Hurricane Edith (1963)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Edith was a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
, which moved over the Windward Islands devastating the island of Martinique. It was fifth hurricane and the sixth tropical storm of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season
, which formed in the Central Atlantic on September 23, 1963 and dissipated on September 28, 1963. Edith formed east of the Lesser Antilles from an African easterly wave, which trekked across the Central Atlantic and peaked with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum central pressure
of 978 millibars (28.9 inHg), a millibar is a measure of atmospheric pressure. It caused ten deaths and 50 injuries on Martinique and $43 million in damage. A total sixteen advisories and fourteen bulletins were issued for the hurricane.
The origins of Edith were first observed on September 22 when a tanker east of the Lesser Antilles reported winds of 28 mph (45.1 km/h) in the Inter tropical Convergence Zone. The next day satellite imagery indicated that a surface circulation had developed, suggesting that a tropical depression had formed 400 miles (645 km) east of Barbados
. Later on September 23 the hurricane hunters confirmed the development of a depression, at which time the Weather Bureau initiated advisories on the system. Another flight on September 24 indicated that the depression had strengthened into Tropical Storm Edith and then into a hurricane shortly after.
On September 25, the hurricane passed over the island of St. Lucia and then moved into the Caribbean Sea
where it strengthened slightly to its peak of 100 mph (160 km/h). Early the next morning, Edith moved towards Hispaniola
and made landfall slightly west of La Romana, Dominican Republic. Edith weakened hours after landfall as an extratropical cyclone
, which was near South Florida
. The wave
moved to the east-northeast while strengthening into a low with a pressure of 1005 mb, 600 miles away from Edith. This happened just as Edith was nearing eastern Hispaniola, and at the same time, a broad surface low was forming in the Gulf of Mexico
. The extratropical cyclone weakened the pressure gradient in the Bahamas region significantly and as a result the easterly flow north of Edith was disrupted. This was the main reason for her weakening and eventual dissipation. The mountains of Hispaniola also contributed to Edith's demise and the flat pressure gradient north of Hispaniola prevented any redevelopment. After landfall, Edith spent about eight hours on land and then exited the northern coast of Hispaniola at about noon on September 26. Shortly after Edith exited the coast of Hispaniola, she dissipated and the final advisory was issued at 5 pm on September 28.
hurricane warnings were posted for both the Windward and Leeward Islands
because of Edith's proximity. The warning area was from Guadeloupe
to St. Vincent
and included Barbados. Gale warnings
were also issued for areas north of Guadeloupe to St. Maarten. As Edith was getting closer to St. Lucia, a hurricane watch was also issued for Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands
. After Edith entered the Caribbean, the watch was spread to Haiti
and the Dominican Republic. Whole gale warnings were issued for the south coast of Hispaniola, west of Santo Domingo
and gale warnings were issued for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and all areas in the Dominican Republic east of Santo Domingo
. Edith passed south of Puerto Rico at 4am on September 26 and hurricane warnings were issued at 12 noon for southern Haiti and southwestern Dominican Republic due to Edith's impending arrival. Later on Edith slowed down and headed more northerly, because of this, a hurricane warning was issued for the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico and the warning for western Hispaniola was discontinued.
By midnight on September 27, the storm had weakened and it was clear that Edith would pass over the Dominican Republic. As a result of this the hurricane warning for Puerto Rico was downgraded to a gale warning. A total of 16 advisories and 14 bulletins were issued for Edith.
