Hurricane Doria (1967)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Doria was an unusual and erratic hurricane that existed during September 1967. The fourth named storm and hurricane of the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season
, Doria developed on September 8 off the east coast of Florida
. It meandered until attaining tropical storm status, at which point the storm accelerated towards the northeast. On September 10, Doria intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. After moving out to sea, the storm turned westward towards the United States
. A compact cyclone, Doria weakened to a tropical storm shortly before moving ashore in the Mid-Atlantic States
. The storm ultimately dissipated on September 21.
The storm, which ultimately made landfall near the Virginia
–North Carolina
border, produced high winds along the coast from New Jersey
through North Carolina
. A small boat sank off the coast of New Jersey, killing three of its occupants. Overall damage was estimated around $150,000 (1967 USD), although the storm overall was considered beneficial.
on September 4. For several days, the low pressure system meandered as its central barometric pressure gradually fell. The storm is estimated to have organized into a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on September 8. At the time, it was situated north of Grand Bahama Island. Drifting westward, the cyclone attained tropical storm intensity early the next day. Doria turned northeastward and accelerated as it moved away from Florida. On September 10, the tropical storm achieved hurricane force. Cold air became entrained into the hurricane's circulation by September 11, causing it to weaken to a tropical storm. However, its forward motion slowed and it once again strengthened.
The hurricane moved eastward, seemingly out to sea. However, an area of high pressure
over New England
began to steer Doria westward on September 13. The hurricane continued to strengthen, and it is estimated to have peaked with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum air pressure of 973 mbar (hPa; 28.73 inHg). It maintained these winds for approximately 18 hours, before weakening slightly late on September 14. In his 2007 book "Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States", Rick Schwartz compared Doria to the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane, citing similar intensities, tracks, and forward speeds. On September 16, the storm weakened to a tropical storm in a colder, drier environment. As it turned southward, Doria quickly weakened. Initial forecasts suggested the possibility for the storm to maintain its severity and move ashore between Maryland
and New Jersey
.
Continually deteriorating, Doria made landfall near the Virginia–North Carolina border, and moved south over land. It reemerged over open waters on September 17, and at around the same time, it weakened to a tropical depression. It curved southeastward as a weak depression, and several days later it was still identifiable as a storm system south of the island of Bermuda
. It dissipated on September 21. Doria had an unusual and capricious track, described as "one of the most erratic storms ever observed".
. Doria was a small storm, although it caused high winds in some locations and moderate coastal flooding. Atlantic City, New Jersey
, recorded a peak gust of 39 mph (62.8 km/h), with rainfall amounting to 0.53 in (13.5 mm). The storm's effects spread throughout the Delmarva Peninsula
and into Virginia. At Ocean City, Maryland, a boardwalk sustained storm-related damage. In the area, winds from the storm damaged signs and billboards and tore the roof of a prefabricated home
. Minor tidal flooding inundated local streets.
Wallops Island
, Virginia, experienced wind gusts to 60 mph (96.6 km/h). Cape Hatteras and Wilmington
, North Carolina, both received in excess of 1 in (25.4 mm) of precipitation. A station at the Indian River Inlet in Delaware recorded a tide 6.5 ft (2 m) above-normal; the highest sustained winds reported on land association with the storm, 50 mph (80.5 km/h), also occurred there. Damage from the storm was generally light. Off the coast of Ocean City, New Jersey
, a cabin cruiser
sank in 25-ft (7.6 m) seas. Three of the vessel's occupants, a mother and her two sons, drowned. Overall damage was estimated at $150,000 (1967 USD), which was considered minor. The storm's passage was considered beneficial, due to adding sand to beaches and providing favorable rains.
1967 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1967 Atlantic hurricane season was the first year in which the National Hurricane Center was in operation. The season began on June 1, which was the date when the NHC activated radar stations across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico...
, Doria developed on September 8 off the east coast of 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...
. It meandered until attaining tropical storm status, at which point the storm accelerated towards the northeast. On September 10, Doria intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. After moving out to sea, the storm turned westward towards the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A compact cyclone, Doria weakened to a tropical storm shortly before moving ashore in the Mid-Atlantic States
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
. The storm ultimately dissipated on September 21.
