| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Don shortly after attaining category 2 status | |
| Formed | July 10, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | July 21, 2017 |
| (Extratropical after July 18) | |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 100 mph (155 km/h) Gusts: 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 968 mbar (hPa); 28.59 inHg |
| Fatalities | 3 direct, 2 indirect |
| Damage | $807 million (2017 USD) |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, United States, Canada |
| Part of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season | |
Hurricane Don was a fairly intense early season hurricane that caused moderate damage throughout the Caribbean and United States. It is commonly known as the hurricane with the most media coverage, due to the name being comparable to the president at the time, Donald Trump. Don's origins came from a well-defined tropical wave off the coast of Africa. It developed into Tropical Storm Don on July 10. After moving through the Caribbean, Don reached peak winds of 100 mph shortly before landfall in Cuba. It then curved Northward and hit the United States, before becoming extratropical. This storm is one of the most well known hurricanes due to widespread media coverage, and Donald Trump himself even commented on the storm, saying: "It's like all my power is condensed into a cyclone, and it's coming."
Meteorological History[]
Formation[]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Tropical storm (39–54 mph, 63–87 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Extratropical cyclone / remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn July 3, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. The wave was monitored for development. Noting favorable conditions, the NHC gave the wave a medium chance of development. As the wave moved over the Atlantic, it began to rotate counterclockwise. Convection began to substantially increase on July 8. Within 2 days, it was confirmed on July 10 that the wave had developed into Tropical Storm Don. Don looked very organized, and was able to intensify due to low shear and warm temperatures. As it approached the Lesser Antilles on July 12, a clouded eye became visible under the clouds, and recon confirmed Don had intensified into a category 1 hurricane. Shortly after, Don passed through the Lesser Antilles with 80 mph winds, its initial peak. After entering the eastern Caribbean, Don entered an area of moderate wind shear. The eye dissapeared and it weakened below hurricane status. The disorganized Don proceeded to make landfall on Jamaica, causing moderate rainfall.
Don moving through the Lesser Antilles.
Peak Intensity and landfall[]
After Don passed over Jamaica, moist air, low to moderate shear, and very warm SSTs fueled intensification. Don re-intensified into a hurricane on July 16, as the cloud pattern improved. Don quickly intensified into a Category 2 hurricane shortly before making landfall over Cuba at peak intensity. Shortly after landfall, Don began abruptly accelerating around an upper level low. Don entered the Gulf of Mexico as an 80 mph storm. The storm had been greatly damaged as it passed over Cuba, but now it re-organized again. Don intensified to winds of 85 mph shortly before making landfall south of Tampa, Florida. Don had only existed over the Gulf of Mexico for 18 hours.
Impacts[]
Lesser Antilles[]
Jamaica[]
Cuba[]
After it passed though Jamaica, Hurricane Don made landfall on the east coast of Cuba causing decent damage to the buildings and cars