1956 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1956 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1956, and lasted until November 15, 1956. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
. The season
was slightly below average, with only four hurricanes and eight total storms forming.
Most of the tropical cyclones of 1956 remained at sea. However, Hurricane Betsy passed directly over Puerto Rico
as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
, causing millions in damages and killing 27.
extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the western Atlantic Ocean. On June 12, the interaction between the trough and a tropical wave
spawned a tropical depression in the Bay of Campeche
. The newly developed tropical cyclone tracked northward, quickly intensifying into a tropical storm. It attained peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) on June 13, although it never developed a well-defined circulation
. In addition, it had characteristics of both a tropical and extratropical cyclone
, with cooler air aloft. Late on June 13, the storm moved ashore in south-central Louisiana. It turned to the northwest over land, and dissipated on June 15 over Arkansas.
As the storm moved ashore, it did not develop rainbands, unlike other tropical cyclones. The heaviest rainfall occurred in a 100 mi (160.9 km) region east of where it moved ashore. Precipitation fell across the entire United States gulf coast, and the highest rainfall total was 8.89 in (225.8 mm) in Golden Meadow, Louisiana
. The rains were beneficial to farmers, due to drought conditions persisting in the region. The storm produced higher than normal tides, peaking at 4.7 ft (1.4 m) in Biloxi, Mississippi
; this was the highest since the 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane
. The tides left damage to the Freeport Sulphur Company
, as well as to boats, beaches, and piers. Three people died after their boat capsized, and there was another death after a driver skidded off the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
. A barge in the lake became disabled due to the storm and caused light damage to the causeway. Sustained winds during the storm's passage peaked at 55 mph (88.5 km/h) near Grand Isle, Louisiana
, and a boat reported a gust of 60 mph (96.6 km/h) near Pilottown, Louisiana
. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
on July 6. It dissipated on July 9. Although it never intensified beyond tropical depression status, the system produced wind gusts of 47 mph (75.6 km/h) in Panama City, Florida
. As it moved ashore, the depression dropped heavy amounts of precipitation, with a total of 14.22 in (361.2 mm) reported in Whatley, Alabama
. The rains washed away or eroded several highways and bridges, and also resulted in some agricultural damage. A train line from Mobile
to Birmingham, Alabama
was washed out near Suggsville
. Overall the damage was estimated at $503,000, and there were no associated deaths.
on July 26 it attained hurricane status. Peak winds reached 80 mph (128.7 km/h), although Anna rapidly dissipated on July 27 as it moved further inland. The high winds wrecked several homes in poor regions of Tampico, while rainfall of 2.5 in (63.5 mm) resulted in flooding. The high winds severed telegraph lines from Tampico to San Luis Potosi. The same area was affected by several hurricanes in the previous year. Damage totaled around $50,000, and there were no deaths.
. It rapidly developed into a 120 mph (195 km/h) before striking Guadeloupe
. There, Betsy heavily damaged 1000 houses and left severe crop destruction, and there were 18 deaths in the territory. As Betsy continued into the northeastern Caribbean, it capsized a ship, killing its crew of two.
On August 12, Betsy struck southeastern Puerto Rico and quickly crossed the island. Damage was heaviest where it moved ashore and in the territory's central portion, and throughout Puerto Rico there were 15,023 houses that were destroyed by Betsy. Multiple locations reported heavy crop damage, including Camuy which reported a complete loss of the corn crop. Hurricane Betsy was the first hurricane to be observed from the San Juan
radar, and also resulted in the first hurricane warning
on the island to be released on television. The hurricane left $40 million in damage and 16 deaths, which prompted a federally declared disaster area. Locally the hurricane was known as the Santa Clara Hurricane. After exiting Puerto Rico, Betsy brushed the Bahamas before turning northeastward, becoming extratropical
on August 18. The remnants dissipated two days later to the south of Newfoundland.
