Hurricane Abby (1960)

Hurricane Abby
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)

Hurricane Abby approaching landfall in Belize
Formed July 10, 1960
Dissipated July 16, 1960
Highest winds 1-minute sustained: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Lowest pressure 995 mbar (hPa); 29.38 inHg
Fatalities 6 total
Damage $640,000 (1960 USD)
Areas affected Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Leeward Antilles, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico
Part of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Abby was the only tropical cyclone in the Caribbean Sea during the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season. The second tropical cyclone and first named storm season, Abby developed on July 10 from a tropical wave in the vicinity of the Lesser Antilles. Abby rapidly intensified into a hurricane after being a tropical storm for less than six hours. It briefly peaked as a category 2 hurricane before weakening back. Abby rapidly weakened to a minimal tropical storm a few days thereafter. The storm re-strengthened into a hurricane as it began to parallel the coast of Honduras. Hurricane Abby made landfall in British Honduras (present-day Belize) on July 15. Abby dissipated over Mexico later the next day. The remnants of Abby ultimately became Hurricane Celeste in the Pacific Ocean. Despite passing through or near several countries, Hurricane Abby had a relatively light impact on land, resulting in just $640,500 (1960 USD, $5.17 million 2016 USD) in damage and six fatalities.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

The origins of Hurricane Abby were possibly from a tropical wave that moved in the vicinity of the Lesser Antilles in early July 1960. Ships and a few weather stations on July 9 reported the existence of a tropical cyclone.[1] On July 9, it had operationally been classified as a tropical storm upon formation,[2] though a later analysis revealed that it was only a tropical depression.[3] The depression passed near Barbados early on July 10 before rapidly intensifying into a hurricane. Hurricane Abby accelerated toward the west and made landfall in St. Lucia as a minimal category 1 hurricane. Abby emerged into the Caribbean Sea a few hours later. As it headed generally westward, it also gradually strengthened. By July 11, Hurricane Abby had attained peak intensity as an 80 mph (129 km/h) category 1 hurricane.

The intensity of Abby began to gradually level off, though it re-intensified slightly in the Caribbean, before eventually weakening further. Abby was downgraded to a tropical storm on the morning of July 13; it was center roughly 222 mi (357 km) south of Kingston, Jamaica at the time.[4] Just six hours thereafter, Abby had maximum sustained winds of only 45 mph (75 km/h).[5] Abby re-intensified at a relatively quick pace, as it was near hurricane status again when it passed just to the north of Honduras on July 14.[1]

Late on July 14, Abby had re-intensified into a hurricane. A few hours later, Abby passed over the island of Roatán at about midnight (EDT) on July 15. It made a third and final landfall on July 15 when it moved inland over British Honduras (presently known as Belize) as a minimal hurricane. Abby quickly weakened and was downgraded to a tropical storm only a few hours later over land. While Abby approached the border of Guatemala and Mexico, it had weakened further to a tropical depression. Abby dissipated while situated over the Mexican state of Tabasco on July 16. The remnants crossed over Mexico into the Pacific Ocean and regenerated into Hurricane Celeste on July 20.[6] Hurricane Celeste lasted for two days in the Pacific before it dissipated on July 22.[7]

Preparations and impact

Lesser Antilles

There were many watches and warning issued during the passage of Hurricane Abby throughout the Caribbean. Some gale warnings were issued from the Grenadines to Guadeloupe starting on July 10. Around 1600 UTC later that day, a hurricane watch was issued for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Several hours later, the watch was extended to include Dominican Republic and Haiti. All warnings were discontinued later, after the storm passed by.[1]

