| Season summary map | |
| First storm formed | June 14, 1958 |
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| Last storm dissipated | October 12, 1958 |
| Strongest storm | Helene – 934 mbar (27.58 inHg), 135 mph (215 km/h) |
| Total storms | 10 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+) | 5 |
| Total damage | $11.65 million (1958 USD) $76.4 million (2005 USD) |
| Total fatalities | 41 |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 |
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The 1958 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1958, and lasted until November 15, 1958.[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was average, with ten storms forming, but had a disproportionate number of strong storms with seven hurricanes and five major hurricanes.
Notable 1958 storms include Hurricane Cleo which reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale while remaining in the open Atlantic Ocean; Hurricane Ella, which dumped considerable amounts of rain in southern Texas; Tropical Storm Gerda, which killed three in Puerto Rico; and Hurricane Helene, which caused $7 million in damage (1958 dollars) when it skimmed past Cape Fear, Cape Lookout (North Carolina), and Cape Hatteras.
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The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 121.[2] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical storms are not included in the ACE value.[3]
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | June 14 – June 16 | ||
| Intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 997 mbar (hPa) | ||
The tropical disturbance developed from an easterly wave that formed in the central Caribbean Sea on June 9. A closed ciruclation low pressure system formed on June 10. The system made landfall in Central America, and heavy rains affected that region, before the system entered the Bay of Campeche. On June 14, the tropical wave developed into a tropical depression in the Bay of Campeche. It moved in a straight line to the northwest, and became a tropical storm later that day. Alma reached its peak of 50 mph (80 km/h) before hitting northeastern Mexico on June 15, 70 mi (110 km) south of Brownsville, Texas. Winds of 40 to 45 mph (72 km/h) were reported in South Padre Island, Texas. It dissipated the following day after causing one indirect death from drowning. Major damage resulted came from floods from the rain of Alma. One person drowned near Galveston, Texas during the storm.[4]
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | August 8 – August 17 | ||
| Intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
A westerly moving tropical wave became a tropical depression on August 8, just off the coast of Africa. It continued westward due to the Bermuda-Azores high to its north, and became a tropical storm on August 11. The next day, Becky reached a peak of 60 mph (97 km/h), but its rapid movement disallowed further strengthening. As the storm moved northeastward, it was gradually absorbed by a frontal boundary, and Becky became extratropical on the August 17.
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 11 – August 22 | ||
| Intensity | 160 mph (260 km/h) (1-min), 948 mbar (hPa) | ||
Hurricane Cleo, a Cape Verde-type hurricane which avoided land, formed from a tropical wave that strengthened into a tropical storm on August 11 in the eastern Atlantic. Cleo steadily strengthened to its peak of 160 mph (260 km/h) winds on August 16, a relatively rare phenomenon. While initially moving westward and posing a threat to the Lesser Antilles, Cleo turned northwestward in response to a short wave trough, and weakened over cooler waters, becoming extratropical on August 20 over the North Atlantic. Hurricane Cleo is one of only four Category 5 hurricanes since 1953 to not be retired, as most other Category 5's impacted land in some form (however, the name Cleo was retired in 1964 after a different Hurricane Cleo).
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | August 24 – August 31 | ||
| Intensity | 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min), 935 mbar (hPa) | ||
Over the Bahamas, a tropical storm developed on August 24 from a tropical wave. Daisy moved slowly northwestward and became a hurricane the next day. A short-wave trough brought Daisy northward where it intensified to a 125 mph (201 km/h) major hurricane, but remained far enough offshore to not cause any damage. Daisy became extratropical on the August 29 south of Nova Scotia.