. Edith passed just north of Barbados and received between 7 inches (177.8 mm) and 9 inches (228.6 mm) of rain from the storm. Wind speeds were between 60 and 65 mph (96.6 and 104.6 km/h) in areas of bad weather in the Northern section of the island. Damage on the island totaled $145,000. In Martinique Edith took 10 lives and left 50 people seriously injured. Serious wind and flood damage was also reported along with 125 mph (201.2 km/h) winds and strong waves. It was reported that there was material damage in Martinique, but the loss of life was low thanks to the advisories and warnings from the San Juan Weather Bureau. The Met office in Le Lamentin Airport experienced wind gusts up to 127 mph (204.4 km/h). Damage was estimated to be $40 million. St. Lucia experienced wind gusts up to 90 mph (144.8 km/h). These winds were accompanied by heavy, flooding rains and the island received wind and flood damage as the hurricane made landfall. Also in St. Lucia, about half of the banana crop was damaged as wind speeds reached 90 mph (144.8 km/h). The damage on the island totaled to $3,465,000, but no deaths were reported. Damage in the Dominican Republic was minor and winds between 50 and 60 mph (80.5 and 96.6 km/h) were recorded along with heavy rain.Hurricane Edith affected Puerto Rico for two days, September 16 and 17. During this time, Puerto Rico was subjected to moderate rains, strong winds and rough seas. Near Salinas, Puerto Rico about 200 feet of Highway One was destroyed by high surf. Several beach front properties were badly damaged. At Ponce Beach, waves completely flooded low-lying area and strong winds blew roofs off some houses. Damages to the Yacht club totaled $100,000 and damages to the boats totaled $15,000. Mr Octavio Seda, the superintendent at the Yauco Irrigation and Drainage System, reported that 8 inches (203.2 mm) to 9 inches (228.6 mm) of rainfall fell in the Lajas valley during the passage of Hurricane Edith and damage from this rainfall totaled to $25,000. The superintendent reported that winds reached 50 mph (80.5 km/h) and at Ensenada waves were reported to be as high as 15 feet and winds were estimated as 50 mph (80.5 km/h), because of these conditions many trees were uprooted.
At the Agricultural Experiment Station in Lajas crops were reported to be heavily damaged by high winds. During the evening of September 26 Cabo Rojo bore the brunt of the storm with the center passing within 50 mi (80.5 km) which produced 60 mph (96.6 km/h) winds, major flooding and extensive wind damage and winds were estimated to be 60 mph (96.6 km/h). The police department in Maricao observed the winds to be between 35 and 40 mph (56.3 and 64.4 km/h) on September 16 and heavy storms were also reported in the area and a few trees were blown down, but not a lot of damage was reported there.
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...
, which moved over the Windward Islands devastating the island of Martinique. It was fifth hurricane and the sixth tropical storm of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season
1963 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1963 Atlantic hurricane season was a below average Atlantic hurricane season, with nine named storms. Although the season officially began on June 1, the first storm did not form until nearly a month later. Hurricane Cindy made landfall in Texas before dissipating in the southern portion of the...
, which formed in the Central Atlantic on September 23, 1963 and dissipated on September 28, 1963. Edith formed east of the Lesser Antilles from an African easterly wave, which trekked across the Central Atlantic and peaked with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum central pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
of 978 millibars (28.9 inHg), a millibar is a measure of atmospheric pressure. It caused ten deaths and 50 injuries on Martinique and $43 million in damage. A total sixteen advisories and fourteen bulletins were issued for the hurricane.
Meteorological history
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. Later on September 23 the hurricane hunters confirmed the development of a depression, at which time the Weather Bureau initiated advisories on the system. Another flight on September 24 indicated that the depression had strengthened into Tropical Storm Edith and then into a hurricane shortly after.
On September 25, the hurricane passed over the island of St. Lucia and then moved into the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean 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....
where it strengthened slightly to its peak of 100 mph (160 km/h). Early the next morning, Edith moved towards Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
and made landfall slightly west of La Romana, Dominican Republic. Edith weakened hours after landfall as an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
, which was near South 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...
. The wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
moved to the east-northeast while strengthening into a low with a pressure of 1005 mb, 600 miles away from Edith. This happened just as Edith was nearing eastern Hispaniola, and at the same time, a broad surface low was forming in the 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...
. The extratropical cyclone weakened the pressure gradient in the Bahamas region significantly and as a result the easterly flow north of Edith was disrupted. This was the main reason for her weakening and eventual dissipation. The mountains of Hispaniola also contributed to Edith's demise and the flat pressure gradient north of Hispaniola prevented any redevelopment. After landfall, Edith spent about eight hours on land and then exited the northern coast of Hispaniola at about noon on September 26. Shortly after Edith exited the coast of Hispaniola, she dissipated and the final advisory was issued at 5 pm on September 28.