Hurricane Abby bypassed Barbados a tropical depression, which resulted in minimal effects. Maximum sustained winds on Barbados were reported at 23 mph (57 km/h), while gusts were recorded up to 37 mph (60 km/h). There are no other effects known on Barbados.[1] St. Lucia had borne the brunt of the storm when Hurricane Abby made landfall as a category 1 hurricane. Rainfall on the island totaled at 6.80 in (172.7 mm). Tropical storm force winds were recorded on the island for the passage of Hurricane Abby on July 10, though there were no hurricane force winds reported.[1] In addition, a roof collapsed in on a house, killing six of the residents living there. The passage of Hurricane Abby also resulted in $435,000 (1960 USD, $3.49 million 2016 USD) of damage on St. Lucia.[8] Martinique was near the path of Hurricane Abby, which resulted in some effects. The Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport in Fort-de-France recorded rainfall at nearly three inches (76.2 mm), while rain in another village was measured at nearly four inches (101.2 mm). Winds on Martinique were also at least tropical storm force during the passage of Hurricane Abby. However, wind gusts on Martinique were around 75 mph (120 km/h), greater than that which was observed on St. Lucia.[1] There were also damaged roads and bridges, mainly due to landslides.[8] The island nation of Dominica was also affected by Hurricane Abby. Hurricane Abby produced nearly six in (152.4 mm) of rain on the island. Winds were also similar to those that were measured on Barbados.[1] Hurricane Abby left about $65,000 (1960 USD, $521 thousand 2016 USD) in damage to Dominica.[8]

Greater Antilles and Central America

It was initially believed that Abby would affect Jamaica with gale force winds and heavy rainfall, and the U.S. Weather Bureau noted that "interests" on the island should monitor the progress of the storm. However, Abby remained far south of the island, and the impact it had on the island, if any, is unknown. Citizens of the Cayman Islands, Central America, and the Yucatan Peninsula were also to remain on alert during the passage of Abby.[9] The U.S. Weather Bureau later warned citizens in British Honduras and Honduras to "take all precautions for the protection of life and property against dangerous winds and abnormally high seas".[10]

Hurricane Abby also produced 1.62 in (41.14 mm) of rain on Swan Island.[11] On the islands north of Honduras, reports were received until winds reached 52 mph (83.7 km/h), and then communications were lost. In Belize City, which was 75 mi (120.7 km) north of where Abby made landfall, wind gusts were reported to 35 mph (55 km/h).[12] Minor property damage was reported in British Honduras, totaling to BZ$6,000 (approximately $3,000 1960 USD; $24 thousand 2016 USD). In addition, agricultural losses reached BZ$75,000 (about $37,500 1960 USD; $300 thousand 2016 USD).[13] Although Abby nearly made landfall in Honduras and eventually entered Mexico, no effects were reported, but the U.S. Weather Bureau believed that flooding and there were seas of at least 5 ft (1.5 m) above normal.[12]

Throughout its path, Abby caused only about $600,000 (1960 USD, $4.81 million 2016 USD) in damage and six fatalities.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Hurricane Abby Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. 1960. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Higgs, Ralph (10 July 1960). "Tropical Storm Abby Advisory Number 1". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  3. ↑ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division (July 6, 2016). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  4. ↑ Davis, Jeffery (13 July 1960). "Tropical Storm Abby Advisory Number 14". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  5. ↑ Miami Weather Bureau Office (13 July 1960). "Tropical Storm Abby Advisory Number 15". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  6. ↑ Dunn, Gordon (March 1961). "The Hurricane Season of 1960" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  7. ↑ National Hurricane Center (1960). "1960 Pacific hurricane season". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Hurricane Abby Preliminary Report2". National Hurricane Center. 1960. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  9. ↑ Associated Press (13 July 1960). "Hurricane Abby to hit Jamaica". Ellensburg Daily Record. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  10. ↑ Associated Press (14 July 1960). "Abby Again Hurricane; Threatens Honduras". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Roth, David M. (April 29, 2015). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Associated Press (15 July 1960). "Abby Breaking Up In Honduras". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 1 and 4. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  13. ↑ Geppert, Richard (3 August 1960). "Hurricane Abby". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
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