Hurricane Cindy (1959)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Cindy impacted the Carolinas
, the Mid-Atlantic states
, New England
, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces
during the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season
. The third storm of the season, Cindy originated from a low-pressure area associated with a cold front
located east of northern Florida. The low developed into a tropical depression on July 5 while tracking north-northeastward, and became Tropical Storm Cindy by the next day. Cindy turned westward because of a high-pressure area positioned to its north, and further intensified into a weak hurricane off the coast of the Carolinas on July 8. Early on July 9, Cindy made landfall
near McClellanville, South Carolina
, and re-curved to the northeast along the fall line
as a tropical depression. It re-entered the Atlantic on July 10, quickly restrengthening into a tropical storm while it began to move faster. On July 11, Cindy passed over Cape Cod
, while several other weather systems
helped the storm maintain its intensity. Cindy transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
on July 12 as it neared the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
Overall structural damage from Cindy was minimal. One driver was killed in Georgetown, South Carolina
after colliding with a fallen tree, and five indirect deaths were caused by poor road conditions wrought by the storm in New England. Many areas experienced heavy rains, and several thousand people evacuated. Other than broken tree limbs, shattered windows and power outages, little damage occurred. Cindy brought a total of eleven tornado
es with it, of which two caused minor damage in North Carolina. The heaviest rainfall occurred in north central South Carolina, where rainfall amounted to 9.79 inches (248.7 mm). Tides ranged from 1 to 4 ft (0.3048 to 1.2 m) above normal along the coast. As drought
-like conditions were present in the Carolinas at the time, the rainfall produced by Hurricane Cindy in the area was beneficial. After becoming extratropical over the Canadian Maritimes, the cyclone produced heavy rains and strong winds that sunk one ship. Damage caused by Cindy was estimated at $75,000 (1959 USD).
as a related cold front
traveled southeastward and became stationary over the Atlantic, extending from northern Florida
to Bermuda
. On July 5, the front spawned a separate cut-off cold-core low
off the coast of the Carolinas
. This complex scenario resulted in the formation of a tropical depression later during the day, which slowly meandered north-northeastward. Tropical cyclones of this origin typically remain at a small size and evolve slowly, and Cindy complied to this pattern.
Convection
began to increase on July 6, supported on the basis that many showers were observed to the north of the depression. An anticyclone
—a large mass of air rotating clockwise—intensified within the depression's vicinity, resulting in a tighter pressure gradient
and increasing winds to the north of the center of the depression. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Cindy early on July 7, and a reconnaissance flight
into the storm late during the afternoon observed maximum sustained wind
s of 60–65 mph (95–100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mbar
(hPa
; 29.44 inHg
). Cindy began to curve westward late on July 7 as it reached peak intensity, with a minimum central pressure of 996 mbar (hPa; 29.41 inHg), and drifted due west early on July 8 as a result of a maturing surface high to its north. Steady intensification continued throughout the day, and the storm attained hurricane status during the morning of July 8.
At approximately 2:45 UTC
on July 9, the hurricane made landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina
. Shortly thereafter, Cindy began re-curving northwestward along the fall line
, and eventually weakened to a tropical depression. The depression abruptly turned toward the east-northeast over North Carolina
during the afternoon hours of July 9. Cindy then began to accelerate as it curved slightly towards the northeast, and eventually regained tropical storm status late on July 10 as it emerged into the Atlantic. Cindy scraped the southern fringe of the Delmarva Peninsula
near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
at approximately 00:00 UTC on July 11, and rapidly traveled northeastward during the day. Cindy passed over Cape Cod
near the mid-morning of July 11, during which a series of shortwave troughs
passed near the storm, producing high-level outflow
that helped Cindy maintain intensity. Later on July 11, Cindy moved ashore in New Brunswick
and made landfall over Prince Edward Island
the following day. The storm subsequently moved over Quebec
and Labrador
, where it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
.
s for areas extending from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
, to Charleston, South Carolina
, and a hurricane warning for areas between Beaufort and Georgetown, South Carolina
, on July 8. A preliminary alert was issued for naval and marine areas in the Carolinas from Norfolk, Virginia
. Special forecasts from the Weather Bureau
office in Columbia, South Carolina
were activated on the radio at 16:50 UTC on July 8. Several thousand people evacuated in areas of South Carolina
, including Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, and Pawleys Island. The issuance of an emergency flood forecast for Columbia, South Carolina
occurred as a result of Cindy.
