Hurricane Edith (1963)

Meteorological history

An area of disturbed weather in the Intertropical Convergence Zone was first observed on September 22 by the Dutch tanker Aceteon. On the following day, imagery from TIROS VII indicated that a surface circulation developed. With a reconnaissance aircraft observing winds of 29 mph (47 km/h), a tropical depression developed at 12:00 UTC on September 23 about 525 mi (845 km) east-southeast of Barbados. Later that day, the U.S. Weather Bureau initiated advisories on the system. Another flight on September 24 indicated that the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Edith by 12:00 UTC. Six hours later, the system intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Around 00:00 UTC on September 25, Edith strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane while situated north of Barbados. However, after six hours, the storm weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. Shortly after 06:00 UTC on September 25, Edith struck Saint Lucia with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). Subsequently entering the Caribbean Sea, the cyclone re-intensified into a Category 2 hurricane and soon peaked with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 990 mbar (29 inHg).

However, the storm began weakening again and fell to a Category 1 hurricane early on September 26. Around midday, Edith turned north-northwestward toward the Mona Passage. It made landfall slightly west of La Romana, Dominican Republic, around 08:00 UTC on September 27 with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). Edith crossed the island in about eight hours and maintained hurricane status. However, the cyclone weakened over the Atlantic and eastern Bahamas due to further land interaction and a frontal low pressure area, which developed near South Florida a few days earlier and moved east-northeastward to a location about 690 mi (1,110 km) from Edith. As a result, the pressure gradient in the Bahamas region weakened significantly, disrupting the easterly flow north of Edith. At 00:00 UTC on September 28, the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm. Edith struck North Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands about 18 hours later with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). Edith curved northeastward and weakened to a tropical depression early on September 29, shortly before dissipating about 70 mi (110 km) northeast of Mayaguana island in the Bahamas. The remnants of Edith were lasted noted moving in tandem with the frontal low well east of Bermuda.

Preparations

At 18:00 UTC on September 24, when Edith intensified into a hurricane, hurricane warnings were issued from Guadeloupe to Saint Vincent, including Barbados. Gale warnings were also issued for areas north of Guadeloupe to Sint Maarten. As Edith approached Saint Lucia around 08:00 UTC on September 25, a hurricane watch was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The warnings and advice given by the San Juan Weather Bureau were credited for limiting damage and loss of life on Martinique. After Edith entered the Caribbean later on September 25, the watch was spread to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, while gale warnings were issued for the south coast of Hispaniola, east of Santo Domingo, as well as Puerto Rico the Virgin Islands. At 08:00 UTC on September 26, hurricane warnings were issued for southern Haiti and southwestern Dominican Republic due to the impending threat. After Edith slowed and began a more northerly movement, a hurricane warning was issued for the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico while the warning for western Hispaniola was discontinued at 02:00 UTC on September 27. Two hours later, the storm had weakened and it was evident that Edith would pass over the Dominican Republic. As a result, the hurricane warning for Puerto Rico was downgraded to a gale warning.

Along the south coast of Puerto Rico, particularly from Cabo Rojo to Humacao, residents were told to evacuate. Police and the Civil Defense assisted with evacuations. Additionally, residents of low-lying areas in Dominican Republic and Haiti were advised to seek higher ground.

Impact

Hurricane Edith was responsible for approximately $46.6 million in damage. Edith passed just north of Barbados and delivered between 7–9 inches (180–230 mm) of rain to the island. Wind speeds were between 60 and 65 mph (97 and 105 km/h) in the northern section of the island. Damage on the island totaled $145,000. In Martinique, the meteorological station at Le Lamentin Airport experienced wind gusts up to 127 mph (200 km/h). Wind and flood damage was reported, along with abnormally high waves. Throughout the island, about 6,000 homes were demolished and 13,000 other were severely impacted. Agriculture suffered significantly, with bananas and other food crops destroyed, while sugar cane experienced significant damage. Edith left 10 fatalities and 50 people seriously injured. Damage was estimated to be $40 million. Saint Lucia experienced wind gusts up to 90 mph (100 km/h), damaging about half of the banana crop. These winds were accompanied by heavy, flooding rains and the island received wind and flood damage as the hurricane made landfall. The damage on the island totaled just under $3.5 million.

Throughout southwestern Puerto Rico, the storm brought moderate rains, strong winds, and rough seas. Over 9 in (230 mm) of precipitation fell in the Lajas Valley during the passage of Hurricane Edith, while an official peak rainfall total of 8.16 in (207 mm) was observed on Isla Magueyes. Several southern and western locations in Puerto Rico observed tropical storm force winds, with the highest sustained wind speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) recorded in Cabo Rojo. Along the coast, rough seas were reported, with waves as high as waves high as 15 ft (4.6 m) lashing Ensenada, located in the municipality of Guánica.

In Ponce, waves flooded low-lying areas of the Playa de Ponce barrio. Winds deroofed six homes and severely damaged three others. Additionally, electrical and telephone lines were downed. Just offshore, Gatas, the island containing the Club Náutico de Ponce, was completely inundated. Damages to the yacht club totaled $100,000 and damages to the boats totaled $15,000. Flooding in the area resulted in about $25,000 in damage. At the Agricultural Experiment Station in Lajas, crops were heavily damaged by high winds. Near Salinas, about 200 ft (61 m) of Highway 1 was destroyed by high surf. Several beach front properties were badly damaged. Cabo Rojo bore the brunt of the storm with the center passing within 50 mi (80 km), resulting major flooding and extensive wind damage. In Maricao, winds and strong thunderstorms caused a few trees to be blown down. In Mayagüez, low-lying areas adjacent to the Yagüez River flooded after the river rose between 1 and 2 ft (0.30 and 0.61 m) above its average crest, causing about 300 people to flee their homes. Two homes were demolished and another was extensively damaged. Along the coast, waves inundated waterfront streets, leaving them barely passable. Approximately 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of sugar cane fields were flooded in and around Añasco, Cabo Rojos, Hormigueros, and Lajas. Additionally, harvest equipment and a large amount of fertilizer were destroyed. Throughout Puerto Rico, agricultural damage alone was estimated to be over $150,000.

Impact in the Dominican Republic was minor, though winds between 50 and 60 mph (80 and 97 km/h) and heavy rain were recorded. At Turks and Caicos Islands, sustained winds of 37 mph (60 km/h) were observed, with gusts up to 51 mph (82 km/h).