1959 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1959 Atlantic hurricane season |
Season summary map
|
| Seasonal boundaries |
| First system formed |
May 28, 1959 |
| Last system dissipated |
October 21, 1959 |
| Strongest storm |
|
| Name |
Gracie |
| • Maximum winds |
140 mph (220 km/h) |
| • Lowest pressure |
950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics |
| Total depressions |
14 |
| Total storms |
14 |
| Hurricanes |
7 |
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+) |
2 |
| Total fatalities |
58 direct, 6 indirect |
| Total damage |
At least $24 million (1959 USD) |
|
|
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
|
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
May 28 – June 2 |
| Peak intensity |
65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 993 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
June 15 – June 19 |
| Peak intensity |
70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 985 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
June 18 – June 19 |
| Peak intensity |
85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 974 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 4 – July 11 |
| Peak intensity |
75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 22 – July 27 |
| Peak intensity |
85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 980 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 2 – August 3 |
| Peak intensity |
70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 999 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 18 – August 19 |
| Peak intensity |
60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 1007 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 28 – September 3 |
| Peak intensity |
65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 9 – September 11 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
The 1959 Atlantic hurricane season had a then record-tying number of tropical cyclones – five – develop before August 1. The season was officially to begin on June 15, 1959 and last until November 15, 1959, the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin, however in actuality the season began early when Tropical Storm Arlene formed on May 28. Tropical Storm Arlene struck Louisiana and brought minor flooding to the Gulf Coast of the United States. The next storm, Beulah, formed in the western Gulf of Mexico and brought negligible impact to Mexico and Texas. Later in June, an unnamed hurricane, nicknamed the Escuminac disaster, caused minor damage in Florida and devastated coastal Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, after becoming extratropical. Hurricane Cindy brought minor impact to The Carolinas. In late July, Hurricane Debra produced flooding in the state of Texas. Tropical Storm Edith in August and Hurricane Flora in September caused negligible impact on land.
The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Gracie, which peaked as a 140 mph (220 km/h) Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. After weakening slightly, Gracie made landfall as a 130 mph (215 km/h) Category 4 hurricane in South Carolina on August 29. It brought strong winds, rough seas, heavy rainfall, and tornadoes to the state, as well as North Carolina and Virginia. Overall, Gracie caused 22 fatalities and $14 million in damage. Following Hurricane Gracie was Hurricane Hannah, a long-lived storm that did not cause any known impact on land. The last two tropical cyclones, Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Judith, both caused minor coastal and inland flooding in Florida. The storms of the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season were collectively attributed to $24 million (1959 USD) and 64 fatalities.
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Wikipedia
