The 1954 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a deadly and destructive hurricane Season. It was also a very active season due to positive ASO and a La Nina. A total of 4 destructive hurricanes occurred Alice, Carol, Edna, and Hazel. Of the 4 Hazel was the deadliest and impacted the most countries.

On October 5th a vigorous low pressure system was a few hundred miles from the lower Antilles. Since there was no satellites back then, weather satellites where successfully launched in 1960, The National Hurricane Center would patrol the Atlantic Basin for suspected storms. They flew into this vigorous low and found a rapidly developing tropical storm had developed. The storm was given the name Hazel and already winds where at 60 mph.

On October 6th the winds in Hazel increased to 75 mph which made Hazel a category 1 hurricane. The hurricane made landfall in Grenada at that intensity. After making landfall Hazel entered the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center and the US Weather Bureau (later renamed the weather service) put bulletins out that Hazel was likely to rapidly deepen.

On October the 9th Hazel started to rapidly strengthen. The winds went from 90 mph to 105 mph. This made Hazel a high end category 2 hurricane. High Pressure in the Central Atlantic caused Hazel to slow down and be pulled northward. While this put the US Territory of Puerto Rico out of harms way a disaster was setting up for Haiti. On October 10th Hazel became a major category 3 hurricane with winds up to 115 mph. On October 11th/12th Hazel made landfall in Haiti as a high end category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph.

In Haiti the 120 mph plus winds did severe damage to the countries infastructure. The Hurricane's slow movement meant heavy rain. Some locations received up to 2 feet of rain causing mudslides. In Haiti 800-850 people where killed by Hazel.

Haiti emerged off the Haitian coast as a high end category 1 hurricane with winds up to 90 mph. The High Pressure in the Central Atlantic moved Southeastward. The Hurricane Center and Weather Bureau where now concerned that Hazel would restrengthen going over the Gulf Stream and due to the High Pressure moving could strike the Carolinas.

While going over warm waters Hazel had begin to strengthen again and made landfall in the Bahamas as a 100 mph category 2 hurricane. As the Weather bureau had feared Hazel started to make a beeline toward the Carolinas. While going over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream Hazel regained major hurricane status as winds went from 105 mph to 125 mph and the pressure started to rapidly drop in the hurricane based on Hurricane Hunter data and ship reports.

Hazel would continue to strengthen reaching its peak right before its South Carolina landfall. On October 14th/15th Haze came ashore in South Carolina as a 140 mph hurricane. This made Hazel a category 4 hurricane and a pressure of 938 millibars was observed. The National Hurricane Center in the reanalysis projected determined this was Hazels peak intensity. In South Carolina Hazel produced storm surge, dangerous winds and flooding rains. Oh but Hazel was not done.

The remnants of Hazel moved into Appalachia and created historic flooding. Rock and Mudslides where reported. Millions of dollars of damage was done. Hazel's remnants transitioned into a powerful non tropical storm system. The former tropical system entered Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec in Canada. Flooding occurred in those areas of Canada and several reports of 60-65 mph winds was observed.

Overall, Hazel claimed 1,192 lives, with 800-850 of those occurring in Haiti. In the United States 100 people where killed mostly inland due to flooding. In Canada 80 people died due to flooding and dangerous winds. Hazel also caused $460 million in damages. $360 million of that occurred in the USA while $90 million occurred in Canada. In the Bahamas damage was estimated to be 3 million, Grenada reported damage of 3 million as well. In Haiti damage was $4 million in damage.

In conclusion, Hazel was the second costliest hurricane from the 1954 season. However, with 1,192 lives lost it was the deadliest. In addition, Hazel was the strongest with winds of 140 mph and a pressure of 938 millibars. The hurricane was the 4th destructive hurricane form 1954. Moreover, Hazel impacted the most countries as the hurricane impacted 5 countries: Grenada, Haiti, Bahamas, USA, and Canada. Indeed, Hazel was historic on so many levels.

Due to its severe impacts and high death toll. The name Hazel would later be retired when the naming lists where formatted. Hazel would be the 3rd name retired from the 1954 season joining Carol and Edna. Alice was not retired but it should have been. Even though, it has been 70 years this hurricane is still talked about to this day. In fact, Hazel is often compared to Hurricane Hugo from 1989. In 1989 Hugo made landfall in South Carolina with 140-145 mph winds. Inland Hugo caused a tornado outbreak and flooding.