Hurricane Easy (1950) 2599766 214456595 2008-05-23T17:15:35Z Tombomp 4479342 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/75.146.201.33|75.146.201.33]] to last version by Thijs!bot {{dablink|This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 1950; for other storms with this name, see [[Hurricane Easy (disambiguation)]].}} {{Infobox Hurricane | Name=Hurricane Easy | Type=hurricane | Year=1950 | Basin=Atl | Image location=Easy 1950 track.png | Image name=Track of Hurricane Easy | Formed=[[September 1]], [[1950]] | Dissipated=[[September 9]], 1950 | 1-min winds=110 | Pressure=958 | Damages=3.3 | Inflated=0 | Fatalities=2 indirect | Areas=[[Cuba]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] | Hurricane season=[[1950 Atlantic hurricane season]] }} '''Hurricane Easy''' was the fifth tropical storm, hurricane, and major hurricane of the [[1950 Atlantic hurricane season]]. The hurricane developed in the western Caribbean Sea on [[September 1]], and tracked northeastward. After crossing [[Cuba]], the hurricane rapidly strengthened in the eastern [[Gulf of Mexico]] to reach peak winds of 125 mph. Easy executed a cyclonic loop, moved northeastward to hit near [[Cedar Key, Florida]], executed a second loop, and hit western Florida again. After rapidly weakening over Florida, the hurricane turned to the northwest, and ultimately dissipated over northeastern [[Arkansas]] on [[September 9]]. From the point when Hurricane Easy entered the Gulf of Mexico until it weakened to a tropical storm, it was observed nearly constantly from radars or [[Reconnaissance Aircraft]].<ref name="gentry">{{cite web|author=Robert C. Gentry|year=1951|title=Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane|publisher=Weather Bureau Office|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> Easy is the most recent major hurricane to strike the [[Homosassa, Florida]] area.<ref name="aoml">{{cite web|author=Blake, Rappaport, Landsea, Landsea|year=2005|title=Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/dcmifinal2.pdf}}</ref> Due to the hurricane remaining near the northwest Florida coast for an extended period of time, Easy produced severe rainfall and strong waves, resulting in heavy damage in the Cedar Key area. Hurricane Easy was one of two major hurricanes to strike Florida during the year; the other was [[Hurricane King]] which affected [[Miami, Florida|Miami]]. ==Storm history== Following the passage of [[1950 Atlantic hurricane season#Hurricane Baker|Hurricane Baker]] through the [[Caribbean Sea]], a trough of low pressure persisted across the western Caribbean Sea. On [[August 31]], convection became more concentrated to the south of the [[Isle of Youth]], and on [[September 1]] the disturbance organized into Tropical Storm Easy. Conditions were favorable for intensification, including moist air and a developing [[anticyclone]] over the system. As such, Easy steadily strengthened as it drifted to the northeast, and on [[September 2]] the storm attained hurricane status while located 50 miles (85 km) south of the Isle of Youth. Shortly thereafter, the hurricane passed over the island.<ref name="gentry">{{cite web|author=Robert C. Gentry|year=1951|title=Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane|publisher=Weather Bureau Office|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> Hurricane Easy strengthened slightly while continuing northeastward, and the storm struck the [[Matanzas Province]] of [[Cuba]] with winds of 80 mph. The hurricane quickly crossed the island, passing just east of [[Havana]] before reaching the southeastern [[Gulf of Mexico]] on [[September 3]]. After entering the Gulf of Mexico Easy turned to the north-northwest, paralleling the [[Florida]] coastline a short distance offshore while producing hurricane force winds onshore. On [[September 4]] the hurricane quickly strengthened to reach peak winds of 125 mph, an intensity it would retain for 18 hours. On the 4th, a ridge of high pressure persisted to the storm's north, and steering currents nearly collapsed, causing Easy to execute a counter-clockwise loop to the northeast 80 miles (130 km) to the west of [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref name="gentry">{{cite web|author=Robert C. Gentry|year=1951|title=Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane|publisher=Weather Bureau