Hurricane Ginger
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 10, 1971 |
Extratropical | October 6, 1971 |
Dissipated | October 7, 1971 |
Duration | 3 weeks and 6 days |
Category 2 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 110 mph (175 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 959 mbar (hPa); 28.32 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 1 direct |
Damage | $10 million (1971 USD) |
Areas affected | The Bahamas, North Carolina |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1971 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Ginger was the second longest-lasting Atlantic hurricane on record. The eighth tropical cyclone and fifth hurricane of the 1971 Atlantic hurricane season, Ginger spent 27.25 days as a tropical cyclone, lasting from September 6 to October 3. Twenty of those days (September 11 – September 30), Ginger was classified as a hurricane. The storm formed northeast of the Bahamas, and for the first nine days of its duration tracked generally eastward or northeastward while gradually strengthening to peak winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). On September 14, Ginger slowed and turned to a general westward track, passing near Bermuda on September 23. There, the hurricane produced gusty winds and high waves, but no damage.
While over the western Atlantic Ocean, Ginger became the last target of
Ginger has the highest accumulated cyclone energy for a hurricane below major hurricane strength in the Atlantic basin, at 44.2.
Meteorological history
Hurricane Ginger originated in a
After forming, the depression moved slowly southeastward for about 24 hours before turning to the northeast, slowly organizing in the process. On September 10, the depression turned eastward, and later that day intensified into Tropical Storm Ginger, the seventh
For about six days, Ginger maintained minimal hurricane status.[3] As it meandered over the central Atlantic Ocean, it maintained an unusually large eye, reaching 80 mi (130 km) in diameter.[4] On September 18, Ginger turned to the south and slowly executed a tight counterclockwise loop within three days. By September 21, the hurricane was tracking south of due west, and the next day suddenly intensified to winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Its westward track briefly posed a threat to Bermuda, although Ginger passed 115 mi (185 km) south of the island on September 23 while slowly weakening. On September 24, Ginger decelerated before beginning a turn to the southwest. By September 26, Ginger briefly weakened to minimal hurricane strength, although re-intensification resumed as the track turned to the west and northwest.[1][3] Around that time, Ginger absorbed the smaller and weaker Tropical Storm Janice to its southeast.[5]
For three days, beginning on September 26, the
Preparations
The threat of the hurricane in Bermuda prompted the British Royal Navy to evacuate a ship, and also resulted in two cruise ships leaving early.[7] The United States military also evacuated some planes and secured the units that remained. Officials closed all of the island's schools during Ginger's passage.[8]
Before Ginger struck North Carolina, the American Red Cross set up 28 emergency shelters in six counties, where about 5,500 people stayed during the storm.[9][10] The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, with gale warnings extending northward to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.[11] United States military officials evacuated planes and ships from the Norfolk, Virginia, region, in addition to flying planes down the coast to warn boaters of the approaching storm.[12] Ferry services around the Outer Banks were canceled during the storm's passage, while the Coast Guard ordered the evacuation of workers in three lighthouses.[13]
Impact
As the hurricane passed south of Bermuda on September 23, it produced heavy waves, as well as gale force winds for 17 hours. Naval Air Station Bermuda reported peak gusts of 75 mph (120 km/h).[4][7] There was no reported damage, and the hurricane's passage failed to alleviate persistent drought conditions.[14]
While Ginger was still in the vicinity of Bermuda, it produced high swells and
As it moved ashore in North Carolina, Ginger produced a
Strong winds from Ginger damaged store fronts and windows,
Further inland, the combination of strong winds and rains left heavy crop damage,[22] destroying 3 million bushels of corn and another million bushels of soybeans; losses to the corn crop were mitigated due to about half of the crop having been harvested before the storm's arrival. Heavy damage was also reported to the peanut crop as well as to various fruits and vegetables.[23] In some locations, up to 15% of the cotton crop was lost, particularly in the northeastern portion of the state.[24] In 45 counties in the eastern portion of the state, farmers affected by the hurricane were eligible for loans from the Farmers Home Administration, following federal approval from United States President Richard Nixon.[25] Governor Robert W. Scott requested federal disaster aid for 24 counties,[26] which was denied.[27] Damage in North Carolina was estimated at $10 million (1971 USD$, 72.3 million 2024 USD),[4] of which about $1 million (1971 USD$, 7.23 million 2024 USD) was from coastal flooding. One death occurred in Washington when a vehicle accident was possibly caused by a wind gust;[10] however, it was not conclusively linked to Ginger.[2]
