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)>
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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>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
oubliette:
A dungeon only accessible by a trapdoor at the top.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oubliette>
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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>