Office|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> After executing its first loop, Hurricane Easy moved northeastward at 7 mph until making landfall near [[Cedar Key, Florida|Cedar Key]] on [[September 5]] with winds of 120 mph. Steering currents again became weak, resulting in Easy to execute a second loop in 24 hours towards the southeast. After briefly emerging into the Gulf of Mexico,<ref name="gentry">{{cite web|author=Robert C. Gentry|year=1951|title=Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane|publisher=Weather Bureau Office|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> the hurricane made its final landfall on [[Homosassa Springs, Florida|Homosassa Springs]] to the north of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]],<ref name="abc">{{cite web|author=ABC.com|year=2005|title=Remembering 1950's Hurricane Easy|accessdate=2006-09-17|url=http://www.jamesspann.com/bmachine/post/wxtalk/1998/Remembering-1950s-Hurricane-Easy}}</ref> and rapidly weakened to a tropical storm over land. Easy turned to the northeast, which was followed by a turn to the northwest as the storm neared the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast. On [[September 7]] Easy crossed into [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and shortly thereafter it weakened to a tropical depression. The depression continued northwestward for two days until dissipating over extreme northeastern [[Arkansas]] on [[September 9]]. The reason for its erratic track, including two loops, is unknown, though it is potentially due to a [[Fujiwhara interaction]] with [[Hurricane Dog (1950)|Hurricane Dog]] to its east.<ref name="gentry">{{cite web|author=Robert C. Gentry|year=1951|title=Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane|publisher=Weather Bureau Office|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> ==Preparations== With an [[Eye (cyclone)|eye]] ranging from 18 to 25 miles in diameter, the hurricane was well-tracked throughout its lifetime by radars at the [[University of Florida]] and by [[Reconnaissance Aircraft]].<ref name="gentry">{{cite web|author=Robert C. Gentry|year=1951|title=Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane|publisher=Weather Bureau Office|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> Despite its unusual track, the [[NOAA|Weather Bureau]] issued [[tropical cyclone warnings and watches|Hurricane Warnings]] in a timely manner, though warnings were issued for a larger area than those that actually experienced hurricane force winds.<ref name="mwr">{{cite web|author=Grady Norton|year=1951|title=Hurricanes of the 1950 Season|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> ==Impact== [[Image:Easy1950filledrainblk.gif|thumb|right|250px|Easy's Rainfall across the United States]] Though the hurricane crossed over western [[Cuba]] with winds of up to 80 mph, damage was minor, and no deaths occurred in the country.<ref name="cuba">{{cite web|author=Pielke, Rubiera, Landsea, Fernandez, & Klein|year=2003|title=Hurricane Vulnerability in the Caribbean Sea & Latin America|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/NHR-Cuba.pdf}}</ref> In the [[Florida Keys]], winds from Easy downed trees and power lines, littering local streets with debris. Heavy seas moved around a Navy barge, though no damage was reported.<ref name="apsept4">{{Cite web|author=Associated Press|publishdate=1950-09-04|title=Small Tropical Blow Skirts Florida Coast|accessdate=2006-10-15|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=46141150&firstvisit=true&currentResult=0&currentPage=0}}</ref> Easy produced hurricane force winds across large portions of western [[Florida]], including over 100 mph winds in [[Cedar Key, Florida|Cedar Key]] for 9 1/2 hours. The town, which reported a minimum pressure of 958.3 [[Bar (unit)|mbar]] (28.30 in), experienced the eye of the hurricane for 2 1/2 hours<ref name="mwr">{{cite web|author=Grady Norton|year=1951|title=Hurricanes of the 1950 Season|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> while strong waves hit the coast. The tide in [[Tampa Bay]] rose 6.5 feet, the highest since [[1921]].<ref name="fhats">{{cite web|author=Williams and Duedall|year=1997|title=Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms|publisher=University Press of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-05|url=http://nsgd.