Hurricane Helene (1958)
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Radar image of Hurricane Helene on September 27, 1958 |
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| Formed | September 21, 1958 | |
| Dissipated | September 29, 1958 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 934 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $11 million (1958 USD) $72 million (2005 USD) |
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| Fatalities | 0 direct, 1 indirect | |
| Areas affected |
North Carolina, Atlantic Canada | |
| Part of the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Helene was the strongest hurricane in the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season, reaching peak winds of 135 mph and tied with Hurricane Ilsa. Helene was the only hurricane of the season to impact the United States. Because the hurricane remained offshore, winds and rainfall were confined to the immediate coastline. Damage amounted to $11 million ($72 million in 2005 USD), making Helene the costliest storm of the season.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave was detected on September 19 near the Cape Verde Islands. The system began to slowly intensify as it moved west-northwest at 20 mph. On the 20th, hurricane hunter aircraft crews reported a fall in pressure and maximum winds between 35 and 40 mph. [1] Helene reached tropical storm strength on 23rd with 50 mph winds as it slowed down and intensified further. After reaching hurricane strength, the storm then moved rapidly west-northwest, where it was 80 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, strengthening to a major hurricane. [2] On September 26, the eye of Helene was approximately 10 miles off the coast of North Carolina where it turned, reached it's peak intensity of 135 mph, and rapidly moved north-eastward and made landfall in Newfoundland. Later, Helene continued across the Atlantic as a powerful extratropical storm.
[edit] Impact
Hurricane Helene caused $11 million dollars (1958 USD, $72 million in 2005 USD) in damage but no deaths. Several weather stations in North Carolina reported hurricane force winds, with one recording a gust of 135mph. In Cape Fear, 125 mph sustained winds were reported with gusts up to 160 mph. In areas of eastern North Carolina, the damage wrought by Helene was considered worse than the damage from Hurricane Hazel.[3] In Wilmington, there was heavy damage to beach resorts. [4] Overall, however, damage was minor and limited to coastal sections. [5]
When Helene reached Atlantic Canada, it destroyed a 50 meter wharf in Nova Scotia and carried several lobster traps out to sea. There the storm caused heavy damage to trees and houses.[6] In addition, when the storm moved northeast, it brought a flock of tropical frigatebirds that were blown off course to a region unseen to those type of birds. [7]
[edit] Experiments
Hurricane Helene was one of the earliest hurricanes to be experimented as hurricane hunter planes dropped airborned balloons equipped with radio transmissions. [8] This was one of 23 missions conducted by the National Hurricane Research Project. [9]
[edit] Lack of retirement
Because the damage was not extreme in most areas, the name was not retired and the name Helene was used for future storms.
