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Hurricane Daisy (1962)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Daisy was a moderate hurricane in the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season
, that caused severe damage in New England
, and the Canadian Maritimes. The fourth named storm of the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season, it became a tropical depression on September 29, while moving west-northwest. On October 2, it became a tropical storm, and on October 3, it became a hurricane. It moved north, and affected New England and Nova Scotia
with flooding rain, and high winds. Total damage is estimated to be over $1.1 million (1962 USD) dollars. Two fatalities were directly related to the hurricane, and 24 other people died in traffic related deaths, that were caused by slick roads from the heavy rain.
. The next day, a reconnaissance aircraft located a tropical depression at 15°N., 53°W. The depression contained a cold-cored low pressure center, which is not conducive of tropical storm development. In the early stages of the depression, the system appeared to have been located under minor vortices in the upper atmosphere, located within a strong east to west oriented trough. By October 3, the trough had dissipated, and the depression had moved away from the principal upper vortex.
With the trough dissipated, the depression started on a west-northwest track, slowly organizing as it did so.
Prior to the strengthening of the depression, the system moved north-west between two high pressure areas, one located in the Bahamas, the other near Bermuda. The depression organized, and became a tropical storm on October 2, and a hurricane on October 3.
The storm moved northward, and passed near Bermuda as it reached its peak intensity of 965 hPa on October 6. The next day, as the storm continued moving northward, cold air started to feed into the circulation. The Nor'easter
that had been affecting New England with heavy rain moved into the path of Daisy, and was absorbed by the hurricane. Daisy became extratropical east of Maine, and made landfall that day in Nova Scotia
, and turned eastward. The storm moved north, and became extratropical.
were put under hurricane watches and gale warnings. As Daisy intensified, moved northward, and threatened New England, gale warnings were issued for the coastal areas from Block Island
, Rhode Island
, to Eastport, Maine
, while hurricane watches were issued for the east coast of Maine
.
Daisy caused moderate to severe damage in eastern New England
, Nova Scotia
, and the Canadian Maritimes. The combined impact from a Nor'easter
just one day before Daisy hit, and Hurricane Daisy, caused severe flooding in Maine, when rain fell for 65 consecutive hours in some locations. Rainfall from the two systems caused record rainfall in some areas in Maine, as well as Massachusetts
. Also, lobster fishing ships suffered from heavy losses due to Daisy.
Boat damages were severe, with hundreds of small boats destroyed, and many larger boats damaged. In the heavy surf that caused those damages to boats, three people were rescued in two different accidents, but they sustained injuries. Also, several small structures were swept away in the high waves. In other areas of the New England coast, tides were two feet above average; still, a person was swept away, and died, and minor tidal flooding occurred in coastal areas Also, a pier was washed away in the high surf. Total damage from wave and tide was $600,000 (1962 USD) dollars. Some roads were completely under water, with pumping operations continuing for 4 days in the hardest hit locations.
Wind damage was severe and widespread; one person was killed when a fallen tree landed on, and crushed his car while he was in it. The highest winds associated with Daisy were felt over coastal Maine, where winds of 70 mph (112 km/h) were commonly reported. In southeast Maine, power outages were reported, due to fallen trees and tree limbs. Houses with roof shingles blown off were common in Maine and Massachusetts, while some houses suffered complete loss of the roof. Total wind damage in New England is $500,000 (1962 USD) dollars.
Rainfall totaled to 12 inches (300 mm) of rain in some areas of Maine, mostly from the coastal storm. Flooding was considered the worst since Hurricane Diane
in 1955. The reason for severe flooding was partially because of the time in the year it occurred. Because the hurricane occurred in the fall, storm drains were clogged with leaves, which affected the draining of flood waters. The lowest pressure recorded on land was 976 millibars.
On the island of Nantucket, the western end of the island was cut off again from the rest. This happened in the year prior,due to Hurricane Esther. The break remained until 1985, when it mended itself back. There was heavy damage along the waterfront areas. Coastal flooding was also og great concern for the low lying areas along Nantucket Harbor.
During Daisy's track northward, it passed within 200 miles (320 km/h) of Bermuda
, causing heavy surf, and up to 65 mph (105 km/h) winds.
Damage totals in the United States alone could surpass $10 million (1962 USD) dollars including the coastal storm, with damage for Daisy being around $1.1 million (1962 USD
), while impact in Nova Scotia was severe, as well. Two fatalities were directly related to the storm, while 24 other people died from traffic related deaths due to flooded and slick roads.
1962 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1962 Atlantic hurricane season was the least active since 1939, with only five named storms. Although the season officially began on June 15, the first storm did not form until August 26. Hurricane Alma brushed the outer banks before becoming extratropical southeast of New England,...