The highest rainfall total measured was 9.79 inches (248.7 mm) in Winnsboro, South Carolina
, although unofficial sources east of Columbia, South Carolina, measured rainfall totals of up to 15 inches (381 mm). Tides ranged from 1 to 4 ft (0.3048 to 1.2 m) above normal. A total of eleven tornadoes were reported in association with Cindy. Only one direct death was caused by Cindy, in addition to five indirect deaths. Little damage was attributed to the hurricane, other than downed tree limbs and broken windows. Damage from Cindy was estimated at $75,000 (1959 USD).
after colliding with a fallen tree. Along the main street of Georgetown, the Sampit River
topped its banks, resulting in flooding that impacted business in the area. At Georgetown, tides were about 2.5 foot (0.762 m) above normal during Cindy, while at McClellanville
, the point of landfall, tides were approximately 4 feet (1.2 m) above normal. At Folly Beach
, Sullivan's Island
, and Isle of Palms
, only 600 people of the normal population of approximately 6,500 chose not to evacuate. Strong winds that accompanied Cindy snapped tree limbs, shattered a few windows, damaged roofs, and knocked power out in Charleston, but little other damage was wrought. Several points throughout the state measured at least 3 inches (76.2 mm) of rainfall, including Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach
, and Sumter
.
The Congaree River
rose dramatically near Columbia during the hurricane, where rainfall totaled 5.82 inches (147.8 mm), although some reliable unofficial sources state the figure to be 15 inches (381 mm). Several thousand sought safety in Red Cross
shelters in schools and armories, though the Weather Bureau announced it was safe for evacuees in Charleston to return to their homes shortly after the storm came ashore. Most of the rainfall produced by Cindy was beneficial to drought-stricken regions, albeit not enough to provide significant relief.
, Virginia
, and Maryland
along the outer bands of the storm. A tornado was observed near Nags Head
around 17:40 UTC on July 10, and a second was observed 25 minutes later. Both tornadoes caused minimal damage – the first damaged four buildings and the second uprooted trees and toppled power poles. In addition, two waterspouts were noted offshore North Carolina, of which one was near New Topsail Beach
in the mid-morning of July 8 and another near Sneads Ferry
. No damage was reported from the waterspouts.
Prior to the storm's landfall in the Carolinas, tides at Wilmington, North Carolina
were 2 foot (0.6096 m) above normal; tides were near the same level at other areas of the southern fringes of North Carolina. In New England
, five indirect deaths resulted from traffic accidents on highways as a result of the slippery conditions on roads wrought by Cindy's rains. At Boston
, 2.37 inches (60.2 mm) of rainfall was measured, while 2.85 inches (72.4 mm) fell at Bedford
. Between the cities of Atlantic City, New Jersey
, and Eastport, Maine
, tides were 1 foot (0.3048 m) to 3 foot (0.9144 m) above normal. Rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic peaked at 8.43 inches (214.1 mm) at Belleplain State Forest
in New Jersey, while rainfall in New England peaked at 3.85 inches (97.8 mm) at Lake Konomoc, Connecticut
. Rainfall was also recorded in Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Most impacts in Canada occurred after the hurricane transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. Cindy brought strong winds and downpours along the coast of Nova Scotia
. Many small vessels sought safety, but the ship Lady Godiva sank near North West Arm
; the two people on board were later rescued. No damage was reported on the island itself. In New Brunswick
, up to 2 inches (50 mm) of rainfall was produced by Cindy, although no damage is known to have been reported.
