Tropical Storm Brenda (1960)

Tropical Storm Brenda

Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Weather map of Brenda
Formed	July 28, 1960
Dissipated	July 31, 1960
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 60 mph (95 km/h)
Fatalities	None direct, ≥1 indirect
Damage	$5 million (1960 USD)
Areas affected	Gulf Coast of the United States, East Coast of the United States, Eastern Canada
Part of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season

Tropical Storm Brenda was the second named storm of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on July 28, and after moving ashore over the Florida Peninsula, it attained tropical storm status. Brenda accelerated northeast along the U.S. East Coast, ultimately peaking as a moderate storm with winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) before crossing the Mid-Atlantic states and New England; it dissipated on July 31 over southern Canada. The storm inflicted moderate damage in Florida, the worst since Hurricane Easy of 1950, and dropped heavy rainfall as far north as New York City. Total damage is estimated at US$5 million, and only indirect deaths are blamed on the cyclone.

A weak low-pressure area that organized in the northeast Gulf of Mexico began to intensify on July 28, while located west of the Tampa Bay. Early in its life, the system had a broad circulation with primarily light winds, similar to that of a subtropical storm. The storm is estimated to have become a tropical depression earlier the previous day as it moved toward the northeast. It made landfall along the Florida coast near Cross City and continued inland, gradually accelerating. It likely attained tropical storm status at around 1200 UTC on July 28 while its center was situated west of Tampa. The cyclone was named Brenda after reconnaissance aircraft confirmed that it had reached tropical storm strength.

Brenda tracked northward, hugging the Georgia and South Carolina coasts before moving inland over North Carolina. It attained its peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) in the late evening of July 29, while situated south of Wilmington. Several hours later, the storm emerged over the Chesapeake Bay moving northeast at about 30 mph (48 km/h). Brenda crossed the Delmarva Peninsula and rapidly tracked into southern New Jersey. The storm crossed the state and eventually made another landfall on Long Island before making yet another landfall in coastal Connecticut.