1959 Atlantic hurricane season

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1959 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
First storm formed May 28, 1959
Last storm dissipated October 21, 1959
Strongest storm Gracie – 940 mbar (hPa) (27.77 inHg), 140 mph (220 km/h)
Total depressions 11
Total storms 11
Hurricanes 7
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 2
Total fatalities 58 direct, 1 indirect
Total damage At least $23.3 million (1959 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961

The 1959 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1959, and lasted until November 15, 1959.[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season began on May 28, before the official bounds, and had an unusual number of early-forming storms.

The most notable storm of 1959 was Hurricane Gracie, which caused ten deaths when it made landfall near Beaufort, South Carolina as well as millions in damage; another eleven were killed by a tornado generated as Gracie weakened. Another notable storm was the Escuminac Hurricane, or Hurricane #3, which hit Escuminac, New Brunswick on June 19 as a hurricane, sinking 22 boats and killing 35 men.

Contents

[edit] Season summary

The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 77.[2] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical storms are not included in the ACE value.[3]

[edit] Storms

[edit] Tropical Storm Arlene

Main article: Tropical Storm Arlene (1959)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration May 28 – June 2
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  1000 mbar (hPa)

A tropical wave moving through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico developed into a tropical depression on May 28. Conditions were generally favorable, despite being outside of the official season, and it strengthened into a tropical storm the next day. Arlene reached its peak of 60 mph (95 km/h) before unfavorable conditions weakened it to a minimal tropical storm at its Louisiana landfall on May 30. It moved northeastward and dissipated on June 2 after causing $500,000 in damage (1959 USD) and one death.

[edit] Tropical Storm Beulah

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 15 – June 18
Intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  987 mbar (hPa)

The precursor to Tropical Storm Beulah was a cold front that stalled in the Bay of Campeche on June 15. It drifted northwestward, becoming a tropical storm the next day. As it neared the Mexican coastline, a building ridge of high pressure to its north pushed Beulah southward, where upper level winds caused it to dissipate on June 18.

[edit] Hurricane Three

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration June 18 – June 21
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  974 mbar (hPa)
Main article: 1959 Escuminac Hurricane

On June 18, a rapidly northeastward moving tropical wave near a cold front developed into a tropical depression. It crossed Florida, bringing heavy rain and severe weather across the state. Later that day, it became a tropical storm, and it became a hurricane the next day as it raced into the north Atlantic. It became extratropical late on the June 19, and hit near Escuminac, New Brunswick, on the night of June 19 and June 20, where it caused massive damage to the fishing community.

The hurricane caused 33 deaths and considerable damage as an extratropical cyclone. It also caused $1,656,000 (1959 USD) in damage in Florida, most of which came from a single tornado in Miami.

[edit] Hurricane Cindy

Main article: Hurricane Cindy (1959)
Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 5 – July 12
Intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  996 mbar (hPa)

A trough of low pressure from a frontal boundary developed into a tropical depression on July 5 off the coast of Florida. It moved northeastward, where it became a tropical storm on the July 7 A small hurricane, Cindy drifted to the west, and hit north of Charleston, South Carolina on July 9 as a minimal hurricane. It turned northeast, and weakened to a tropical depression. As it sped by the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, the instability of the atmosphere allowed Cindy to restrengthen to a tropical storm. It continued northeastward, and became extratropical on July 11, after causing one death.

[edit] Hurricane Debra

Main article: Hurricane Debra (1959)
Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 23 – July 28
Intensity 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min),  984 mbar (hPa)

The development of Hurricane Debra can be attributed to a cold core upper level low. It developed thunderstorm activity over the Bahamas, and as it drifted westward, it steadily organized into a tropical depression on July 23. It continued slowly westward, and became a tropical storm later that day. Debra turned northward due to the subtropical ridge, and hit between Freeport, Texas and Galveston, Texas on July 25 as a minimal hurricane. It weakened over Texas, and dissipated over western Oklahoma. Debra caused a total of $7 million (1959 dollars) in damage, but no fatalities.

