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1945 Outer Banks hurricane

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Hurricane One
1945Outer Bankshurricane
Surface weather analysisof the hurricane on June 24
Meteorological history
FormedJune 20, 1945(1945-06-20)
ExtratropicalJune 27
DissipatedJuly 4, 1945(1945-06-05)
Category 2 hurricane
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds100 mph (155 km/h)
Lowest pressure<985mbar(hPa); <29.09inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities1
Damage$75,000 (1945USD)
Areas affectedBig Bend(Florida),GeorgiaandSouth Carolina,Outer Banks (North Carolina)
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the1945 Atlantic hurricane season

The1945 Outer Banks hurricanewas a moderate hurricane that struck Florida and affected theEast Coast of the United Statesin late June, 1945. The first tropical storm and the first hurricane of theAtlantic season,it developed on June 20 in the westernCaribbean Seaoff Honduras. For the next two days, it moved generally northward into theGulf of Mexico.Reaching hurricane intensity on June 23, it then turned northeast toward the Florida peninsula. It made landfall in the Big Bend on June 24, then weakened to a tropical storm over land. Minor damage was reported in Florida, but the storm produced heavy, though beneficial, rains that eased one of the state's worst recorded droughts. Upon entering the Atlantic Ocean, it re-intensified into a hurricane and paralleled the East Coast. On June 26, it struck the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a minimal hurricane, producing minor damage but heavy rainfall.

Continuing northeast, the cyclone delivered gale-force winds to New York and southern New England, causing traffic accidents and minor wind damage. Heavy rains drenched the area, and high waves offshore caused ships to need rescue. One man died in a traffic accident; some people were rescued on Long Island Sound. Peak winds on land were 66miles per hour(106km/h) at Nantucket, forcing ships to remain in port. The U.S. Coast Guard sought to escort ships at sea into safe harbor. Overall, the impact of the storm was minor, though temperatures fell almost 20 °F (−7 °C) the day after the storm.

Meteorological 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
triangleExtratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On June 19, atropical disturbancewas detected betweenSwan Islandand theHondurancoast. However,surface datain the vicinity did not indicate a closed circulation until 12UTCon June 20.[1]At 14 UTC that day, anAir Forcereconnaissanceplanelocated near24°N84°Wreportedgale-force winds of 35knots(18m/s) (40miles per hour(64km/h)).[1]At the time, this was taken to indicate that a tropical storm had formed about 100miles(160km) northwest of Swan Island.[2]Reanalysisby the Hurricane Research Division in 2013, however, determined that a tropical storm formed farther northwest, near19°N86°W.[3]Squallyweather, and winds of moderate tropical storm force, was reported in connection with the tropical storm as it moved generally northward, toward theYucatán Channel.[2]Little strengthening occurred over the next two days, until after 12 UTC on June 22.[3]At that time, a period ofrapid deepeningcommenced: within 24 hours, the cyclone increased its winds from 50 mph (80 km/h) to 80 mph (130 km/h). At the same time, its track made a sharp bend toward the northeast, threatening the Florida peninsula. While no central pressure was recorded, Hurricane Hunter aircraft flew into the storm on June 23 and reported winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) at 2015 UTC.[1]As with most early reconnaissance data, such readings are suspect; however, based upon the reconnaissance measurement, the storm was originally listed in theAtlantic hurricane databaseas aCategory 3hurricane. Later, reanalysis lowered this estimate to 100 mph (160 km/h), equal to Category 2 on the modern Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, due primarily to the absence of corroboration.[1]After peaking late on June 23, the storm quickly lost intensity.[2]

The hurricane continued northeast and madelandfallat 08 UTC on June 24, north of theTampa Bay Area.[4]Although observations were sparse near theeye,the system was estimated to have had winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), though only minor impacts were reported as few people lived in the landfall area.[1]After making landfall, the center tracked inland betweenBrooksvilleandDunnellon,near theHernando–Citruscounty line.[5]About an hour before 18 UTC, the cyclone returned to water off the Atlantic coast of Florida, passing betweenSt. AugustineandDaytona Beach.Due to interaction with land, maximum sustained winds by then had decreased to 60 mph (97 km/h).[3]

