1968 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1968, and lasted until November 30, 1968. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
.
Three storms formed this June, making it one of the most active Junes on record. Despite the early season
activity, the season ended relatively quietly, with eight named storms, and no major hurricanes, which goes to show that early season activity has no correlation to the entire season. Hurricane Gladys was the costliest storm of the season, causing more than $6 million (1968 USD) in damage as it moved northward through Florida, Cuba, and North Carolina.
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 June 2. It crossed the western tip of Cuba
, and upon reaching the southeast Gulf of Mexico
Abby achieved hurricane strength. It weakened to a tropical storm before hitting Punta Gorda, Florida
on June 4, and moved across the state. Once it reached the western Atlantic, building high pressure to its east forced Abby northwestward. On June 6, 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 six days, it wandered around the Carolinas, finally dissipating on June 13 east of Virginia
.
As Abby crossed Cuba, moderate rainfall and relatively high winds were reported. In addition, Abby dropped heavy rainfall across the state of Florida, peaking at 14.65 in (372.1 mm) in Hart Lake. However, the rain was almost entirely beneficial, as Florida was suffering from a severe drought. Several tornadoes spawned by Abby caused minor damage throughout the southeastern region of the United States. Total damage in the United States is estimated around $450,000 (1968 USD) and the storm indirectly caused six deaths.
, gradually reaching the surface and warming. It became a tropical depression on June 22 over the western Gulf of Mexico. As it moved quickly northward, became Tropical Storm Candy on June 23, the third storm of June. Just after reaching its peak intensity of 70 mi/h Candy moved inland over southeast Texas
, causing heavy flooding, crop damage, and tornadoes. Tropical Depression Candy continued to move quickly northeast, becoming extratropical on June 26 over Ohio and dissipating that day. Candy caused $2.7 million in damage ($15 million in 2005 USD).
briefly, moving northeastward by nightfall. The depression struggled to strengthen, due to a frontal boundary to its west attempting to absorb it. The depression won out, becoming Tropical Storm Dolly on August 12 and a hurricane on August 13. It became cut off from the moist tropical air that night, weakening to a tropical storm. Dolly found its "second wind" when baroclinic processes allowed its to become a hurricane again, this time at nearly 40°N. Dolly finally succumbed to the cold environment on August 16, becoming a tropical depression and later extratropical.
headed east-southeastward, reaching hurricane intensity (though it was not a hurricane because it was not tropical) before becoming extratropical on September 23.
. It drifted northwestward, reaching tropical storm strength on October 15. On October 16, it became a hurricane just before crossing Cuba
. It maintained that intensity as it crossed the island and the eastern Gulf of Mexico
. Because Gladys's circulation was mostly over land, it was only an 80 mph (Category 1
) hurricane at its Homosassa, Florida
landfall on October 19. After moving across Florida, Gladys paralleled the Carolinas, reaching its peak of 85 mi/h before becoming extratropical on October 21 near Nova Scotia
. It caused $6.7 million (1968 USD) in damage, almost all of it in Florida.
The list is mostly the same as the 1964 season
, save for Candy, Dolly, Edna, Frances, Hannah, and Ingrid, which replaced Cleo, Dora, Ethel, Florence, Hilda, and Isbell (although Ethel, Florence, and Isbell were not retired). A storm was named Candy for the first time in 1968. Names that were not assigned are marked in .
of the 1954 season
, and has not been used since.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s form in the Atlantic basin
Atlantic Basin
The Atlantic Basin is the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Basin may also refer to:* Atlantic Basin Iron Works, an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century...
.
Three storms formed this June, making it one of the most active Junes on record. Despite the early season
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
activity, the season ended relatively quietly, with eight named storms, and no major hurricanes, which goes to show that early season activity has no correlation to the entire season. Hurricane Gladys was the costliest storm of the season, causing more than $6 million (1968 USD) in damage as it moved northward through Florida, Cuba, and North Carolina.
Hurricane Abby
Abby was a rare and long-lived June hurricane that developed from a mid-tropospheric trough that persisted over the western Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
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 June 2. It crossed the western tip of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and upon reaching the southeast Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
Abby achieved hurricane strength. It weakened to a tropical storm before hitting Punta Gorda, Florida
Punta Gorda, Florida
Punta Gorda is a city in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2007, the city had a population of 16,762. It is the county seat of Charlotte County and the only incorporated municipality in the county...
on June 4, and moved across the state. Once it reached the western Atlantic, building high pressure to its east forced Abby northwestward. On June 6, it again reached the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
coast, this time near Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Abby weakened to a tropical depression as it moved over Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and over the next six days, it wandered around the Carolinas, finally dissipating on June 13 east of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
As Abby crossed Cuba, moderate rainfall and relatively high winds were reported. In addition, Abby dropped heavy rainfall across the state of Florida, peaking at 14.65 in (372.1 mm) in Hart Lake. However, the rain was almost entirely beneficial, as Florida was suffering from a severe drought. Several tornadoes spawned by Abby caused minor damage throughout the southeastern region of the United States. Total damage in the United States is estimated around $450,000 (1968 USD) and the storm indirectly caused six deaths.
