Hurricane Ella (1978)

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Hurricane Ella
Ella at its initial peak intensity southeast of Cape Hatteras on September 1
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 30, 1978
DissipatedSeptember 5, 1978
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure956 mbar (hPa); 28.23 inHg
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone
DamageNone
Areas affectedNorth Carolina, Newfoundland
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Ella was the strongest hurricane on record in Canadian waters. It formed on August 30, 1978 to the south of

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale off the coast of Nova Scotia. It subsequently weakened, passing southeast of Newfoundland before being absorbed by a large extratropical cyclone
.

In North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch due to the large influx of people expected during the holiday weekend. As such, there was a significant drop in tourism, although no significantly adverse weather occurred along the Outer Banks. High waves and some minor beach erosion was reported, but there were no deaths, injuries, or damage from Ella. By the time the hurricane passed Newfoundland, the strongest winds were to the southeast of the center, and as a result, no significant impact was reported on Canada.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  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
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Towards the end of August 1978, a

UTC on August 30, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) initiated advisories on the system,[2] but three hours later, as its rapid strengthening became evident, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ella.[3]

Tropical Storm Ella intensified quickly and reached hurricane status late on August 31, based on confirmation from nearby ship reports and a

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At the same time a short-wave trough reached the East Coast of the United States. The trough caused the hurricane to decelerate and turn slightly to the north, and a ridge behind the trough caused Ella to become nearly stationary for 24 hours.[1] During that time, the threat toward the North Carolina coast diminished, and concurrently, the winds decreased as the convection diminished.[5]

On September 3, another trough exited the coast of the United States, allowing the hurricane to accelerate toward the northeast through the diminished ridge.

extratropical as it was absorbed by a larger mid-latitude system.[1]

Preparations and impact

Hurricane Ella near peak intensity, south of Canada

On September 1, as Hurricane Ella was strengthening to its first peak in strength, the

Ocracoke Island and Cape Lookout, each only accessible by ferry, were closed to reduce their populations.[12]

The hurricane ultimately stayed far away from the coast,[1] and the heavy rainfall and thunderstorms remained at least 50 miles (80 km) offshore.[13] While nearly stationary, Hurricane Ella produced waves of 5 to 9 feet (1.5 to 2.7 metres) in height, as well as rip currents along the coast.[14] The highest wind gust from the storm over land was 31 mph (50 km/h) at Diamond Shoal Light. The waves reached the dunes along most beaches,[15] causing some minor beach erosion; the depleted sand returned within a few days.[16] Further north, along the coast of Virginia, no large waves were reported, which was considered unusual for how close the hurricane was to the state.[17]

Ultimately, the most significant effect from the hurricane was the significant drop in tourism.

Labor Day Weekend is typically the last significant week of the summer tourist season, and normally, many people vacation along the Outer Banks. Due to the hurricane watch, traffic was light, and many businesses and hotels reported much less business than usual. A forecaster with the National Weather Service said the hurricane watch was put into effect because of "thousands of people streaming in and only one road off the Outer Banks, [and they] couldn't wait until the last minute."[18] The same forecaster noted that an "alert" less than a hurricane watch "would have been used [during Ella].[15]

No significant impact was reported in Canada,[1] as the strongest winds were south and east of the center.[8] Prior to the storm's arrival, the Newfoundland Weather Forecast Office issued a hurricane warning for southeastern Newfoundland.[19] The ferry between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was disrupted, and boats across the region were sent back to harbor. Rainfall was fairly light, peaking at 2.39 inches (61 mm) in southeastern Newfoundland, and sustained winds reached 71 mph (114 km/h) at Cape Race.[7]

Hurricane Ella prompted a scare for engineers secretly working to remedy a structural flaw in the Citigroup Center in New York City, as the high winds could have caused the building to collapse.[20] Ultimately the engineers solved the flaw by welding heavy steel plates over the bolted joints on the support columns at the building's base.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Miles B. Lawrence (1978). "Hurricane Ella Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  2. ^ Frank (1978-08-30). "Tropical Depression Advisory". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  3. ^ Hebert (1978-08-30). "Tropical Storm Ella Special Advisory One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  4. ^ Miles Lawrence (1978-08-31). "Hurricane Ella Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  5. ^ Pelissier (1978-09-02). "Hurricane Ella Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  6. ^ Pelissier (1978-09-03). "Hurricane Ella Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  7. ^ a b Canadian Hurricane Centre (2010-09-14). "1978-Ella". Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  8. ^ a b John Hope (1978-09-05). "Hurricane Ella Advisory 24". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  9. ^ Miles Lawrence (1978-09-05). "Hurricane Ella Discussion". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  10. ^ A.J. Hull (1978-09-01). "Special Request to East North Carolina and Southeast Virginia". Cape Hatteras National Weather Service. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  11. ^ Cape Hatteras National Weather Service (1978-09-01). "Hurricane Ella Local Statement Number 3". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  12. ^ Cape Hatteras National Weather Service (1978-09-02). "Hurricane Ella Local Statement Number 6". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  13. ^ Cape Hatteras National Weather Service (1978-09-02). "Hurricane Ella Local Statement Number 10". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  14. ^ Cape Hatteras National Weather Service (1978-09-02). "Hurricane Ella Local Statement Number 12". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  15. ^ a b A. J. Hull (1978-09-07). "Preliminary Report on Hurricane Ella". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  16. ^ Albert R. Hinn (1978-09-07). "Information for Hurricane Ella Survey Report". Wilmington National Weather Service. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  17. ^ Terry Ritter (1978-09-06). "Storm Report, Hurricane Ella". Norfolk National Weather Service. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  18. ^ Coastland Times (1978-09-07). "News Clippings about Hurricane Ella". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  19. ^ Gilbert Clark (1978-09-04). "Hurricane Ella Advisory 22". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  20. ^ Werner, Joel (17 April 2014). "The Design Flaw That Almost Wiped Out an NYC Skyscraper". Slate.

External links

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