 Surface weather map of Hurricane Able on August 19 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 12, 1950 |
| Extratropical | August 21, 1950 |
| Dissipated | August 24, 1950 |
| Category 3 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 125 mph (205 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 953mbar (hPa); 28.14 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 11 |
| Damage | $1.04 million (1950USD) |
| Areas affected | North Carolina,New England,Nova Scotia,Newfoundland |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1950 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Able was the firstnamedtropical cyclone in theAtlantic hurricane database, and was also the first of six major hurricanes in the1950 Atlantic hurricane season. Its development was confirmed on August 12 by theHurricane Hunters, which is a group that intentionally flies into a hurricane for observations. Hurricane Able initially threatened to strikethe Bahamas, but instead turned to the northwest and later to the northeast. As it neared theOuter Banks, Able reached peak winds of 125miles per hour (201 km/h), equivalent to a modern-day Category 3 hurricane on theSaffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. After brushing those islands andCape Cod, Able moved ashore onNova Scotia as a minimal hurricane. It later crossedNewfoundland and dissipated on August 24.
The hurricane prompted standard precautions in the Bahamas and Florida, although it did not affect the region. In North Carolina, winds and waves brushed the coast, while aroundNew York City, heavy rainfall caused some flooding. Along Cape Cod andNantucket, Able produced winds up to 55 mph (90 km/h) and high waves, and across New England there were nine traffic fatalities. The hurricane killed 2 people in Canada and caused over $1 million in damage.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionThe beginning of the1950 Atlantic hurricane season was considered "remarkably quiet"[1] by theU.S. Weather Bureau, with no noteworthy activity until early August. AHurricane Hunters flight into aneasterly wave on August 12 indicated a developing tropical storm east of theLesser Antilles; it was later given the name "Able", which is the first name in theJoint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet. It moved steadily northwestward and reached hurricane status on August 14, as it passed to the north of theLeeward Islands.[1][2] The next day, Hurricane Able turned to the west and west-southwest,[1][2] due to ahigh pressure system to its north.[3] On August 17 it attained major hurricane status, and by early on August 18reconnaissance aircraft measured winds of 140 mph (225 km/h),[1] thoughAtlantic hurricane reanalysis later determined that those winds were unrepresentative of the intensity.[2] At the time, the storm was 350 miles (565 km) in diameter.[4][1]
Able was expected to continue to the west toward the Bahamas and Florida. It was the strongest hurricane to threaten the Bahamanian capital,Nassau, sincea hurricane in 1929.[4] The hurricane turned to the northwest, however, sparing the Bahamas from the strongest winds. On August 19, Able turned to the north, and attained its peak intensity of 125 mph (201 km/h) while doing so; shortly before peak intensity, aircraft measured a central pressure of 953millibars (28.14 inHg), the lowest in the life of the storm.[2][1] The next day Able accelerated to the northeast, after passing just offshoreCape Hatteras,North Carolina. Having maintained peak winds for 12 hours, Hurricane Able began to weaken on August 20, and early the next day it moved quickly byCape Cod. It produced winds of hurricane force inNova Scotia before it moved ashore on August 21 nearGoodwood with winds of 75 mph (121 km/h).[2] Subsequently, it deteriorated into anextratropical cyclone, and Able crossedNewfoundland before dissipating early on August 24 in the far northern Atlantic Ocean.[1][2]
When Hurricane Able was expected to move throughthe Bahamas, people executed standard preparations such as securing windows and bringing ships to harbor. One cruise liner diverted its route from the Bahamas toward New York. In Florida, the U.S. Air Force made preliminary plans to move planes.[4] Ultimately, the hurricane spared the region.[1] Further north, theUnited States Weather Bureau issued northeast storm warnings fromMorehead City, North Carolina to theEastern Shore of Virginia.[5] There, the hurricane ended up bringing light winds and rough waves.[6] Moderate precipitation occurred along the North Carolina coast. In southernNew England, Able dropped 3 – 5 inches (75 – 125 mm) of rainfall, with a peak of 6.89 inches (175 mm) inBeechwood, Massachusetts.[7] Flooding was reported in portions ofNew York City. The resulting slick roads from the rains caused nine traffic fatalities across New England.[8] The storm produced 55 mph (90 km/h) gusts inNantucket andCape Cod, along with high tides and waves. Offshore, the waves damaged a freighter headed for Florida.[9]
InNova Scotia, Able produced hurricane-force winds, the only land along its path to receive such winds;[1] a gust of 99 mph (160 km/h) was reported inHalifax. The hurricane also dropped heavy rainfall, including over 4.92 inches (125 mm) inAnnapolis Valley.[10] Initially there were three fishing boats missing throughout the region, although two later returned to harbor. By August 22, the third was still missing over theGrand Banks, which prompted a rescue team to search for the boat.[11] Many other boats crashed against the coast, and two children died when their raft capsized. Two bridges and several roadways were washed out or flooded, and inCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island, floodwaters left roadways impassable.[10] On land, Able produced heavy damage estimated at over $1 million (CAD), half of which in Annapolis Valley, and split between crops, communications, and fishing industries.[10][12]
From 1950 through 1952, names from theJoint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet were first used for storms in the North Atlantic. Able is the first name in the alphabet, and as such, Hurricane Able in 1950 was the first name officially to be used for an Atlantic hurricane.[13] It was also the first of eight major hurricanes in the1950 Atlantic hurricane season, which as of 2010 was thought to be the record for the most major hurricanes in a season.[2] However, as of 2014, it was found that several storms in 1950 were weaker than thought, and it was found that only six major hurricanes formed, so the record is now held by2005.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Tropical cyclones of the1950 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
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