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Hurricane Gladys (1968)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Gladys was the most destructive hurricane in the 1968 Atlantic hurricane season
, causing over $100 million (2005 US dollars) in damage and ten deaths. The last storm of the season, it caused heavy rainfall along its path through the Western Caribbean Sea
, Florida
, and up through Atlantic Canada
. When paralleling just off the coast of North Carolina
, Gladys was responsible for breaking the state's worst drought since 1932.
on October 11. When it reached the western Caribbean Sea
, upper level conditions became favorable for continued organization, and it was upgraded to a tropical depression on October 13. Two other systems in the western Caribbean, one of which was a tropical depression, prevented significant of the depression which was to become Gladys. As it moved north-northwestward though, it became the dominant system, and became Tropical Storm Gladys on the 15th.
Warm water temperatures and a developing anticyclone allowed Gladys to continue strengthening, and on October 16 while south of Cuba
the storm was upgraded to a hurricane. Gladys crossed the narrow, western part of the island just hours later, and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico without weakening. The hurricane crossed the Florida keys
and turned to the north-northwest in response to the development of a low over Alabama. The low degraded to the trough, and allowed Gladys to turn to the northeast. Much of its circulation was over Florida
, inhibiting strengthening, though upper level winds remained very favorable during its northward trek through the gulf. Thus, Gladys hit Homosassa, Florida
, north of Tampa Bay
, as an 80 mph Category 1 hurricane on the 19th.
In response to an approaching trough, Gladys accelerated to the northeast, and crossed Florida in around 6 hours. Upon reaching the western Atlantic Ocean, it paralleled the Georgia
, South Carolina
, and North Carolina
coastlines, reaching peak winds of 85 mph while offshore. On October 20, it passed near Cape Hatteras
, and continued northeastward, weakening slightly over the cool waters of the north Atlantic. On October 21, became extratropical as it merged with a cold front while south of Nova Scotia
, and crossed the province later that day as an extratropical storm.
as Gladys crossed. There, heavy damage to the tobacco crop was seen. Throughout Cuba, Gladys caused $12 million in damage (1968 USD) and six deaths. At least 36,000 people were left homeless as a result of the storm.
, where the center remained far enough offshore to avoid damage. This was not the case in the northern portion of the state, where a direct hit resulted in moderate damage. Tides ran 6.5 feet (2 m) above normal, causing considerable beach erosion and flooding of coastal areas. 85% of Florida's citrus crop was effected to some degree, though overall crop damage was fairly minimal. Because of its winds and rain, Gladys caused $6.7 million in damage, nearly all structural with motor homes taking a major hit. Rainfall amounts varied from a trace to 6 inches (152.4 mm); rains caused the death of one motorist. Two other Floridians died from heart attacks while escaping the storm. Two tornadoes touched down in the state during the storm's passage. The first was an F1
which touched down in Palm Beach County
tore off the roof of a warehouse. The second tornado was an F2 in Manatee County
. According to locals, several other tornadoes touched down in Volusia
and Putnam
counties. Numerous trees were downed by the tornadoes and obvious trails of damage could be seen.
In North Carolina
, tides ranged from 2 to 4 ft (0.6096 to 1.2 m) above normal, and rainfall was moderate. However, the rain was badly needed, and helped break the worst drought since 1932 in the state. The rest of the state, as well as South Carolina, received little damage. Had Gladys come closer while paralleling the coastline, its effects would have likely been much greater.
on October 21, beneficial rains, totaling between 3.2 and 6.4 cm (1.3 and 2.5 in), helped alleviate drought conditions. Minor damage took place in parts of Nova Scotia and one person was killed as a result of Gladys.
1968 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1968 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1968, and lasted until November 30, 1968. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
, causing over $100 million (2005 US dollars) in damage and ten deaths. The last storm of the season, it caused heavy rainfall along its path through the Western Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, 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...
, and up through Atlantic Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. When paralleling just off the coast of 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...
