Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 1964
Hurricane Gladys
was a
tropical cyclone
that caused minor impact along the
East Coast of the United States
,
Bermuda
, and
Atlantic Canada
. The ninth
named storm
and fifth hurricane of the
1964 Atlantic hurricane season
, Gladys developed from a
tropical wave
located east of the
Lesser Antilles
on September 13. Shortly thereafter, it strengthened into a tropical storm. On September 14, Gladys abruptly intensified into a Category 2 hurricane on the
Saffir?Simpson hurricane wind scale
. However, early on the following day, Gladys weakened slightly to a Category 1 hurricane. Between late on September 16 and late on September 17, the storm
rapidly strengthened
, peaking as a 145 mph (233 km/h) Category 4 hurricane on the latter. Gladys began weakening on the following day and curved northward on September 19.
The storm turned northwestward on September 22 and briefly threatened the East Coast of the United States. However, it veered northeastward on September 23 and moved rapidly toward Atlantic Canada. By 0000 UTC on September 25, Gladys became
extratropical
while centered between
Sable Island
and
Nova Scotia
. Along the East Coast of the United States, Gladys produced light rainfall, gusty winds, and storm surge.
Coastal flooding
was reported in
North Carolina
and
Virginia
. In the former, high tides inundated homes and buildings with 2 feet (0.61 m) of water in two small villages on the
Outer Banks
and flooded a highway to
Manteo
. In the state of
Virginia
, one death occurred when a man was fatally struck in the throat by debris. Tides also effected the
Mid-Atlantic
,
New England
, and Atlantic Canada.
Meteorological history
[
edit
]
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir?Simpson scale
Map key
Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39?73 mph, 63?118 km/h)
Category 1 (74?95 mph, 119?153 km/h)
Category 2 (96?110 mph, 154?177 km/h)
Category 3 (111?129 mph, 178?208 km/h)
Category 4 (130?156 mph, 209?251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Satellite image of Gladys taken by
NASA's
Nimbus I
weather satellite
A
tropical wave
was first observed over western Africa on September 8 and moved offshore in the vicinity of
Dakar
,
Senegal
on the following day.
[1]
At 0600 UTC on September 13, a tropical depression developed while centered about halfway between
Cape Verde
and the Lesser Antilles.
[2]
Later that day, the
S.S. Gerwi
reported heavy rain and winds of 63 mph (101 km/h),
[3]
confirming the existence of Tropical Storm Gladys at 1200 UTC on September 13.
[2]
Four hours later, the
Weather Bureau
Office in
San Juan, Puerto Rico
initiated advisories on Gladys. A hurricane hunter plane flew into Gladys on the afternoon of September 13 was unable to obtain wind data due to darkness.
[1]
A reconnaissance flight into the storm on September 14 noted that it had strengthened into a hurricane, while moving west-northwestward at about 18 mph (29 km/h).
[3]
HURDAT
records indicate that around that time, Gladys became a Category 2 hurricane as winds reached 100 mph (160 km/h). However, early on September 15, Gladys weakened slightly to a Category 1 hurricane.
[2]
Early on September 17, the storm began to rapidly intensify. By 1800 UTC, Gladys attained its peak intensity with
maximum sustained winds
of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 945
mbar
(27.9
inHg
). The storm later began to weaken and fell to a Category 3 hurricane early on September 19. Around that time, Gladys curved northward in response to a weak
trough
in the westerlies.
[3]
Early on September 20, it further weakened to a Category 2 hurricane.
[2]
Rising atmospheric pressures to the north forced the storm to curve northwestward on September 21.
[3]
Later that day, Gladys weakened to a Category 1 hurricane.
[2]
The storm posed a threat to the East Coast of the United States, and passed about 140 miles (230 km) east of
Cape Hatteras
, North Carolina, before a deepening
low pressure area
over the
Great Lakes region
caused it to veer northeastward.
[3]
Gladys then accelerated and approached Atlantic Canada, before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone at 0000 UTC on September 25, while located between Nova Scotia and Sable Island. The extratropical remnants continued northeastward into
Newfoundland
and dissipated later on September 25.
[2]
Preparations
[
edit
]
As Gladys strengthened in the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters at the United States Weather Bureau predicted that the storm would bring high surf to areas as far north as North Carolina. Additionally, it was suggested that Gladys could have threatened northern Florida, as the storm was on a similar path as
Hurricane Dora
earlier in the month. As a result, residents along the coast of the
Southeastern United States
were advised to remain alert and small craft advisories were issued.
[4]
[5]
On September 20, small craft advisories were issued for
The Bahamas
.
[6]
After Gladys turned northwestward on September 21, forecasters at the United States Weather Bureau issued
hurricane watches
for North Carolina, Virginia, and some Mid-Atlantic states.
[7]
Gale warnings and small craft advisories were issued on September 23 from
Massachusetts
to
Rhode Island
.
[8]
In Rhode Island, ships of the
United States Navy
were diverted to
Narragansett Bay
as a precaution.
[9]
At 0400 UTC on September 24, the gale warnings for
New England
were lowered as Gladys turned northeastward away from the coast however, small water craft were advised to remain in port until the seas subsided.
[10]
Impact
[
edit
]
United States
[
edit
]
In the United States, Gladys produced high tides as far south as Florida and
Georgia
.