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
, 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...
, 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...
, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces
Maritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
during the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season
1959 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1959 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1959, and lasted until November 15, 1959. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. The third storm of the season, Cindy originated from a low-pressure area associated with a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
located east of northern Florida. The low developed into a tropical depression on July 5 while tracking north-northeastward, and became Tropical Storm Cindy by the next day. Cindy turned westward because of a high-pressure area positioned to its north, and further intensified into a weak hurricane off the coast of the Carolinas on July 8. Early on July 9, Cindy made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
near McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville is a small fishing town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, on land surrounded by Francis Marion National Forest and has traditionally derived its livelihood from the sea and coastal...
, and re-curved to the northeast along the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
as a tropical depression. It re-entered the Atlantic on July 10, quickly restrengthening into a tropical storm while it began to move faster. On July 11, Cindy passed over Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, while several other weather systems
Shortwave (meteorology)
A shortwave or shortwave trough is an embedded kink in the trough / ridge pattern. This is the opposite of longwaves, which are responsible for synoptic scale systems, although shortwaves may be contained within or found ahead of longwaves and range from the mesocale to the synoptic scale...
helped the storm maintain its intensity. Cindy transitioned into 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...
on July 12 as it neared the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
Overall structural damage from Cindy was minimal. One driver was killed in Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
after colliding with a fallen tree, and five indirect deaths were caused by poor road conditions wrought by the storm in New England. Many areas experienced heavy rains, and several thousand people evacuated. Other than broken tree limbs, shattered windows and power outages, little damage occurred. Cindy brought a total of eleven tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es with it, of which two caused minor damage in North Carolina. The heaviest rainfall occurred in north central South Carolina, where rainfall amounted to 9.79 inches (248.7 mm). Tides ranged from 1 to 4 ft (0.3048 to 1.2 m) above normal along the coast. As drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
-like conditions were present in the Carolinas at the time, the rainfall produced by Hurricane Cindy in the area was beneficial. After becoming extratropical over the Canadian Maritimes, the cyclone produced heavy rains and strong winds that sunk one ship. Damage caused by Cindy was estimated at $75,000 (1959 USD).
Meteorological history
The origins of Cindy can be attributed to a deepening low-pressure area that tracked from the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
as a related cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
traveled southeastward and became stationary over the Atlantic, extending from northern 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...
to 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...
. On July 5, the front spawned a separate cut-off cold-core low
Cold-core low
A cold-core low, also known as a cold low or cold-core cyclone, is a cyclone aloft which has an associated cold pool of air residing at high altitude within the Earth's troposphere. It is a low pressure system which strengthens with height in accordance with the thermal wind relationship. These...
off the coast of the Carolinas
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
. This complex scenario resulted in the formation of a tropical depression later during the day, which slowly meandered north-northeastward. Tropical cyclones of this origin typically remain at a small size and evolve slowly, and Cindy complied to this pattern.
Convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
began to increase on July 6, supported on the basis that many showers were observed to the north of the depression. An anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
—a large mass of air rotating clockwise—intensified within the depression's vicinity, resulting in a tighter pressure gradient
Pressure 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...
and increasing winds to the north of the center of the depression. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Cindy early on July 7, and a reconnaissance flight
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
into the storm late during the afternoon observed maximum sustained wind
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s of 60–65 mph (95–100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 29.44 inHg
Inch of mercury
Inches of mercury, ' is a unit of measurement for pressure. It is still widely used for barometric pressure in weather reports, refrigeration and aviation in the United States, but is seldom used elsewhere....
). Cindy began to curve westward late on July 7 as it reached peak intensity, with a minimum central pressure of 996 mbar (hPa; 29.41 inHg), and drifted due west early on July 8 as a result of a maturing surface high to its north. Steady intensification continued throughout the day, and the storm attained hurricane status during the morning of July 8.
