclones should visit The National Hurricane Center.


Atlantic Basin

Hurricane Paloma
Hurricane Paloma Satellite Image
Hurricane Paloma Track
Hurricane Paloma Track

Safir Simpson Color Legend for Track Map from Unisys
Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend

Hurricane Paloma formed as a tropical disturbance in the most southern part of the Caribbean Sea on November 5. As it traveled to the north, Paloma increased in intensity and was categorized as a hurricane by the next day. This marked only the fourth time, since naming began in 1950, which an Atlantic basin hurricane was a name that began with a 'P'. With favorable conditions, Paloma gradually strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane and then on the following day, the storm quickly intensified into a Category 3. This was the fifth major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. On November 8, Paloma became the first Category 4 hurricane to form in the month of November since Hurricane Michelle in 2001. Heavy damage was reported when Paloma made a direct hit on the islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. At that time, Paloma had winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), but later that day, the winds increased to 230 km/h (145 mph). Paloma had the second highest wind speeds of any November hurricane, after Hurricane Lenny in 1999. On the evening of November 8, the storm made landfall near Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba with winds of 215 km/h (125 mph), powerful enough to create a 14-foot storm surge that traveled nearly 1.5 km (1 mile) inland. The hurricane also reportedly destroyed 435 homes and caused an estimated $1.4 billion worth of damage. This was the first time in recorded history that three major hurricanes have hit Cuba in the same season. After making landfall, the storm stalled out over eastern Cuba and weakened into a tropical depression on November 9. The last advisory was issued on November 10. Hurricane Paloma's maximum winds were measured at 230 km/h (145 mph) and its lowest measured pressure was 940 millibars. More information on Paloma is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Cyclone Summary
Tropical Cyclone Paloma
Cyclogenesis Date 11/06
Cyclolysis Date 11/09
Highest Saffir-Simpson Category Cat 4
Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind 138 mph (120 kt or 222 km/h)
Min Pressure 944 mbar
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) 9.8950 x 104
Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds) 11/08 - Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba (104 kt or 193 km/h)
Deaths 1
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.


Northeast Pacific Basin

Tropical Storm Polo
Tropical Storm Polo Satellite Image
Tropical Storm Polo Track
Tropical Storm Polo Track


Safir Simpson Color Legend for Track Map from Unisys
Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend

Tropical Storm Polo formed from an area of low pressure approximately 1000 miles south of the tip of Baja, California on November 2. Later that same day, the system had developed enough for the National Hurricane Center to designate it a tropical storm. It remained a tropical storm until November 4 when it was downgraded to a depression. Its maximum wind speed was measured at 65 km/h (40 mph) and the lowest pressure was measured at 1005 millibars. More information on Tropical Storm Polo is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Cyclone Summary
Tropical Cyclone Polo
Cyclogenesis Date 11/16
Cyclolysis Date 11/16
Highest Saffir-Simpson Category TS
Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind 40 mph (35 kt or 65 km/h)
Min Pressure 1003 mbar
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) .9800 x 104
Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds) N/A
Deaths 0
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.

Northwest Pacific Basin

Haishen
Tropical Storm Haishen Satellite Image
Haishen Track
Tropical Storm Haishen Track


Safir Simpson Color Legend for Track Map from Unisys
Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend
Tropical Cyclone Summary
Tropical Cyclone Haishen
Cyclogenesis Date 11/16
Cyclolysis Date 11/16
Highest Saffir-Simpson Category TS
Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind 46 mph (40 kt or 74 km/h)
Min Pressure 1004 mbar
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) .4050 x 104
Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds) N/A
Deaths 0
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.


South Indian Basin

Bernard
Tropical Storm Bernard Satellite Image
Bernard Track
Tropical Storm Bernard Track


Safir Simpson Color Legend for Track Map from Unisys
Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend
Tropical Cyclone Summary
Tropical Cyclone Bernard
Cyclogenesis Date 11/19
Cyclolysis Date 11/20
Highest Saffir-Simpson Category TS
Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind 46 mph (40 kt or 74 km/h)
Min Pressure 995 mbar
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) .1600 x 104
Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds) N/A
Deaths 0
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.


Australian Basin

Anika
Tropical Storm Anika Satellite Image


Australian Scale Color Legend for Track Map from Unisys
Australian Scale Color Legend
Anika Track
Tropical Storm Anika Track


Safir Simpson Color Legend for Track Map from Unisys
Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend
Tropical Cyclone Summary
Tropical Cyclone Anika
Cyclogenesis Date 11/18
Cyclolysis Date 11/20
Highest Australian Category Cat 1
Maximum Gust 120 km/h
Highest Saffir-Simpson Category TS
Maximum 6-hr Sustained Wind 58 mph (50 kt or 93 km/h)
Min Pressure 984 mbar
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE*) Index (kt2) 1.6706 x 104
Landfall Information (date, location and sustained winds) N/A
Deaths 0
*The (ACE) Index calculations are based on preliminary data.


Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly Tropical Cyclones Report for November 2008, published online December 2008, retrieved on March 28, 2024 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/tropical-cyclones/200811.