Hurricane Daisy (1962)
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 Daisy near peak intensity on October 5 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 29, 1962 |
| Dissipated | October 8, 1962 |
| Category 2 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 105 mph (165 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 963 mbar (hPa); 28.44 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 32 |
| Damage | $1.1 million (1962 USD) |
| Areas affected | New England, Canadian Maritimes |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Daisy brought the worst flooding to New England since Hurricane Diane in 1955. The fourth named storm and second hurricane of the 1962 Atlantic hurricane season, Daisy developed from a tropical disturbance located well east of the Leeward Islands on September 29. Initially a tropical depression, it headed west-northwestward and failed to strengthen significantly. While located a short distance from the Leeward Islands, the depression curved northwestward and began intensifying. On October 2, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Daisy. Around that time, the storm turned back to the west-northwest and continued to deepen. Daisy reached hurricane status late on October 3. Two days later, it became a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, but briefly weakened back to a Category 1 on October 6.
Daisy re-strengthened into a Category 2 later on October 6, and peaked with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). The outer bands of Daisy produced strong winds and heavy surf in Bermuda, but caused no damage. It weakened back to a Category 1 again on October 7. While passing offshore New England, the storm, combined with a nor'easter, produced flooding and strong winds. Two fatalities were directly related to the hurricane, and 24 other people died in traffic related deaths, that were caused by slick roads from the heavy rain. Total damage in New England was estimated to be over $1.1 million (1962 USD). Early on October 8, Daisy made landfall near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia after transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. In Atlantic Canada, the storm brought rough seas, causing coastal flooding and six fatalities in Nova Scotia.
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionA Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) revealed the presence of a tropical disturbance east of the Leeward Islands on September 28.[1] A reconnaissance aircraft flight into a system on the following day indicated that a tropical depression developed near 14.5°N, 48.9°W. The depression initially moved west-northwestward and remained disorganized for several days. In the early stages of the depression, the system appeared to have been located under minor vortices in the upper atmosphere, located within a strong east–to–west oriented trough.[2] Approaching the Lesser Antilles, the system curved northwestward between two high pressure areas on September 30 and avoided landfall in the islands.[2][3] By October 2, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Daisy. The trough dissipated on the following day, causing Daisy to resume its initial west-northwest motion. The storm intensified into a Category 1 hurricane later on October 3.[2][3] Further deepening occurred, and by October 5, Daisy became a Category 2 hurricane.[3]
A nor'easter off the East Coast of the United States caused Daisy to curve northward on October 5. The storm briefly weakened to a Category 1 hurricane on October 6. Six hours later, it re-strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane; Daisy also attained its minimum barometric pressure of 965 mbar (28.5 inHg). Late on October 6, maximum sustained winds reached 110 mph (175 km/h), the highest in relation to the system.[3] Daisy absorbed the nor'easter on October 6, after it weakened. Thereafter, Daisy began accelerating and cold sea surface temperatures weakened the storm back to a Category 1 hurricane on October 7.[3].[4] It briefly curved north-northwestward, before sharply turning east-northeastward in the Gulf of Maine and transitioning into an extratropical cyclone. Early on October 8, the extratropical storm made landfall near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). The remnants of Daisy re-emerged into the Atlantic Ocean and headed east-northeastward before dissipating south of Newfoundland on October 9.[3]
Preparations
Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, hurricane watches and gale warnings were issued for the Leeward Islands. As Daisy intensified, moved northward, and threatened New England, gale warnings were issued for the coastal areas from Block Island, Rhode Island, to Eastport, Maine, while hurricane watches were issued for the east coast of Maine.[5]
