Hurricane Ginger (1971)
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{{dablink|This article is about the 1971 Atlantic hurricane; there was also a Tropical Storm Ginger during the [[1967 Atlantic hurricane season]].}}
{{Infobox Hurricane
| Name=Hurricane Ginger
| Type=hurricane
| Year=1971
| Basin=Atl
| Image location=Hurricane Ginger.JPG|500px
| Image name=Tropical Storm Ginger
| Formed=[[September 5]], [[1971]]
| Dissipated=[[October 3]], [[1971]]
| 1-min winds=90
| Pressure=959
| Damages=10
| Inflated=0
| Fatalities=None reported
| Areas=[[Bahamas]], [[North Carolina]]
| Hurricane season=[[1971 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}
'''Hurricane Ginger''' was the eighth [[tropical cyclone]] and fifth hurricane of the [[1971 Atlantic hurricane season]]. Spending 27.25 days as a [[tropical cyclone]], Ginger is the [[List of notable Atlantic hurricanes|second longest-lasting]] [[Atlantic hurricane]] on record. The hurricane, which lasted from [[September 5]] to [[October 3]], spent most of its life over the western [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Ginger ultimately struck [[North Carolina]], causing $10 million in damage (1971 USD) due to flooding.
==Storm history==
{{storm path|Ginger 1971 track.png}}
In early September [[1971]], a series of upper level lows existed in the western Atlantic. A trough of low pressure existed across the [[Gulf of Mexico]] through the [[Bahamas]], and various tropical systems formed from this, including Fern, Ginger, Heidi and two tropical depressions. As one upper level low sat over the [[Gulf Stream]], it extended towards the surface and became tropical. On [[September 5]], a tropical depression formed while located about 350 miles east of [[Nassau, Bahamas]].
For the next four days, the depression drifted to the east without strengthening. Gradually it became better organized, and on [[September 10]], the storm was named Ginger. As it picked up forward momentum its winds increased until [[September 11]] when Ginger became a hurricane, located 315 miles south-southeast of [[Bermuda]]. Ginger reached her peak on [[September 14]] with sustained winds of 105 mph, but then weakened quickly.
[[Image:Ginger1971filledrainblk.gif|thumb|right|200 px|Rainfall from Ginger]]
A building high pressure system to the northeast forced the system to the southwest. Steering currents were weak in the area, resulting Ginger drifting to the west. From the 19th to the 20th, Ginger executed a small loop while located 750 miles east of Bermuda. During this time, upwelling lowered the winds to [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale|category 1]] hurricane strength. After looping, Ginger appeared to pose a threat to Bermuda, but it passed 100 miles to the south on [[September 23]]. The next day, it again began drifting to the southwest, where it moved a little over 200 miles over four days. During this time, reconnaissance aircraft continually reported winds of hurricane strength, as well as a large eye, at times up to 80 miles wide.
Ginger traveled northwest towards [[North Carolina]], gradually regaining strength. On [[September 29]] it reached its second peak, this time of 100 mph (160 km/h) winds, but steadily weakened prior to landfall. On [[September 30]], Ginger hit [[Morehead City, North Carolina]] as a minimal hurricane. The storm continued to lose strength as it moved inland until on [[October 3]], while located near [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], Ginger lost her tropical characteristics. The extratropical low moved off the coast, finally dissipating on [[October 5]].
==Impact==
[[Image:Ginger damage.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Beach erosion on the [[Outer Banks]]]]
Upon making landfall, Ginger produced wind gusts of up to 92 mph (148 km/h) in [[Atlantic Beach, North Carolina]], with numerous other reports of tropical storm force gusts. Sustained winds were less, with the highest recorded being less than 50 mph (80 km/h) over eastern North Carolina. Tides along the [[Pamlico Sound]] ran four to seven feet above normal, while numerous coastal beaches reported over six foot storm tides. While moving slowly through the state, Ginger dropped heavy rainfall of 10 to 13 inches (254 to 330 mm) in eastern North Carolina. [[Cape Hatteras]] reported 9.68 inches (22.9 cm), though most other areas experienced less than 4 inches. The heavy rainfall in eastern North Carolina seriously affected thousands of acres of corn and soybean. Damage in North Carolina totaled to $10 million (1971 USD, $47.9 million (2005 USD). <ref>[http://repository.wrclib.noaa.gov/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=nws_tech_memos North Carolina Hurricane History]</ref>
In [[Virginia]], the storm produced moderate rainfall, peaking at 7.49 inches (17.8 cm) in [[Diamond Springs, Virginia|Diamond Springs]]. Gusty winds of over 50 mph downed a few trees, causing scattered power outages. Above normal tides and waves caused moderate to heavy beach erosion in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]]. <ref>http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/valate20hur.htm</ref>
===Lack of Retirement===
Because damage was relatively light, the name Ginger was not retired. However, due to a change in the [[List of previous tropical cyclone names|List of hurricane names]] in [[1979]], the name Ginger was not used to name an Atlantic storm again.
==Trivia==
Ginger was a tropical cyclone from [[September 5]] to [[October 3]], a total of 27.25 days. This makes Ginger the second longest-duration storm in the Atlantic Ocean, behind only 1899's [[1899 Hurricane San Ciriaco|Hurricane San Ciriaco]].
Ginger spent 20 days as a hurricane (of at least Category 1 strength), from [[September 11]] to [[September 30]], one of the longest durations on record.
On [[September 11]], there were 4 active tropical cyclones at once: [[Hurricane Edith (1971)|Hurricane Edith]], Hurricane Fern, Hurricane Ginger and Tropical Storm Heidi.
On September 26 and 28, the outer rainbands of Hurricane Ginger were seeded as part of [[Project Stormfury]]. Since there were few convective elements in the rainbands bearing supercooled water, the seeding had little effect. These were the last actual hurricane seeding experiments carried out by the Project. A downturn in Atlantic hurricane activity and funding cutbacks precluded any more attempts until the Project ended in 1983.
==See also==
* [[List of tropical cyclones]]
* [[List_of_wettest_tropical_cyclones_in_the_United_States#North_Carolina|List of wettest tropical cyclones in North Carolina]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1971.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
{{1971 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
[[Category:1971 Atlantic hurricane season|Ginger]]
[[Category:Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes|Ginger (1971)]]
[[Category:North Carolina hurricanes|Ginger]]
[[Category:1971 meteorology]]
[[fi:Hurrikaani Ginger]]