Hurricane Erika was the strongest and longest-lasting tropical cyclone in the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from a tropical wave on September 3 and moved west-northwestward across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Passing just north of the Lesser Antilles, it carried a cloud of volcanic ash to Antigua from the eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano on Montserrat. Strong waves from the hurricane produced beach erosion and coastal flooding in northern Puerto Rico, and caused the death of two surfers. Moderate wind gusts in the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico left thousands of residents without power, and did $10 million in damage in the U.S. Caribbean territories. The hurricane was pushed to the north by an approaching trough, then quickly strengthened to become the only major hurricane of the season, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It weakened as it passed over cooler waters, and finally became an extratropical cyclone after passing near the Azores archipelago. The months of August and September produced only this one Atlantic tropical cyclone; that had not happened since 1929.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Erika_(1997)
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1506:
Construction of the current St. Peter's Basilica (interior pictured) in Vatican City, to replace the old basilica built in the 4th century, began. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Basilica
1775:
American Revolutionary War: Colonists Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott began a "midnight ride" from Boston to Lexington to warn residents about the impending arrival of British troops. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere
1847:
Mexican–American War: Winfield Scott's United States troops out-flanked and drove Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position in the Battle of Cerro Gordo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cerro_Gordo
1938:
Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, made his debut in Action Comics #1, the first true superhero comic book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Comics_1
1996:
Israeli forces shelled Qana, Lebanon, during Operation Grapes of Wrath, killing more than 100 civilians and injuring more than 110 others at a UN compound. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_shelling_of_Qana
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
oubliette: A dungeon only accessible by a trapdoor at the top. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oubliette
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Among the many strange servilities mistaken for pieties, one of the least lovely is that which hopes to flatter God by despising the world, and vilifying human nature. --George Henry Lewes https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Henry_Lewes