1968 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1968 Atlantic hurricane season was one of five Atlantic hurricane seasons during the satellite era not to feature a major hurricane, the others being 1972, 1986, 1994, and 2013. The season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was a below average season in terms of tropical storms, with a total of eight nameable storms. The first system, Hurricane Abby, developed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on June 1. Abby moved northward and struck Cuba, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to western portions of the island. Making landfall in Florida on June 4, Abby caused flooding and spawned four tornadoes, but left behind little damage. Overall, the hurricane resulted in six deaths and about $450,000 in damage. In late June, Tropical Storm Candy brought minor flooding and spawned several tornadoes across portions of the Southern United States. Overall damage from the cyclone reached approximately $2.7 million.
Despite three named storms in June, cyclone activity slowed throughout the subsequent month, with only one tropical depression. During late August and early September, Tropical Depression Eleven brought flooding to the Jacksonville area of Florida. Hurricane Gladys, the final and also the strongest named storm of the season, developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on October 13. Peaking as a Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, the system resulted in flooding across western Cuba, particularly in Havana, where the storm caused six deaths and about $12 million in damage. Rough seas, gusty winds, tornadoes, and heavy rainfall resulted in generally minor impact in Florida, with three fatalities and damage totaling $6.7 million. Gladys also provided relief for one of North Carolina's worst droughts. Several other storms left negligible impact on land. Overall, the storms of the season collectively caused approximately $21.8 million in damage and killed 17 people.
Season summary
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The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, with Hurricane Abby developing that day. It was a below average season in which eight tropical storms formed, compared to the 1966–2009 average of 11.3 named storms. Four of these reached hurricane status, slightly below the 1966–2009 average of 6.2. None of the hurricanes strengthened into a major hurricane; only four other seasons since the satellite era began featured no major hurricanes: 1972, 1986, 1994, and 2013. Further, no hurricanes exceeded Category 1 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale; this would not occur again until 2013. Despite an active beginning, this season had the fewest hurricane days since 1962. Four hurricanes and one tropical storm made landfall during the season, causing 17 deaths and about $21.8 million in damage. The last storm of the season, a tropical depression, dissipated on November 25, five days before the official end of hurricane season on November 30.
Tropical cyclogenesis began in June, with three named storms during that month - hurricanes Abby and Brenda and Tropical Storm Candy - tying the record set in 1886, 1936, and 1959. Despite the quick start, activity abruptly slowed, with only a tropical depression in July. The next named storm, Hurricane Dolly, existed from August 10 to August 17, while Tropical Depression Eleven formed later that month. September was the most active month, with five tropical depressions, two tropical storms, and one subtropical storm, which peaked with an intensity equivalent to a Category 1. In October, Hurricane Gladys became the strongest tropical cyclone of the season, despite maximum sustained winds of only 85 mph and a minimum barometric pressure of.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy rating of 45. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding, which is tropical storm strength.
Systems
Hurricane Abby
The interaction of a mid-tropospheric trough and a cold front spawned a tropical depression on June 1. The initial circulation was not embedded within the convection, but as it moved slowly north-northeastward, it was able to strengthen and become better organized, reaching tropical storm strength on June 2. It crossed the western tip of Cuba, and upon reaching the southeast Gulf of Mexico, Abby achieved hurricane strength. It weakened to a tropical storm before landfall in Punta Gorda, Florida on June 4. Abby moved across the state and then reached the western Atlantic. On June 6, it made another landfall near Jacksonville. Abby weakened to a tropical depression as it moved over Georgia, and over the next six days, it drifted over The Carolinas, finally dissipating on June 13 east of Virginia.As Abby crossed Cuba, moderate rainfall and relatively high winds were reported. In addition, Abby dropped heavy rainfall across the state of Florida, peaking at in Hart Lake. However, the rain was almost entirely beneficial, as Florida was suffering from a severe drought. Despite winds gusts up to, no significant wind damage was reported. Abby spawned several tornadoes in Florida, though losses rarely exceeded $5,000. One twister in Monroe, North Carolina, damaged 20 cars, and destroyed three homes and impacted 20 others. Elsewhere, the storm dropped relatively light rainfall and produced a few tornadoes throughout the Southeastern United States. Overall, the storm caused approximately $450,000 in damage and led to six indirect fatalities.