, that caused severe damage 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...
, and the Canadian Maritimes. The fourth named storm of the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season, it became a tropical depression on September 29, while moving west-northwest. On October 2, it became a tropical storm, and on October 3, it became a hurricane. It moved north, and affected New England and 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...
with flooding rain, and high winds. Total damage is estimated to be over $1.1 million (1962 USD) dollars. Two fatalities were directly related to the hurricane, and 24 other people died in traffic related deaths, that were caused by slick roads from the heavy rain.
Meteorological history
Daisy's origins were from a small circulation that was indicated by ship reports, well to the east of the AntillesAntilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
. The next day, a reconnaissance aircraft located a tropical depression at 15°N., 53°W. The depression contained a cold-cored low pressure center, which is not conducive of tropical storm development. In the early stages of the depression, the system appeared to have been located under minor vortices in the upper atmosphere, located within a strong east to west oriented trough. By October 3, the trough had dissipated, and the depression had moved away from the principal upper vortex.
With the trough dissipated, the depression started on a west-northwest track, slowly organizing as it did so.
Prior to the strengthening of the depression, the system moved north-west between two high pressure areas, one located in the Bahamas, the other near Bermuda. The depression organized, and became a tropical storm on October 2, and a hurricane on October 3.
The storm moved northward, and passed near Bermuda as it reached its peak intensity of 965 hPa on October 6. The next day, as the storm continued moving northward, cold air started to feed into the circulation. The Nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
that had been affecting New England with heavy rain moved into the path of Daisy, and was absorbed by the hurricane. Daisy became extratropical east of Maine, and made landfall that day in 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...
, and turned eastward. The storm moved north, and became extratropical.
Preparations
As a result of the formation of the tropical depression on September 30, the Leeward IslandsLeeward 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...
were put under hurricane watches and gale warnings. As Daisy intensified, moved northward, and threatened New England, gale warnings were issued for the coastal areas from Block Island
Block Island
Block Island is part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately south of the coast of Rhode Island, east of Montauk Point on Long Island, and is separated from the Rhode Island mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, to 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...
, while hurricane watches were issued for the east coast of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
Impact
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...
, 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...
, and the Canadian Maritimes. The combined impact from a Nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
just one day before Daisy hit, and Hurricane Daisy, caused severe flooding in Maine, when rain fell for 65 consecutive hours in some locations. Rainfall from the two systems caused record rainfall in some areas in Maine, as well as Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Also, lobster fishing ships suffered from heavy losses due to Daisy.
Boat damages were severe, with hundreds of small boats destroyed, and many larger boats damaged. In the heavy surf that caused those damages to boats, three people were rescued in two different accidents, but they sustained injuries. Also, several small structures were swept away in the high waves. In other areas of the New England coast, tides were two feet above average; still, a person was swept away, and died, and minor tidal flooding occurred in coastal areas Also, a pier was washed away in the high surf. Total damage from wave and tide was $600,000 (1962 USD) dollars. Some roads were completely under water, with pumping operations continuing for 4 days in the hardest hit locations.
Wind damage was severe and widespread; one person was killed when a fallen tree landed on, and crushed his car while he was in it. The highest winds associated with Daisy were felt over coastal Maine, where winds of 70 mph (112 km/h) were commonly reported. In southeast Maine, power outages were reported, due to fallen trees and tree limbs. Houses with roof shingles blown off were common in Maine and Massachusetts, while some houses suffered complete loss of the roof. Total wind damage in New England is $500,000 (1962 USD) dollars.
Rainfall totaled to 12 inches (300 mm) of rain in some areas of Maine, mostly from the coastal storm. Flooding was considered the worst since Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season, striking an area that had been hit by Hurricane Connie five days earlier...
in 1955. The reason for severe flooding was partially because of the time in the year it occurred. Because the hurricane occurred in the fall, storm drains were clogged with leaves, which affected the draining of flood waters. The lowest pressure recorded on land was 976 millibars.
On the island of Nantucket, the western end of the island was cut off again from the rest. This happened in the year prior,due to Hurricane Esther. The break remained until 1985, when it mended itself back. There was heavy damage along the waterfront areas. Coastal flooding was also og great concern for the low lying areas along Nantucket Harbor.
During Daisy's track northward, it passed within 200 miles (320 km/h) of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, causing heavy surf, and up to 65 mph (105 km/h) winds.
Damage totals in the United States alone could surpass $10 million (1962 USD) dollars including the coastal storm, with damage for Daisy being around $1.1 million (1962 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
), while impact in Nova Scotia was severe, as well. Two fatalities were directly related to the storm, while 24 other people died from traffic related deaths due to flooded and slick roads.
See also
- List of New England hurricanes
- List of Canada hurricanes
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Massachusetts