Hurricane Florence (1953)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Florence
Type=hurricane
Year=1953
Basin=Atl
Formed=September 23, 1953
Dissipated=September 26, 1953
1-min winds=110
Pressure=968
Da

Inflated=1
Fatalities=0 direct
Areas=Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina
Hurricane season=1953 Atlantic hurricane seasonThis tropical cyclone was the first of many in the Atlantic basin to achieve the name Florence. A tropical wave developed into a tropical storm just southeast of Jamaica on September 23. Florence moved west-northwestward, and became a hurricane over the Yucatan Channel on the 24th. As it moved north through the Gulf of Mexico, Florence's maximum sustained winds reached convert|125|mph|km/h. By the time of its landfall in the Florida Panhandle on September 26, Florence had weakened to a minimal hurricane. The hurricane became an extratropical cyclone later that day, after causing US$200,000 in damage (1953 dollars).Grady Norton. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1953.pdf Hurricanes of 1953.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.]

History

The tropical wave which evolved into Florence crossed the Caribbean Sea between September 21 and September 22. Development began by September 23 a short distance southeast of Jamaica. By the time a definite center of circulation was found, the system had achieved hurricane status on September 24 while moving through the Yucatan Channel. While moving northward, Florence achieved its apex in strength on September 25, when maximum sustained winds reached convert|125|mph|km/h. Weakening ensued as the cyclone entrained cooler air and went over cooled waters of the northeast Gulf of Mexico,United Press International. [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19530927&id=KMcKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5395,4716021 Hurricane Florence Dies Over Northwest Florida.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.] and Florence weakened into a minor hurricane by the time it made landfall in the Florida panhandle between Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Panama City Beach, Florida.Grady Norton. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1953.pdf Hurricanes of 1953.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.] Soon after landfall, Florence evolved into an extratropical cyclone. [National Hurricane Center. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.]

Preparations

A total of 10,000 people evacuated Panama City prior to Florence's landfall. [E. L. Quarantelli. [http://dspace.udel.edu:8080/dspace/bitstream/19716/1309/1/MR32.pdf Miscellaneous Report 32: INVENTORY OF DISASTER FIELD STUDIES IN THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 1919-1979.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.] Wright-Patterson Air Force Base provided shelter for aircraft from Moody Air Force Base and Tyndall Air Force Base during Hurricane Florence. [WADC/WADD Digital Collection at the Galvin Library, IIT. [http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:qFhn3bL_iFUJ:www.gl.iit.edu/wadc/history/huffman/H-part08.pdf+Hurricane+Florence+September+1953+preparations&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=54&gl=us From Huffman Prairie To The Moon: The History of Wright-Patterson Air force Base.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.] All warnings related to the hurricane were lowered by the New Orleans U.S. Weather Bureau office at 4 pm on September 26.United Press International. [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19530927&id=KMcKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5395,4716021 Hurricane Florence Dies Over Northwest Florida.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.]

Impact

A United States Coast Guard ship came to a standstill for 18 hours from the morning of September 25 into the early morning hours of September 26 while battling the cyclone out in the Gulf of Mexico. [St. Petersburg Times. [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19530928&id=KccKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3994,6092901 Hurricane Florence Given Bad Time By Coast Guard's Gobs.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.] The storm surge cut off Apalachicola, Florida from the rest of the Florida panhandle. West of Panama City, convert|12|ft|m to convert|14|ft|m waves destroyed convert|100|ft|m to convert|200|ft|m of their fishing pier. The roof of the Eglin Air Force Base gym, used as a shelter during the storm, blew away during Florence causing only one injury. Wind gusts up to convert|84|mph|km/h were recorded at Eglin Field. Roofs of two emergency shelters were swept away by the hurricane in Crestview, Florida.United Press International. [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19530927&id=KMcKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5395,4716021 Hurricane Florence Dies Over Northwest Florida.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.] Heavy rainfall, of more than convert|10|in|mm fell across portions of the Florida panhandle, southern Alabama, and southeast Georgia near and to the left of the storm's track. The highest amount reported was convert|14.71|in|mm in Lockhart, Alabama. [David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/florence1953filledrainblk.gifHurricane Florence (1953) Storm Total Rainfall Graphic.] Retrieved on 2008-09-22.] Damage occurred to 421 homes, but only three were reportedly destroyed. There were no deaths or injuries from Florence.Grady Norton. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1953.pdf Hurricanes of 1953.] Retrieved on 2008-09-21.]

ee also

*List of Florida hurricanes
*List of North Carolina hurricanes

References