[4]
[6]
Hurricane Gladys' effects on
South Carolina
was minimal as the center of the hurricane was a considerable distance from the coastline. The only effects Gladys was minor rainfall, peaking at 1 inch (25 mm) in
Myrtle Beach
, as well as
storm tides
of 2 feet (0.61 m) above normal along the upper coast of South Carolina.
[11]
In North Carolina, the large wind field of Gladys produced tropical storm force winds near
Manteo
. Waves produced by the strong winds flooded a highway leading away from Manteo.
[12]
Between
Kill Devil Hills
and
Nags Head
,
U.S. Route 158
was inundated by 2 feet (0.61 m) of water.
[13]
Near Cape Hatteras, a weather station recorded sustained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) and gusts up to 41 mph (66 km/h). Additionally, tides in the area ranged from 2?2.5 feet (0.61?0.76 m) above normal.
[12]
The abnormal tides and heavy wave action flooded two small villages, leaving many homes and buildings under 2 feet (0.61 m) of water
[9]
and washed away grasses that were planted to stabilize the
sand dunes
.
[12]
In
Wilmington
, sustained winds of 25 mph (40 km/h) and gusts of 28 mph (45 km/h) were reported,
[14]
as well as tides 2?3 feet (0.61?0.91 m) above normal.
[12]
Elsewhere in the Outer Banks, high winds caused a
mobile home
to fall off its foundations and blew down two
television antennas
.
[15]
A weather station in
Norfolk, Virginia
recorded gusts of 38?44 mph (61?71 km/h) and 0.17 inches (4.3 mm) of rainfall. In
Cape Henry
, sustained winds of 42 mph (68 km/h) and a precipitation total of 0.02 inches (0.51 mm) were reported. Coastal sections of southeastern Virginia experienced tides 2.2?6.1 feet (0.67?1.86 m) above normal, resulting in minor tidal flooding.
[16]
One indirect fatality was attributed from Gladys when a man suffered fatal wounds to his throat due to flying debris.
[17]
High winds and strong ocean currents from Gladys produced
beach erosion
in
New Jersey
,
New York
and
Massachusetts
.
[18]
In Rhode Island, the outer bands of Gladys produced light rainfall, peaking at 0.38 inches (9.7 mm).
[19]
A boy was washed into the sea by the waves offshore Narragansett and was rescued by
United States Coast Guard
servicemen, who dove into the water after two previous attempts to rescue him failed.
[20]
Elsewhere
[
edit
]
Hurricane Gladys produced rough seas that affected
Puerto Rico
, the
Virgin Islands
, the northern
Leeward Islands
and the northern Bahamas.
[4]
[6]
The outer bands of Gladys also lashed Bermuda with winds but little damage if any was reported.
[9]
In Atlantic Canada, Gladys passed over Newfoundland as a 70 mph (110 km/h) extratropical storm but no damage was reported.
[2]
At
St. John's Harbor
, 65 ships took shelter as a precaution. Some ships suffered damage, including two foreign freighters.
[21]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Harry M. Hoose (1964-09-21).
Report on Hurricane Gladys, September 13–14, 1964
.
Weather Bureau Office San Juan, Puerto Rico
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)"
(Database). United States
National Hurricane Center
. April 5, 2023
. Retrieved
June 16,
2024
.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Albert Hardy (1964).
Hurricane Gladys – September 13–24, 1964
(Report).
National Hurricane Center
. p. 1
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Hurricane Gladys, Big and Dangerous".
The Times Recorder
.
United Press International
. 1964.
- ^
"Hurricane Gladys plods towards Carolinas".
The Valley Independent
. United Press International. 1964.
- ^
a
b
c
Associated Press
and United Press International (1964). "Hurricane Moving on Georgia".
Oakland Tribune
.
- ^
"Shore put on Hurricane Watch".
The Salisbary Times
. Associated Press. 1964.
- ^
Tenenbaun (1964-09-23).
Local Statement on Hurricane Gladys
.
Weather Bureau Office Boston, Massachusetts
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Navy City takes storm precautions".
Newport Daily News
. 1964.
- ^
Tenenbaun (1964-09-24).
Local Statement on Hurricane Gladys
.
Weather Bureau Office Boston, Massachusetts
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
Nathan Kronberg (1964-09-29).
Hurricane Gladys
.
Weather Bureau Office Columbia, South Carolina
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Albert Hardy (1964).
Page Two – Hurricane Gladys in North Carolina
(Report). National Hurricane Center. p. 2
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
"Gladys Hovers Off N.C."
Spokane Daily Chronicle
. Associated Press. 1964-09-22. p. 29
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
Duke (1964-09-24).
Report on Hurricane Gladys September 21 to 23, 1964, Wilmington, North Carolina
.
Weather Bureau Office Wilmington, North Carolina
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
Weddle (1964-09-23).
Primary Storm Damage Report
.
Weather Bureau Office, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
Sasche (1964-09-23).
Preliminary Report on Hurricane Gladys
.
Weather Bureau Office Norfolk, Virginia
(Report). National Hurricane Center
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
- ^
"East Coast Sparred as Hurricane Veers".
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
. Associated Press. 1964.
- ^
"Fickle Gladys heads away into open sea".
The Greeley Daily Tribune
. Associated Press. 1964.
- ^
"Hurricane only brought heavy rains, crashing seas to R.I.".
The Newport Daily News
. Associated Press. 1964.
- ^
"Ocean Ordeal: I Thought I Was Going to Die".
Independent News
. 1964.
- ^
1964-Gladys
(Report).
Environment Canada
. 2009-11-06
. Retrieved
2013-02-28
.
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