Hurricane Brenda
The trough that spawned Abby persisted, with another tropical depression developing over the Straits of Florida on June 17. Early the following day, the depression crossed the Florida Keys and later made landfall in a rural area of Monroe County. Wind shear levels became increasingly favorable, causing the depression to maintain its intensity while crossing Florida. Because the heaviest shower and thunderstorm activity remained well offshore the state, little impact was reported. Up to of precipitation fell at the Homestead Experiment Station. Early on June 20, the depression emerged into the Atlantic Ocean near Flagler Beach. Shortly thereafter, a weak trough in the westerlies forced the storm to curve eastward. Intensification then occurred, with the depression becoming Tropical Storm Brenda early on June 21.Later on June 21 and into June 22, the Bermuda high built southwestward as a weak trough passed to the north, resulting in Brenda turning northeastward. With persistent favorable conditions, the storm reached hurricane status at 12:00 UTC on June 23. Early the next day, Brenda attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and a minimum barometric pressure of. Thereafter, a ridge of high pressure blocked moist air from reaching the storm, causing it to weaken. By June 25, Brenda fell to tropical storm intensity and deteriorated further to a tropical depression on June 26. Later that day, it was absorbed by a large extratropical cyclone, while located about west-southwest of Flores Island in the Azores.
Tropical Storm Candy
A tropical disturbance located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico developed into a tropical depression on June 22. Gradual strengthening occurred, with the depression being upgraded to Tropical Storm Candy on the following day. On June 23, the storm peaked with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of. Hours later, Candy made landfall near Port Aransas, Texas at the same intensity, before quickly weakening to a tropical depression by early on June 24. However, it persisted for a few more days, until transitioning into an extratropical cyclone over Michigan on June 26.Due to rainfall from a previous weather system, the ground was already saturated throughout Texas. As a result, Candy caused flooding, with precipitation exceeding in some areas. Minor damage to crops, roads, and bridges was reported in the eastern portions of the state. Agricultural losses alone were slightly less than $2 million. Storm surge along the coast of Texas caused "cuts" on Padre Island. The storm spawned 24 tornadoes, though only one caused significant impact. Candy and its remnants dropped rainfall in 24 other states, reaching as far north as New Hampshire. Overall, Candy caused $2.7 million in damage and no fatalities.
Hurricane Dolly
In late July, a tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast of Africa. After tracking west-northwestward and westward, the wave reached the Straits of Florida on August 9, where it began interacting with an upper-level low. Early on August 10, the system developed into a tropical depression, while located near Andros Island in the Bahamas. Shortly thereafter, the depression made landfall near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The depression quickly re-emerged into the Atlantic. Initially, the depression did not strengthen and was nearly absorbed by a cold front. After paralleling part of the East Coast of the United States, the depression moved further out to sea. By early on August 12, the depression finally strengthened into Tropical Storm Dolly, and further developed into a hurricane later that day.Dolly briefly weakened back to a tropical storm on August 13 amid unfavorable atmospheric conditions, only to reattain hurricane intensity later that day. On August 14, Dolly peaked with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. After remaining a minimal hurricane until August 16, the unfavorable conditions prevailed, causing Dolly to rapidly weaken to a tropical depression. By early on August 17, Dolly became extratropical while about north of the Azores. Impact from Hurricane Dolly was minimal, with only rainfall being reported on land. Precipitation peaked at at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although it was mostly limited to the east coast of Florida, isolated areas of rain were reported in the Panhandle and on the west coast. Elsewhere, rainfall from Dolly was also recorded in North and South Carolina, though it did not exceed or reach.
Tropical Storm Edna
A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast of Africa on September 10. A weak high-level trough and a warm anticyclone to the east-northeast generated low wind shear, allowing a tropical depression to develop at 18:00 UTC on September 11, while located about 225 mi southeast of Praia, Cape Verde. Although satellite imagery indicated a well-defined tropical depression, it did not organize further until at least September 13. Two days later, the ship Sal Mela observed wind speeds of. Thus, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Edna on September 15. Around that time, Edna attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and a minimum barometric pressure of 1001 mbar. By September 18, upper level cold trough began producing unfavorable conditions, with the storm weakening to a tropical depression that day. Edna degenerated into a tropical wave early the following day, while situated about 395 mi east of Barbuda.Subtropical Storm One
A subtropical depression developed at 12:00 UTC on September 14, while located about southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and initially moved east-northeastward. Early on September 16, it briefly curved north-northwestward and strengthened into a subtropical storm, before turning back to the east-northeastward later that day. By September 17, the storm re-curved to the southeast and decelerated but began to accelerate on September 19. Strengthened continued, with the storm attaining an intensity equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane early the following day. At 00:00 UTC on September 12, it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and a minimum barometric pressure of. Accelerating northeastward, a weakening trend soon commenced. The subtropical storm became extratropical by 12:00 UTC on September 23, while located about northwest of Corvo Island in the Azores.Tropical Storm Frances