. Ships in the area reported winds as strong as 46 mph (74 km/h). The depression maintained a general westward track, eventually dissipating on September 6 to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles.
that produced gale force winds over New England. After Carla passed to the north of Bermuda, it became extratropical on September 10, according to the annual report in the Monthly Weather Review
. However, the official hurricane database maintained Carla as a tropical cyclone through September 11, at which time it dissipated southeast of Newfoundland.
with winds of about 40 mph (64.4 km/h). The storm was given the name Dora, and it moved generally westward due to a ridge to its north. A reconnaissance flight on September 11 estimated hurricane force winds, although the peak winds were listed in the official hurricane database at 70 mph (110 km/h). Dora weakened slightly before moving ashore near Tuxpan, Veracruz on September 12. It quickly dissipated, although the storm produced heavy rains across the region. The deluge caused a landslide as well as flooding, including along a river near San Andrés Tuxtla
. In Puebla
, there were 13 deaths and 20 injuries after a bus crashed into a washed out portion of the highway from Tuxpan to Mexico City
. Overall, Dora caused 27 deaths in the country, but minor damage.
in the Bahamas. It moved to the northeast and encountered cold air from the north. This resulted in significant instability that allowed in quick strengthening. A hurricane hunters flight on September 12 reported winds of 76 mph (122 km/h) in the storm's northeast quadrant; as a result, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ethel. The flight observed a well-developed eye 20 mi (32.2 km) in diameter, although they only observed hurricane-force winds in one quadrant. The Atlantic hurricane best track lists Ethel's peak intensity as 70 mph (112.7 km/h). Shortly after reaching peak intensity, Ethel began weakening as it became extratropical, and it dissipated on September 14 to the southwest of Bermuda.
on September 21. It moved northwestward across the Yucatán Peninsula
, and became a tropical storm on September 22. Flossy gradually strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a hurricane on the September 23.
Flossy totally submerged Grand Isle, Louisiana
, on September 24. A flood wall was topped in New Orleans, flooding some 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans
. The hurricane turned northeast in response to the Westerlies
, and hit near Fort Walton Beach, Florida
, on the September 25. Flossy became extratropical on the September 25 over Georgia
and continued northeastward, dropping heavy rain throughout its path and breaking a drought in the northeast. Flossy caused nearly $25 million in damage (1956 dollars) and 15 fatalities.
formed along a dissipating cold front to the north of Puerto Rico. The system moved westward, developing some tropical characteristics by October 13. The next day, the storm moved over Cuba before turning to the north. On October 15, it crossed over southeastern Florida near Miami
. The highest rainfall total The storm was never fully tropical, as its winds and precipitation extended far away from the center. It produced sustained winds of 60 mph (96.6 km/h) with gusts to 65 mph (104.6 km/h). After affecting Florida, the storm crossed the western Atlantic and moved across the Outer Banks
. The storm became extratropical on October 18 offshore Virginia, and the next day it was absorbed by another extratropical storm.
The storm produced significant rainfall in a 50 mi (80.5 km) region of Florida. The highest total in the state was 16.28 in (413.5 mm) in Kissimmee
. There, the rains caused flash flooding that entered over 200 houses. The flooding flooded three state highways, and also left portions of Okeechobee
inaccessible after reporting the heaviest rainfall in eight years. Large tomato fields were inundated, resulting in some crop damage. In portions of the state, the rains were beneficial due to previously dry conditions. The storm spawned a tornado in North Miami
that injured one person. Damage throughout Florida was estimated at $3 million, mostly in the Kissimmee area. In addition, two surfers drowned during the storm. Precipitation extended as far north as New Jersey, and coastal areas experienced high tides and gusty winds.
developed a tropical depression on October 30 just southwest of Haiti
. It moved northward without intensifying, possibly due to the cold-core nature of the system in the mid-levels, but as a ridge of high pressure built to the north, the depression was forced southeastward. On November 2, it was able to strengthen into a tropical storm, and a warm core developed. Greta rapidly intensified on the November 4 and November 5, reaching a peak of 140 mph (230 km/h) winds over the open Atlantic. It is theorized that the transfer of energy from upper levels to the surface attributed to the intensification. Nonetheless, Greta gradually weakened over the cooler waters of the Central Atlantic, and became extratropical on November 7. Greta caused $3.6 million in damage (1956 dollars), almost half of which occurred in Florida from large waves and storm surge, and one death from drowning in Puerto Rico.
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...
. The 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...
was slightly below average, with only four hurricanes and eight total storms forming.
Most of the tropical cyclones of 1956 remained at sea. However, Hurricane Betsy passed directly over 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...
as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
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...
, causing millions in damages and killing 27.
Tropical Storm One
In early June, a troughTrough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the western Atlantic Ocean. On June 12, the interaction between the trough and a tropical 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...
spawned a tropical depression in the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
. The newly developed tropical cyclone tracked northward, quickly intensifying into a tropical storm. It attained peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) on June 13, although it never developed a well-defined circulation
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means by which thermal energy is distributed on the surface of the Earth....
