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Revision as of 17:15, 12 January 2008 editThegreatdr (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,166 edits →Preparations: Removed sections concerning small craft warnings which existed prior and succeeding the issuance of the hurricane and gale watches and warnings← Previous edit Revision as of 17:19, 12 January 2008 edit undoThegreatdr (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,166 edits →Storm history: Rewording slightlyNext edit →
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==Storm history== ==Storm history==
{{storm path|Gracie 1959 track.png}} {{storm path|Gracie 1959 track.png}}
An area of ]y weather was first noted a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles on ].<ref>]. Retrieved on ].</ref> The convective area organized into a tropical depression near the north coast of ] on ]. After moving west-northwestward for a day, it turned northeastward, where upper level winds were very favorable and steering currents were very weak. On ] Gracie was named as a tropical depression before it developed into a tropical storm,<ref>]. Retrieved on ].</ref> followed by reaching hurricane strength later that night. It turned to the east on ], and turned back west on ]. Then, with a firm anticyclone in place and set steering currents, it moved steadily west-northwestward.<ref name="AH">Allan Huffman Retrieved on ].</ref><ref name="disc1">{{cite web|author=Weather Underground|year=2007|title=Hurricane Gracie|publisher=Wunderground.com|accessdate=2007-11-08|url=http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at195908.asp}}</ref> An area of ]y weather was first noted a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles on ].<ref>]. Retrieved on ].</ref> The convective area organized into a tropical depression near the north coast of ] on ]. After moving west-northwestward for a day, it turned northeastward, where upper level winds were very favorable and steering currents were very weak. On ] Gracie was named as a tropical depression before it developed into a tropical storm,<ref>]. Retrieved on ].</ref> followed by reaching hurricane strength later that night. It turned to the east on ], and turned back west to west-northwest on ] as a stable anticyclone built in to its north.<ref name="AH">Allan Huffman Retrieved on ].</ref><ref name="disc1">{{cite web|author=Weather Underground|year=2007|title=Hurricane Gracie|publisher=Wunderground.com|accessdate=2007-11-08|url=http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at195908.asp}}</ref>


Gracie quickly strengthened and reached its peak of {{convert|140|mph|kph|lk=on}} winds on ], but cooler air and land interaction weakened it to a {{convert|120|mph|kph|lk=on}} ] major hurricane at the time of its landfall at 11:25 a.m. over St. Helena Sound near the south end of Edisto Island.<ref>]. Retrieved on ].</ref> After landfall, Gracie moved inland and north and became extratropical on ]. Gracie quickly strengthened and reached its peak of {{convert|140|mph|kph|lk=on}} winds on ], but cooler air and land interaction weakened it to a {{convert|120|mph|kph|lk=on}} ] major hurricane at the time of its landfall at 11:25 a.m. over St. Helena Sound near the south end of Edisto Island.<ref>]. Retrieved on ].</ref> After landfall, Gracie moved inland and north and became extratropical on ].

Revision as of 17:19, 12 January 2008

Hurricane Gracie
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
FormedSeptember 20, 1959
DissipatedSeptember 30, 1959
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure950 mbar (hPa); 28.05 inHg
Fatalities22 direct
Damage$90 million (1959 USD)
Areas affectedBahamas, 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 related with Gracie was centered on Beaufort, South Carolina. Gracie became an extratropical cyclone on September 30 while moving through the Eastern United States.

Storm history

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 circle Tropical cyclone square Subtropical cyclone triangle 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 to west-northwest on September 27 as a stable anticyclone built in to its north.

Gracie quickly strengthened and reached its peak of 140 miles per hour (230 km/h) winds on September 29, but cooler air and land interaction weakened it to a 120 miles per hour (190 km/h) Category 3 major hurricane at the time of its landfall at 11:25 a.m. over St. Helena Sound near the south end of Edisto Island. After landfall, Gracie moved inland and north and became extratropical on September 30.

Preparations

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. By 2 p.m., gale warnings were in effect from Daytona Beach, Florida to Savannah, Georgia as well as from Wilmington to Morehead City, North Carolina. At 7 a.m. on September 29, gale warnings were dropped south of Brunswick, Georgia. At 5 p.m., gale warnings were extended northward to Cape May, New Jersey, including Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. At 11 p.m., all warnings south of Cape Hatteras were dropped, leaving gale warnings in effect from Cape Hatteras northward. At 5 a.m. on September 30, small craft were advised to remain in port from Cape May northward to Block Island, Rhode Island. By 11 a.m., due to Gracie's continued weakening, all remaining gale warnings were downgraded to small craft warnings.

