Hurricane Linda has caught my attention, especially as I monitor the approach of Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm currently threatening Central Florida. Milton has rapidly transitioned from a 65-mph tropical storm to a 160-mph major Category 5 hurricane within a 25 hour period. It is a lot to process, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the loss of life and destruction. I was thankful to get distracted from Milton for a brief time and inspired to write this post.
My curiosity led me down a path, as it often does, when I noticed storms in 2024 named the same as my son, Chris, and his father, Leslie—my first husband. That got me wondering about hurricanes that share my name. It turns out there have been several storms named Linda over the years. This post briefly touches on the history of storms named Linda across various regions of the world. Any similarities to me, are completely coincidental—or are they?
Year: 2021
Hurricane Linda (as seen in the video) was a significant storm in 2021. It formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on August 10 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Linda didn’t make landfall but passed near the Hawaiian Islands after weakening, bringing showers and increased surf to east-facing beaches
Year: 1997
Hurricane Linda, which formed in 1997, was an extremely powerful storm in the Eastern Pacific. At its peak, it was a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 185 mph (295 km/h), making it the most intense hurricane recorded in that region until Hurricane Patricia in 2015. It had a central pressure of 902 millibars, a record for the Eastern Pacific at the time.
The storm began as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa before crossing the Atlantic and eventually developing into a tropical depression on September 9, 1997. Over the next few days, it intensified rapidly, becoming a major hurricane south of Baja California. Its quick intensification was remarkable, as it transformed from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just about 30 hours.
Despite its strength, Hurricane Linda mostly stayed over open water, limiting the damage. It passed over Socorro Island, causing approximately $3.2 million in damage. In California, however, its remnants led to severe weather conditions, resulting in 8 deaths and $68 million in damage due to flooding and mudslides.
Eastern Pacific Ocean:
Hurricane Linda occurred multiple times with the most significant in 1997, a Cat 5 storm that was the second-strongest hurricane in the Eastern Pacific at the time.
1985 - minimal tropical storm
1991 – Category 3 hurricane
1997 – Category 5 hurricane
2003 - Category 1 hurricane
2009 - Category 1 hurricane
2015 - Category 3 hurricane
2021 - Category 4 hurricane
Western Pacific Ocean:
In 1997, Tropical Storm Linda (also known as Openg in the Philippines) was particularly destructive, especially in Vietnam, causing over 3,100 fatalities and marking it as one of the most catastrophic storms in the region.
Australian Region:
Cyclones named Linda were recorded in 1976, 2004, and 2018. These cyclones primarily stayed at sea or made minor impacts, with the 1976 cyclone making landfall in Northern Australia.
Conclusion
As I brace for Hurricane Milton, I reflect on the history of storms named Linda to keep my mind off any impending doom. Our area can expect hurricane-force winds within the next 48 hours from Milton. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the expected path of this storm, as we prepare for whatever may come our way.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other."
Additional Resources
Crank Emergency Weather Radio 10000mAh,NOAA/AM/FM/SW Weather Radio
Led Flashlight for Power Outages Battery Operated Lights for Emergency Situations
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness 2 Pack Water Filter Straw Water Purifying Device - Portable Personal Water Filtration Survival A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America's Hurricanes
by Eric Jay Dolin (Author)
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Sources (RAMMB-CIRA Satellite Library - Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CSU/CIRA & NOAA).) NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center - Scientific Visualization Studio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_storms_named_Linda
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