At approximately 2:45 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
on July 9, the hurricane made landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville is a small fishing town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, on land surrounded by Francis Marion National Forest and has traditionally derived its livelihood from the sea and coastal...
. Shortly thereafter, Cindy began re-curving northwestward along the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, and eventually weakened to a tropical depression. The depression abruptly turned toward the east-northeast over 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...
during the afternoon hours of July 9. Cindy then began to accelerate as it curved slightly towards the northeast, and eventually regained tropical storm status late on July 10 as it emerged into the Atlantic. Cindy scraped the southern fringe of 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...
near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
at approximately 00:00 UTC on July 11, and rapidly traveled northeastward during the day. Cindy passed over Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
near the mid-morning of July 11, during which a series of shortwave troughs
Shortwave (meteorology)
A shortwave or shortwave trough is an embedded kink in the trough / ridge pattern. This is the opposite of longwaves, which are responsible for synoptic scale systems, although shortwaves may be contained within or found ahead of longwaves and range from the mesocale to the synoptic scale...
passed near the storm, producing high-level outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
that helped Cindy maintain intensity. Later on July 11, Cindy moved ashore in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and made landfall over Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
the following day. The storm subsequently moved over Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, where it transitioned into 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...
.
Preparations and impact
Cindy prompted a hurricane watch and gale warningGale warning
A gale warning is a warning issued by weather services in maritime locations about the existence of winds of gale force or above or the imminent occurrence of gales at sea...
s for areas extending from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
, to Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and a hurricane warning for areas between Beaufort and Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
, on July 8. A preliminary alert was issued for naval and marine areas in the Carolinas from Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Special forecasts from the Weather Bureau
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
office in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
were activated on the radio at 16:50 UTC on July 8. Several thousand people evacuated in areas of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, including Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, and Pawleys Island. The issuance of an emergency flood forecast for Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
occurred as a result of Cindy.
The highest rainfall total measured was 9.79 inches (248.7 mm) in Winnsboro, South Carolina
Winnsboro, South Carolina
Winnsboro is a town in Fairfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,599 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Fairfield County. Winnsboro is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, although unofficial sources east of Columbia, South Carolina, measured rainfall totals of up to 15 inches (381 mm). Tides ranged from 1 to 4 ft (0.3048 to 1.2 m) above normal. A total of eleven tornadoes were reported in association with Cindy. Only one direct death was caused by Cindy, in addition to five indirect deaths. Little damage was attributed to the hurricane, other than downed tree limbs and broken windows. Damage from Cindy was estimated at $75,000 (1959 USD).
South Carolina
A driver was killed in Georgetown on U.S. Route 17U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 is a north–south United States highway. The highway spans the southeastern United States and is close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length. The highway's southern terminus is at Punta Gorda, Florida, at an intersection with U.S. Route 41...
after colliding with a fallen tree. Along the main street of Georgetown, the Sampit River
Sampit River
The Sampit River begins in a swampy area of western Georgetown County, South Carolina, USA. It flows in an easterly direction to Winyah Bay at Georgetown. Only small crafts can navigate the upper parts of the river...
topped its banks, resulting in flooding that impacted business in the area. At Georgetown, tides were about 2.5 foot (0.762 m) above normal during Cindy, while at McClellanville
McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville is a small fishing town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, on land surrounded by Francis Marion National Forest and has traditionally derived its livelihood from the sea and coastal...
, the point of landfall, tides were approximately 4 feet (1.2 m) above normal. At Folly Beach
Folly Beach, South Carolina
Folly Beach is a city, located on historic Folly Island, in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,117 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
, Sullivan's Island
Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
Sullivan's Island is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, on a similarly named island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. The population was 1,911 at the 2000 census. It is also the site of a major battle of the American Revolution at Fort Sullivan on June 28, 1776. As...
