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Hurricane Helene (1958)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Helene was the strongest hurricane in the 1958 Atlantic hurricane season
, reaching peak winds of 135 miles per hour (217.3 km/h) and tied with Hurricane Ilsa as the strongest tropical cyclone of the season
. The system moved to the north of the West Indies and skirted the coast of the Southeast United States before moving through the Atlantic shipping lanes offshore Newfoundland
. Helene was the only hurricane of the season to impact the United States
. Because the hurricane remained offshore, winds and rainfall were confined to the immediate coastline of North Carolina
. Damage amounted to US$11 million ($72 million in 2005 USD
), making Helene the costliest storm of the season.
was detected on September 19 near Cape Verde
. The system began to slowly intensify as it moved west-northwest at 20 miles per hour (32.2 km/h). On September 20, hurricane hunter aircraft crews reported a fall in pressure and maximum winds between 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h) and 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h). Helene reached tropical storm strength on September 23 with 50 miles per hour (80.5 km/h) winds as it slowed down and intensified further. After reaching hurricane strength, the storm then moved rapidly west-northwest, where it was 80 miles (128.7 km) east of Charleston, South Carolina
, strengthening to a major hurricane. On September 26, the eye of Helene was approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) off the coast of North Carolina where it turned, reached its peak intensity of 135 miles per hour (217.3 km/h), and rapidly moved north-eastward and made landfall in Newfoundland. Later, Helene continued across the Atlantic as a powerful extratropical storm.
Hurricane Helene was one of the earliest hurricanes to be the subject of experiments, as hurricane hunter planes dropped airborne balloons equipped with radio transmissions. This was one of 23 missions conducted by the National Hurricane Research Project
.
Several weather stations in North Carolina
reported hurricane force winds, with one recording a gust of 135 miles per hour (217.3 km/h). In Cape Fear, 125 miles per hour (201.2 km/h) sustained winds were reported with gusts up to 160 miles per hour (257.5 km/h). In areas of eastern North Carolina, the damage wrought by Helene was considered worse than the damage from Hurricane Hazel
. In Wilmington
, there was heavy damage to beach resorts. The First Baptist Church in Augusta, North Carolina took a direct hit from the storm and remained standing. (The church was hit again by Hurricane Fran
in 1996 which toppled its steeple.) Overall, however, damage was minor and limited to coastal sections. Heavy rain fell across the coastal Carolinas, with 8.29 inches (210.6 mm) falling at Wilmington International Airport
. Moderate to heavy rainfall also fell across sections of the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, as moisture from Helene interacted with a frontal zone to its north. Hurricane Helene caused $11 million dollars (1958 USD, $72 million in 2005 USD) in damage but no deaths.
When Helene reached Atlantic Canada
, it destroyed a 50 metres (164 ft) wharf in Nova Scotia
and carried several lobster traps out to sea. There the storm caused heavy damage to trees and houses. In addition, when the storm moved northeast, it brought a flock of tropical frigatebird
s that were blown off course to a region unknown to those type of birds.
1958 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1958 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1958, and lasted until November 15, 1958. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
, reaching peak winds of 135 miles per hour (217.3 km/h) and tied with Hurricane Ilsa as the strongest tropical cyclone of 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...
. The system moved to the north of the West Indies and skirted the coast of the Southeast United States before moving through the Atlantic shipping lanes offshore Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. Helene was the only hurricane of the season to impact the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Because the hurricane remained offshore, winds and rainfall were confined to the immediate coastline 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...
. Damage amounted to US$11 million ($72 million in 2005 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....
), making Helene the costliest storm of the season.
Meteorological history
A tropical waveTropical 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...
was detected on September 19 near 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...
. The system began to slowly intensify as it moved west-northwest at 20 miles per hour (32.2 km/h). On September 20, hurricane hunter aircraft crews reported a fall in pressure and maximum winds between 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h) and 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h). Helene reached tropical storm strength on September 23 with 50 miles per hour (80.5 km/h) winds as it slowed down and intensified further. After reaching hurricane strength, the storm then moved rapidly west-northwest, where it was 80 miles (128.7 km) east of 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...
, strengthening to a major hurricane. On September 26, the eye of Helene was approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) off the coast of North Carolina where it turned, reached its peak intensity of 135 miles per hour (217.3 km/h), and rapidly moved north-eastward and made landfall in Newfoundland. Later, Helene continued across the Atlantic as a powerful extratropical storm.
Hurricane Helene was one of the earliest hurricanes to be the subject of experiments, as hurricane hunter planes dropped airborne balloons equipped with radio transmissions. This was one of 23 missions conducted by the National Hurricane Research Project
National Hurricane Research Project
The National Hurricane Research Project was initiated in 1955 by theUnited States Weather Bureau in response to the devastating 1954 hurricane season, whichsaw Hurricane Carol, Hurricane Edna, and Hurricane Hazel bring destruction and...
.
Impact
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...
reported hurricane force winds, with one recording a gust of 135 miles per hour (217.3 km/h). In Cape Fear, 125 miles per hour (201.2 km/h) sustained winds were reported with gusts up to 160 miles per hour (257.5 km/h). In areas of eastern North Carolina, the damage wrought by Helene was considered worse than the damage from Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane...
. In Wilmington
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...
, there was heavy damage to beach resorts. The First Baptist Church in Augusta, North Carolina took a direct hit from the storm and remained standing. (The church was hit again by Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season that made landfall near Cape Fear in North Carolina at Category 3 strength. Throughout the eastern United States, early statistics on Fran reported 27 deaths and $3.2 billion in damage...
in 1996 which toppled its steeple.) Overall, however, damage was minor and limited to coastal sections. Heavy rain fell across the coastal Carolinas, with 8.29 inches (210.6 mm) falling at Wilmington International Airport
Wilmington International Airport
-Other operations:As of August 2011, Wilmington International Airport has 134 aircraft that are based at the Airport. There are 100 single engine aircraft, 27 multi-engine aircraft, 7 jet engine aircraft, and 3 helicopters...
. Moderate to heavy rainfall also fell across sections of the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, as moisture from Helene interacted with a frontal zone to its north. Hurricane Helene caused $11 million dollars (1958 USD, $72 million in 2005 USD) in damage but no deaths.
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, it destroyed a 50 metres (164 ft) wharf 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 carried several lobster traps out to sea. There the storm caused heavy damage to trees and houses. In addition, when the storm moved northeast, it brought a flock of tropical frigatebird
Frigatebird
The frigatebirds are a family, Fregatidae, of seabirds. There are five species in the single genus Fregata. They are also sometimes called Man of War birds or Pirate birds. Since they are related to the pelicans, the term "frigate pelican" is also a name applied to them...
s that were blown off course to a region unknown to those type of birds.
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of North Carolina hurricanes