| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 30, 1958 |
| Dissipated | September 6, 1958 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 989 mbar (hPa; 29.21 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 38 direct |
| Damage | $200,000 (1958 USD) |
| Areas affected | Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Florida, Texas |
| Part of the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Ella was the first major hurricane to strike Cuba since Hurricane Fox of 1952. The fifth tropical cyclone of the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season, Ella developed on August 30 from a tropical wave located east of the Lesser Antilles. The system intensified into Tropical Storm Ella shortly before crossing through the Leeward Islands, and entering the Caribbean Sea. Ella later intensified into a hurricane, and was a Category 2 hurricane when it struck the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. After striking Haiti, Ella continued to intensify, and made landfall near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. Ella rapidly weakened over Cuba, and deteriorated to a tropical storm less than twelve hours later. As Ella remained near the Cuban coastline, re-intensification occurred, and the storm was near hurricane intensity when it had another landfall on the southwest coast of the island. No re-intensification occurred after emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, and Ella made a final landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas on September 6, with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h). Ella rapidly weakened over land, and dissipated later that day.
Ella dropped heavy rainfall throughout its path, causing damage in fatalities in several regions, especially Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. In the wake of Ella, damage was reported at $200,000 (1958 USD; $1.52 million 2012 USD) in damage and 38 fatalities occurred.
Contents |
The origins of Hurricane Ella can be traced back to a tropical wave that was observed near longitude 50°W on August 29. Reconnaissance aircraft flights reported a wind shift and an above average amount of convection to the east of the Lesser Antilles, but there was no evidence of a low-level circulation. Late on August 30, Reconnaissance aircraft flew into the system again, and located a low-level circulation, and it was immediately classified as Tropical Storm Ella, since tropical storm force winds were observed.[1] After the season post-analysis, it was noted that Tropical Depression Five developed several hours earlier then operationally classified.[2]
Rapid intensification occurred on August 31, and Ella became a hurricane around 1200 UTC. Ella continued to rapidly intensify, and was a category 2 hurricane only six hours later. After becoming a category 2 hurricane, Ella intensified more gradually, as sustained winds remained that same for nearly 24 hours. Early on September 1, Ella curved northwest, causing it to make landfall on the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). As Ella emerged into the Windward Passage, it intensified slightly to become a category 3 hurricane. Ella then attained its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 989 mbar (hPa; 29.21 inHg).[1]
No further intensification occurred, and on September 2, Ella made landfall near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Ella rapidly weakened while crossing the Sierra Maestra, deteriorating to a category 1 hurricane in less than six hours. Continuing to weaken, Ella was downgraded to a tropical storm later that day. After weakening to a 50 mph (80 km/h) tropical storm, Ella began to re-intensify, and winds reached 70 mph (115 km/h) before landfall in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba occurred on September 3. Ella crossed Cuba and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico early on September 4, however, no further re-intensification occurred. As Ella tracked northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico, it had remained a strong tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (115 km/h), however, rapid weakening occurred as the storm approached Texas. Later that day, Ella made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h). Less than six hours after landfall, Ella had been downgraded to a tropical depression, and had dissipated while crossing the border with Mexico later that day.[1]
In preparation for Ella on the island of Hispaniola, a hurricane warning was issued from Barahona, Dominican Republic, and along the Haitian coastline to Saint-Marc.[3] On 35 oil platforms offshore of Houston, Texas, 1,400 people were alerted about possible evacuations should Ella approached the area.[4]
There were no reported damage in the Virgin Islands. Many recording stations in those areas reported winds up to 40 mph (65 km/h) and there was minor flooding damage in Puerto Rico. Ella brought heavy rains, that caused $100,000 (1958 USD; $2.28 million 2012 USD) in damage in the southwestern portion of the Dominican Republic but no deaths. In Haiti, heavy rains, caused flash floods that killed 30 people near Aux Cayes. Elsewhere in the nation of Haiti, there were no casualties, although three people were reported missing. About eight people died in Cuba, mostly from flash flooding and damage was at $100,000 (1958 USD; $760 thousand 2012 USD).[1]
There was minor damage in the Florida Keys, where Ella's outer rainbands produced gale force winds. In Miami, a freighter was disabled and had to be towed in to port by the Coast Guard. Ella brought heavy rains to south Texas. In Galveston, there were reports of 13.6 in (345.44 mm) of rain. Also, a shrimp trawler sank during the storm and a man was washed overboard from a fishing boat.[1]
Throughout its path, Hurricane Ella let $200,000 (1958 USD; $1.52 million 2012 USD) in damage and 38 fatalities.[1]