The storm, which ultimately made landfall near the 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...
–North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
border, produced high winds along the coast from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
through North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. A small boat sank off the coast of New Jersey, killing three of its occupants. Overall damage was estimated around $150,000 (1967 USD), although the storm overall was considered beneficial.
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Doria are traced back to an area of disturbed weather off the northeastern coast of 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...
on September 4. For several days, the low pressure system meandered as its central barometric pressure gradually fell. The storm is estimated to have organized into a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on September 8. At the time, it was situated north of Grand Bahama Island. Drifting westward, the cyclone attained tropical storm intensity early the next day. Doria turned northeastward and accelerated as it moved away from Florida. On September 10, the tropical storm achieved hurricane force. Cold air became entrained into the hurricane's circulation by September 11, causing it to weaken to a tropical storm. However, its forward motion slowed and it once again strengthened.
The hurricane moved eastward, seemingly out to sea. However, an area of high pressure
High pressure area
A high-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment. Winds within high-pressure areas flow outward due to the higher density air near their center and friction with land...
over New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
began to steer Doria westward on September 13. The hurricane continued to strengthen, and it is estimated to have peaked with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum air pressure of 973 mbar (hPa; 28.73 inHg). It maintained these winds for approximately 18 hours, before weakening slightly late on September 14. In his 2007 book "Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States", Rick Schwartz compared Doria to the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane, citing similar intensities, tracks, and forward speeds. On September 16, the storm weakened to a tropical storm in a colder, drier environment. As it turned southward, Doria quickly weakened. Initial forecasts suggested the possibility for the storm to maintain its severity and move ashore between Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Continually deteriorating, Doria made landfall near the Virginia–North Carolina border, and moved south over land. It reemerged over open waters on September 17, and at around the same time, it weakened to a tropical depression. It curved southeastward as a weak depression, and several days later it was still identifiable as a storm system south of the island of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. It dissipated on September 21. Doria had an unusual and capricious track, described as "one of the most erratic storms ever observed".
Impact
In advance of the storm, hurricane warnings were issued for much of the East Coast. For 19 hours, about 260 mi (418.4 km) of shoreline was under an advisory. At least 400 people were evacuated from their homes in southern New Jersey and 6,600 from Ocean City, MarylandOcean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
. Doria was a small storm, although it caused high winds in some locations and moderate coastal flooding. Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, recorded a peak gust of 39 mph (62.8 km/h), with rainfall amounting to 0.53 in (13.5 mm). The storm's effects spread throughout the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
and into Virginia. At Ocean City, Maryland, a boardwalk sustained storm-related damage. In the area, winds from the storm damaged signs and billboards and tore the roof of a prefabricated home
Prefabricated home
Prefabricated homes, often referred to as prefab homes, are dwellings manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled....
. Minor tidal flooding inundated local streets.
Wallops Island
Wallops Island
Wallops Island is a island off the east coast of Virginia, part of the barrier islands that stretch along the eastern seaboard of the United States of America.It is located in Accomack County, Virginia...
, Virginia, experienced wind gusts to 60 mph (96.6 km/h). Cape Hatteras and Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, North Carolina, both received in excess of 1 in (25.4 mm) of precipitation. A station at the Indian River Inlet in Delaware recorded a tide 6.5 ft (2 m) above-normal; the highest sustained winds reported on land association with the storm, 50 mph (80.5 km/h), also occurred there. Damage from the storm was generally light. Off the coast of Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
, a cabin cruiser
Cabin cruiser
A cabin cruiser is a type of power boat that provides accommodation for its crew and passengers inside the structure of the craft.A cabin cruiser usually ranges in size from in length, with larger pleasure craft usually considered yachts. Many cabin cruisers can be recovered and towed with a...
sank in 25-ft (7.6 m) seas. Three of the vessel's occupants, a mother and her two sons, drowned. Overall damage was estimated at $150,000 (1967 USD), which was considered minor. The storm's passage was considered beneficial, due to adding sand to beaches and providing favorable rains.