The 1954 season was 70 years ago and it was a destructive season. The season was above average due to positive ASO and a La Nina pattern. There was a total of 4 destructive hurricanes, and 3 of those made landfall in the United States of America. One of those was Hurricane Edna.
A tropical low (tropical wave) emerged off the coast of Africa. The wave did not develop until it moved into the Central Atlantic. Weather Satellites that could detect tropical development would not be invented until 1960, which was six years later. Hurricane Hunters relied on weather observations, shipping reports, and long flight hours as the Hurricane Hunters would fly to hunt for developing storms.
US Navy Ships off the northern coast of Puerto Rico reported the wave had winds of 45 mph with dropping pressure. The National Hurricane Center flew into the tropical wave and determined it had become a tropical storm. The tropical storm was given the name Edna. Edna slowly moved toward the Bahamas steadily strengthening.
While approaching the Bahamas winds of 75 mph was observed at the surface. Thus, the storm was upgraded to hurricane Edna. Edna continued to move northward over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. On September 7th Edna became a category 2 hurricane with winds up to 100 mph. Due to being over the water waters the NHC issued a bulletin that the storm was likely to strengthen.
As Edna continued to move northward it continued to strengthen. On August 8th Edna became a 115 mph category 3 hurricane with a pressure of 960 millibars. The next day Edna reached a peak of 120 mph with a pressure of 943 millibars. This still made Edna a category 3 major hurricane.
Like Hurricane Carol two weeks earlier a trough picked up Edna and started to steer it toward Massachusetts. Edna started to pick up speed. However, it was not moving as fast as Carol and went over cool water. The cool water weakened Edna before it struck Massachusetts. ON the other hand, Edna was still a 105 mph high end category 2 when it made landfall.
On September 11th Edna made landfall in Cape Code, and Nantucket Massachusetts as a 105 mph category 2 hurricane. This area had already suffered wind damage from Hurricane Carol two weeks earlier. Edna produced a storm surge over 9 feet along the coastline. In addition, Edna produced 90-100 mph in the Boston area doing severe damage. Edna moved away from New England and brought heavy rain and wind to Maine. Edna's final landfall was in Canada as a tropical storm.
In Massachusetts and Maine the hurricane produced dangerous storm surge, flooding rains and severe winds. In the US 25 people where killed and $44 million in damages was done. In Canada Edna caused 4 deaths and $10 million in damage due to flooding. Overall, Edna caused $54 million in damages and 29 deaths. Edna was the second destructive hurricane to impact New England in 1954.
When the rotating naming lists where developed and formatted a lot of past storm names where retired. Due to its severe impacts in the USA and Canada the name Edna was retired from the naming lists. Edna was one of 4 destructive hurricanes in 1954. Moreover, it was the second of 3 hurricanes to make landfall in the USA in 1954.
In conclusion, Edna was a destructive hurricane and in Massachusetts this storm is still talked about today even though it was 70 years ago. Since then other hurricanes have impacted New England mainly Donna (1960), Belle (1976), Gloria (1985), Bob (1991), and Sandy (2012)
The 1954 season was 70 years ago and it was a destructive season. The season was above average due to positive ASO and a La Nina pattern. There was a total of 4 destructive hurricanes, and 3 of those made landfall in the United States of America. One of those was Hurricane Edna.
A tropical low (tropical wave) emerged off the coast of Africa. The wave did not develop until it moved into the Central Atlantic. Weather Satellites that could detect tropical development would not be invented until 1960, which was six years later. Hurricane Hunters relied on weather observations, shipping reports, and long flight hours as the Hurricane Hunters would fly to hunt for developing storms.
US Navy Ships off the northern coast of Puerto Rico reported the wave had winds of 45 mph with dropping pressure. The National Hurricane Center flew into the tropical wave and determined it had become a tropical storm. The tropical storm was given the name Edna. Edna slowly moved toward the Bahamas steadily strengthening.
While approaching the Bahamas winds of 75 mph was observed at the surface. Thus, the storm was upgraded to hurricane Edna. Edna continued to move northward over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. On September 7th Edna became a category 2 hurricane with winds up to 100 mph. Due to being over the water waters the NHC issued a bulletin that the storm was likely to strengthen.
As Edna continued to move northward it continued to strengthen. On August 8th Edna became a 115 mph category 3 hurricane with a pressure of 960 millibars. The next day Edna reached a peak of 120 mph with a pressure of 943 millibars. This still made Edna a category 3 major hurricane.
Like Hurricane Carol two weeks earlier a trough picked up Edna and started to steer it toward Massachusetts. Edna started to pick up speed. However, it was not moving as fast as Carol and went over cool water. The cool water weakened Edna before it struck Massachusetts. ON the other hand, Edna was still a 105 mph high end category 2 when it made landfall.
On September 11th Edna made landfall in Cape Code, and Nantucket Massachusetts as a 105 mph category 2 hurricane. This area had already suffered wind damage from Hurricane Carol two weeks earlier. Edna produced a storm surge over 9 feet along the coastline. In addition, Edna produced 90-100 mph in the Boston area doing severe damage. Edna moved away from New England and brought heavy rain and wind to Maine. Edna's final landfall was in Canada as a tropical storm.
In Massachusetts and Maine the hurricane produced dangerous storm surge, flooding rains and severe winds. In the US 25 people where killed and $44 million in damages was done. In Canada Edna caused 4 deaths and $10 million in damage due to flooding. Overall, Edna caused $54 million in damages and 29 deaths. Edna was the second destructive hurricane to impact New England in 1954.
When the rotating naming lists where developed and formatted a lot of past storm names where retired. Due to its severe impacts in the USA and Canada the name Edna was retired from the naming lists. Edna was one of 4 destructive hurricanes in 1954. Moreover, it was the second of 3 hurricanes to make landfall in the USA in 1954.
In conclusion, Edna was a destructive hurricane and in Massachusetts this storm is still talked about today even though it was 70 years ago. Since then other hurricanes have impacted New England mainly Donna (1960), Belle (1976), Gloria (1985), Bob (1991), and Sandy (2012)
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