Hurricane Connie
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Connie approaching North Carolina |
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| Formed | August 3, 1955 | |
| Dissipated | August 15, 1955 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 936 mbar (hPa; 27.64 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 37 direct, 4 indirect | |
| Damage | At least $15 million (1955 USD) At least $121.8 million (2010 USD) |
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| Areas affected |
North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, New England | |
| Part of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Connie was the first in a series of hurricanes to strike North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. Connie struck as a Category 1, causing major flooding and inflicting extensive damage to the Outer Banks and inland to Raleigh.
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Meteorological history
The precursor to Hurricane Connie was a tropical wave that moved across the Tropical Atlantic. A surface circulation was reported by ships on August 3, and a tropical depression was born. It became a tropical storm later that day, but much of the convection was located to the north of the circulation due to the rapid west-northwest movement of the storm. As it slowed down, another circulation reformed to the northeast, and Connie rapidly strengthened on the 5th to a 135 mph Category 4 hurricane.
The hurricane passed to the north of the Lesser Antilles on August 6 as it reached its peak intensity of 145 mph winds, causing rain and heavy surf. Connie retained this intensity for the next 4 days, but with high pressure to its north, it moved slowly towards the North Carolina coast. Upwelling, cool air above it, and dry air to the north weakened Connie greatly, causing a minimal hurricane landfall on the 12th near Morehead City, North Carolina.
Connie remained a tropical storm well inland until Pennsylvania, where it quickly declined until dissipation on August 15 over the Great Lakes.
Preparations
Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico
On August 5, Hurricane Connie began to become an apparent threat to the northeastern Caribbean Islands, with maximum winds in the storm reaching 125 mph (205 km/h). The National Weather Bureau issued hurricane warnings for Barbuda, Saba and Antigua. The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were placed on hurricane alert as warnings were possible later that day.[1]
United States
Impact
Along its path, Hurricane Connie affected several islands in the northeastern Caribbean; however, most of the damage occurred in the United States. There, at least 41 people were killed by the storm and damages exceeded $15 million (1955 USD; $122.3 million 2009 USD).[2]
Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico
Although Connie moved northeast of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, moderate to heavy rains fell across those island groups.
North Carolina
Mid-Atlantic states
In Washington D.C., a car accident caused by slick roads resulted in the death of four people after a car was sideswiped and knocked into a swollen creek where the occupants drowned.[3]
New York and New England
Hurricane Connie brought the heaviest rain seen in New York in over 50 years during its passage, dropping 5.32 in (135 mm) in New York City within a 20 hour span.[3] The maximum rainfall from the storm was also recorded in New York, amounting to 13.24 in (336 mm) in Fort Schuyler, Bronx. This total is the highest of any tropical cyclone to impact the state on record.[4] Large areas of the city, including subways, were flooded and many residents were left without power. At least seven people were killed in various incidents across the state.[3]
Aftermath
Due to destructive impacts, the name Connie was retired, and will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Massachusetts
- List of North Carolina hurricanes
References
- ^ Associated Press (August 5, 1955). "Hurricane Connie Nears Leeward Isles". Free-Lance Star. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jm0QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3ooDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6320,4922942&dq=hurricane+connie&hl=en. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ (August 14, 1955)"$15 Million Loss and 41 Dead Left in 8 States by Hurricane". Los Angeles Times. August 14, 1955. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/524803602.html?dids=524803602:524803602&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+14%2C+1955&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=%2415+Million+Loss+and+41+Dead+Left+in+8+States+by+Hurricane&pqatl=google. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ a b c United Press (August 13, 1955). "Vacationers Caught As Gales Spread Out". The Victoria Advocate. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VSwPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640,2016629&dq=hurricane+connie&hl=en. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ David M. Roth (2009). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcmidatl.html. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
External links
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