. In addition, it had characteristics of both a tropical and 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...
, with cooler air aloft. Late on June 13, the storm moved ashore in south-central Louisiana. It turned to the northwest over land, and dissipated on June 15 over Arkansas.
As the storm moved ashore, it did not develop rainbands, unlike other tropical cyclones. The heaviest rainfall occurred in a 100 mi (160.9 km) region east of where it moved ashore. Precipitation fell across the entire United States gulf coast, and the highest rainfall total was 8.89 in (225.8 mm) in Golden Meadow, Louisiana
Golden Meadow, Louisiana
Golden Meadow is a town along Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,193 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its main source of revenue is revenue from property tax, sales tax, and...
. The rains were beneficial to farmers, due to drought conditions persisting in the region. The storm produced higher than normal tides, peaking at 4.7 ft (1.4 m) in Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
; this was the highest since the 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane
1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane
The Fort Lauderdale Hurricane was an intense Category 5 hurricane that affected the Bahamas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi in September of the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season...
. The tides left damage to the Freeport Sulphur Company
Freeport-McMoRan
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., often called simply Freeport, is the world's lowest-cost copper producer and one of the world's largest producers of gold...
, as well as to boats, beaches, and piers. Three people died after their boat capsized, and there was another death after a driver skidded off the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or the Causeway, consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is long...
. A barge in the lake became disabled due to the storm and caused light damage to the causeway. Sustained winds during the storm's passage peaked at 55 mph (88.5 km/h) near Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to...
, and a boat reported a gust of 60 mph (96.6 km/h) near Pilottown, Louisiana
Pilottown, Louisiana
Pilottown is a small community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States.It serves as a base for river pilots to guide ships across the bar and up and down the Mississippi River....
. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
June tropical depression
Shortly after the previous storm dissipated, another tropical depression developed on June 17 from a trough, about 500 mi (804.7 km) east of the southern Florida coast. Although it briefly produced wind gusts of 40 mph (64.4 km/h), it never intensified beyond tropical depression status, and it dissipated on June 18.July tropical depression
A weak circulation developed late on July 4 beneath a cold mid-level trough in the Gulf of Mexico. It moved north-northwestward, and hit near Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
on July 6. It dissipated on July 9. Although it never intensified beyond tropical depression status, the system produced wind gusts of 47 mph (75.6 km/h) in Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
. As it moved ashore, the depression dropped heavy amounts of precipitation, with a total of 14.22 in (361.2 mm) reported in Whatley, Alabama
Whatley, Alabama
Whatley is an unincorporated community in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. It is named in honor of Franklin Benjamin Whatley. Whatley is the birthplace of bandleader and trombonist Grover Mitchell....
. The rains washed away or eroded several highways and bridges, and also resulted in some agricultural damage. A train line from Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
was washed out near Suggsville
Suggsville, Alabama
Suggsville is an unincorporated community in Clarke County, Alabama. It was laid out as a town in 1819 at the crossing of the Old Line Road and Federal Road. The name was chosen in honor of a local storekeeper, William Suggs. The first newspaper in Clarke County was published here, the Clarke...
. Overall the damage was estimated at $503,000, and there were no associated deaths.
Hurricane Anna
A tropical wave moved through the Lesser Antilles on July 20. It moved across the Caribbean, and its convection increased on July 23 while passing south of Cuba and beneath an anticyclone. There is evidence that it could have developed a circulation on July 24 before it struck the Yucatán Peninsula. It is confirmed to have developed into a tropical depression on July 25 in the Bay of Campeche. As it continued west-northwestward, it intensified into Tropical Storm Anna, and before moving ashore near TampicoTampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
on July 26 it attained hurricane status. Peak winds reached 80 mph (128.7 km/h), although Anna rapidly dissipated on July 27 as it moved further inland. The high winds wrecked several homes in poor regions of Tampico, while rainfall of 2.5 in (63.5 mm) resulted in flooding. The high winds severed telegraph lines from Tampico to San Luis Potosi. The same area was affected by several hurricanes in the previous year. Damage totaled around $50,000, and there were no deaths.
Hurricane Betsy
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 4. It developed into Tropical Storm Betsy developed on August 9 to the east of the Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. It rapidly developed into a 120 mph (195 km/h) before striking 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...
. There, Betsy heavily damaged 1000 houses and left severe crop destruction, and there were 18 deaths in the territory. As Betsy continued into the northeastern Caribbean, it capsized a ship, killing its crew of two.
