Hurricane Connie
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |
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| Hurricane Connie approaching North Carolina | |
| Formed | August 3, 1955 |
| Dissipated | August 15, 1955 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 936 mbar (hPa); 27.64 inHg |
| Fatalities | 37 direct, 4 indirect |
| Damage | At least $15 million (1955 USD) |
| Areas affected | Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, New England |
| Part of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Connie was the first in a series of hurricanes to strike North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. Connie struck as a Category 1, causing major flooding and inflicting extensive damage to the Outer Banks and inland to Raleigh.
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[edit] Meteorological history
A tropical wave developed into a tropical cyclone on August 3 to the west of the Cape Verde islands, based on reports from two ships.[1] It moved rapidly to the west-northwest, quickly intensifying into Tropical Storm Connie.[2] A Hurricane Hunters flight on August 4 reported a developing eye feature, and the next day Connie rapidly strengthened into a 125 mph (201 km/h) major hurricane. On August 6, it passed about 60 mi (97 km) north of the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.[1] By that time, Connie had attained peak winds of 145 mph (233 km/h), or the equivalence of a current-day Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.[2]
For four days, Connie maintained its peak intensity as its track shifted from the west-northwest toward the northwest,[2] passing to the northeast of the Bahamas as it rounded a large ridge. On August 7, its eye had decreased to a diameter of 7 mi (11 km). By August 10, the eye had lost its definition as Connie slowed its northwest track. It began a west-northwest drift due to slight interaction with developing Hurricane Diane to its southeast, as well as a building ridge to its northeast. The hurricane turned to the north on August 11 and was steadily weakening, due to the combination of upwelling and entrainment of cool air. Connie turned toward the north-northeast on August 12, by which time it had weakened to a minimal hurricane. Late that day, it moved ashore near Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina.[1] According to the Atlantic hurricane database, Connie made landfall with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h),[2] although the Hurricane Research Division suggested that the hurricane hit North Carolina with winds of at least 115 mph (185 km/h).[3] It progressed inland, weakening to a tropical storm over Virginia and moving northward through the Chesapeake Bay. Connie turned to the northwest, passing through much of Pennsylvania before weakening to a tropical depression near the Pennsylvania/New York border. After crossing Lake Ontario and southwestern Ontario, the system moved through Lake Huron, dissipating on August 15 near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[2]
[edit] Impact
On August 5, Hurricane Connie began to become an apparent threat to the northeastern Caribbean Islands, with maximum winds in the storm reaching 125 mph (205 km/h). The National Weather Bureau issued hurricane warnings for Barbuda, Saba and Antigua. The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were placed on hurricane alert as warnings were possible later that day.[4] Early in its duration, the outer rainbands of Connie produced wind gusts 100 mph (160 km/h) in Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, along with heavy rainfall.[1] The highest precipitation total was 8.65 in (220 mm) along the lower Río Blanco.[5]
As Connie moved ashore in North Carolina, it produced sustained winds of 72 mph (116 km/h) in Morehead City, with gusts to 83 mph (134 km/h). Wind gusts near where the hurricane moved ashore reached 100 mph (160 km/h), although it was not confirmed whether the gust was estimated or measured. Along Connie's western periphery, the rainbands spawned at least six tornadoes, of which five in South Carolina and one in North Carolina. Moving slowly ashore, the hurricane produced tides that were up to 8 ft (2.4 m) above normal, which resulted in significant beach erosion.[1] Rainfall amounts of over 10 in (250 mm) in the area west of where Connie made landfall.[5] Throughout the state, the hurricane caused about $40 million in damage, of which about 75% was from crop damage.[1]
Hurricane force winds extended into Virginia.[3] As Connie progressed northward, it continued to drop significant amounts of precipitation. Totals of over 10 in (250 mm) were reported on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, in Pennsylvania, and in southeastern New York. The highest precipitation related to Connie was 13.24 in (336 mm) at Fort Schuyler. Rainfall also extended as far west as Michigan and as far east as Maine.[5] Across the northeastern United States, high rainfall from the hurricane resulted in disastrous flooding, along with Diane which moved ashore four days after Connie; this was due to unusually moist air across the region, which resulted from above average water and air temperatures. Many areas were in drought conditions before the flooding.[6]
In Washington D.C., a car accident caused by slick roads resulted in the death of four people after a car was sideswiped and knocked into a swollen creek where the occupants drowned.[7]
Hurricane Connie brought the heaviest rain seen in New York in over 50 years during its passage, dropping 5.32 in (135 mm) in New York City within a 20 hour span.[7] Large areas of the city, including subways, were flooded and many residents were left without power. At least seven people were killed in various incidents across the state.[7]
[edit] Aftermath
Due to its destructive impacts, the name Connie was retired, and will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane.
[edit] See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Massachusetts
- List of North Carolina hurricanes
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Gordon E. Dunn; Walter R. Davis; Paul L. Moore (December 1955). "Hurricanes of 1955" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/083/mwr-083-12-0315.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ Hurricane Research Division (August 2011). "Atlantic hurricane best track (Hurdat)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/tracks1851to2010_atl_reanal.html. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- ^ a b "Chronological List of All Continental United States Hurricanes: 1851-2010". Hurricane Research Division. August 2011. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/All_U.S._Hurricanes-aug2011.html. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ Associated Press (August 5, 1955). "Hurricane Connie Nears Leeward Isles". Free-Lance Star. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jm0QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3ooDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6320,4922942&dq=hurricane+connie&hl=en. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ a b c David M. Roth (2007-05-16). "Hurricane Connie - August 6-14, 1955". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/connie1955.html. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ Jerome Namias; Carlos R. Dunn (August 1955). "The Weather and Circulation of August 1955" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/083/mwr-083-08-0163.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ a b c United Press (August 13, 1955). "Vacationers Caught As Gales Spread Out". The Victoria Advocate. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VSwPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640,2016629&dq=hurricane+connie&hl=en. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
[edit] External links
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