After moving offshore, however, the cyclone quickly regained force. Within seven hours, it re-intensified into a minimal hurricane and paralleled theSoutheastern United States,following the warmGulf Stream.Early on June 26, the northeast-moving hurricane approached the North Carolina coast, and made a second landfall at 01 UTC nearBeaufort, North Carolina.Passing very near toCape Hatteras,[2]the eye of the storm moved offshore atOregon Inlet,nearWanchese.The storm maintained hurricane intensity as it moved over and northeast of the Outer Banks.[5]At 06 UTC on June 27, the cyclone finally lost tropical characteristics, but still retained winds of hurricane force for another 12 hours.[3]Continuing to the northeast, the extratropical low passed south ofNova Scotiaand hitMiquelon, Miquelon-Langlade,Saint Pierre and Miquelon,with winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). The system survived another four days, only to lose its identity nearIcelandat 12 UTC on July 4.

Preparations and impact

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As early as June 19, the U.S. Weather Bureau began sending reconnaissance missions to monitor the developing storm in theCaribbean.The regular reports sent by the airplanes provided valuable data about the intensity of the small cyclone.[6]At 16 UTC (10:00 a.m. local time) on June 23, the U.S. Weather Bureau inNew Orleansadvised residents fromMobile, Alabama,toCedar Key, Florida,to prepare for gale-force winds. Areas fromTampatoGrand Isle, Louisiana,were placed under astorm warning.The center of the storm was expected to strike land early on June 24 between Mobile andPanama City, Florida.[7]As the storm intensified into a hurricane, forecasters shifted their predicted landfall point eastward; early on June 24 the Weather Bureau expected the storm to strike between Tampa andCross City, Florida.Hurricane warnings were issued for the coastline between Tampa andCarrabelle, Florida;meanwhile, storm warnings were issued fromPunta GordatoTitusville.The city ofTallahasseeprepared to receive evacuees, and evacuations were ordered for coastal communities in the Big Bend. TheFlorida Highway Patrolwarned local residents to leave the area, and soldiers were transported out of Carrabelle.[8]As the hurricane moved closer to the Big Bend, storm warnings were extended up theEastern SeaboardtoSavannah, Georgia.Between 300 and 400 military aircraft were flown out of Florida toBirmingham, Alabama.[6]Once the storm left Florida, additional evacuations commenced betweenGeorgetown, South Carolina,and Cape Hatteras,[9]including the North Carolina communities ofWilmington,Morehead City,and nearby resort towns.[10]Large-scale evacuations from the Wilmington area alone involved 5,000 people and were credited with reducing loss of life.[5]Meanwhile, storm warnings were extended northward toNorfolk, Virginia;[9]however, only minor impacts occurred inCarolinas[10]andVirginia.[11]Nevertheless, the cyclone continued to parallel the East Coast, so storm warnings were eventually extended toAtlantic City, New Jersey;small watercraft in theNortheastern United Stateswere advised to stay in port.[10]

Winds in the Tampa Bay Area reached tropical storm force, 39–46 mph (63–74 km/h), at 05 UTC on June 24. At that time, the "center" of the storm was estimated to be 25 mi (40 km) across.[6]Near the point of landfall, the hurricane defoliatedcitrustrees and downed power lines, and flash floods washed out roadways.[12]Throughout its path, the hurricane generated prolific rains. Peak rainfall along the path totaled 13.6 in (350 mm) atLake Alfred;[13]West Palm Beachrecorded 11.4inches(290mm) ofrainwithin a 24-hour period.[14]Rainfall inOrange Countyexceeded 6 in (152 mm), which proved beneficial to dryorangegroves;[12]the heavy rains ended one of the worstdroughtsinFlorida's history.[2]Overall, damage in theMiamiarea was described as being slight, totaling $75,000 (1945 USD).[5]The hurricane also produced twotornadoesin Florida, one nearLaBelleand another nearMelbourne.[5]Along the Georgia coast, the hurricane produced only fringe impacts, including strong winds and heavy rain. Wind gusts to 70 mph (110 km/h) were reported fromTybee Island,[9]and portions of coastal North Carolina received up to 8.24 in (209 mm) of rain.[15]

