The 1995 season was a very active season. One reason was it was dominated by a developing La Nina that peaked in late Summer and Fall. Second, 1995 started the second active phase in the Atlantic Basin. 1995 had 5 destructive hurricanes. Hurricane Luis was the second of 5 destructive hurricanes from that year.

On August 26th a healthy looking tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. This wave already had a spin and broad circulation to it. The National Hurricane Center started to say this would likely be the next named storm. Models also showed this wave becoming a major hurricane category 3, 4, and 5. The wave was going over very warm water, and a very favorable environment.

On August 27th the wave kept getting better organized and it was classified as a tropical depression later that night. on August 28th it was given the name Luis as winds had reached tropical storm status. Luis was the 4th storm active at the same time as Hurricanes Humberto and Iris were still active. Tropical Storm Karen, which was to the North of Luis had developed a few days earlier. Luis continued to get better organized with a deepening core and an eye like structure starting to develop.

On August 29th just before Midnight Luis was upgraded to a hurricane with 75 mph winds. On August 30th Luis went from a 75 mph hurricane to a 110 mph category 2 hurricane just shy of major hurricane status. On August 31st Luis became a major hurricane with 115 mph winds.

Models continued to show Luis gaining strength and potentially making landfall in parts of the Antilles. Luis was already a powerful hurricane and the forecast was for a category 4 hurricane. On September 1st Luis was upgraded to a category 4 hurricane with 135 mph winds. For the next few days Luis strength went up and down as is common with major hurricanes. The hurricane would go from 145 mph to 130 mph and 145 mph again.

On September the 4th Luis reached its peak with 150 mph winds and a low pressure of 935 mph making Luis a high end category 4 hurricane. On September the 5th Luis made landfall in Saba, St. Marteen, St. Martin, Antigua and Barbuda at peak intensity. After making landfall Luis winds only decreased to 145 mph.

Luis maintained category 4th strength until September the 7th wind some drier air caused it to weaken to category 3. Despite weakening Luis was still a major hurricane. Just Before Midnight on the 8th Luis weakened to a category 2 hurricane as it was moving over cooler waters. On September the 10th Luis transitioned into a powerful non tropical low. In Meteorology we call this extra tropical.

In the Antilles Luis killed 19 people and caused $3.2 Billion dollars worth of damage. It was seen as the worst hurricane to hit Saba, St Marteen, St. Martin, and Antigua in over 15 years. Luis's storm surge was measured over 12 feet in some of the islands and the 140-150 mph winds leveled buildings.

Due to the destruction Luis would be retired from the rotating naming lists. In fact, Luis was 1 of 4 hurricane names retired from 1995 the others being Marilyn, Opal, and Roxanne. Luis was a very destructive hurricane for the Antilles and one of the more powerful ones to strike those islands.

In Conclusion, Luis was the second of 5 destructive hurricanes from 1995. 1995 was a very destructive and historic year. Also Luis was 1 of 4 named storms occurring at the same time the others being Hurricane Humberto, Hurricane Iris, and Tropical Storm Karen. It is hard to believe that this destructive hurricane occurred 30 years ago. While Luis has since been overshadowed by other hurricanes since then. This was the start of of a series of hurricanes to impact the Antilles.