Kilo Became Three Weeks Old Before Dissipating

September 10,2015

Headlines

• Kilo dissipated to a remnant low as it was moving north toward the Kuril Islands and eastern Hokkaido, Japan.
• The closest approach of Kilo's remnants to these areas will be Friday night, local time. 
• Bands of heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds gusts are possible in eastern Hokkaido and the Kuril Islands with Kilo's passage.
• Thursday marked the 21st day of Kilo's existence as a tropical cyclone since forming on August 20 south of Hawaii.
• At one point Aug. 29 into Aug. 30, Kilo was one of three Category 4 hurricanes in the Pacific, joined by Jimena and Ignacio.

(MORE: Expert Analysis | Hurricane Central)

Kilo's Location, History, and Forecast Path

Projected Path

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impressive Longevity

Kilo was first classified as a depression almost 700 miles south-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, on August 20.
While, thankfully, never getting its convective act together in time to pose a threat to Hawaii, Kilo finally did so roughly one week later well west-southwest of the islands, intensifying to Category 4 strength.
The remnant low that was once Kilo may brush of strong winds and brief heavy rain can be expected in eastern Hokkaido and the western Kuril Islands as the system passes through.
Large swells generated from the system will continue toward the east coast of Japan, leading to dangerous surf, rip currents, and possible coastal flooding in spots.
(MORE: T.S. Etau Leads to Flooding, Landslides)
Kilo traveled over 4,100 statute miles from its genesis point as a depression three weeks ago. This is greater than the shortest flight distance between Pittsburgh and Anchorage.
According to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division, the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record in any basin was Hurricane/Typhoon John, which lasted for 30 days ending early on September 10, 1994.
As you can see in the HRD list, tropical cyclones lasting three weeks or more are quite uncommon and Kilo joined that rare company before dissipating.
Furthermore, time spent as a Category 3 or stronger tropical cyclone may also approach record territory for the Pacifc Basin, according to Colorado State University tropical expert, Dr. Phil Klotzbach (Wunderblog).
Klotzbach also said Tuesday Kilo became the third tropical cyclone to cross the International Dateline this year, breaking the old record for any year set in 1997.

Hawaii in the Rearview Mirror

Despite Kilo's inability to organize last week, the large-scale circulation near Hawaii brought enhanced moisture to the Aloha State, leading to locally heavy rainfall.
Honolulu picked up 4.48 inches of rain from early last Sunday morning (Aug. 23) through early this past Tuesday morning (local time), resulting in some road flooding and road closures on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Rain rates of 3-4 inches per hour were estimated by radar early Tuesday morning approaching Kauai.
Thunderstorms over the islands produced up to an estimated 10,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes over a 24-hour period from midday last Sunday (Aug. 23) through midday last Monday (Aug. 24), according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
Honolulu's 3.53 inches on Aug. 24 was an all-time record for any August day, topping a 2.92-inch deluge from Aug. 4, 2004, and propelled the Hawaiian capital to its wettest month of August, besting that record which had stood since 1888 (4.47 inches).

MORE: Hurricane Iniki, 1992