, Gladys was responsible for breaking the state's worst drought since 1932.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave moved through 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...
on October 11. When it reached the western Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, upper level conditions became favorable for continued organization, and it was upgraded to a tropical depression on October 13. Two other systems in the western Caribbean, one of which was a tropical depression, prevented significant of the depression which was to become Gladys. As it moved north-northwestward though, it became the dominant system, and became Tropical Storm Gladys on the 15th.
Warm water temperatures and a developing anticyclone allowed Gladys to continue strengthening, and on October 16 while south of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
the storm was upgraded to a hurricane. Gladys crossed the narrow, western part of the island just hours later, and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico without weakening. The hurricane crossed the Florida keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
and turned to the north-northwest in response to the development of a low over Alabama. The low degraded to the trough, and allowed Gladys to turn to the northeast. Much of its circulation was over 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...
, inhibiting strengthening, though upper level winds remained very favorable during its northward trek through the gulf. Thus, Gladys hit Homosassa, Florida
Homosassa, Florida
Homosassa is a census-designated place in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2000 census.-Historic:...
, north of Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, as an 80 mph Category 1 hurricane on the 19th.
In response to an approaching trough, Gladys accelerated to the northeast, and crossed Florida in around 6 hours. Upon reaching the western Atlantic Ocean, it paralleled the 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...
, 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...
, and 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...
coastlines, reaching peak winds of 85 mph while offshore. On October 20, it passed near Cape Hatteras
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...
, and continued northeastward, weakening slightly over the cool waters of the north Atlantic. On October 21, became extratropical as it merged with a cold front while south 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...
, and crossed the province later that day as an extratropical storm.
Impact
Cuba
Strong wind gusts and flash flooding was experienced in western CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
as Gladys crossed. There, heavy damage to the tobacco crop was seen. Throughout Cuba, Gladys caused $12 million in damage (1968 USD) and six deaths. At least 36,000 people were left homeless as a result of the storm.
United States
Little damage was seen in southern FloridaFlorida
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...
, where the center remained far enough offshore to avoid damage. This was not the case in the northern portion of the state, where a direct hit resulted in moderate damage. Tides ran 6.5 feet (2 m) above normal, causing considerable beach erosion and flooding of coastal areas. 85% of Florida's citrus crop was effected to some degree, though overall crop damage was fairly minimal. Because of its winds and rain, Gladys caused $6.7 million in damage, nearly all structural with motor homes taking a major hit. Rainfall amounts varied from a trace to 6 inches (152.4 mm); rains caused the death of one motorist. Two other Floridians died from heart attacks while escaping the storm. Two tornadoes touched down in the state during the storm's passage. The first was an F1
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
which touched down in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
tore off the roof of a warehouse. The second tornado was an F2 in Manatee County
Manatee County, Florida
Manatee County is a county in the state of Florida. According to the 2010 census by the U.S. Census Bureau there are 322,833 people living in Manatee Country.Manatee County is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. According to locals, several other tornadoes touched down in Volusia
Volusia County, Florida
Volusia County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 official county's population was 494,593 . Its county seat is DeLand, and its most populous city is currently Deltona....
and Putnam
Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...
counties. Numerous trees were downed by the tornadoes and obvious trails of damage could be seen.
In 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...
, tides ranged from 2 to 4 ft (0.6096 to 1.2 m) above normal, and rainfall was moderate. However, the rain was badly needed, and helped break the worst drought since 1932 in the state. The rest of the state, as well as South Carolina, received little damage. Had Gladys come closer while paralleling the coastline, its effects would have likely been much greater.
Canada
As the extratropical remnants of Hurricane Gladys tracked over Nova ScotiaNova 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...
on October 21, beneficial rains, totaling between 3.2 and 6.4 cm (1.3 and 2.5 in), helped alleviate drought conditions. Minor damage took place in parts of Nova Scotia and one person was killed as a result of Gladys.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Florida hurricanes
- Other storms with the same name