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf}}</ref> While looping twice along its path, the hurricane dropped heavy amounts of rainfall of 10 to 20 inches in large portions of northwestern [[Florida]]. Rainfall totals include 24.5 inches in Cedar Key in 3 days<ref name="mwr">{{cite web|author=Grady Norton|year=1951|title=Hurricanes of the 1950 Season|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> and 38.70 inches in [[Yankeetown, Florida]] in 24 hours, which became the largest 24 hour rainfall total on record for the [[United States]]. The record has since been broken by [[Tropical Storm Claudette (1979)|Tropical Storm Claudette]] in 1979 with 43 inches, though Easy's total remains the largest 24 hour rainfall total on record for the state of Florida.<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|author=Swanson & Rice|year=2006|title=On this date in weather history|publisher=USAtoday.com|accessdate=2006-09-17|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/weather/2006/09/on_this_date_in_2.html}}</ref> Described as the worst hurricane in the Cedar Key area in 70 years, Hurricane Easy left half of the houses destroyed or unfit for rehabilitation, while 90% of the others were damaged.<ref name="mwr">{{cite web|author=Grady Norton|year=1951|title=Hurricanes of the 1950 Season|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> 150 homes and buildings lost their roofs from the strong winds.<ref name="abc">{{cite web|author=ABC.com|year=2005|title=Remembering 1950's Hurricane Easy|accessdate=2006-09-17|url=http://www.jamesspann.com/bmachine/post/wxtalk/1998/Remembering-1950s-Hurricane-Easy}}</ref> The rainfall caused severe flooding, resulting in crop damage. Easy was indirectly responsible for two deaths due to electrocutions. In addition, 27 people were injured from the hurricane.<ref name="mwr">{{cite web|author=Grady Norton|year=1951|title=Hurricanes of the 1950 Season|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2006-09-16|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1950.pdf}}</ref> The strong waves destroyed the fishing community's entire fishing fleet<ref name="fhats">{{cite web|author=Williams and Duedall|year=1997|title=Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms|publisher=University Press of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-05|url=http://nsgd.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf}}</ref> of 100 boats,<ref name="abc">{{cite web|author=ABC.com|year=2005|title=Remembering 1950's Hurricane Easy|accessdate=2006-09-17|url=http://www.jamesspann.com/bmachine/post/wxtalk/1998/Remembering-1950s-Hurricane-Easy}}</ref> which was the town's entire livelihood.<ref name="fhats">{{cite web|author=Williams and Duedall|year=1997|title=Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms|publisher=University Press of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-05|url=http://nsgd.gso.uri.edu/flsgp/flsgpb97001.pdf}}</ref> The town's main employment center, a broom and brush plant, was severely damaged, and would close two years after the hurricane.<ref name="abc">{{cite web|author=ABC.com|year=2005|title=Remembering 1950's Hurricane Easy|accessdate=2006-09-17|url=http://www.jamesspann.com/bmachine/post/wxtalk/1998/Remembering-1950s-Hurricane-Easy}}</ref> Easy also produced severe damage in [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas]] and [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough Counties]] in the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] area.<ref name="tampa">{{cite web|author=Neil Johnson|year=2006|title=GOP's Fete Could Be Crashed|publisher=The Tampa Tribune|accessdate=2006-09-17|url=http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB5F2VUAOE.html}}</ref> Throughout Florida, damaged totaled to $3.3 million (1950 USD), a lower than expected total due to the sparse population in the area of the worst damage.<ref name="mwr"/> ==See also== {{tcportal}} * [[List of tropical cyclones]] * [[List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States]] * [[List of Florida hurricanes (1900-1979)]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/easy1950.html Hurricane Easy Rainfall Page from HPC] {{DEFAULTSORT:Easy (1950)}} [[Category:1950 Atlantic hurricane season]] [[Category:Florida hurricanes]] [[Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes]] [[es:Huracán Easy (1950)]]