Linda (2021)

A tropical wave that moved off Central America developed into a tropical depression on 10 August 2021 about 240 nautical miles south of Acapulco, Mexico, and became Tropical Storm Linda later that day. Linda moved generally west-northwestward and then westward across the eastern and central Pacific. It rapidly intensified into a major hurricane from 13–14 August, reached its strongest state on 14 August, weakened and briefly re-strengthened on 18 August, then lost tropical characteristics and became a post‑tropical gale-force low by 19 August. The remnant low crossed into the central Pacific and finally dissipated on 24 August after passing near the main Hawaiian Islands.

Linda did not make any landfalls as a tropical cyclone on continental coasts. Its center passed near Clarion Island, Mexico, on 14 August while strengthening, but no tropical‑cyclone landfall on major landmasses was recorded. As a post‑tropical low it passed over the main Hawaiian Islands late on 23 August before dissipating on 24 August.

The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds peaked at 115 kt (132 mph) at 1200–1800 UTC 14 August, with an estimated minimum central pressure of 953 mb, corresponding to a high-end Category 4 on the Saffir‑Simpson scale. Linda also reached a secondary peak of about 95 kt (109 mph) with a minimum pressure near 970 mb on 18 August while well west of Mexico.

Storm surge impacts were not reported for mainland Mexico or other continental coasts. While Linda was post‑tropical and near Hawaii, observed coastal and marine stations recorded gusty winds and modest seas: NOAA buoy 51000 near northern Hawaii reported sustained winds to 26 kt with gusts to 30 kt on 22 August. Rainfall totals across Hawaiian locations included 7.12 inches at Mt. Waialeale (Kauai), 7.10 inches at Manoa Lyon Arboretum (Oahu), 6.23 inches at Nuuanu Upper (Oahu), 5.79 inches at Moanalua (Oahu), and 4.92 inches at Poamoho (Oahu). Kahului Airport (Maui) reported 0.41 in, Lanai Airport 0.97 in, Hilo Airport 0.57 in, and Kahului Harbor observed gusts up to 29 kt.

No fatalities or damage were reported in association with Linda. The greatest impacts were limited rainfall and gusty winds across parts of the Hawaiian Islands when the system was a post‑tropical low; there were no land‑based tropical‑storm‑force wind reports from Linda while it remained a tropical cyclone.

Noteworthy aspects include Linda’s rapid intensification to a Category 4 hurricane on 14 August and the development of an annular structure after an eyewall replacement cycle, which helped the hurricane maintain strength longer than typical over marginally warm waters. Forecast tracks were generally accurate and better than recent climatology, though the timing and extent of Linda’s rapid intensification and its annular evolution were challenging for intensity forecasts at longer lead times.