Hurricane Abby (1968)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Abby
Type=hurricane
Year=1968
Basin=Atl
Image location=Abby68.jpg


Formed=June 1, 1968
Dissipated=June 13, 1968
1-min winds=65
Pressure=965
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=0 direct, 6 indirect
Areas=Cuba, Florida, Georgia, Carolinas
Hurricane season=1968 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Abby was the first named storm and first hurricane of the 1968 Atlantic hurricane season. Abby was one of four tropical cyclones to strike Florida during the 1968 season and one of three tropical cyclones to form in June of 1968. Forming in the Gulf of Mexico, Abby briefly reached hurricane strength before making hitting Punta Gorda, Florida as a tropical storm.

Abby's slow movement produced heavy rains across Florida and the Southeastern United States which caused 6 indirect fatalities and $450,000 dollars (1968 USD, $2.5 million 2005 USD) in damage.

Meteorological history

A mid-tropospheric trough persisted over the western Caribbean Sea in late May. When a weak cold front moved into the area, it generated convection, gaining enough organization to be called a tropical depression on June 1. The initial circulation was not embedded within the convection, but as it moved slowly north-northeastward, it was able to strengthen and become better organized, reaching tropical storm strength on the 2nd. It crossed the western tip of Cuba, and upon reaching the southeast Gulf of Mexico Abby achieved hurricane strength. Abby then reached a peak intensity 75 mph (121 km/h) and a low pressure of 965 millibars before weakening back to tropical storm strength.National Hurricane Center (1968) [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1968.pdf 1968 Monthly Weather Review] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006]

Abby soon made landfall as a tropical storm near Punta Gorda, Florida on the 4th, and moved across the state. Once it reached the western Atlantic, building high pressure to its east forced Abby northwestward. On the 6th, it again reached the Florida coast, this time near Jacksonville. Abby weakened to a tropical depression as it moved over Georgia, and over the next 6 days, it wandered around the Carolinas, finally dissipating on the 13th east of Virginia. The remnants of Abby were absorbed by a cold front the same day.National Hurricane Center (1968) [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1968.pdf 1968 Monthly Weather Review] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006]

Preparations

Forecasters began issuing tropical storm warnings from Marco Island to Tarpon Springs, Florida. Elsewhere, gale warnings were issued from the Florida Keys to the entire East Coast of the United States.National Hurricane Center (1968) [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1968.pdf 1968 Monthly Weather Review] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006] On June 4, military personnel from McCoy Air Force Base were evacuated to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Tanker planes of the 306th and 909th squadrons were diverted to Loring Air Force Base in Maine while other air squadrons were placed on alert. [U.S. Air Force [http://www.306thbw.org/306thhistory/history_ArcLgt67.htm Arc Light/Young Tiger - Unit Augmentation] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006]

Impact

Cuba

In Cuba, Abby dropped 12 inches (305 mm) of rain in Isle of Pines and wind gusts up to 50 mph were reported. There were no reports of damage or fatalities from Abby's impact on Cuba.National Hurricane Center (1968) [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1968.pdf 1968 Monthly Weather Review] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006]

Florida

Abby dropped 4–8 inches (102–203 mm) of rain across southern and western Florida. The highest rainfall total was 14.2 inches in Cocoa. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1968-prelim/abby/prelim08.gifAbby Rainfall totals from TCR] ] On the Florida Panhandle, rainfall up to 2 inches (50.8 mm) was reported. Gusts went as high as 87 knots at the 60-ft Tower. Four tornadoes were reported during Abby's landfall. Two of which caused $8,000 dollars (1968 USD) in damage in Florida. Six fatalities resulted from drowning, electrocutions and traffic accidents were reported during the storms landfall. In all, damage in Florida by Abby amounted to $250,000 (1968 USD). The rainfall was beneficial in Florida, as it aided in ending a drought in the state.National Hurricane Center (1968) [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1968.pdf 1968 Monthly Weather Review] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006]

Two tornadoes in Florida were spawned in association with Abby, both on June 4. One was near the Indian River in Brevard County at 6:30 PM EDT. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated at less than $5,000 worth of damage. The second tornado touched down in Polk County at around 9:30 PM EDT. It resulted in no injuries and caused less than $500 dollars in damage. A funnel cloud was obsevered at Cape Kennedy around 8:10 AM, but it never touched the ground. [ [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1968-prelim/abby/prelim02.gifAbby Tropical Cyclone Report Page 2] ]

East Coast U.S.

The state of Georgia received rainfall up to 3 inches (76.2 mm) and winds gusting to 41 mph (66 km/h). Also, heavy rains caused minor flood damage but no fatalities or injuries were reported. In North Carolina, two tornadoes were reported in Charlotte and Monroe. The tornadoes caused $30,000 dollars (1968 USD) in damage. Elsewhere in North Carolina, rainfall was moderate as the storm dropped 2-11 inches (50.8-279 mm) of rain across North Carolina. There were no fatalities from Abby's impact on North Carolina.National Hurricane Center (1968) [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1968.pdf 1968 Monthly Weather Review] URL Accessed: September 20, 2006] [NOAA [http://repository.wrclib.noaa.gov/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=nws_tech_memos Hurricanes in North Carolina] URL Accessed: September 21, 2006]

Aftermath

Overall, Abby left six fatalities and $450,000 dollars (1968 USD, $2.5 million 2005 USD) in damage. Because the damage was minimal, the name was not retired and was on the ten year list of names which was adopted in 1970. However in 1979, a change in naming policy prevented the further use of the name Abby. Because of this, this was the third time the name Abby was used in the Atlantic basin. [ [http://www.behindthename.com/namesakes/lists/hurricanechro.php Behind the Name] URL Accessed: September 21, 2006]

ee also

*Tropical cyclone
*List of Atlantic hurricanes
*Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

References