Hurricane Lenny

Early in its existence, Lenny produced large waves and high tides along the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia,[1] sinking two boats and flooding 1,200 houses. There were also reports of flooded businesses and damaged crops. In the country, strong winds on the storm's fringe killed a man by striking him with a beam. Although there were initial reports of nine people missing,[17] only two were counted in the death toll for mainland Colombia.[1] Two sailors were killed offshore when their yacht was lost in the southern Caribbean Sea.[1]

Along the ABC Islands off the north coast of Venezuela, the hurricane produced 10-to-20 ft (3-to-6 m) waves along the southwest coastlines.[30] The waves caused heavy beach erosion and coastal damage to properties and boats.[31]

In Jamaica, the hurricane dropped heavy rainfall but left little damage. Rains in the Dominican Republic caused flooding in the country's southwest portion.[19] Flooding around Les Cayes in southwestern Haiti destroyed 60 percent of the rice, corn, and banana plantations, while high waves wrecked several houses in Cavaellon.[21]

Hurricane Lenny was originally forecast to strike Puerto Rico, although it remained south of the island.[1] Beginning on November 17, Lenny affected Puerto Rico with gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Rainfall in the days prior to Lenny's approach left areas susceptible to flooding, which caused many rivers in the northeastern portion of the island to overflow their banks following the storm. Such flooding forced towns to evacuate along the rivers, and also resulted in the closure of secondary and primary highways. The heavy rains also caused mudslides and rockslides.[11] The peak rainfall on the island was 14.64 in (372 mm) in Jayuya in central Puerto Rico.[32] Tides in San Juan were about 1.8 ft (0.55 m) above normal. There, high seas washed a 546 ft (166 m) freighter ashore. Winds in the Puerto Rican mainland were not significant, gusting to 48 mph (77 km/h) in Ceiba. The storm left 22,000 people without power and 103,000 people without water.[11] Because of the heavy rainfall, about 200 farmers in southeastern Puerto Rico sustained about $19 million in crop damage (1999 USD). In the affected region, the heavy rainfall destroyed 80 percent of the vegetables and 50 percent of the plantains. Damage throughout the island totaled $105 million (1999 USD).[33]

Property damage on the island of Saint Croix

After passing southeast of Puerto Rico, Hurricane Lenny struck St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, although its strongest winds remained southeast of the island. There, gusts reached 112 mph (180 km/h), while sustained winds officially peaked around 70 mph (110 km/h). Strong winds damaged the roofs of many houses in eastern St. Croix[1] and knocked down trees and power lines. The winds left severe damage to vegetation after fruits and vegetables were blown away. Rainfall peaked at 10.47 in (266 mm),[32] which caused widespread flooding of many properties in the island's western portion. In Frederiksted, the hurricane produced a storm surge of 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 m)[1] along with high waves that washed out roads and damaged coastal structures. There was also severe beach erosion in western St. Croix; high waves dumped 6.5 ft (2.0 m) of sand onto coastal roads about 100 ft (30 m) inland,[11] and also washed several boats ashore.[1] The National Weather Service described the damage as "moderate".[11]

Elsewhere in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lenny produced a storm surge of about 1.8 ft (0.55 m) in St. Thomas.[1] Sustained winds on the island reached 53 mph (85 km/h) at the Cyril E. King Airport, with gusts to 70 mph (110 km/h). On nearby St. John, wind gusts reached 92 mph (148 km/h),[11] and sustained hurricane-force winds of 83 mph (134 km/h) were reported on Maria Hill.[1] Rains were not as heavy as on St. Croix; the maximum amounts were 4.34 in (110 mm) on St. Thomas and 2.95 in (75 mm) on St. John. Both islands reported beach erosion along their southern coastlines.[11] Damage on St. Thomas was minimal, limited to minor flooding and mudslides. The Virgin Islands National Park in St. John reported over $1.6 million in damage (1999 USD).[33] In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the hurricane left about $330 million in damage (1999 USD), but caused no deaths.[1]

In Virgin Gorda in the nearby British Virgin Islands, the hurricane produced sustained winds of 55 mph (89 km/h), with gusts to 85 mph (137 km/h). Rainfall amounted to around 4 in (100 mm)[1] and caused a mudslide near Coxheath. High waves eroded a portion of Sir Francis Drake Highway, and the high winds destroyed the roof of an apartment.[20] Property damage in the British Virgin Islands totaled $5.6 million (1999 USD); however, the damage combined with the loss of tourism and productivity yielded a loss of $22 million to the islands' economy, or 3.1 percent of the gross domestic product.[34]

Rainfall totals from Lenny

The eye of Lenny moved over Anguilla, an island located east of the British Virgin Islands.[1] Localized flooding was reported,[35] including in the capital, The Valley, where waters reportedly reached a depth of 14 ft (4.3 m).[36] The hurricane struck only a month after Hurricane Jose had affected the region, causing significant beach erosion along Anguilla's coastline.[37] Damage from Lenny amounted to $65.8 million.[38]

On Saint Barthélemy, the hurricane produced record-breaking precipitation of around 15 in (380 mm). Waves reached 16 ft (4.9 m) on the island's western portion.[1] The highest precipitation related to the storm occurred at the police station on the French side of Saint Martin, where a total of 34.12 in (867 mm) was recorded.[32] This included a record 24-hour total of 18.98 in (482 mm). Total damage was extensive but not as extreme or catastrophic as Hurricane Luis in 1995.

