Hurricane Belle (1976)

Infobox Hurricane
name=Hurricane Belle
Type=hurricane
Year=1976
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Belle.jpg


Formed=August 6, 1976
Dissipated=August 10, 1976
1-min winds=105
Pressure=957
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=5 direct
Areas=New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts
Hurricane season=1976 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Belle was the third tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1976 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a major hurricane that threatened much of the East Coast of the United States. However, the storm weakened prior to landfall and struck Long Island, New York as a Category-1 hurricane, causing $100 million (1976 US dollars) in damage.

Meteorological history

On July 28, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. It moved quickly across the Atlantic Ocean at speeds up to convert|23|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, and slowly organized with a large area of convection with a possible low level circulation as early as July 31. The convection became detached from the wave, and moved northwestward to a position near the Bahamas. As it remained stationary, it developed a circulation and became a tropical depression on August 6. Under weak steering currents, it looped, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Belle early on August 7.

Belle drifted to the west-northwest, and attained hurricane status late on August 7. On the 8th, the storm turned to the north, where conditions favored additional strengthening. Late on the 8th, Belle reached major hurricane status, and early on the 9th, it peaked at convert|120|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on while east of Florida. During this time, Hurricane Warnings were posted from Georgia to eventually Maine.

Belle accelerated to the north-northeast and paralleled the United States coastline. After peaking on August 9, the hurricane weakened, possibly due to cooler waters off the North Carolina coast. It continued to parallel the coastline, remaining within convert|100|mi|km off the coast. Just after midnight on August 10, Belle made landfall on the South Shore of Long Island, NY, near Jones Beach, as a Category-1 hurricane with winds of convert|65|kn|km/h and a central pressure of 980 mb. It rapidly weakened over land, and became extratropical later that day over New England.

Impact

Belle's effects were much less than expected, in part due to its rapid motion of convert|30|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on as it paralleled the coastline. Gusts were near hurricane force winds in some locations, though winds were fairly light in most locations from 35 to convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. Storm surge varied from convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on to 4½ ft. above normal.

The greatest effect from Belle was its rainfall. Four to five inches (127 mm) of rain was seen throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. There was considerable small stream flooding, as well as moderate crop damage. The crop damage, combined with widespread property damage, resulted in a total loss of $100 million in damage (1976 USD, $342 million 2005 USD). In addition, Belle was responsible for 5 casualties.

The name Belle was not retired, due to lighter than expected damage and few deaths. However, due to a change in the list of hurricane names in 1979, the name Belle has not been used since.

ee also

*List of tropical cyclones
*List of Atlantic hurricanes

ources

* [ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/atlantic/prelimat/atl1976/belle/ NHC Belle report]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/belle1976.html HPC rainfall report on Belle]
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1976.pdf 1976 Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://www.weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/1976/BELLE/track.dat Unisys Track]