Hurricane Easy (1951)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Easy was the strongest tropical cyclone
of the 1951 Atlantic hurricane season
. It was a Cape Verde-type hurricane
that recurved away from land masses. The fifth tropical cyclone, fourth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane
of the season, Easy formed 1,000 miles (1,610 km) west of Cape Verde
on September 2. It steadily strengthened to a hurricane on September 3, moving west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean. On September 5, it attained Category 3 status with 115 mph (185 km/h) sustained winds
, and it intensified to its maximum intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 7. The cyclone turned northward, completing its recurvature on September 8. It slowly weakened, passing within 120 miles (190 km) of Bermuda
on September 9. It continued northeast, and the tropical system became extratropical
on September 12. The hurricane caused no deaths, though it damaged several ships' superstructure
s.
over the next few days. On September 4, the storm continued to strengthen, and its maximum sustained winds increased to Category 2 status. On September 5, it strengthened to a major hurricane, and it slowly deepened over the next 48 hours. Its forward motion increased, and the hurricane turned westward 650 miles (1,045 km) northeast of Anguilla
. On September 6, the cyclone's winds increased to 140 mph (225 km/h), and its minimum central pressure
of 957 mbar (28.26 inHg) was recorded on the same day. Later, it reached its estimated peak intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 7. At the time, the hurricane's extreme intensity prevented thorough measurements and penetration by aircraft, and the cyclone's strongest winds were recorded south of the eye
. The strength of the winds forced the plane to turn around, so the storm's maximum winds were believed to have been stronger; unofficial estimates ranged between the values of 160–200 mph.
The cyclone began its recurvature, maintaining Category 5 winds for 18 hours. On September 8, it weakened to a Category 4 hurricane, and its movement turned northeast. The hurricane encountered wind shear
from Hurricane Fox, and its winds decreased. The recurvature spared land masses from a strike by the hurricane. On September 9, its winds dropped below major hurricane status, and the cyclone passed southeast of Bermuda. On September 10, it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, and it turned to the east on September 11. On September 12, it transitioned to an extratropical storm, though it still produced winds of hurricane force. Its strong winds weakened on September 13, and its remnants turned northward. It dissipated on the same day.
In the early 1950s, code names
were utilized for Atlantic tropical cyclones until female lists were compiled in 1953. Hurricane Easy was one of three Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes to avoid landfall
—the others were Dog of 1950
and Cleo of 1958
.
issued "a formal warning at noon." Numerous hotels and homes were shuttered. Heavy traffic snarled evacuations, and 100 tourists were stranded on the island without "roundtrip reservations." Air Force aircraft returned to the United States
, and personnel secured various facilities at the island's base. The cyclone turned sharply away from the island, preventing heavy damages. Peak sustained winds were estimated between 25–50 mph (40–80 km/h). Telephone lines remained intact, and some banana
trees were blown down by the winds.
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...
of the 1951 Atlantic hurricane 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...
. It was a Cape Verde-type hurricane
Cape Verde-type hurricane
A Cape Verde-type hurricane is an Atlantic hurricane that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. The average hurricane season has about two Cape Verde-type hurricanes, which are usually the largest and most intense storms of the season because they often have plenty of...
that recurved away from land masses. The fifth tropical cyclone, fourth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane
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...
of the season, Easy formed 1,000 miles (1,610 km) west of Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
on September 2. It steadily strengthened to a hurricane on September 3, moving west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean. On September 5, it attained Category 3 status with 115 mph (185 km/h) sustained winds
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...
, and it intensified to its maximum intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 7. The cyclone turned northward, completing its recurvature on September 8. It slowly weakened, passing within 120 miles (190 km) 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...
on September 9. It continued northeast, and the tropical system became 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 September 12. The hurricane caused no deaths, though it damaged several ships' superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
s.
Meteorological history
On September 2, a minimal tropical storm formed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Operationally, it was first detected by the steamship Barn, which reported the presence of a circulation. Initially, the tropical cyclone moved generally westward, and it strengthened to a hurricane on September 3. The progress of the system was monitored by aircraftHurricane 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...
over the next few days. On September 4, the storm continued to strengthen, and its maximum sustained winds increased to Category 2 status. On September 5, it strengthened to a major hurricane, and it slowly deepened over the next 48 hours. Its forward motion increased, and the hurricane turned westward 650 miles (1,045 km) northeast of Anguilla
Anguilla
Anguilla is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin...
. On September 6, the cyclone's winds increased to 140 mph (225 km/h), and its minimum central pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
of 957 mbar (28.26 inHg) was recorded on the same day. Later, it reached its estimated peak intensity of 160 mph (260 km/h) on September 7. At the time, the hurricane's extreme intensity prevented thorough measurements and penetration by aircraft, and the cyclone's strongest winds were recorded south of the eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
. The strength of the winds forced the plane to turn around, so the storm's maximum winds were believed to have been stronger; unofficial estimates ranged between the values of 160–200 mph.
The cyclone began its recurvature, maintaining Category 5 winds for 18 hours. On September 8, it weakened to a Category 4 hurricane, and its movement turned northeast. The hurricane encountered wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
from Hurricane Fox, and its winds decreased. The recurvature spared land masses from a strike by the hurricane. On September 9, its winds dropped below major hurricane status, and the cyclone passed southeast of Bermuda. On September 10, it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, and it turned to the east on September 11. On September 12, it transitioned to an extratropical storm, though it still produced winds of hurricane force. Its strong winds weakened on September 13, and its remnants turned northward. It dissipated on the same day.
In the early 1950s, code names
Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet
The Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet was a radio alphabet developed in 1941 and was used by all branches of the United States military until the promulgation of the ICAO spelling alphabet in 1956, which replaced it...
were utilized for Atlantic tropical cyclones until female lists were compiled in 1953. Hurricane Easy was one of three Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes to avoid 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...
—the others were Dog of 1950
Hurricane Dog (1950)
Hurricane Dog was the most intense hurricane in the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season. The fourth named storm of the season, Dog developed on August 30 to the east of Antigua; after passing through the northern Lesser Antilles, it turned to the north and intensified into a Category 5 hurricane...
and Cleo of 1958
Hurricane Cleo (1958)
Hurricane Cleo was the strongest Atlantic hurricane of the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season. It remains one of only three Category 5 hurricanes to avoid land in the historical database–the others were Dog of 1950 and Easy of 1951. The third tropical cyclone, first hurricane, and first major hurricane...
.
Preparations and impact
On September 9, the hurricane was expected to pass near Bermuda and produce hurricane force winds over the island. The hurricane was expected to turn east-northeast because of interactions with Hurricane Fox. The Weather Bureau advised the island to take precautionary measures in advance of the storm; tourists and residents "worked feverishly" to complete preparations, and the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
issued "a formal warning at noon." Numerous hotels and homes were shuttered. Heavy traffic snarled evacuations, and 100 tourists were stranded on the island without "roundtrip reservations." Air Force aircraft returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and personnel secured various facilities at the island's base. The cyclone turned sharply away from the island, preventing heavy damages. Peak sustained winds were estimated between 25–50 mph (40–80 km/h). Telephone lines remained intact, and some banana
Musa (genus)
Musa is one of three genera in the family Musaceae; it includes bananas and plantains. There are over 50 species of Musa with a broad variety of uses....
trees were blown down by the winds.