Hurricane Daisy (1962)
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| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Daisy near peak strength |
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| Formed | September 29, 1962 | |
| Dissipated | October 8, 1962 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 965 mbar (hPa; 28.51 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 2 direct, 24 indirect | |
| Damage | $1.1 million (1962 USD) $8 million (2008 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
New England, Canadian Maritime | |
| Part of the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Daisy was a moderate hurricane in the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season, that caused severe damage in New England, and the Canadian Maritimes. The fourth named storm of the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season, it became a tropical depression on September 29, while moving west-northwest. On October 2, it became a tropical storm, and on October 3, it became a hurricane. It moved north, and affected New England and Nova Scotia with flooding rain, and high winds. Total damage is estimated to be over $1.1 million (1962 USD) dollars. Two fatalities were directly related to the hurricane, and 24 other people died in traffic related deaths, that were caused by slick roads from the heavy rain.
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[edit] Storm history
Daisy's origins were from a small circulation that was indicated by ship reports, well to the east of the Antilles. [1] The next day, a reconnaissance aircraft located a tropical depression at 15°N., 53°W. The depression contained a cold-cored low pressure center, which is not conducive of tropical storm development.[1]In the early stages of the depression, the system appeared to have been located under minor vortices in the upper atmosphere, located within a strong east to west oriented trough. By October 3, the trough had dissipated, and the depression had moved away from the principal upper vortex. With the trough dissipated, the depression started on a west-northwest track, slowly organizing as it did so.[1] Prior to the strengthening of the depression, the system moved north-west between two high pressure areas, one located in the Bahamas, the other near Bermuda.[1] The depression organized, and became a tropical storm on October 2, and a hurricane on October 3.[1]
The storm moved northward, and passed near Bermuda as it reached it's peak intensity of 965 hPa on October 6. The next day, as the storm continued moving northward, cold air started to feed into the circulation. The Nor'easter that had been affecting New England with heavy rain moved into the path of Daisy, and was absorbed by the hurricane.[2] Daisy became extratropical east of Maine, and made landfall that day in Nova Scotia, and turned eastward.[1] The storm moved north, and became extratropical.[1]
[edit] Preparations
As a result of the formation of the tropical depression on September 30, the Leeward Islands were put under hurricane watches and gale warnings.[3] As Daisy intensified, moved northward, and threatened New England, gale warnings were issued for the coastal areas from Block Island, Rhode Island, to Eastport, Maine, while hurricane watches were issued for the east coast of Maine.[3]
[edit] Impact
Daisy caused moderate to severe damage in eastern New England, Nova Scotia, and the Canadian Maritimes. The combined impact from a Nor'easter just one day before Daisy hit, and Hurricane Daisy, caused severe flooding in Maine, when rain fell for 65 consecutive hours in some locations.[2][1] Rainfall from the two systems caused record rainfall in some areas in Maine, as well as Massachusetts. Also, lobster fishing ships suffered from heavy losses due to Daisy.[1] Boat damages were severe, with hundreds of small boats destroyed, and many larger boats damaged.[4] In the heavy surf that caused those damages to boats, three people were rescued in two different accidents, but they sustained injuries.[4] Also, several small structures were swept away in the high waves.[4] In other areas of the New England coast, tides were two feet above average; still, a person was swept away, and died, and minor tidal flooding occurred in coastal areas[4] Also, a pier was washed away in the high surf.[2] Total damage from wave and tide was $600,000 (1962 USD) dollars.[4] Some roads were completely under water, with pumping operations continuing for 4 days in the hardest hit locations.[5]
Wind damage was severe and widespread; one person was killed when a fallen tree landed on, and crushed his car while he was in it. The highest winds associated with Daisy were felt over coastal Maine, where winds of 70 mph (112 km/h) were commonly reported.[2][4] In southeast Maine, power outages were reported, due to fallen trees and tree limbs.[4] Houses with roof shingles blown off were common in Maine and Massachusetts, while some houses suffered complete loss of the roof.[4] Total wind damage in New England is $500,000 (1962 USD) dollars.[4] Rainfall totaled to 12 inches (300 mm) of rain in some areas of Maine, mostly from the coastal storm.[5] Flooding was considered the worst since Hurricane Diane in 1955. The reason for severe flooding was partially because of the time in the year it occurred. Because the hurricane occurred in the fall, storm drains were clogged with leaves, which affected the draining of flood waters. [5] The lowest pressure recorded on land was 976 millibars.[2]
During Daisy's track northward, it passed within 200 miles (320 km/h) of Bermuda, causing heavy surf, and up to 65 mph (105 km/h) winds.[6]
Damage totals in the united states alone could surpass $10 million (1962 USD) dollars including the coastal storm, with damage for Daisy being around $1.1 million (1962 USD), while impact in Nova Scotia was severe, as well.[1][5] Two fatalities were directly related to the storm, while 24 other people died from traffic related deaths due to flooded and slick roads.[5][1]
[edit] See Also
- List of New England hurricanes
- List of Canada hurricanes
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Massachusetts
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gordon E. Dunn and staff (1962). 1962 Monthly Weather Review. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e NHC (1962). Hurricane Daisy effects on New England. NHC. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ a b U.S. weather bureau (1962). Hurricane Daisy preliminary report. NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i NHC (1962). Hurricane Daisy effects on New England page 2. NHC. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e NHC (1962). Hurricane Daisy. NHC.
- ^ Bermuda Climate and Weather
