Hurricane Isbell (1964)

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Isbell
Type=hurricane
Year=1964
Basin=Atl
Image location=


Formed=October 8, 1964
Dissipated=October 16, 1964
1-min winds=110
Pressure=964
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=6 direct
Areas=Cuba, Florida, North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic States, Northeast United States, Canadian Maritimes
Hurricane season=1964 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Isbell was the fifth strongest storm of the 1964 Atlantic hurricane season and the strongest landfalling hurricane of the season in the United States. It became a tropical depression east of Nicaragua on October 8. It then strengthened into a tropical storm and later into a hurricane on October 13 before making landfall in western Cuba. In the Gulf of Mexico, on October 14, it strengthened into a major hurricane before making landfall in southwest Florida as a Category 2 hurricane.cite web|author=Atlantic hurricane research division|year=2008|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/ushurrlist18512007.txt|title=All U.S. Hurricanes (1851-2007)|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-10-01] After entering the Atlantic, it headed towards North Carolina and made landfall on October 16 just before weakening to an extratropical storm with winds under hurricane force at 45 mph (70 km/h). It then dissipated the following day. It caused $20 million (1964 USD) ($120 million in 2005 USD) in damage, most of it being from crop damage or tornadic activity. In addition to damage, it caused 6 deaths.

Meteorological history

An old diffused frontal trough entered the western Caribbean Sea in early October. Evidence of a tropical disturbance originated over the western Caribbean during October 7 and October 8 at the very end of this frontal trough. The system developed and a weak tropical depression formed on October 8 as it started to move slowly to the northwest. On October 12, it stalled its northwestern progress and made a small loop, followed by a northeastward turn. Lack of inflow and possible earlier land interaction kept the depression fairly weak, but it was able to strengthen 5 mph (10 km/h) further from its original strength later that day, and then reached tropical storm strength on October 13 and was designated as Tropical Storm Isbell.cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easy_1961-70.htm#1964_11|title=Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964|publisher=HURDAT|accessdate=2006-09-27]

Isbell reached hurricane intensity around 18 UTC on October 13 shortly after reaching tropical storm status earlier that day. A few hours after being upgraded, the storm made landfall in the extreme western portion of Cuba. It then crossed western Cuba, entered the southeast Gulf of Mexico, and began to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane. cite web
url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easy_1961-70.htm#1964_11|title=Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964 |publisher=HURDAT|accessdate=2006-09-27] cite web|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/093/mwr-093-03-0175.pdf#search=%22Hurricane%20Isbell%2Bcuba%22|last=Dunn|first= Gordon E. |coauthors=et al.|title=Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964 |publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida|date=March 1965|accessdate=2006-09-27]

Isbell reached its peak strength, with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), southwest of Key West. Subsequently, Isbell weakened and made landfall in Florida near Everglades City as a Category 2 hurricane on October 14. Maintaining intensity across the southern Florida peninsula, Isbell maintained hurricane status as it reached the western Atlantic that night, but the storm began to steadily weaken while moving north. It maintained its hurricane force winds until October 16. cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easy_1961-70.htm#1964_11|title=Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964|publisher=HURDAT|accessdate=2006-09-27] Isbell became extratropical, with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h), shortly before its final landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina on October 16, and dissipated the next day after moving inland.

Preparations

In Cuba thousands were evacuated due to flooding lowlands. cite news|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Isbell Takes Dead Aim on North Carolina Coast|author=Associated Press|publisher=The Daily Times News|date=1964-10-15|accessdate=2006-10-02] Numerous hurricane warnings and watches were issued prior to landfall in Florida. Advisories were broadcast and issued warning of the possibility of heavy rains and winds, isolated small hail, and possible isolated tornadoes from 4 to 10 PM CST October 14, 1964. The aviation severe weather forecast also notified people that within an area south and east of a line from sixty miles southwest of Miami north to Gainesville, as well as to 40 miles north of Daytona Beach, 3/4 inch maximum hail, gusts of up to 85 km/h, and one to two tornadoes were possible on October 14. Flood warnings were also issued, with predictions of flooding 4 feet above flood stage. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/local/mkcsvrwx.gif|title=(none)|publisher=US Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-27] Emergency preparations at Key West's weather office were made. On October 13, 1964, in the morning hours the office alerted city, county, and military officials. In the afternoon, they completed office preparations and scheduling, they also checked equipment. Later, gale warnings and hurricane watches were issued for the lower Florida Keys. Hurricane warnings were issued for the Dry Tortugas. Even later the gale warnings and hurricane watches for the lower Florida Keys were upgraded to hurricane warnings. On the 14th, they requested radio stations to stay on the air, relayed hourly reports, and lowered the hurricane warnings for the lower keys. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/preloc/eyw1021a.gif|title=(none)|publisher=WBAS Key West, Florida|accessdate=2006-09-27]

Hurricane warnings were issued along the North Carolina coast south of Morehead City. Hurricane watches were issued north of Morehead City. Some tidal flooding was also forecast. People were warned to tune to television and radio broadcasts. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/slosh/ilm1516z.gif|title=(none)|publisher=United States Department of Commerce Wilmington, North Carolina Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-27]

Impact

Isbell caused $20 million (1964 USD ($120 million 2005 USD)) in damage; most of it was from crop damage or tornadic activity. The hurricane also caused 6 deaths.

