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| '''Hurricane Gracie''' was a major ] that formed in September 1959, the strongest during the ] and the most intense to strike the ] since ].<ref name="NHC1">National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on ].</ref> The system was first noted as an area of thunderstorms east of the ] which moved just north of the ], quickly intensifying into a hurricane on . Gracie was a storm that was very difficult to forecast, with its movement unpredictable.<ref name="AH">Allan Huffman Retrieved on ].</ref> After five days of looping, Gracie became a major hurricane which struck ], and weakened as it moved up the ], bringing much needed rain to a drought-plagued region. Much of the destruction was centered on ]. Gracie became an ] on ] while moving through the Eastern United States. | '''Hurricane Gracie''' was a major ] that formed in September 1959, the strongest during the ] and the most intense to strike the ] since ].<ref name="NHC1">National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on ].</ref> The system was first noted as an area of thunderstorms east of the ] which moved just north of the ], quickly intensifying into a hurricane on ]. Gracie was a storm that was very difficult to forecast, with its movement unpredictable.<ref name="AH">Allan Huffman Retrieved on ].</ref> After five days of looping, Gracie became a major hurricane which struck ], and weakened as it moved up the ], bringing much needed rain to a drought-plagued region. Much of the destruction was centered on ]. Gracie became an ] on ] while moving through the Eastern United States. | ||
| ==Storm history== | ==Storm history== | ||
Revision as of 22:25, 7 January 2008
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Formed | September 20, 1959 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 30, 1959 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 950 mbar (hPa); 28.05 inHg |
| Fatalities | 22 direct |
| Damage | $90 million (1959 USD) |
| Areas affected | Bahamas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia |
| Part of the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Gracie was a major hurricane that formed in September 1959, the strongest during the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season and the most intense to strike the United States since Hurricane Hazel. The system was first noted as an area of thunderstorms east of the Lesser Antilles which moved just north of the Greater Antilles, quickly intensifying into a hurricane on September 22. Gracie was a storm that was very difficult to forecast, with its movement unpredictable. After five days of looping, Gracie became a major hurricane which struck South Carolina, and weakened as it moved up the Appalachians, bringing much needed rain to a drought-plagued region. Much of the destruction was centered on Beaufort, South Carolina. Gracie became an extratropical cyclone on September 30 while moving through the Eastern United States.
Storm history
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
Tropical cyclone 
Subtropical cyclone 
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression An area of squally weather was first noted a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles on September 18. The convective area organized into a tropical depression near the north coast of Hispaniola on September 20. After moving west-northwestward for a day, it turned northeastward, where upper level winds were very favorable and steering currents were very weak. On September 22 Gracie was named as a tropical depression before it developed into a tropical storm, followed by reaching hurricane strength later that night. It turned to the east on September 25, and turned back west on September 27. Then, with a firm anticyclone in place and set steering currents, it moved steadily west-northwestward.
Gracie quickly strengthened and reached its peak of 140 mph (225 km/h) winds on the 29th, but cooler air and land interaction weakened it to a 120 mph (195 km/h) Category 3 major hurricane at the time of its Beaufort, South Carolina landfall that night. After landfall, Gracie moved inland and north and became extratropical on September 30.
Preparations
Small craft warnings were raised for the Florida east coast southward through the Florida Keys up the west coast to Cedar Key by 10 a.m. on September 21. A hurricane watch was issued for the coast of the United States from Savannah, Georgia to Wilmington, North Carolina at 11 a.m. on September 28, which were quickly updated to hurricane warnings by 2 p.m. the same day.
Impact
Storm surge flooding was minimal due to the storm's landfall near the time of low tide. Several tornadoes accompanied the dissipating storm through Virginia and twelve people were killed near Charlottesville, Virginia. Gracie also killed 10 people in South Carolina and Georgia, mainly due to wind and rain-induced automobile accidents, falling trees and electrocution by live wires. Wind damage was quite significant across South Carolina, particularly the city of Beaufort, South Carolina, with many downed trees, telephone poles, and streetlights. Also, numerous windows were shattered and shingles were torn off of roofs. A number of creeks overflowed causing floodwaters that, in areas, were several feet deep. For the most part, rainfall from Gracie was beneficial as it moved up the Appalachians since the area had been in a drought preceding the cyclone. It would be 30 years before another major hurricane stuck South Carolina; Hurricane Hugo in September 1989.
Retirement
See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanesThe name Gracie was retired and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again; this was before the formal lists were created, so it was not replaced with any particular name.
See also
References
- ^ National Hurricane Center. Preliminary Report on Hurricane Gracie: September 22-October 1, 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
- ^ Allan Huffman Hurricane Gracie. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
- National Hurricane Center. San Juan Weather Bureau Weather Bulletin for Press Radio and Television 3 PM September 18 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
- National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Advisory Number 1 Tropical Depression Gracie 1030 AM EST September 22 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
- Weather Underground (2007). "Hurricane Gracie". Wunderground.com. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Bulletin For Press Radio and Television 10 AM Monday September 21 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
- National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Gracie Preliminary Storm Report, page 2. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
External links
| Retired Atlantic hurricane names | |
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| 1950s | |
| 1960s | |
| 1970s | |
| 1980s | |
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| Tropical cyclones of the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | TSArlene TSBeulah 1Escuminac Hurricane 1Cindy 1Debra TSEdith 1Flora 4Gracie 3Hannah TSIrene 1Judith | |