Hurricane Hazel - 60 years later

Hurricane Hazel's track (Source: NOAA)

On this date in 1954, the Mid-Atlantic Region experienced one of its worst hurricanes on record.  The strongest and most destructive hurricane of the season, Hurricane Hazel made landfall near the border of North Carolina and South Carolina as a major Category 4 hurricane.  Hazel remained stronger farther inland and failed to weaken due to its rapid movement northward.

Consequently, Hazel brought major damage as far north as Eastern Canada.  The Nation’s Capital observed its strongest wind gust on record of 98 mph at National Airport.  By comparison, the Nations Capital’s highest wind gust during the June 2012 derecho was 70 mph. Hazel’s 98 mph wind gust equates to sustained winds seen during a Category 2 hurricane.  The name Hazel was retired from future use.

October typically sees tropical storm formation in the tropics.  Other major hurricanes to occur during the month of October included Hurricane Iris in 2001, which was a Category 4 storm and caused major damage in Central America.  In October 1988, Hurricane Joan was also a Category 4 hurricane that caused major damage in the Caribbean and Central America.  Hurricane Joan was a rare storm in that it crossed Central America into the Eastern Pacific.  Once this happened, since Joan was no longer in the Atlantic Ocean, “Joan” was given a new name from the Eastern Pacific hurricane list and became Tropical Storm Miriam.  Like Hazel, the names Iris and Joan were also retired.

Just this week Hurricane Gonzalo developed not far from where Hazel formed 60 years ago and is currently a Category 4 storm.  Gonzalo is expected to change course and head northeast towards Bermuda, sparing the East Coast a direct impact.  Gonzalo is the strongest hurricane to form in the Atlantic since 2011.