Tropical Storm Brenda (1960)

Tropical Storm Brenda was the second named storm of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on July 28, and after moving ashore over the Florida Peninsula, it attained tropical storm status. Brenda accelerated northeast along the U.S. East Coast, ultimately peaking as a moderate storm with winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) before crossing the Mid-Atlantic states and New England; it dissipated on July 31 over southern Canada. The storm inflicted moderate damage in Florida, the worst since Hurricane Easy of 1950, and dropped heavy rainfall as far north as New York City. Total damage is estimated at US$5 million, and only indirect deaths are blamed on the cyclone.

Tropical Storm Brenda
Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
Weather map of Brenda
FormedJuly 28, 1960
DissipatedAugust 1, 1960
(Extratropical after July 31)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 70 mph (110 km/h)
Lowest pressure991 mbar (hPa); 29.26 inHg
FatalitiesNone direct, ≥1 indirect
Damage$5 million (1960 USD)
Areas affectedGulf Coast of the United States, East Coast of the United States, Eastern Canada
Part of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

A weak low-pressure area that organized in the northeast Gulf of Mexico began to intensify on July 28, while located west of the Tampa Bay.[1] Early in its life, the system had a broad circulation with primarily light winds, similar to that of a subtropical storm.[2] The storm is estimated to have become a tropical depression earlier the previous day as it moved toward the northeast.[3] It made landfall along the Florida coast near Cross City and continued inland, gradually accelerating.[1] It likely attained tropical storm status at around 1200 UTC on July 28 while its center was situated west of Tampa.[3] The cyclone was named Brenda after reconnaissance aircraft confirmed that it had reached tropical storm strength.[1]

Brenda tracked northward, hugging the Georgia and South Carolina coasts before moving inland over North Carolina on July 29. It attained its peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) late that evening, while situated south of Wilmington.[3] The next morning, the storm emerged over the Chesapeake Bay moving northeast at about 30 mph (48 km/h).[4] Brenda crossed the Delmarva Peninsula and rapidly tracked into southern New Jersey. The storm crossed the state and eventually made another landfall in Brooklyn, New York before making yet another landfall in coastal Connecticut.[3]

At around 0000 UTC on July 31, Brenda moved into Massachusetts. Shortly thereafter, it lost its tropical characteristics and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone.[3] It dissipated by August 1 over southern Canada. Because Brenda was in the vicinity of land for most of its course, it was not able to intensify beyond tropical storm status.[1]

Preparations and impact
Storm total rainfall for Brenda (1960)

In advance of the storm, tropical storm advisories and wind warnings were issued from Florida to Maine.[5]

Rainfall from Tropical Storm Brenda affected at least 16 states. The heaviest precipitation fell in western Florida near Tampa, east of the storm's center; the Tampa International Airport recorded 14.57 in (370 mm) of rainfall.[2] Extensive flooding occurred in the west-central Florida Peninsula. Wind gusts exceeded 60 mph (97 km/h), and the storm produced 10 ft (3.0 m) high waves along the coast, leading to considerable erosion. However, storm tides were not severe.[1] Around the Naples area, Brenda's effects were primarily light, although small boat and dock facilities and roads sustained some damage.[6] A private seawall at Clearwater was breached in two places by the cyclone.[7]

Brenda was considered the worst storm to strike the area since Hurricane Easy in 1950.[8] While no casualties are directly blamed on the storm, at least one traffic-related death took place.[1] According to an American Red Cross Disaster Service report encompassing eight Florida counties, 11 houses sustained significant damage, while 567 suffered more minor damage. Around 590 families were affected overall. Total monetary damage is placed at near $5 million.[9]

Tides along the Outer Banks of North Carolina were generally reported at 2 ft (0.61 m) above-normal. In and around Wilmington, the storm caused minor damage to roofs and windows of some beachfront structures. Power was temporarily interrupted due to fallen tree limbs. Heavy rainfall caused flooding on streams and rivers, and in some areas the precipitation helped to end a serious drought.[10] Some boats were swamped, and the winds ripped the roof off a cottage at Long Beach.[11] The heavy rain and high tides flooded tobacco fields.[12]

Moderate rains extended northward into the Mid-Atlantic states, with lighter totals reported farther north in New York.[2] At New York City, 4.79 in (122 mm) of precipitation fell, beating the one-day July record of 3.80 in (97 mm) set in 1872. The heavy rains flooded parts of LaGuardia Airport. Elsewhere, reports of 3 to 5 in (76 to 127 mm) were common throughout New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.[12] High winds also affected portions of the northeastern United States, gusting to 55 mph (89 km/h) across southern New England. Tides often ran 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m) above-normal throughout the region. The storm caused travel delays and ran several ships aground, but otherwise inflicted little serious damage.[13] The storm forced the cancellation of two American League baseball games and the postponement of several other sporting events.[14]

See also

References
  1. Gordon Dunn (March 1961). "The Hurricane Season of 1960" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  2. David Roth (December 16, 2009). "Tropical Storm Brenda – July 27–30, 1960". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  3. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.
  4. Forecaster Carlson (July 30, 1960). "July 30, 1960 7 AM EDT Local Statement on Tropical Storm Brenda". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  5. Forecaster Sugg (July 29, 1960). "11 AM EST Friday 29 July 1960 Miami Weather Bureau Bulletin for Press Radio and Television". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  6. Keith Butson (August 11, 1960). "Report from Coop. observer at Naples, Florida". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  7. Martin Dyckman (August 2, 1960). "Clearwater to Repair Private Wall". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  8. Office of Climatology (August 11, 1960). "Report on incipient tropical storm Brenda, July 28–29, 1960". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  9. Keith Butson (February 3, 1961). "Damages from tropical storm Brenda, July 28–29, 1960". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  10. Albert Hardy (August 5, 1960). "Report on Tropical Storm Brenda in North Carolina". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  11. Forecaster Duke. "Preliminary Report on Tropical Storm Brenda July 29–30, 1960". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  12. Cox, Claire (July 31, 1960). "Brenda Storm Lashes Coast". The Nashville Tennessean. 55 (94). Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press. p. 2-A. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  13. Associated Press (July 31, 1960). "Storm Rolls Along Coast". The Reading Eagle. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  14. Staff writer (July 31, 1960). "Tropical Storm Brenda Apparently isn't a Sports Fan; Games Off". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 5, 2010.

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