Hurricane Easy (1951)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Easy (1951)
Type=hurricane
Year=1951
Basin=Atl
Formed=September 2, 1951
Dissipated=September 13, 1951
1-min winds=140
Pressure=957
Pressurepre=≤
Pressurepost=estimated
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=None direct
Areas=Bermuda, North Atlantic Ocean
Hurricane season=1951 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Easy was the strongest tropical cyclone of the 1951 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a Cape Verde-type hurricane that recurved away from land masses, becoming the second of three Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes to avoid landfall–the others were Dog and Cleo.cite web|author=Hurricane Research Division|year=2007|title=Atlantic hurricane best track|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-02-08|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyhurdat_5106.html] The fifth tropical cyclone, fourth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the season, it formed 1,000 miles (1,610 km) west of Cape Verde on September 2. It steadily strengthened to a hurricane on September 3, moving west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean. On September 15, it attained Category 3 status with 115 mph (185 km/h) sustained winds, and it intensified to its maximum intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 7. The cyclone turned northward, completing its recurvature on September 8. It slowly weakened, passing within 120 miles (190 km) of Bermuda on September 9. It continued northeast, and the tropical system became extratropical on September 12. The hurricane caused no deaths, though it damaged several ships' superstructures.cite web|author=Norton, Grady|year=1952|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1951.pdf|title=Hurricanes of 1951|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2008-02-08]

Meteorological history

On September 2, a minimal tropical storm formed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Operationally, it was first detected by the steamship "Barn", which reported the presence of a circulation. Initially, the tropical cyclone moved generally westward, and it strengthened to a hurricane on September 3. The progress of the system was monitored by aircraft over the next few days. On September 4, the storm continued to strengthen, and its maximum sustained winds increased to Category 2 status. On September 5, it strengthened to a major hurricane, and it slowly deepened over the next 48 hours. Its forward motion increased, and the hurricane turned westward 650 miles (1,045 km) northeast of Anguilla. On September 6, the cyclone's winds increased to 140 mph (225 km/h), and its minimum central pressure of 957 mbar (28.26 inHg) was recorded on the same day. Later, it reached its estimated peak intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 7. At the time, the hurricane's extreme intensity prevented thorough measurements and penetration by aircraft, and the cyclone's strongest winds were recorded south of the eye. The strength of the winds forced the plane to turn around, so the storm's maximum winds were believed to have been stronger; unofficial estimates ranged between the values of 160–200 mph.

The cyclone began its recurvature, maintaining Category 5 winds for 18 hours. On September 8, it weakened to a Category 4 hurricane, and its movement turned northeast. The hurricane encountered wind shear from Hurricane Fox, and its winds decreased.cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1951|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Clash of Hurricanes Spares Bermuda Isle From Heavy Damage|publisher=San Antonio Express|accessdate=2008-02-09] The recurvature spared land masses from a strike by the hurricane. On September 9, its winds dropped below major hurricane status, and the cyclone passed southeast of Bermuda.cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1951|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Clash of Hurricanes Spares Bermuda Isle From Heavy Damage|publisher=San Antonio Express|accessdate=2008-02-09] On September 10, it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, and it turned to the east on September 11. On September 12, it transitioned to an extratropical storm, though it still produced winds of hurricane force. Its strong winds weakened on September 13, and its remnants turned northward. It dissipated on the same day.

Preparations and impact

On September 9, the hurricane was expected to pass near Bermuda and produce hurricane force winds over the island.cite web|author=International News Service|year=1951|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Bermuda Set For Hurricane|publisher=The Galveston Daily News|accessdate=2008-02-08] The hurricane was expected to turn east-northeast because of interactions with Hurricane Fox. The Weather Bureau advised the island to take precautionary measures in advance of the storm; tourists and residents "worked feverishly" to complete preparations, and the United States Air Force issued "a formal warning at noon."cite web|author=United Press|year=1951|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Big Blow Nears Bermuda|publisher=Waterloo Sunday Courier|accessdate=2008-02-08] Numerous hotels and homes were shuttered. Heavy traffic snarled evacuations, and 100 tourists were stranded on the island without "roundtrip reservations." Air Force aircraft returned to the United States, and personnel secured various facilities at the island's base. The cyclone turned sharply away from the island, preventing heavy damages. Peak sustained winds were estimated between 25–50 mph (40–80 km/h).cite web|author=The Associated Press|year=1951|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Clash of Hurricanes Spares Bermuda Isle From Heavy Damage|publisher=San Antonio Express|accessdate=2008-02-09] Telephone lines remained intact, and some banana trees were blown down by the winds. In the early 1950s, code names were utilized for Atlantic tropical cyclones until female lists were compiled in 1953, so the name Easy was not retired, making it one of six Category 5 storms to not have its name retired (the others being Hurricane Dog in 1950, and later Hurricane Cleo in 1958, Hurricane Ethel in 1960, Hurricane Edith in 1971 and Hurricane Emily in 2005).cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml|title=Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Names|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-02-09]

ee also

*List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes

References