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Hurricane Isbell was the strongest storm of the 1964 Atlantic hurricane season. It became a tropical depression east of Nicaragua on October 8th. It then strengthened into a tropical storm, further into a hurricane, on October 13th, before making landfall in Western Cuba. In the Gulf of Mexico, on October 14th, it strengthened into a major hurricane, before making landfall in Florida. After entering the Atlantic Ocean it headed towards North Carolina and made landfall, on October 16th, just before deintensifying into a extratropical storm with winds under hurricane-force at 45 mph, then it dissipated the following day. It caused $20 million (1964 USD) ($120 million in 2005 USD) in damage; most of it being from crop damage or tornadic activity. In addition to damage, it caused 6 deaths.

Storm history

An old diffused frontal trough entered the western Caribbean in early October. Evidence of a tropical disturbance originated over the western Caribbean during October 7th and 8th at the very end of this frontal trough. The system developed and a weak tropical depression formed on the 8th, as it started to move slowly to the northwest. On October 12th, it stalled its northwestern progress, made a small loop, followed by a northeastward turn. Lack of inflow, and possible earlier land interaction, kept the depression fairly weak, but was able to strengthen 5 mph further from its original strength later that day, and then reached tropical storm strength on October 13th.

Isbell reached hurricane intensity around 18 UTC on October 13th, shortly after reaching tropical storm status earlier that day. A few hours after that status upgrade, the storm made landfall in the extreme western portion of Cuba. It then crossed western Cuba, entered the southeast Gulf of Mexico, and began to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane.

Isbell reached peak strength, with winds of 125 mph, before making landfall in Florida near Everglades City on October 14th. It reached the Atlantic Ocean that night, with winds still at peak strength of 125 mph, and steadily weakened while moving to the north. It maintaned it's hurricane force winds until October 16th. Isbell became extratropical, with winds of 45 mph, right before its final landfall on Morehead City, North Carolina on October 16th, and dissipated the next day. An eyewitness said that severe rains occured during the early portions of the storm, but that eventually it died down to fairly light rain.

Preparations

In Cuba thousands were evacuated, due to flooding lowlands. Numerous hurricane warnings and watches were issued prior to landfall in Florida. In the severe weather forecasts it warned that severe thunderstorms, with heavy winds and the possibility of one to two tornadoes were expected to occur from 4 to 10 PM CST October 14, 1964. The aviation severe weather forecast also predicted that within an area south and east of a line from sixty miles southwest of Miami to Gainesville, Florida to 40 miles north of Daytona Beach from 11:40 to 3:00 on October 14, that 3/4 inch maximum hail, gusts of up to 85 km/h, and one to two tornados were possible. Flood warnings were also issued, with predictions of flooding 4 feet above flood stage. Emergency preparations at Key West's weather office were made. On October 13, 1964, in the morning hours the office alerted city, county, and military officials. In the afternoon, they completed office preparations and scheduling, they also checked equipment. Later gale warnings and hurricane watches were issued for the lower Florida Keys. Hurricane warnings were issued for the Dry Tortugas. Even later the gale warnings and hurricane watches for the lower Florida Keys were upgraded to hurricane warnings. On the 14th, they requested radio stations to stay on the air, relayed hourly reports, and lowered the hurricane warnings for the lower keys.

Hurricane warnings were issued along the North Carolina coast south of Morehead City. Hurricane watches were issued north of Morehead City. Also, some tidal flooding was predicted. People were warned to tune to television and radio broadcasts.

Impact

Isbell caused $20 million (1964 USD ($120 million 2005 USD)) in damage; most of it was from crop damage or tornadic activity. The hurricane also caused 6 deaths.

Cuba

70 mph gusts were reported as far east as Boyeros Airport in the capital Havana Cuba, with air pressure of 979 mbar (hPa). No information on wind speeds in far Western Cuba is available. In the Guane area which was most strongly affected, heavy damage and three fatalities occurred. Both fatalities were from housing collapses. Four fatalities occured in all. Hundreds of homes were also destroyed, and crops were ruined. The most affected was the rich tobbaco crop, and several tobbaco warehouses were destroyed.

Florida

Isbell produced numerous small and dangerous tornadoes as it passed Florida. 1 person was reported dead, due to a heart attack while boarding up for the hurricane, 37 injuried, and 12 hospitalized. 1 house was also reported destroyed, 33 with major damage and 631 with minor damage. 66 trailers were reported destroyed, and 88 were reported to have major damage. 90 mph winds affected the state. 80 mph winds affected Key West, in addition to 4-5 foot tides, and $250 million in damage.

Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic States

Highest individual rainfall totals

• Columbia - 5.14 inches
• Inman-Gramlang - 4.55 inches
• Greer - 4.28 inches
• Kinstree - 3.90 inches
• Orangeburg - 3.84 inches

Crop damage was reported from the storm. Flash flooding and large damage to peanuts occurred at landfall, due to wet soil. Isbell was the only major hurricane to hit the U.S. coastline this season. Cleo, Dora, and Hilda all weakened to a Category 2 prior to hitting the coast. Isbell, despite being the strongest at landfall, was not retired.

Gusts up to 65 mph were reported in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on October 16th. No significant wind damage was reported though.

An eyewitness account said that tornadoes from Isbell "caused as much damage as the hurricane did."

Considerable weakening occurred before landfall, causing only fairly minor damage and some beach erosion. Damage was primarily to low lying areas.

However six or more tornadoes occurred after landfall. They demolished trailers, unroofed homes and other buildings in several North Carolina communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared some counties in North Carolina as disaster areas. The most affected area was Boynton Beach where 20 house trailers were destroyed and 22 people were injured. In Eau Gallie a tornado demolished 12 house trailers, teared off the roof of a church during mass, and a house was blown across a road. No one in the congregation was injured.

Rainfall totals from 1-7 inches were reported from October 11-October 19.

External Links

• (National Hurricane Center Summary)
• (NGLS Info)
• (NOAA summary)
• (Storm intensity archive)
• (MWR)

References

1. ^ "Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964". HURDAT. Retrieved 2006-09-27. Cite error: The named reference "HURDAT storm strength archive" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
2. ^ Dunn, Gordon E. (March 1965). "Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida. Retrieved 2006-09-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "MWR of Isbell" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
3. ^ Williams, John M. "Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" (PDF). University Press of Florida. Retrieved 2006-09-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
4. ^ Associated Press (1964-10-15). "Isbell Takes Dead Aim on North Carolina Coast". The Daily Times News. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
5. "(none)". US Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
6. "(none)". WBAS Key West, Florida. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
7. "(none)". United States Department of Commerce Wilmington, North Carolina Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
8. unknown (1964-10-14). "(none)".
9. "(none)". Retrieved 2006-09-27.
10. "(none)". Retrieved 2006-09-27.
11. "Hurricanes in the Florida Keys". Retrieved 2006-09-27.
12. "(none)". WBAS South Carolina. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
13. "(none)". WBAS Wilmington, North Carolina. Retrieved 2006-09-27.

• Hurricanes
• 1964 Atlantic hurricane season