As the storm crossed into Virginia, it continued to produce heavy rainfall, including a total of 7.61 in (193 mm) in Norfolk. Near the border between Virginia and North Carolina, the storm produced tides of up to 4 ft (1.2 m) above normal.[2] Gusty winds of over 50 mph (80 km/h) downed a few trees, causing scattered power outages. Above-normal tides and waves caused moderate to heavy beach erosion in Virginia Beach.[28] Further north, Ginger produced above-normal tides, light winds, and scattered rainfall along the Delmarva Peninsula and northward through New York.[2][29]
Record longevity
Hurricane Ginger formed on September 6 and lasted until October 3, for a total of 27.25 days.
Ginger spent 20 days as a hurricane from September 11 to September 30, one of the longest durations on record at that intensity. In addition, Ginger co-existed with several other tropical cyclones, including on September 11 when there were four named storms at the same time, a rare occurrence; the others were Hurricane Edith, Hurricane Fern, and Tropical Storm Heidi.[3]
See also
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in North Carolina
- List of North Carolina hurricanes
- Tropical Storm Ginger (1967)– an earlier storm of the same name
- 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane - the longest-lived Atlantic hurricane on record
References
- ^ a b c d e "Hurricane Ginger September 5 - October 5" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. 1971. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ S2CID 119771736. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 23, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e "Hurricane Ginger September 5 - October 5 (Page 2)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. 1971. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ "Preliminary - Tropical Storm Janice, September 21–24, 1971". National Hurricane Center. 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- . Retrieved February 14, 2011. See p. 507.
- ^ a b "Ginger Hits Bermuda". The Deseret News. United Press International. September 23, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ "Bermuda Battens Down". The Phoenix Sun. Reuters. September 23, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Ginger Rakes North Carolina". The Palm Beach Post. Vol. 63, no. 165. West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. October 1, 1971. Retrieved July 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ginger Loses Some Snap". The Evening Independent. Associated Press. October 1, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ a b "'Ginger' Slams Carolina with 90 MPH Blasts". The Hour. United Press International. September 30, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ "90-MPH Hurricane Hits North Carolina, Causes Floods, Power Outages". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. September 30, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ "Hurricane Ginger Aims Winds at N.C. Coast". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. September 30, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Ginger Down to a Purr". Vancouver Sun. Associated Press. September 24, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ "Ginger spawns rip tides and severe inlet conditions". Boca Raton News. September 24, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ "'Ginger' is stalled in mid-Atlantic". The Times-News. United Press International. September 25, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Hits Carolina Coast". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. September 30, 1971. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ Roth, David M (May 12, 2022). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Southeastern United States". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c Melvin Lang (September 30, 1971). "Ginger largest storm since '36". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ "N.C. flooded by Ginger". Pittsburgh Press. Associated Press. October 2, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "3,000 coastal residents given food during storm". Star-News. October 8, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Ginger dampens N.C." Boca Raton News. October 1, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ Robert Gordon (October 13, 1971). "Farmers Hit in the Pocketbook". The Times-News. United Press International. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Ginger Stopped Cotton Harvest". The Robesonian. October 12, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Robeson Among Counties To Get Storm Fund Aid". The Robesonian. Associated Press. October 29, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Scott Action on Hurricane Assistance Defended". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. November 9, 1971. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "1971 Federal Disaster Declarations". Federal Emergency Management Agency. May 23, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ Roth, David M (May 12, 2022). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic United States". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links