Hurricane Helene (1958)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane nelson| Type=hurricane
Year=1958
Basin=Atl
Image location=Wea01252.jpg


Formed=September 21, 1958
Dissipated=September 29, 1958
1-min winds=116
Pressure=934
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=0 direct, 1 indirect
Areas=North Carolina, Atlantic Canada
Hurricane season=1958 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Helene was the strongest hurricane in the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season, reaching peak winds of convert|135|mph|km/h and tied with Hurricane Ilsa as the strongest tropical cyclone of the season. The system moved to the north of the West Indies and skirted the coast of the Southeast United States before moving through the Atlantic shipping lanes offshore Newfoundland. [National Hurricane Center. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.] Helene was the only hurricane of the season to impact the United States. Because the hurricane remained offshore, winds and rainfall were confined to the immediate coastline of North Carolina. Damage amounted to US$11 million ($72 million in 2005 USD), making Helene the costliest storm of the season.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave was detected on September 19 near the Cape Verde Islands. The system began to slowly intensify as it moved west-northwest at convert|20|mph|km/h. On September 20, hurricane hunter aircraft crews reported a fall in pressure and maximum winds between convert|35|mph|km/h and convert|40|mph|km/h.Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1958.pdf The Hurricane Season of 1958.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.] Helene reached tropical storm strength on September 23 with convert|50|mph|km/h winds as it slowed down and intensified further. After reaching hurricane strength, the storm then moved rapidly west-northwest, where it was convert|80|mi|km east of Charleston, South Carolina, strengthening to a major hurricane.Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1958.pdf The Hurricane Season of 1958.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.] On September 26, the eye of Helene was approximately convert|10|mi|km off the coast of North Carolina where it turned, reached its peak intensity of convert|135|mph|km/h, and rapidly moved north-eastward and made landfall in Newfoundland. Later, Helene continued across the Atlantic as a powerful extratropical storm.

Impact

Several weather stations in North Carolina reported hurricane force winds, with one recording a gust of convert|135|mph|km/h. In Cape Fear, convert|125|mph|km/h sustained winds were reported with gusts up to convert|160|mph|km/h. In areas of eastern North Carolina, the damage wrought by Helene was considered worse than the damage from Hurricane Hazel. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1958.pdf] ] In Wilmington, there was heavy damage to beach resorts. [HurricaneCity.com. [http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/wilmington.htm Wilmington,North carolina's history with tropical systems.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.] The First Baptist Church in Augusta, North Carolina took a direct hit from the storm and remained standing, coincidentally the Church was hit again by Hurricane Fran in 1996 which toppled its steeple. [Augusta Chronicle. [http://chronicle.augusta.com/headlines/090796/fran_church.html Civil War Church Blown Down By Hurricane Fran.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.] Overall, however, damage was minor and limited to coastal sections. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1958.pdf] ] Heavy rain fell across the coastal Carolinas, with convert|8.29|in|mm falling at Wilmington International Airport. Moderate to heavy rainfall also fell across sections of the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, as moisture from Helene interacted with a frontal zone to its north. [David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/helene1958.html Hurricane Helene - September 25-29, 1958.] Retrieved on 2008-08-12.] Hurricane Helene caused $11 million dollars (1958 USD, $72 million in 2005 USD) in damage but no deaths.

When Helene reached Atlantic Canada, it destroyed a convert|50|m|ft wharf in Nova Scotia and carried several lobster traps out to sea. There the storm caused heavy damage to trees and houses. [Canadian Weather Trivia Page. [http://www.dandantheweatherman.com/cantriv.html#sep September.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.] In addition, when the storm moved northeast, it brought a flock of tropical frigatebirds that were blown off course to a region unseen to those type of birds. [Leslie M. Tuck. [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v039n03/p0200-p0208.pdf Laughing Gulls (Larus Atriculla) and Black Skimmers (Rynchops Nigra) Brought to Newfoundland By Hurricane.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.]

Experiments

Hurricane Helene was one of the earliest hurricanes to be experimented as hurricane hunter planes dropped airborned balloons equipped with radio transmissions. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1958.pdf] ] This was one of 23 missions conducted by the National Hurricane Research Project. [Hurricane Research Division. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hrd_sub/beginning.html History.] Retrieved on 2008-08-13.]

Lack of retirement

Because the damage was not extreme in most areas, the name was not retired and the name Helene was used for future storms.

See also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes

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