Preparation
The warnings and advice given by the San Juan Weather Bureau are credited for limiting damage and loss of life on Martinique. When Edith was 120 miles (193 kilometers) east of BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
hurricane warnings were posted for both the Windward and Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
because of Edith's proximity. The warning area was from Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
to St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
and included Barbados. Gale warnings
Gale
A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots of sustained surface winds. Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are...
were also issued for areas north of Guadeloupe to St. Maarten. As Edith was getting closer to St. Lucia, a hurricane watch was also issued for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
. After Edith entered the Caribbean, the watch was spread to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
and the Dominican Republic. Whole gale warnings were issued for the south coast of Hispaniola, west of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
and gale warnings were issued for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and all areas in the Dominican Republic east of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. Edith passed south of Puerto Rico at 4am on September 26 and hurricane warnings were issued at 12 noon for southern Haiti and southwestern Dominican Republic due to Edith's impending arrival. Later on Edith slowed down and headed more northerly, because of this, a hurricane warning was issued for the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico and the warning for western Hispaniola was discontinued.
By midnight on September 27, the storm had weakened and it was clear that Edith would pass over the Dominican Republic. As a result of this the hurricane warning for Puerto Rico was downgraded to a gale warning. A total of 16 advisories and 14 bulletins were issued for Edith.
Impact
Hurricane Edith was responsible for 10 deaths, 50 serious injuries and $ in damage but its name was not retired and was used again in the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season1967 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...
. Edith passed just north of Barbados and received between 7 inches (177.8 mm) and 9 inches (228.6 mm) of rain from the storm. Wind speeds were between 60 and 65 mph (96.6 and 104.6 km/h) in areas of bad weather in the Northern section of the island. Damage on the island totaled $145,000. In Martinique Edith took 10 lives and left 50 people seriously injured. Serious wind and flood damage was also reported along with 125 mph (201.2 km/h) winds and strong waves. It was reported that there was material damage in Martinique, but the loss of life was low thanks to the advisories and warnings from the San Juan Weather Bureau. The Met office in Le Lamentin Airport experienced wind gusts up to 127 mph (204.4 km/h). Damage was estimated to be $40 million. St. Lucia experienced wind gusts up to 90 mph (144.8 km/h). These winds were accompanied by heavy, flooding rains and the island received wind and flood damage as the hurricane made landfall. Also in St. Lucia, about half of the banana crop was damaged as wind speeds reached 90 mph (144.8 km/h). The damage on the island totaled to $3,465,000, but no deaths were reported. Damage in the Dominican Republic was minor and winds between 50 and 60 mph (80.5 and 96.6 km/h) were recorded along with heavy rain.Hurricane Edith affected Puerto Rico for two days, September 16 and 17. During this time, Puerto Rico was subjected to moderate rains, strong winds and rough seas. Near Salinas, Puerto Rico about 200 feet of Highway One was destroyed by high surf. Several beach front properties were badly damaged. At Ponce Beach, waves completely flooded low-lying area and strong winds blew roofs off some houses. Damages to the Yacht club totaled $100,000 and damages to the boats totaled $15,000. Mr Octavio Seda, the superintendent at the Yauco Irrigation and Drainage System, reported that 8 inches (203.2 mm) to 9 inches (228.6 mm) of rainfall fell in the Lajas valley during the passage of Hurricane Edith and damage from this rainfall totaled to $25,000. The superintendent reported that winds reached 50 mph (80.5 km/h) and at Ensenada waves were reported to be as high as 15 feet and winds were estimated as 50 mph (80.5 km/h), because of these conditions many trees were uprooted.
At the Agricultural Experiment Station in Lajas crops were reported to be heavily damaged by high winds. During the evening of September 26 Cabo Rojo bore the brunt of the storm with the center passing within 50 mi (80.5 km) which produced 60 mph (96.6 km/h) winds, major flooding and extensive wind damage and winds were estimated to be 60 mph (96.6 km/h). The police department in Maricao observed the winds to be between 35 and 40 mph (56.3 and 64.4 km/h) on September 16 and heavy storms were also reported in the area and a few trees were blown down, but not a lot of damage was reported there.