InNew YorkandNew England,theouterbandsof the hurricane produced gale-force winds and high surf; peak winds were reported at up to 50 mph (80 km/h) onLong Island Sound,and large waves caused some boats to capsize and people to need rescue.[16]Offshore, even higher velocities were reported: aweather stationonNantucket,Massachusetts,measured a peak wind of 66 mph (106 km/h), and in theAtlantic Oceanwinds reaching 70 mph (110 km/h) batteredCoast Guardvessels. The Coast Guard nevertheless sought to escort troubled ships into port. Heavy rainfall fell across coastal New England, peaking at 4.59 in (120 mm) on Nantucket. The heavy rains and gale-force winds hindered normal traffic; a vehicle struck and killed a man atWarwick, Rhode Island.At least 10,000telephonelineswere taken out of service, 7,000 of them in theCape Codregion. Besides causingpower outages,the stormy conditions damaged trees, buildings, and crops; in theBostonarea, high winds knocked down trees andchimneys.[16]A strongtemperature gradientexisted between the cyclone and the Northeast U.S.: inNew York City,the daily high on June 26 was almost 20°Flower than on the preceding day.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdeNational Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (June 2013)."Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT) Meta Data, 1945".United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research.Retrieved2013-08-10.
  2. ^abcdeSumner, H. C. (January 1946)."North Atlantic Hurricanes and Tropical Disturbances of 1945"(PDF).Monthly Weather Review.74(1).Washington, D.C.:U.S. Weather Bureau: 1–5.Bibcode:1946MWRv...74....1..doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1946)074<0001:MACDFJ>2.0.CO;2.Retrieved10 August2013.
  3. ^abcd"Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)"(Database). United StatesNational Hurricane Center.April 5, 2023.RetrievedJuly 16,2024.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  4. ^Landsea, Chris;Anderson, Craig; Bredemeyer, William; et al. (January 2022).Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description).Re-Analysis Project(Report).Miami,Florida:Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory,Hurricane Research Division.RetrievedJuly 16,2024.
  5. ^abcde"Severe Local Storms, June 1945"(PDF).Monthly Weather Review.73(6).United States Weather Bureau:109–110. June 1945.Bibcode:1945MWRv...73..109..doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1945)073<0109:SLSJ>2.0.CO;2.Retrieved10 August2013.
  6. ^abc"Hurricane Due to Hit Above Tampa Today".The Miami News.Miami, Florida.June 24, 1945.Retrieved10 August2013.
  7. ^"Mild Storm Passes Northward in Gulf".The Evening Independent.St. Petersburg, Florida.June 23, 1945.Retrieved10 August2013.
  8. ^"Gale Roaring Upon Florida".The Milwaukee Journal.Milwaukee.The Associated Press.June 24, 1945.Retrieved10 August2013.
  9. ^abc"Storm Sweeps Eastern Coast".The Telegraph-Herald.Dubuque, Iowa.The Associated Press. June 25, 1945.Retrieved10 August2013.
  10. ^abc"New York City Prepares for Strong Winds Today as Storm Sweeps North".St. Petersburg Times.The Associated Press. June 26, 1945.Retrieved11 August2013.
  11. ^"Storm Is Moving Up Atlantic Coast".St. Joseph News-Press.St. Joseph, Missouri.The Associated Press. June 26, 1945.Retrieved11 August2013.
  12. ^ab"Hurricane Threatens Carolinas; Tides Mount, Storm Grows In Intensity".The Miami News.The Associated Press. June 25, 1945.Retrieved10 August2013.
  13. ^Schoner, Robert W; Molansky, Sydney; National Hurricane Research Project (1956).Rainfall associated with Hurricanes and other Tropical Disturbances(PDF)(Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. p. 177.Retrieved11 August2013.
  14. ^"Tropical Storm Past Sarasota, Heavy Rainfall".Sarasota Herald-Tribune.Sarasota, Florida.The Associated Press. June 24, 1945.Retrieved10 August2013.
  15. ^"Heavy Tropic Storm Lashes Up U.S. Coast".The Montreal Gazette.Montreal.The Associated Press. June 27, 1945.Retrieved11 August2013.
  16. ^ab"Darien Soldier Saved on Sound".The Norwalk Hour.Norwalk, Connecticut.June 27, 1945.Retrieved11 August2013.
  17. ^"Tropical Storm Skirts New York".St. Petersburg Times.The Associated Press. June 27, 1945.Retrieved11 August2013.

[[Category:July 1945 events in the United States]|Outer Banks hurricane]

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