Hurricane Debbie (1961)

rdf:langString Hurricane Debbie (1961)

rdf:langString Hurricane Debbie

rdf:langString Atl

rdf:langString Black and white satellite image of a hurricane showing organized structure but no cyclonic eye. The hurricane appears to the right of the image, and the curvature of the Earth is visible.

rdf:langString DebbieSep1119611830UTCTIROS3.png

rdf:langString Debbie at peak intensity, on September 11

rdf:langString hurricane

rdf:langString Estimated

rdf:langString Hurricane Debbie was a moderate tropical cyclone which had significant impacts in Ireland as an extratropical cyclone. The fourth named storm of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, Debbie originated from a well-defined tropical disturbance that was first identified in late August over Central Africa. Tracking generally westward, the system moved off the coast of Senegal on September 5 into the Atlantic Ocean. By this time, it was estimated to have become a tropical depression, but forecasters did not issue advisories on the system until two days later. Late on September 6, Debbie passed through the southern Cape Verde Islands as a moderate tropical storm, resulting in a plane crash that killed 60 people in the islands. Once clear of the islands, data on the storm became sparse, and the status of Debbie was uncertain over the following several days as it tracked west-northwestward and later northward. It was not until a commercial airliner intercepted the storm on September 10 that its location became certain. The following day, Debbie intensified and reached its peak intensity as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale, with maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Maintaining its peak intensity for almost a day, the hurricane gradually slowed its forward motion and weakened. By September 13, Debbie's motion became influenced by the Westerlies, causing the system to accelerate east-northeastward. The system passed over the western Azores as an extratropical cyclone bearing hurricane-force winds on September 15. The system subsequently deepened as it neared Ireland, skirting the coast of Western Ireland on September 16. The remnants of the storm later weakened and turned eastward, striking Norway and the Soviet Union, before dissipating on September 19. Striking Ireland as a powerful storm, the remnants of Debbie brought record winds to much of the island, with a peak gust of 114 mph (183 km/h) measured just offshore. These winds caused widespread damage and disruption, downing tens of thousands of trees and power lines. Countless structures sustained varying degrees of damage, with many smaller buildings destroyed. Agriculture experienced extensive losses to barley, corn and wheat crops. Debbie killed 18 people – 12 in the Republic of Ireland and six in Northern Ireland. It caused US$40–50 million in damage in the Republic and at least £1.5 million (US$4 million) in Northern Ireland. The storm also battered parts of Great Britain with winds in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h).