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | August 30 – September 6 | ||
| Intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min), 1009 mbar (hPa) | ||
Like all the other tropical storms this season, Hurricane Ella developed from a tropical wave, having formed on August 30 just east of the Lesser Antilles. It moved rapidly through the islands, reaching tropical storm strength later on August 30. The next day, Ella became a hurricane, and hit southwestern Haiti on September 1 as a 110 mph (180 km/h) hurricane. Just before hitting southeastern Cuba, Ella reached its peak of 115 mph (185 km/h) winds, but weakened while crossing Cuba to a tropical storm. While in the Gulf of Mexico, the center remained disorganized and was not able to strengthen past 70 mph (110 km/h) winds. It hit southeastern Texas on the October 6, and dissipated later that day. Ella caused a total of $200,000 in damage (1958 dollars) and 37-39 deaths[5] in Cuba and Haiti from drowning. In addition, Galveston received torrential rainfall amounting to 13.6 in (350 mm).[6]
Ella had a role in the Cuban Revolution as the government troops of Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar stayed in their barracks during the storm while the rebels made progress under cover of Ella. Later, when the guerrillas heard about Hurricane Fifi on the radio, Che Guevara taught his illiterate comrades that entities like tropical cyclones are named in alphabetical order.[7]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 4 – September 12 | ||
| Intensity | 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min), 1000 mbar (hPa) | ||
A tropical wave developed into a tropical depression on September 4, east of the Lesser Antilles. It moved northwestward, strengthening into a tropical storm on September 5 and a hurricane on September 6. Fifi passed 150 mi (240 km) to the north of the islands, and as steering currents pushed Fifi northeastward, upper level winds increased, weakening Fifi until dissipation on September 12, 150 mi (240 km) southeast of Bermuda.
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 13 – September 15 | ||
| Intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min), 1004 mbar (hPa) | ||
In the eastern Caribbean Sea, a tropical depression formed on September 13, having developed from an easterly wave. It moved rapidly west-northwestward, and after reaching a peak of 70 mph (110 km/h) winds, Gerda hit south-central Hispaniola on September 15. The circulation dissipated later that day from the high mountains, but a remnant low reached the Gulf of Mexico on September 19, causing high winds over Texas. Three people died from the storm in Puerto Rico, two of which came from drowning.
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 21 – October 4 | ||
| Intensity | 135 mph (215 km/h) (1-min), 934 mbar (hPa) | ||
A tropical wave became a tropical depression on September 21, east of the northern Lesser Antilles. It moved west-northwestward, gradually strengthening; first to a tropical storm on the September 23, then a hurricane on September 24. As an upper-level anticyclone moved eastward, Helene turned northward and northeastward, strengthening with the favorable conditions to a peak of 135 mph (217 km/h) winds. At its peak, it paralleled the coastlines of the Carolinas, coming within 10 mi (16 km) of reaching the coast but remaining offshore on September 28. It continued northeastward over progressively cooler waters, and became extratropical on September 29, just after hitting southern Newfoundland. Though it stayed offshore, Helene managed to cause $11.2 million in damage, though no deaths were reported due to a good warning system.
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 24 – September 30 | ||
| Intensity | 135 mph (215 km/h) (1-min), 968 mbar (hPa) | ||
On September 24, a tropical depression formed east of the northern Lesser Antilles. It moves west-northwestward, and became a tropical storm later that day. On September 25, it became a hurricane, which was followed by a period of rapid intensification to a peak of 135 mph (215 km/h) winds. Ilsa and Helene underwent the Fujiwhara effect, and Ilsa turned northward in the process, where dry air weakened the hurricane steadily until dissipation on September 30.
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | October 5 – October 13 | ||
| Intensity | 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min), 968 mbar (hPa) | ||
The last tropical cyclone of the season formed on October 5 from a westward moving tropical wave, south of Cuba. It strengthened to a 50 mph (80 km/h) tropical storm before crossing the island, and remained intact, becoming a hurricane over the Bahamas on October 7. A cold front pulled Janice northward, and the hurricane became extratropical on October 12, after causing between $200,000-$300,000 in damage (1958 dollars) in the Bahamas and one death. An early report indicated 18 Haitians died when their raft capsized in the Bahamas, though that was later proven false. Heavy flooding occurred in Jamaica and Haiti as well.[6]
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1958. Storms were named Alma, Becky, Cleo, Daisy, Ella, Fifi, Gerda, Helene, Ilsa and Janice for the first time in 1958.
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No names were retired after the 1958 season.
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Tropical cyclones of the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season |
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