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User:MarioJump83/1942

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October 1942 tropical storm
Tropical Storm (SSHWS/NWS)
FormedOctober 10, 1942
DissipatedOctober 11, 1942
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 45 mph (75 km/h)
Lowest pressure1001 mbar (hPa); 29.56 inHg
Fatalities15
Damage$7 million (1942 USD)
Areas affectedNorth Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C, Maryland
Part of the 1942 Atlantic hurricane season

The October 1942 tropical storm was a weak tropical storm that struck North Carolina and Virginia in mid-October of 1942. The storm formed on October 10 where it moved northwestward and reached a peak strength of 45 mph (72.4 km/h) before becoming extratropical 6 hours later. The remnants of the storm made landfall on the Outer Banks, North Carolina and continued onward through Virginia before dissipating on October 12. The storm produced heavy rain across North Carolina and Virginia, the rain produced significant flooding in northern Virginia especially in and around Fredericksburg. Damages from the flooding amounted to $7 million (1942 USD) and left 15 people dead.

Storm history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The storm formed on October 10 northeast of the Bahamas where it began to move west-northwest towards the East Coast of the United States.[1]Moving steadly at 23 mph (37 km/h) , the storm winds peaked at 45 mph (72.4 km/h) and the pressure dropped to 1001 millibars (29.56 Hg) before it began its extratropical transition. The storm later made landfall in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on October 12 as an extratropical system before recurving to the northeast and dissipating. [2]

Impact

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In North Carolina the storm dropped heavy rainfall. But there were no reports of damage or fatalites.[1] As the storm remnants moved northwest, it interacted with a high pressure system to the north which slowed it progress which resulted the storm to produce significant downpours that resulted in serious flooding in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. In northern Virginia, rainfall between 8-16 inches (203-406 mm) were reported. Fredericksburg received 11.02 inches (208 mm) of rainfall over a three day period. The heavy rainfall caused the Rappohannock River to creast 42 ft (12.6 m) above flood stage. The flooding inundated much of Fredericksburg disrupting rail traffic and rendering highways impassable.[3] The flooding also left the city without electricity and running water. Elsewhere, several oil tanks near the city were overturned resulting in a fire. In Falmouth, the floods damaged a bridge disrupting traffic and disrupted rail service. [4] The resulting flooding left 14 people dead in Fredericksburg.[5] Severe flooding was reported elsewhere in the Shenandoah Valley, in Harpers Ferry, floodwaters reached 33.8 ft (10.06 m). [6] In Stafford County, the floodwater inundated and damaged the Chatham and Falmouth bridges. A bridge crossing Highway 1 was also washed away by the floods. [7] The floods left $2.5 million dollars (1942 USD) in damage in the shenadoah valley area.[8]

In Washington D.C., rainfall up to 6.27 inches (159.3 mm) was reported.[9] The heavy rains caused the Potomac River to overflow its banks and the resulting floods inundated the National Mall and threatened the downtown federal buildings which included the White House. [10] Flooding also threatened the Jefferson Memorial.[9] In Maryland, heavy rainfall caused the Potomac River to crest at 17ft (5.1 m) in Cumberland. Damage in the Potomac river area amounted to $4.5 million (1942 USD)[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Sumner, Harold (January 1943). "North Atlantic Hurricanes and Tropical Disturbances of 1942" (PDF). NOAA Miami Regional Library. NOAA. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Landsea, Anderson; et al. "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". NOAA. Retrieved January 23, 2018. {{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last1= (help)
  3. ^ Schwartz, Rick (2007). Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. Blue Diamond Books; 1st edition. p. 174 - 179. ISBN 978-0978628000. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  4. ^ Report of the Chief of Engineers U.S. Army. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1944. p. 7. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ Malmay, Tom. "Floods Strike in East ; Death Toll now at 15". Newspaper.com. Newspapers.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  6. ^ "Memorable Floods at Harpers Ferry". National Park Service. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "Envriomental Floods" (PDF). Stafordcountymuseum.com. Stafford County Museum. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "FLOOD EVENT OF 10/15/1942 - 10/17/1942" (PDF). glenallenweather.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Floods - Washington Area Floods". weatherbook.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  10. ^ Little, Becky. "World War II-Era Flood Was the Worst in D.C.'s History". History.com. A&E Television. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
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