A tropical depression developed east of the Bahamas at 12:00 UTC on September 23. Convection was enhanced by a mid-tropospheric trough, though further strengthening was initially slow. Initially, the depression headed northward, but curved northeastward on September 25. A reconnaissance aircraft late on September 26 reported a warm core, sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of. Therefore, it is estimated that the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Frances around that time. The storm intensified slightly further to winds of 60 mph, before beginning to weaken on September 28. Later that day, steering flow from an upper low pressure area caused Frances to curve almost due eastward. The storm weakened further to a tropical depression early on September 29, shortly before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone.Hurricane Gladys
In early October, a tropical wave interacted with the intertropical convergence zone while located in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, spawning multiple low pressure areas. One of the lows developed into a tropical depression while centered near San Andrés on October 13. The depression moved north-northwestward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Gladys on October 15. By the following day, it became a hurricane, shortly before striking Cuba. Gladys later peaked with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, just before making landfall near Homosassa, Florida on October 19. The hurricane crossed the state and continued northeastward, passing just east of Cape Hatteras on October 20. The next day, Gladys became extratropical and was absorbed by a cold front over Nova Scotia.In Cuba, Gladys caused flash flooding and heavily damaged the tobacco crop. Damage in the country was estimated at $12 million, and there were six deaths. While passing west of the Florida Keys, the hurricane produced strong winds that briefly cut communications to the Dry Tortugas, but damage was minor. Near where Gladys made landfall, winds gusted to 100 mph and tides reached 6.5 ft above normal. There was heavy beach erosion and flooding along the coast, while the winds knocked down trees and caused power outages. Across the state, damage was estimated at $6.7 million, and three people were indirectly killed. Heavy rainfall in South Carolina caused minor river flooding. When paralleling just off the coast of North Carolina, Gladys was responsible for breaking the state's worst drought since 1932, and proved more beneficial than the minor storm damage there. Later, Gladys killed two people in Atlantic Canada and caused coastal damage in Prince Edward Island.
Tropical depressions
A total of seven tropical cyclones remained below tropical storm intensity during the 1968 Atlantic hurricane season. The first such system formed in the north-central Gulf of Mexico at 00:00 UTC on July 4. Moving east-northeastward, it dissipated offshore St. George Island, Florida, about 24 hours later. On August 26, Tropical Depression Eleven developed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Drifting northeastward, the depression was situated offshore Central Florida on August 28, shortly before it trekked southward and made three landfalls in Florida near Clearwater, Holmes Beach, and Venice. By early on August 29, the depression began moving northeast to north-northeastward across the state. Late on August 31, the system emerged into the Atlantic Ocean near Atlantic Beach and dissipated shortly thereafter. Due to the depression's slow movement across Florida, heavy rainfall was observed, including of rainfall in Jacksonville. Considerable flooding was reported in Clay and Duval counties. Along the upper Cedar River in the latter, many homes and businesses were flooded. Eleven bridges were inundated with water ranging from a few inches to. Peak discharge amounts were higher than during Hurricane Dora in 1964. However, soil moisture and streamflow conditions during Dora were much more conducive to producing floods than antecedent conditions associated with this depression. Further south in Daytona Beach, a tornado destroyed a motel and several homes.The next tropical depression formed on September 7, while centered about north-northeast of Fortaleza, Ceará. Moving generally west to west-northwestward, the depression approached the Lesser Antilles, but dissipated well east-southeast of the islands on September 10. Another tropical depression developed on September 17, while situated about south of Santiago, Cape Verde. The depression moved northwestward and did not strengthen. By September 21, it dissipated about 1,135 mi west-northwest of the northernmost islands of Cape Verde. The next tropical depression originated on September 23, while located approximately east-northeast of Cayenne, French Guiana. Approaching the Windward Islands, it crossed through Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, before dissipating on September 25. That day, Tropical Depression Eighteen formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. While a tropical cyclone, it struck Cuba and Florida. Generally light rainfall was reported in the state, with up to at the Royal Palm Ranger Station in Everglades National Park. Thereafter, the depression tracked northeastward and dissipated on September 29. The final tropical depression developed on November 24 near Mayaguana. Moving north-northeastward to northeastward, the depression dissipated southwest of Bermuda about 24 hours later.
Additionally, another tropical depression was tracked during the season, though it was not included in the Atlantic hurricane best track. Classified as Tropical Depression Fourteen, the system developed from a low pressure area offshore the Southeastern United States on September 8. It headed generally north-northeastward ahead of a mid-level cyclone that moved south-southeastward into the central Appalachian Mountains. While the storm passed just offshore the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the depression dropped of precipitation on Bodie Island. Thereafter, the cyclone began losing tropical characteristics and became extratropical on September 11 while making landfall on Long Island, New York. Winds gusts of were observed between Boston and New York City. The remnants of this storm entered Atlantic Canada and was absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone shortly before emerging into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on September 12.