Hurricane Aaron

Hurricane Aaron was the first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the first major hurricane of the season. In fact, it was the first storm overall. The storm is also notorious for being the most intense storm on the month of May in Atlantic basin history.

Meteorological History of Hurricane Aaron
On May 9, 2020, a major tropical wave moved off the West Coast of Africa and started to interact with waters exceeding 80*F (26.5*C) and low vertical wind shear. Moving at a speed of 5 mph (8 km/h), the low pressure system eventually stirred up a tropical depression on May 10. The storm was estimated to have been 200 miles west of Africa when, on May 12, the storm system intensified into a tropical storm. It was given the name Aaron. The storm began to increase in speed, to about 10 mph (16 km/h). By early morning, on May 13, the storm system had turned into the first hurricane of the season, with wind speeds estimated to be 75 mph (120 km/h). The storm system was also estimated to have had a diameter of 400 miles (480 km) and an eye exceeding 60 miles (96 km). The storm system intensified yet again, and 12 hours later, it was a Category 3 hurricane, with wind speeds exceeding 115 mph (185 km/h). The storm system remained that way for the next three days. Eventually, just before reaching the vicinity of the Turks and Caico Islands, the storm system intensified yet again, to a Category 4 hurricane, with 135 mph (217 km/h) winds and a pressure of 935 millibars.

The storm missed the area by 100 miles (160 km), but the area still experienced sustained winds of 63 mph (102 km/h) and heavy rains.

The storm system continued northwest, eventually reaching an eyewall replacement cycle. The storm system weakened to a low-end Category 2 hurricane, but it grew to a diameter of 600 miles (960 km). The storm system then intensified back into a high-end Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) and a pressure of 945 millibars. Hurricane-force winds extended approximately 135 miles (217 km) from the eye, which was estimated to have been 35 miles (56 km). On May 20, the storm system eventually hit the Bahamas at peak strength, with 125-mph (200 km/h) winds. Moving at a speed of 15 mph (24 km/h), the storm affected the Bahamas for hours. It eventually moved north, increasing in speed. It eventually hit the Bahamas as a tropical storm, and thereafter dissipated on May 23.

Turks and Caico Islands
Just after Hurricane Aaron intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, the storm system swung north, sparing the islands from total devastation, but the storm system affected the region with high-end tropical-gale-force winds and heavy rains. 7 were killed, with over 20 more injured.

Bahamas
The storm system struck Nassau, the capital, with high-end Category 3 force winds. The storm's radius of maximum winds extended 37.5 miles (60 km), so the storm system exposed Nassau to winds in excess of 110 mph (180 km/h) for over two hours. The storm system also produced a storm surge of 20 feet (6 meters). The storm system caused significant damage all over the Bahamas, especially in Nassau.

After the storm system left, Aaron left much the region in ruins. A total of 150 people were dead, 100 of which were in Nassau. Over $7.4 billion in damage was done.

Bermuda
The area was hit by Aaron as a tropical storm, so there wasn't much damage on the island.

Aftermath
The US army got involved in the Bahamas, and some reported that there was devastation everywhere, "almost like a war zone." Aaron had left the region devastated. However, it took just weeks to fix up most of the damage.