Impact

Georgia and South Carolina

Storm surge flooding was minimal due to the storm's landfall near the time of low tide. However, Charleston still recorded their highest tide since 1940. Along the coast of southern South Carolina, the storm tide was measured up to 11.9 feet (3.6 m) above sea level. The United States Coast Guard vessel Bramble evacuated people stranded in Savannah and Charleston on September 30. Heavy rains fell well ahead of the storm along an inverted trough extending north of the storm, causing 6.79 inches (172 mm) between the mornings of September 28 and September 29 at Norfolk, Virginia. Gracie killed 10 people in South Carolina and Georgia, mainly due to wind and rain-induced automobile accidents, falling trees and electrocution by live wires. The Garden Club of South Carolina replaced numerous trees after the storm. 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. The opening of the Beaufort Center of the University of South Carolina was delayed due to Gracie.

Elsewhere in the United States

The storm spawned seven tornadoes in all. A few of the tornadoes which accompanied the dissipating storm through Virginia killed twelve people near Charlottesville, Virginia. Other tornadoes touched down in the Carolinas and Pennsylvania. 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.

Long term impact

Edisto Beach, South Carolina was changed forever by Gracie, due to human efforts to renourish the beach after its passage. Most of the shell hash beach currently at Edisto was placed there after Gracie. In order to expand the beach, an inland marsh was excavated and moved to the shoreline. This created highly desirable beach front property which led to new development along the coast seaward of Palmetto Boulevard, but also created an environmental catastrophe along the nearby ocean floor. A species of isopod which grows in coastal estuaries, the Cyathura Polita, disappeared after the passage of this hurricane from the Ashepoo River in South Carolina. The Kermadec Petrel, a bird, was swept to Lookout Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania during Gracie, marking the first time it appeared in North America.

Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

The 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

Template:Tcportal


References

  1. ^ National Hurricane Center. Preliminary Report on Hurricane Gracie: September 22-October 1, 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  2. ^ Allan Huffman Hurricane Gracie. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  3. National Hurricane Center. San Juan Weather Bureau Weather Bulletin for Press Radio and Television 3 PM September 18 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  4. National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Advisory Number 1 Tropical Depression Gracie 1030 AM EST September 22 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  5. Weather Underground (2007). "Hurricane Gracie". Wunderground.com. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  6. National Hurricane Center. Local Statement from Weather Bureau Charleston South Carolina Hurricane Gracie 12 Noon EST September 29 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  7. National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Advisory Number 25A Hurricane Gracie 2 PM September 28 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  8. National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Hurricane Gracie Bulletin For Press Radio and Television 7 AM September 29 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  9. National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Advisory Number 30 Hurricane Gracie 5 PM September 29 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  10. National Hurricane Center. Miami Weather Bureau Advisory Number 31 Hurricane Gracie 11 PM September 29 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  11. National Hurricane Center. Washington Weather Bureau Advisory Number 32 Storm Gracie 5 AM September 30 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  12. National Hurricane Center. Washington Weather Bureau Advisory Number 33 Storm Gracie 11 AM September 30 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  13. National Hurricane Center. Tide Statement Weather Bureau Office Charleston South Carolina 2:30 PM EST September 29 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  14. D. Lee Harris. U. S. Department of Commerce Weather Bureau Technical Paper No. 48: Characteristics of the Hurricane Storm Surge. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  15. United States Coast Guard. Historical Context and Statement of Significance Cactus, Mesquite, and Basswood Classes United States Coast Guard 180-foot Buoy Tenders (WLBs). Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  16. Daily Weather Maps. September 29, 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  17. South Carolina Department of Transportation. State Highway Map Features Garden Club o South Carolina. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  18. University of South Carolina. USC Beaufort. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  19. Tom Grazulis and Bill McCaul. List of Known Tropical Cyclones Which Have Spawned Tornadoes. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  20. Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Virginia's Weather History: Virginia Hurricanes. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  21. National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Gracie Preliminary Storm Report, page 2. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  22. Hurricane Research Division (2007). "Hurdat Data for Tropical Cyclones 1851-2006". NOAA. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  23. Gered Lennon. Living With the South Carolina Coast. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  24. William D. Burbanck. The Disappearance of Cyathura Polita from the Ashepoo River, South Carolina, After Hurricane "Gracie" in 1959. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  25. University of New Mexico. Kermadec Petrel in Pennsylvania. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.

External links

 

Retired Atlantic hurricane names
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
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2020s
Tropical cyclones of the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season
TSArlene TSBeulah 1Escuminac Hurricane 1Cindy 1Debra TSEdith 1Flora 4Gracie 3Hannah TSIrene 1Judith
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