The SSS Islands, which include Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten, were in the path of Hurricane Lenny on November 18 through 19.[1] On Saba, there was an unofficial wind gust of 167 mph (269 km/h) before the instrument blew away. The island sustained damage to several buildings, including airport facilities.[1] On the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin, rainfall peaked at 27.56 in (700 mm) in Philipsburg.[1] The rains resulted in mudslides and flooding and were the primary form of impact on the island. For 36 hours, the island experienced tropical storm conditions, and there were three times when the winds surpassed hurricane force. Sustained winds on the island peaked at 84 mph (135 km/h) at the Princess Juliana International Airport;[31] these were the highest sustained winds observed on land.[1] The airport also reported a wind gust of 104 mph (167 km/h).[31] As a result, the three SSS Islands sustained power and telephone outages.[45] There was widespread destruction of the roofs of houses across the island,[46] and over 200 houses were destroyed.[47] Damage was estimated at $69 million,[46] and there were three deaths on the Dutch side of St. Martin.[31] Two of these deaths were from flying debris, and the other was due to a collapsed roadway.[1]

Due to the hurricane's unusual track from the west, it produced unparalleled waves of 10–16 ft (3.0–4.9 m) along the western coast of St. Martin,[31] which damaged or destroyed many boats.[1] During its passage, Lenny left widespread damage to the infrastructure, including to the airport, harbor, resorts, power utilities, schools, and hospitals.[46]

While passing over Antigua, Hurricane Lenny dropped 18.32 in (465 mm) of rain at the V. C. Bird International Airport, while locations in the southern portion recorded over 25 in (640 mm).[1] The rainfall caused severe flooding in Antigua, resulting in landslides in the northwestern and southern portion of the island.[29] Flooding washed out major roadways, including one bridge.[48] Along the coast, the storm caused severe beach erosion. About 65 percent of Barbuda experienced flooding due to the rainfall and the island's flat topography. The flooding contaminated the water storage facilities and all private wells.[29] About 95 percent of the crops in Barbuda were destroyed.[49] Damage in the country of Antigua and Barbuda totaled $51.3 million,[29] and there was one death.[50]

The hurricane's waves reached 20 ft (6.1 m) along the coasts of Saint Kitts and Nevis, washing up to 600 ft (180 m) inland. Several businesses were flooded, and some beach erosion was reported.[35] The hurricane destroyed 46 homes and damaged 332 others to varying degree.[50] Home damage forced four families to evacuate.[35] Heavy rains caused mudslides on Saint Kitts,[1] and heavy damage occurred in Old Road Town.[51] Damage in the country amounted to $41.4 million.[48] In Montserrat, damage was reported along its western coastline.[35] After high waves capsized a boat, a crew of three required rescue.[52]

Guadeloupe received record precipitation amounts in some areas, generally ranging from 6 to 19 inches (150 to 480 mm). On Basse-Terre, the western island of Guadeloupe, the hurricane produced a significant wave height of 9.8 ft (3.0 m), with estimates as high as 13 ft (4.0 m). There were five deaths, especially from drowning and electrocution in Guadeloupe and damage in the island totaled at least $100 million.[1]

Although there were no tropical-storm sustained wind recorded as the storm didn't really impacted the islands unlike previous hurricanes such as Luis, Marilyn and Georges, the extent of damage was globally heavier due to the unusual high waves in the western portion of the island and the very slow-moving storm that generated unrelated flooding inland in Grande-Terre for a 48 hour-period.

In Dominica, high waves damaged the island's western coastal highway, leaving the most heavily traveled road temporarily closed.[29] Road closures cut off links between towns on the island.[35] The hurricane destroyed at least 50 homes,[59] including 3 that were washed away by the waves.[26] Hotels along the island's west coast sustained heavy damage, and across the nation the hurricane's impact was worse than that from Hurricane Luis four years prior.[59] Damage on the island totaled $21.5 million.[29]

Rainfall of around 3 in (76 mm) reached as far south as Martinique, where one person was killed.[32] Further south, high waves in Saint Lucia washed away beaches, a seawall, and coastal walkways.[29] At least 40 houses were damaged along the coast, which left several families homeless.[45] Damage in the country totaled $6.6 million.[29] In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the hurricane washed away four buildings and damaged five others.[35] About 50 people were left homeless in the country.[47]

In western Grenada, high waves affected much of the coastline,[29] destroying 21 small boats and causing significant beach erosion.[1][29] The waves covered the entire Grand Anse Beach in Saint George Parish. The erosion heavily impacted tourist areas and also threatened the foundation of the runway at the Maurice Bishop International Airport. Storm damage cut off the towns in western Grenada from the capital city of Saint George's. The cut-off roads resulted in an island-wide fuel shortage.[29] In Saint John Parish, the storm knocked out the water and power supply and forced several families to evacuate their damaged houses.[59] The small island Carriacou, located north of Grenada, sustained damage to the road to its primary airport.[29] At least 10 homes were destroyed in the country,[1] and damage totaled $94.6 million; this represented 27 percent of the island's gross domestic product.[29] Effects from the storm reached as far south as Trinidad and Tobago.[29] In the country, storm surge caused damage to boats and coastal structures, while beach erosion was reported in Tobago.[60]