On August 12, Betsy struck southeastern Puerto Rico and quickly crossed the island. Damage was heaviest where it moved ashore and in the territory's central portion, and throughout Puerto Rico there were 15,023 houses that were destroyed by Betsy. Multiple locations reported heavy crop damage, including Camuy which reported a complete loss of the corn crop. Hurricane Betsy was the first hurricane to be observed from the San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
radar, and also resulted in the first hurricane warning
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
on the island to be released on television. The hurricane left $40 million in damage and 16 deaths, which prompted a federally declared disaster area. Locally the hurricane was known as the Santa Clara Hurricane. After exiting Puerto Rico, Betsy brushed the Bahamas before turning northeastward, becoming extratropical
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...
on August 18. The remnants dissipated two days later to the south of Newfoundland.
August tropical depression
A vigorous tropical wave spawned a tropical depression on August 28 near the Cape Verde islands. As it passed through the islands, the depression produced a minimum central pressure of 1004 mbar (29.6 inHg) on the island of SalSal, Cape Verde
Sal is an island in Cape Verde. It belongs to the northern group of islands, called Barlavento. The island is composed by a single administrative division, the Sal municipality. The island is home to Amílcar Cabral International Airport, the main airport of Cape Verde.- Geography :The island is...
. Ships in the area reported winds as strong as 46 mph (74 km/h). The depression maintained a general westward track, eventually dissipating on September 6 to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles.
Tropical Storm Carla
The origins of Tropical Storm Carla were from a tropical wave that spawned a depression over the Bahamas on September 5. It moved generally to the north, intensifying to a tropical storm within six hours of forming. An upper-level low located to the northeast of Carla produced hostile conditions that prevented significant strengthening. An approaching cold front turned the storm to the northeast, and despite the unfavorable atmosphere, Carla intensified, reaching peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h). The interaction between the storm and a high pressure system over the Great Lakes yielded a strong pressure gradientPressure gradient
In atmospheric sciences , the pressure gradient is a physical quantity that describes in which direction and at what rate the pressure changes the most rapidly around a particular location. The pressure gradient is a dimensional quantity expressed in units of pressure per unit length...
that produced gale force winds over New England. After Carla passed to the north of Bermuda, it became extratropical on September 10, according to the annual report in the Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Weather Review
The Monthly Weather Review is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society.Topics covered by the journal include research related to analysis and prediction of observed and modeled circulations of the atmosphere, including technique development, data assimilation, model...
. However, the official hurricane database maintained Carla as a tropical cyclone through September 11, at which time it dissipated southeast of Newfoundland.
Tropical Storm Dora
On September 10, the Hurricane Hunters observed a tropical storm in the Bay of CampecheBay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
with winds of about 40 mph (64.4 km/h). The storm was given the name Dora, and it moved generally westward due to a ridge to its north. A reconnaissance flight on September 11 estimated hurricane force winds, although the peak winds were listed in the official hurricane database at 70 mph (110 km/h). Dora weakened slightly before moving ashore near Tuxpan, Veracruz on September 12. It quickly dissipated, although the storm produced heavy rains across the region. The deluge caused a landslide as well as flooding, including along a river near San Andrés Tuxtla
San Andrés Tuxtla
The municipio of San Andrés Tuxtla is located in the south-central portion of the Mexican state of Veracruz. Its municipal seat is also called San Andrés Tuxtla, located 150 km from the city of Veracruz along Federal Highway 180 in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas region.The municipality which...
. In Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, there were 13 deaths and 20 injuries after a bus crashed into a washed out portion of the highway from Tuxpan to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Overall, Dora caused 27 deaths in the country, but minor damage.
Tropical Storm Ethel
On September 11, a tropical depression developed along the southern end of a quasi-stationary cold front over Grand Exuma IslandExuma
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands . The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma by a small bridge. The capital and largest city in the district is George Town , founded 1793 and located on Great...
in the Bahamas. It moved to the northeast and encountered cold air from the north. This resulted in significant instability that allowed in quick strengthening. A hurricane hunters flight on September 12 reported winds of 76 mph (122 km/h) in the storm's northeast quadrant; as a result, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ethel. The flight observed a well-developed eye 20 mi (32.2 km) in diameter, although they only observed hurricane-force winds in one quadrant. The Atlantic hurricane best track lists Ethel's peak intensity as 70 mph (112.7 km/h). Shortly after reaching peak intensity, Ethel began weakening as it became extratropical, and it dissipated on September 14 to the southwest of Bermuda.