Hurricane Brenda
Similar to Abby's origins, Brenda began from a mid-level trough persisting over Florida, forming a tropical depression on June 17 south of Florida. The cyclone moved northward across the peninsula for 60 hours, and upon reaching the Atlantic, reached favorable conditions. Shear was low and water temperatures were warm enough, allowing the depression to become a tropical storm on June 21 and a hurricane on June 23. Brenda wouldn't maintain its intensity for very long, and on June 24, dry air and shear disrupted the system. Brenda weakened to a tropical storm on June 25, and became extratropical on June 26 over the open Atlantic.Tropical Storm Candy
Following a similar pattern to the previous two storms, a mid-level low formed over TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, gradually reaching the surface and warming. It became a tropical depression on June 22 over the western Gulf of Mexico. As it moved quickly northward, became Tropical Storm Candy on June 23, the third storm of June. Just after reaching its peak intensity of 70 mi/h Candy moved inland over southeast Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, causing heavy flooding, crop damage, and tornadoes. Tropical Depression Candy continued to move quickly northeast, becoming extratropical on June 26 over Ohio and dissipating that day. Candy caused $2.7 million in damage ($15 million in 2005 USD).
Hurricane Dolly
After such an active June, the tropics remained quiet until August 10, when an upper-level low combined with a tropical wave developed a tropical depression over the western Bahamas. It moved over FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
briefly, moving northeastward by nightfall. The depression struggled to strengthen, due to a frontal boundary to its west attempting to absorb it. The depression won out, becoming Tropical Storm Dolly on August 12 and a hurricane on August 13. It became cut off from the moist tropical air that night, weakening to a tropical storm. Dolly found its "second wind" when baroclinic processes allowed its to become a hurricane again, this time at nearly 40°N. Dolly finally succumbed to the cold environment on August 16, becoming a tropical depression and later extratropical.
Tropical Storm Edna
The precursor to Tropical Storm Edna was a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa. Immediately upon reaching the tropical Atlantic, it became a tropical depression. It likely achieved tropical storm strength on September 14, but it was not until September 15 when it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Edna. An upper level cold core trough weakened it to a tropical depression on September 18. Edna dissipated the next day without affecting land.Subtropical Storm One
A subtropical depression formed in the western Atlantic on September 14. It moved eastward without strengthening, but as it turned northwest, it reached storm strength. The subtropical cycloneSubtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
headed east-southeastward, reaching hurricane intensity (though it was not a hurricane because it was not tropical) before becoming extratropical on September 23.
Tropical Storm Frances
A midtropospheric trough developed convection near a circulation over the Bahamas. It became a tropical depression on September 23, and after four days of moving northeastward, it became Tropical Storm Frances. On September 27, Frances reached its peak of 60 mi/h while north of Bermuda, but an upper level low weakened the storm on September 29, leaving behind an extratropical depression.Hurricane Gladys
Hurricane Gladys developed from a tropical wave on October 13 in the western Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. It drifted northwestward, reaching tropical storm strength on October 15. On October 16, it became a hurricane just before crossing Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It maintained that intensity as it crossed the island and the eastern Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Because Gladys's circulation was mostly over land, it was only an 80 mph (Category 1
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
) hurricane at its Homosassa, Florida
Homosassa, Florida
Homosassa is a census-designated place in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2000 census.-Historic:...
landfall on October 19. After moving across Florida, Gladys paralleled the Carolinas, reaching its peak of 85 mi/h before becoming extratropical on October 21 near Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. It caused $6.7 million (1968 USD) in damage, almost all of it in Florida.
Storm names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1968.The list is mostly the same as the 1964 season
1964 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1964 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1964, and lasted until November 15, 1964. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
, save for Candy, Dolly, Edna, Frances, Hannah, and Ingrid, which replaced Cleo, Dora, Ethel, Florence, Hilda, and Isbell (although Ethel, Florence, and Isbell were not retired). A storm was named Candy for the first time in 1968. Names that were not assigned are marked in .
|
Retirement
No names were retired this season. However, the name Edna was later retroactively retired because of the Hurricane EdnaHurricane Edna
Hurricane Edna was a deadly and destructive major hurricane that impacted the United States East Coast in September of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. It was one of two hurricanes to strike Massachusetts in that year, the other being Hurricane Carol...
of the 1954 season
1954 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1954 Atlantic hurricane season caused over $750 million in damage, the most of any season at the time. The season officially began on June 15, and nine days later the first named storm developed. Hurricane Alice developed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved inland along the Rio Grande,...
, and has not been used since.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- 1968 Pacific hurricane season1968 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1968 Pacific hurricane season ties the record for having the most active August in terms of tropical storms. It officially started on May 15, 1968 in the eastern Pacific and June 1 in the central Pacific and lasted until November 30, 1968...
- 1968 Pacific typhoon season1968 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1968 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1968, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
- Pre-1980 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasonsPre-1980 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasonsThe Pre-1970 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons ran year-round from July 1 to June 30, reaching their peaks mid-February to early March.Pre-1970 1970–75 1975–80 1980–1985-Unnnamed tropical cyclone :The Banda Islands were hit in March...
- Pre-1980 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons