Hurricane Isbell (1964)
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This storm should not be confused with the two storms named Isabel.
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Formed | October 8, 1964 | |
| Dissipated | October 16, 1964 | |
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 964 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $20 million (1964 USD) $120 million (2005 USD) |
|
| Fatalities | 6 direct | |
| Areas affected |
Cuba, Florida, North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic States, Northeast United States, Canadian Maritimes | |
| Part of the 1964 Atlantic hurricane season |
||
Hurricane Isbell was the fifth strongest storm of the 1964 Atlantic hurricane season and the strongest landfalling hurricane of the season in the United States. It became a tropical depression east of Nicaragua on October 8. It then strengthened into a tropical storm and later into a hurricane on October 13 before making landfall in western Cuba. In the Gulf of Mexico, on October 14, it strengthened into a major hurricane before making landfall in southwest Florida. After entering the Atlantic, it headed towards North Carolina and made landfall on October 16 just before weakening to an extratropical storm with winds under hurricane force at 45 mph (70 km/h). It then dissipated the following day. It caused $20 million (1964 USD) ($120 million in 2005 USD) in damage, most of it being from crop damage or tornadic activity. In addition to damage, it caused 6 deaths.
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[edit] Storm history
An old diffused frontal trough entered the western Caribbean Sea in early October. Evidence of a tropical disturbance originated over the western Caribbean during October 7 and October 8 at the very end of this frontal trough. The system developed and a weak tropical depression formed on October 8 as it started to move slowly to the northwest. On October 12, it stalled its northwestern progress and made a small loop, followed by a northeastward turn. Lack of inflow and possible earlier land interaction kept the depression fairly weak, but it was able to strengthen 5 mph (10 km/h) further from its original strength later that day, and then reached tropical storm strength on October 13 and was designated as Tropical Storm Isbell.[1]
Isbell reached hurricane intensity around 18 UTC on October 13 shortly after reaching tropical storm status earlier that day. A few hours after being upgraded, the storm made landfall in the extreme western portion of Cuba. It then crossed western Cuba, entered the southeast Gulf of Mexico, and began to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane. [1][2]
Isbell reached its peak strength, with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), before making landfall in Florida near Everglades City on October 14. Maintaining intensity across the southern Florida peninsula, Isbell maintained major hurricane status as it reached the western Atlantic that night, but the storm began to steadily weaken while moving north. It maintained its hurricane force winds until October 16. [1] Isbell became extratropical, with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h), shortly before its final landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina on October 16, and dissipated the next day after moving inland.
[edit] Preparations
In Cuba thousands were evacuated due to flooding lowlands. [3] Numerous hurricane warnings and watches were issued prior to landfall in Florida. Advisories were broadcast and issued warning of the possibility of heavy rains and winds, isolated small hail, and possible isolated tornadoes from 4 to 10 PM CST October 14, 1964. The aviation severe weather forecast also notified people that within an area south and east of a line from sixty miles southwest of Miami north to Gainesville, as well as to 40 miles north of Daytona Beach, 3/4 inch maximum hail, gusts of up to 85 km/h, and one to two tornadoes were possible on October 14. Flood warnings were also issued, with predictions of flooding 4 feet above flood stage.[4] Emergency preparations at Key West's weather office were made. On October 13, 1964, in the morning hours the office alerted city, county, and military officials. In the afternoon, they completed office preparations and scheduling, they also checked equipment. Later, gale warnings and hurricane watches were issued for the lower Florida Keys. Hurricane warnings were issued for the Dry Tortugas. Even later the gale warnings and hurricane watches for the lower Florida Keys were upgraded to hurricane warnings. On the 14th, they requested radio stations to stay on the air, relayed hourly reports, and lowered the hurricane warnings for the lower keys. [5]
Hurricane warnings were issued along the North Carolina coast south of Morehead City. Hurricane watches were issued north of Morehead City. Some tidal flooding was also forecast. People were warned to tune to television and radio broadcasts. [6]
[edit] Impact
Isbell caused $20 million (1964 USD ($120 million 2005 USD)) in damage; most of it was from crop damage or tornadic activity. The hurricane also caused 6 deaths.
[edit] Cuba
70 mph (110 km/h) gusts were reported as far east as Boyeros Airport in the capital of Havana, along with a lowest recorded pressure of 979 mbar (hPa); however, no information on wind speeds in far western Cuba was available due to the relatively small size of the storm and the sparse population of the region. [2]
In the Guane area, which was most strongly affected, heavy damage and three fatalities occurred. [2] All of the fatalities were from housing collapses. [7] Four total deaths were reported. Hundreds of homes were also destroyed, and crops were ruined. The local tobacco crop industry was heavily affected, and several tobacco warehouses were destroyed. [3]
[edit] Florida
Isbell produced numerous small and dangerous tornadoes as it passed Florida. An eyewitness account said that tornadoes from Isbell "caused as much damage as the hurricane did."[8] Another eyewitness also noted that severe rains occurred during the early portions of the storm, but that eventually it died down to fairly light rain.[8]In Eau Gallie, a tornado demolished 12 house trailers, toar off the roof of a church during Mass, and a house was blown across a road. No one in the congregation was injured. [3]
1 person was reported dead, due to a heart attack while boarding up for the hurricane, 37 injuried, and 12 hospitalized. 1 house was also reported destroyed, 33 with major damage and 631 with minor damage. 66 trailers were reported destroyed, and 88 were reported to have major damage. [9] 90 mph (145 km/h) winds affected the state. [10]
[edit] Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic States
Isbell had widespread rains throughout the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic including these totals of 5.14 inches in Columbia, 4.55 inches in Inman-Gramlang, 4.28 inches in Greer, 3.90 inches in Kinstree, and 3.84 inches in Orangeburg. [11] Gusts up to 65 mph (105 km/h) were reported in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on October 16th, but no significant wind damage was reported. Considerable weakening occurred before landfall, causing only fairly minor damage and some beach erosion. Direct damage was primarily to low-lying areas. [12] However, six or more tornadoes occurred after landfall. They demolished trailers, unroofed homes and other buildings in several North Carolina communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared some counties in North Carolina as disaster areas. The most affected area was Boynton Beach where 20 house trailers were destroyed and 22 people were injured. [3]
Crop damage was reported from the storm. Flash flooding and large damage to peanuts occurred at landfall, due to wet soil. Isbell was the only major hurricane to hit the U.S. coastline this season. Cleo, Dora, and Hilda all weakened to a Category 2 prior to hitting the coast. Isbell, despite being the strongest at landfall, was not retired. [13]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964. HURDAT. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ a b c Dunn, Gordon E.; et al. (March 1965). Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964. U.S. Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ a b c d Associated Press. "Isbell Takes Dead Aim on North Carolina Coast", The Daily Times News, 1964-10-15. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
- ^ (none). US Weather Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ (none). WBAS Key West, Florida. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ (none). United States Department of Commerce Wilmington, North Carolina Weather Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ unknown (1964-10-14). (none).
- ^ a b Williams, John M.; Iver W. Duedall. Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms. University Press of Florida. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ (none). Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ (none). Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ (none). WBAS South Carolina. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ (none). WBAS Wilmington, North Carolina. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
- ^ NWS Summary