September tropical depression
A vigorous tropical depression moved through the Cape Verde islands on September 13, although the complete history of the cyclone is unknown. It dissipated before affecting the Lesser Antilles.Hurricane Flossy
The origin of Flossy is uncertain; one possibility is it developed from an Eastern Pacific disturbance, while the other is a disturbance moving through the Caribbean. Regardless, a tropical depression formed in the extreme 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....
on September 21. It moved northwestward across the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, and became a tropical storm on September 22. Flossy gradually strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a hurricane on the September 23.
Flossy totally submerged Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to...
, on September 24. A flood wall was topped in New Orleans, flooding some 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans
Ninth Ward of New Orleans
The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, Louisiana that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is geographically the largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans....
. The hurricane turned northeast in response to the Westerlies
Westerlies
The Westerlies, anti-trades, or Prevailing Westerlies, are the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east, and steer extratropical...
, and hit near Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. As of 2005, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach was 19,992, and as of 2010, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach is 19,507 recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, on the September 25. Flossy became extratropical on the September 25 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 continued northeastward, dropping heavy rain throughout its path and breaking a drought in the northeast. Flossy caused nearly $25 million in damage (1956 dollars) and 15 fatalities.
October South Atlantic depression
On October 9, a tropical depression developed about 1300 mi (2,092.1 km) east of Puerto Rico. Ships in the area reported winds as strong as 45 mph (72.4 km/h), although the system dissipated within 24 hours.October Mid-Atlantic depression
On October 10, another tropical depression formed further to the north of the previous storm. It possibly developed from the same tropical wave that spawned the previous depression, although they were not the same system. The depression maintained a general northward movement throughout its duration, dissipating on October 12.Quasi-tropical storm
A low pressure areaLow pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
formed along a dissipating cold front to the north of Puerto Rico. The system moved westward, developing some tropical characteristics by October 13. The next day, the storm moved over Cuba before turning to the north. On October 15, it crossed over southeastern Florida near Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. The highest rainfall total The storm was never fully tropical, as its winds and precipitation extended far away from the center. It produced sustained winds of 60 mph (96.6 km/h) with gusts to 65 mph (104.6 km/h). After affecting Florida, the storm crossed the western Atlantic and moved across the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
. The storm became extratropical on October 18 offshore Virginia, and the next day it was absorbed by another extratropical storm.
The storm produced significant rainfall in a 50 mi (80.5 km) region of Florida. The highest total in the state was 16.28 in (413.5 mm) in Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
. There, the rains caused flash flooding that entered over 200 houses. The flooding flooded three state highways, and also left portions of Okeechobee
Okeechobee, Florida
Okeechobee is a city in Okeechobee County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,376 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,784. It is the county seat of Okeechobee County. The Speckled Perch Festival is held annually in honor of the most...
inaccessible after reporting the heaviest rainfall in eight years. Large tomato fields were inundated, resulting in some crop damage. In portions of the state, the rains were beneficial due to previously dry conditions. The storm spawned a tornado in North Miami
North Miami, Florida
North Miami is a suburban city located in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, about north of Miami. The city lies on Biscayne Bay and hosts the Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University, and the North Miami campus of Johnson & Wales University...
that injured one person. Damage throughout Florida was estimated at $3 million, mostly in the Kissimmee area. In addition, two surfers drowned during the storm. Precipitation extended as far north as New Jersey, and coastal areas experienced high tides and gusty winds.
Hurricane Greta
The Intertropical Convergence ZoneIntertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
developed a tropical depression on October 30 just southwest of 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...
. It moved northward without intensifying, possibly due to the cold-core nature of the system in the mid-levels, but as a ridge of high pressure built to the north, the depression was forced southeastward. On November 2, it was able to strengthen into a tropical storm, and a warm core developed. Greta rapidly intensified on the November 4 and November 5, reaching a peak of 140 mph (230 km/h) winds over the open Atlantic. It is theorized that the transfer of energy from upper levels to the surface attributed to the intensification. Nonetheless, Greta gradually weakened over the cooler waters of the Central Atlantic, and became extratropical on November 7. Greta caused $3.6 million in damage (1956 dollars), almost half of which occurred in Florida from large waves and storm surge, and one death from drowning in Puerto Rico.
Storm names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1956, all of which were used for the first time.
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See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons