Hurricane Arlene was the 1st depression, 1st named storm and 1st major hurricane of the 2023 Bloxington hurricane season. Franklin caused an estimated R$2.664 trillion in damage.
Meteorological history
Arlene started out as a weak tropical wave southeast of Blorida. The system remained disorganized until June 5th, when the Robloxia Hurricane Center gave it a 16% chance of developing in the next 48 hours. By this time, the system had become more organized, moving to the south of Reorgia. As the system began to become more organized, the RHC increased its chance of developing to 49% on June 7th. Early the next morning, the system was declared a tropical depression. Tropical Depression 1 was born.
It only took 18 hours for the system to become a tropical depression with winds of 33 miles per hour. At 8:00 PM, Tropical Depression 1 tried to become Tropical Storm Arlene. 1 strengthened rapidly in the warm waters off the coast of Bloxuisiana, intensifying and becoming a tropical storm with winds of 61 miles per hour on June 10th. The storm continued intensifying until making its first landfall on Bloxuisiana in Robloxia the night of June 11th, about 20 miles from a city in Bloxuisiana. With winds of 74 mph, the tropical storm ripped through the cities of Bloxuisiana. Storm surge reached 6.568 feet in Bloxuisiana. While crossing Bloxuisiana, Arlene weakened back down to a tropical depression with winds of 33 miles per hour before entering the Gulf of Bloxico on June 13th.
It was at this point where the storm began slowing down. Tropical Depression Arlene encountered a high pressure system shortly after exiting the Gulf of Bloxico, but instead of turning away from the system, Arlene simply stalled. Tropical Depression Arlene slowed to 5 miles per hour over Balabama. This allowed the system to rapidly intensify. By June 15th, Arlene was already a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 91 miles per hour and still growing. The high pressure system dissipated over Central Robloxia on June 16th, but by this time, Hurricane Arlene was a strong Category 4 hurricane with winds of 156 miles per hour. Category 4 Hurricane Arlene then merged with a cyclone, which meant that tornadoes could form. However, no tornadoes formed, but the hurricane's winds increased to 157 miles per hour. The next morning at around 8:17:33 AM, Arlene made landfall in Ross Island, Central Robloxia. Storm surge in Ross Island reached 26.27 feet, easily topping the seawall. After making landfall, Arlene dissipated on June 19th in Telamon, where Arlene's remnants caused flooding in Iron River and Marquette as well. In all, Arlene killed 285 Robloxians, all in Ross Island, and caused R$2.664 trillion in damages.
Preparations and impact
Bloxuisiana
In preparation for the hurricane, a hurricane warning was issued for the state of Bloxuisiana. Airports in Bloxuisiana were closed 24 hours before the storm was due to hit.
Arlene caused an estimated R$4.926 billion in damage in a city in Bloxuisiana. Windows were broken in several resorts along the beach. While wind damage was limited to broken windows, the storm surge flooded several hotels along the coast. A cruise terminal in Bloxuisiana suffered moderate damage with broken windows and flooding destroying the interior. An estimated R$8.211 billion in damage was caused in Bloxuisiana.
Central Robloxia
Preparations
On June 13th, the Robloxia Hurricane Center tried to issue a hurricane watch for the Central Robloxia coast, but they mistakenly issued a severe thunderstorm watch. They also activated spotter. Many meteorologists expected the high pressure system to steer the storm into South Central Robloxia or Northern Balabama as a tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane. However, no one expected Arlene to slow down over Balabama. After it became evident that Arlene was not going to turn into South Central Robloxia, the RHC moved the watch north. On June 15th, 48 hours before landfall, Central Robloxia governors issued a mandatory evacuation for Ross Island. In all, 283 Robloxians were ordered to evacuate, although 283 stayed behind in a shelter for various reasons. Governors also held a press conference discussing the possible damage Arlene would cause. Ross Island shut down all of its airports, its shipping channels in preparation for the storm, and its causeways leading to the island. Conquest-class cruise ships were returning to port as the storm approached, but were diverted to Telamon. Zoos and aquariums shipped their animals and aquarium stock out to other zoos to be cared for during and after the storm.
Impact
Arlene made landfall at 8:17:33 AM local time. Ross Island suffered a direct hit from the storm and faced the full force of Arlene's winds and surge. Tornado-like winds were witnessed in this hurricane. The seawall did little to protect the island from Arlene's 26.27 foot surge, which quickly engulfed the island. An amusement park built on the site of a hotel was quickly swallowed up by the surge. The heart of the Ross Island and a great place to shop, dine and be entertained was also engulfed by 9.853 feet of water. The glass pyramids of aquariums were left completely bare by the winds. Most of the high rise condominiums were completely gutted. Even the shelter was completely gutted. It would be here where 283 Robloxians lost their lives. At least 74% of the houses on Ross Island and the surrounding peninsula were either irrevocably damaged or destroyed in the hurricane, leaving more than 41,053 homeless. One of the only recognizable landmarks in Ross Island after the hurricane was a tall white skyscraper on the heart of the Ross Island and a great place to shop, dine and be entertained. Even it was damaged beyond repair with the buildings structures being twisted out of shape. The building was imploded on October 14th of the same year. However, not every building was leveled. One historical landmark survived with just some broken windows and toppled chimneys. It later became a symbol of hope after Arlene.
The counties of Kairo County, Maibell County, Brathinham County, and Prois County were gutted. The southwestern octant of Ire County was gutted. The cities of Destrian Peak (the capital of the island) and Nugisa (the largest city of the island) were gutted.
Mainland Central Robloxia also suffered major damage as a result of the storm. Damage in downtowns had most buildings losing the majority of their windows. The tallest building in Central Robloxia, for example, lost nearly all of its windows and outer cladding. Every tunnel was completely flooded and was closed for 15 months after the storm. Central Robloxia's medical centers lost power for 2 days. This is surprisingly where the minority of the deaths occurred. Refineries along Central Robloxia's shipping channels were shut down to check for damage and leaks after the storm. This in turn, raised the price of oil significantly for a week after the disaster. Central Robloxia sports stadiums were all closed for 5 months, with 50% of the stadiums being demolished later. While the Central Robloxia Stadiums were being repaired, the Central Robloxian football teams played at the stadiums in Telamon for that time. Approximately 49% of buildings in Central Robloxia were damaged to some extent, with 21% being destroyed. Most of these were closer to the coast.
After Arlene dissipated, its remnants dumped almost 12.32 inches of rain on Telamon, leading to another R$29.558 billion in damages and 20 deaths as a result of floods. 12 bridges were also destroyed in the floods following Hurricane Arlene.
Post Analysis
The post analysis, done by Ase Simons.
Hurricane Arlene's preliminary data reported that Arlene was a large, strong Category 4 storm at landfall along Ross Island. However, after damage reports were conducted in Probante County, the hurricane's strength got upgraded to a large, strong Category 5 storm after a damage reporters found a hotel that just got terribly destroyed after Hurricane Arlene at 6:48:24 PM. The death toll was also increased by 2 and the injury toll was not increased.
Retirement
The name Arlene will be retired and replaced with alex_ander in the 2029 Bloxington hurricane season.