Cuba

70 mph (110 km/h) gusts were reported as far east as Boyeros Airport in the capital of Havana, along with a lowest recorded pressure of 979 mbar (hPa); however, no information on wind speeds in far western Cuba was available due to the relatively small size of the storm and the sparse population of the region. cite web|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/093/mwr-093-03-0175.pdf#search=%22Hurricane%20Isbell%2Bcuba%22|last=Dunn|first= Gordon E. |coauthors=et al.|title=Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964 |publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida date=March 1965|accessdate=2006-09-27]

In the Guane area, which was most strongly affected, heavy damage and three fatalities occurred. cite web|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/093/mwr-093-03-0175.pdf#search=%22Hurricane%20Isbell%2Bcuba%22|last=Dunn|first= Gordon E. |coauthors=et al.|title=Storm ISBELL is number 11 of the year 1964 |publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau Office, Miami, Florida date=March 1965|accessdate=2006-09-27] All of the fatalities were from housing collapses. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/news/hem1014.gif|title=(none)|author=unknown|date=1964-10-14] Four total deaths were reported. Hundreds of homes were also destroyed, and crops were ruined. The local tobacco crop industry was heavily affected, and several tobacco warehouses were destroyed. cite news|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Isbell Takes Dead Aim on North Carolina Coast|author=Associated Press|publisher=The Daily Times News|date=1964-10-15|accessdate=2006-10-02]

Florida

Isbell produced numerous small and dangerous tornadoes as it passed Florida. An eyewitness account said that tornadoes from Isbell "caused as much damage as the hurricane did."cite web|url=http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf |last=Williams|first=John M.|coauthors=Iver W. Duedall|title=Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms |publisher=University Press of Florida|accessdate=2006-09-27] Another eyewitness also noted that severe rains occurred during the early portions of the storm, but that eventually it died down to fairly light rain.cite web|url= http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf |last=Williams|first=John M. |coauthors=Iver W. Duedall|title=Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms |publisher=University Press of Florida|accessdate=2006-09-27] In Eau Gallie, a tornado demolished 12 house trailers, toar off the roof of a church during Mass, and a house was blown across a road. No one in the congregation was injured.cite news|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Isbell Takes Dead Aim on North Carolina Coast|author=Associated Press|publisher=The Daily Times News|date=1964-10-15|accessdate=2006-10-02]

1 person was reported dead, due to a heart attack while boarding up for the hurricane, 37 injuried, and 12 hospitalized. 1 house was also reported destroyed, 33 with major damage and 631 with minor damage. 66 trailers were reported destroyed, and 88 were reported to have major damage. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/preloc/damage1.gif|title=(none)|publisher=|accessdate=2006-09-27] 90 mph (145 km/h) winds affected the state. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/preloc/pbi1014a.gif|title=(none)|publisher=|accessdate=2006-09-27]

Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic States

Isbell had widespread rains throughout the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic including these totals of 5.14 inches in Columbia, 4.55 inches in Inman-Gramlang, 4.28 inches in Greer, 3.90 inches in Kinstree, and 3.84 inches in Orangeburg. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/rain/sc101664.gif|title=(none)|publisher=WBAS South Carolina|accessdate=2006-09-27] Gusts up to 65 mph (105 km/h) were reported in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on October 16th, but no significant wind damage was reported. Considerable weakening occurred before landfall, causing only fairly minor damage and some beach erosion. Direct damage was primarily to low-lying areas. [cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/isbell/preloc/ilm1019a.gif|title=(none)|publisher=WBAS Wilmington, North Carolina|accessdate=2006-09-27] However, six or more tornadoes occurred after landfall. They demolished trailers, unroofed homes and other buildings in several North Carolina communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared some counties in North Carolina as disaster areas. The most affected area was Boynton Beach where 20 house trailers were destroyed and 22 people were injured.cite news|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|title=Isbell Takes Dead Aim on North Carolina Coast|author=Associated Press|publisher=The Daily Times News|date=1964-10-15|accessdate=2006-10-02]

Crop damage was reported from the storm. Flash flooding and large damage to peanuts occurred at landfall, due to wet soil. Isbell was not retired due to the lack of major damage. However, the name had not been used since then, as the tropical cyclone naming lists were changed in 1979. [ [http://repository.wrclib.noaa.gov/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=nws_tech_memos NWS Summary] ]

External links

* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/isbell1964.html (National Hurricane Center Summary)]
* [http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf (NGLS Info)]
* [http://repository.wrclib.noaa.gov/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=nws_tech_memos (NOAA summary)]
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easy_1961-70.htm#1964_11 (Storm intensity archive)]
* [http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/093/mwr-093-03-0175.pdf#search=%22Hurricane%20Isbell%2Bcuba%22 (MWR)]

References