, and Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Isle of Palms is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population on the island was 4,133. Isle of Palms is a barrier island on the South Carolina coast. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
, only 600 people of the normal population of approximately 6,500 chose not to evacuate. Strong winds that accompanied Cindy snapped tree limbs, shattered a few windows, damaged roofs, and knocked power out in Charleston, but little other damage was wrought. Several points throughout the state measured at least 3 inches (76.2 mm) of rainfall, including Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
, and Sumter
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
.
The Congaree River
Congaree River
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina in the United States; It flows for only 47 miles . The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River just north of Lake Marion to...
rose dramatically near Columbia during the hurricane, where rainfall totaled 5.82 inches (147.8 mm), although some reliable unofficial sources state the figure to be 15 inches (381 mm). Several thousand sought safety in Red Cross
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
shelters in schools and armories, though the Weather Bureau announced it was safe for evacuees in Charleston to return to their homes shortly after the storm came ashore. Most of the rainfall produced by Cindy was beneficial to drought-stricken regions, albeit not enough to provide significant relief.
Elsewhere
As Cindy moved inland, tornadoes touched down in North CarolinaNorth 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...
, 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...
, and 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...
along the outer bands of the storm. A tornado was observed near Nags Head
Nags Head, North Carolina
Nags Head is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,700 at the 2000 census.-History:Early maps of the area show Nags Head as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes visible from miles at sea...
around 17:40 UTC on July 10, and a second was observed 25 minutes later. Both tornadoes caused minimal damage – the first damaged four buildings and the second uprooted trees and toppled power poles. In addition, two waterspouts were noted offshore North Carolina, of which one was near New Topsail Beach
Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Topsail Beach is a town in Pender County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 581 at the 2008 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Topsail Beach is located at ....
in the mid-morning of July 8 and another near Sneads Ferry
Sneads Ferry, North Carolina
Sneads Ferry is a census-designated place in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Jacksonville, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. No damage was reported from the waterspouts.
Prior to the storm's landfall in the Carolinas, tides at Wilmington, North Carolina
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...
were 2 foot (0.6096 m) above normal; tides were near the same level at other areas of the southern fringes of North Carolina. In 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...
, five indirect deaths resulted from traffic accidents on highways as a result of the slippery conditions on roads wrought by Cindy's rains. At Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, 2.37 inches (60.2 mm) of rainfall was measured, while 2.85 inches (72.4 mm) fell at Bedford
Bedford, Massachusetts
Bedford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is within the Greater Boston area, north-west of the city of Boston. The population of Bedford was 13,320 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. Between the cities of 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...
, and Eastport, Maine
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...
, tides were 1 foot (0.3048 m) to 3 foot (0.9144 m) above normal. Rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic peaked at 8.43 inches (214.1 mm) at Belleplain State Forest
Belleplain State Forest
Belleplain State Forest is a New Jersey State Forest in northern Cape May County and eastern Cumberland County. It has many young pine, oak and Atlantic white cedar trees, having better soil than the northern Pine Barrens...
in New Jersey, while rainfall in New England peaked at 3.85 inches (97.8 mm) at Lake Konomoc, Connecticut
Lake Konomoc, Connecticut
Lake Konomoc is a dammed lake near Palmertown in New London County, Connecticut.- References :...
. Rainfall was also recorded in Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Most impacts in Canada occurred after the hurricane transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. Cindy brought strong winds and downpours along the coast of 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...
. Many small vessels sought safety, but the ship Lady Godiva sank near North West Arm
North West Arm, Nova Scotia
North West Arm is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality on Cape Breton Countyon Cape Breton County.-References:*...
; the two people on board were later rescued. No damage was reported on the island itself. In New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, up to 2 inches (50 mm) of rainfall was produced by Cindy, although no damage is known to have been reported.
See also
- List of United States hurricanes
- List of New England hurricanes
- Other storms with the same nameHurricane CindyThe name Cindy has been used for eight tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean.* 1959's Hurricane Cindy – caused minor damage to South Carolina.* 1963's Hurricane Cindy – caused $12 million damage and three deaths in Texas and Louisiana....