Hurricane Ginny
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| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Ginny TIROS satellite image |
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| Formed | October 16, 1963 | |
| Dissipated | October 29, 1963 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 948 mbar (hPa; 28.01 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 7 | |
| Damage | $300,000 (1963 USD) $2 million (2008 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
North Carolina,New England, Canada | |
| Part of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Ginny was the eight tropical storm and seventh hurricane of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm hovered offshore the Southeast United States for several days during late October, threatening the coasts of the Carolinas with a landfall and bringing moderate to heavy rainfall. The cyclone eventually moved northeast, peaking at category 2 strength, and brought snows to New England as it struck the coast of Nova Scotia. The hurricane caused a total of seven deaths and $300,000 in damage (1963 dollars).
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[edit] Storm history
A cold-core trough of low pressure existed over the Bahamas. An easterly wave moved under this cold low, spurring development.[2] A depression formed on October 16 which then moved northward, reaching tropical storm force winds on October 19. Reconnaissance aircraft reported a cold-core system that day, but as Ginny became better organized with increased thunderstorm activity near its center, its core warmed, and the storm become a hurricane on October 20. The hurricane then looped offshore the coast of North Carolina. Accelerating southwestward due to a blocking high pressure ridge forming over New England,[2] Ginny weakened to a tropical storm, but as it crossed over the Gulf Stream again, it restrengthened back into a hurricane. Ginny turned to the northeast on October 25 as an upper trough approached from its northwest, keeping the hurricane's center offshore but close enough to cause rain and wind. The hurricane's intensity fluctuated as it headed northeastward, reaching its peak of 110 miles per hour (96 kn/180 km/h) on the October 29. Ginny became an extratropical cyclone due to the cooler waters and cool air entrainment on October 29, just after making landfall on southwest Nova Scotia.[3]
[edit] Preparations
Hurricane warnings were raised between Charleston, South Carolina and Cape Fear, North Carolina, as well as Cape Hatteras at various times during its eight day meander within 250 miles (400 km) of the Southeast United States.[4]
[edit] Impact
Maximum sustained winds peaked at 70 mph (61 kn/110 km/h) with gusts to 100 mph (87 kn/160 km/h) at Oak Island on Cape Fear. Sustained winds peaked at 65 mph (56 kn/105 km/h) at Nantucket.[4] Rainfall amounts approached 7 inches (180 mm) in North Carolina, and exceeded 3 in (76 mm) in South Carolina.[5] Ginny was one of the latest hurricanes on record to make landfall near New England. Minor flooding and damage to small craft were reported from Canada.[6] The hurricane caused a total of seven deaths and $300,000 in damage (1963 dollars).
[edit] Snowfall
Ginny was unusual due to its production of 6 to 13 in (150–330 mm) of snow over Maine. Ginny was one of a handful of hurricanes to produce snowfall. Other storms include a hurricane in 1804 that dropped over 24 in (610 mm) of snow to New England,[7] a hurricane in October of 1841 that produced 18 in (460 mm) of snow in Connecticut, and Hurricane Noel which brought up to 6 inches (150 mm) of snow to Maine.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Ginny Storm Report, page 4. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
- ^ a b Lewis J. Allison and Harold P. Thompson. TIROS VII Infrared Radiation Coverage of the 1963 Atlantic Hurricane Season With Supporting Television and Conventional Meteorological Data. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
- ^ National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Ginny Storm Report, page 1. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
- ^ a b National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Ginny Storm Report, page 2. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
- ^ David M. Roth. Hurricane Ginny (1963) Black Background and Color Filled Rainfall Graphic. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
- ^ National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Ginny Storm Report, page 3. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
- ^ David M. Roth and Hugh D. Cobb III. Virginia Hurricane History. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
- ^ David M. Roth. Hurricane Noel (2007) Rainfall Page. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