[edit] Tropical Storm Edith

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 17 – August 19
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  1007 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Edith developed from a tropical wave on August 17, east of the Lesser Antilles. It became a tropical storm the next day, and reached a peak of 60 mph (95 km/h) winds as it moved through the islands. Its rapid movement contributed to its demise, however, and upper level winds weakened it until dissipation on the August 19 while south of the Dominican Republic.

[edit] Hurricane Flora

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 9 – September 14
Intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  994 mbar (hPa)

The combination of a trough of low pressure and a tropical wave developed into a tropical depression on September 9 in the tropical Atlantic. It turned northeastward and became a tropical storm on the September 10 and a hurricane on September 11. As Flora accelerated over the northern Atlantic, it lost its tropical characteristics on the September 12, remaining a powerful extratropical cyclone over the next two days.

[edit] Hurricane Gracie

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 20 – October 2
Intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min),  950 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Gracie

Hurricane Gracie had an unusual track, constantly switching directions as it headed towards South Carolina. It hit the state as a 120 mph (200 km/h) major hurricane on September 29, and caused tornadoes across the Southeast United States. Gracie caused a total of 22 casualties and $14 million (1959 USD) in damage, much of which came from tornadoes.

[edit] Hurricane Hannah

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 27 – October 8
Intensity 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min),  959 mbar (hPa)

An upper level trough over the central Atlantic caused the development of a tropical depression on September 27. It rapidly strengthened the next day, reaching hurricane strength on the night of September 28. It reached a peak of 125 mph on October 1, but was only a threat to shipping. After turning to the east, it remained a hurricane until October 8, where it became extratropical south of Iceland.

[edit] Tropical Storm Irene

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration October 6 – October 9
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  1001 mbar (hPa)

In early October, a cold front drifted through Texas and entered the Gulf of Mexico on October 5. That day, the front dissipated while a related trough persisted. Upper-level air temperatures were generally warm, and a minimal anticyclone was situated over the Gulf.[4] At this time, a Colorado low drew polar air into the Mississippi Valley, suggesting extratropical characteristics of the developing system.[5] A tropical depression formed on October 6;[6] it meandered in a north-northeasterly direction for the next two days.[4] The storm intensified into Tropical Storm Irene around 1800 UTC on October 7.[6] Around this time, a Hurricane Hunters flight indicated that the circulation was indistinct, although it was gradually evolving.[7] By October 8, a second reconnaissance flight reported a minimum pressure of 1001 mbar (hPa; 29.56 inHg), and the storm came ashore near Pensacola, Florida later that day as a well-organized tropical storm. Irene rapidly weakened into a tropical depression as it moved inland, dissipating early on October 9.[4][6]

The highest tides, 4.4 ft (1.3 m) above normal, were reported at the Cedar Keys in Florida, while the strongest gust recorded, 55 mph (89 km/h), was measured at Pensacola International Airport.[4] Heavy rainfall from Irene was widespread; the highest total in Florida was 7.69 inches (195 mm) at Tyndall Air Force Base,[8] although the highest overall total from the storm was inland in Georgia at Neels Gap. Rainfalloccurred throughout the south and southeastern United States.[9][10] Flooding from Irene's torrential rains caused damage around the Lake Okeechobee area.[5] Damage in Florida was limited to uncollected crops, mainly peanuts and corn, that were in bales in the process of being dried.[11] Several floods were flooded along the coast at Shalimar near Ft. Walton Beach. The winds downed trees and a telephone pole, causing a short power outage in Ocean City.[12] At time of Irene's arrival, red tides were ongoing in western Florida; winds from the storm's precursor blew thousands of dead fish ashore. Local residents complained that the odor from the rotting fish were unbearable.[13] No deaths or injuries were reported as a result of Irene, and damage was minimal.[4]

[edit] Hurricane Judith

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 17 – October 21
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  999 mbar (hPa)

A disturbance moved along the Intertropical Convergence Zone through the Caribbean Sea, producing squally weather. A low formed south of Jamaica on October 15. Soon after merging with another low moving eastward from the southern Gulf of Mexico, the combined system developed into a tropical storm in the southeast Gulf of Mexico on October 17.[14] Judith moved over Florida the next day after reaching hurricane strength, and moved rapidly out to sea, reaching a peak of 80 mph (130 km/h), but steadily weakened until dissipating on the October 21 east of Bermuda.

[edit] Records

The season set records for the earliest formation of its fourth and fifth storms. Hurricane Cindy was named on July 7, and Hurricane Debra first reached tropical storm strength on July 23, following the development of Tropical Storm Arlene, Tropical Storm Beulah and Hurricane #3. Both of these records were broken in the 2005 season when Dennis formed on July 5 and Emily formed on July 11.

[edit] Storm names

The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1959. All names in this list were first time in 1959.

  • Hannah
  • Irene
  • Judith
  • Kristy (unused)
  • Lois (unused)
  • Marsha (unused)
  • Nellie (unused)
  • Orpha (unused)
  • Penny (unused)
  • Quella (unused)
  • Rachel (unused)
  • Sophie (unused)
  • Tanya (unused)
  • Udele (unused)
  • Vicky (unused)
  • Wilma (unused)
  • Xcel (unused)
  • Yasmin (unused)
  • Zasu (unused)

[edit] Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

Gracie would later be retired, though it is unclear if the name was retired or not.

[edit] See also

Portal icon Tropical cyclones portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Associated Press. Hurricane Season Almost Here, Will Open at Midnight Tonight. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  2. ^ Hurricane Research Division (March 2011). "Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Comparison_of_Original_and_Revised_HURDAT_mar11.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
  3. ^ David Levinson (2008-08-20). "2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones". National Climatic Data Center. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Dunn, Gordon E. (December 1959). "The Hurricane Season of 1959". Monthly Weather Review (Miami, Florida: American Meteorological Society) 87 (12): 441, 449. doi:10.1175/1520-0493-87.12.441. ISSN 1520-0493. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1959.pdf. 
  5. ^ a b Gelhard, Robert H. (October 1959). "The Weather and Circulation of October 1959". Monthly Weather Review (Washington, D.C.: American Meteorological Society) 87 (10): 392, 394. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1959)087<0388:TWACOO>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493. http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/087/mwr-087-10-0388.pdf. 
  6. ^ a b c Hurricane Specialists Unit (August 2011). "Easy to Read HURDAT 2011". Hurricane Research Division. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easy_1951-60.htm#1959_10. Retrieved 2011-12-27. 
  7. ^ "Tropical Storm Irene – October 6–8, 1959". United States Department of Commerce. Washington, D.C.: Weather Bureau. October 1959. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1959/irene/prenhc/prelim1.gif. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  8. ^ Roth, David M. (2010-11-22). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in Florida". Tropical cyclone rainfall data. Camp Springs, Maryland: Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcflorida.html. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  9. ^ Roth, David M. (2011-02-14). "Tropical cyclone rainfall in the Southeast". Tropical cyclone rainfall data. Camp Springs, Maryland: Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcsoutheast.html. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  10. ^ Roth, David M. (2011-09-21). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Gulf Coast". Tropical cyclone rainfall data. Camp Springs, Maryland: Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcgulfcoast.html. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  11. ^ Butson, Keith (1959-10-20). "Office Memorandum – Tropical Storm Irene". State Climatologist's Office. Gainesville, Florida: Weather Bureau. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1959/irene/preloc/pshgnv1.gif. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  12. ^ Staff writer (1959-10-08). "Florida Resort Area Is Lashed By Storm Irene". Meriden Journal. Associated Press (Pensacola, Florida). http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p6RIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JQENAAAAIBAJ&pg=1152%2C3523418. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  13. ^ Staff writer (1959-10-08). "Beaches May Get More Dead Fish". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press (St. Petersburg, Florida). http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G4EuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bp0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=593%2C1399727. Retrieved 2011-12-29. 
  14. ^ http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1959.pdf

[edit] External links

Tropical cyclones of the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
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