Impact
On August 5, Hurricane Connie began to become an apparent threat to the northeastern Caribbean Islands, with maximum winds in the storm reaching 125 mph (205 km/h). The National Weather Bureau issued hurricane warnings for Barbuda, Saba and Antigua. The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were placed on hurricane alert as warnings were possible later that day. Early in its duration, the outer rainbands of Connie produced wind gusts 100 mph (160 km/h) in Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, along with heavy rainfall. The highest precipitation total was 8.65 in (220 mm) along the lower Río Blanco.
As Connie moved ashore in North Carolina, it produced sustained winds of 72 mph (116 km/h) in Morehead City, with gusts to 83 mph (134 km/h). Wind gusts near where the hurricane moved ashore reached 100 mph (160 km/h), although it was not confirmed whether the gust was estimated or measured. Along Connie's western periphery, the rainbands spawned at least six tornadoes, of which five in South Carolina and one in North Carolina. Moving slowly ashore, the hurricane produced tides that were up to 8 ft (2.4 m) above normal, which resulted in significant beach erosion. Rainfall amounts of over 10 in (250 mm) in the area west of where Connie made landfall. Throughout the state, the hurricane caused about $40 million in damage, of which about 75% was from crop damage.
Hurricane force winds extended into Virginia. As Connie progressed northward, it continued to drop significant amounts of precipitation. Totals of over 10 in (250 mm) were reported on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, in Pennsylvania, and in southeastern New York. The highest precipitation related to Connie was 13.24 in (336 mm) at Fort Schuyler. Rainfall also extended as far west as Michigan and as far east as Maine. Across the northeastern United States, high rainfall from the hurricane resulted in disastrous flooding, along with Diane which moved ashore four days after Connie; this was due to unusually moist air across the region, which resulted from above average water and air temperatures. Many areas were in drought conditions before the flooding.
In Washington D.C., a car accident caused by slick roads resulted in the death of four people after a car was sideswiped and knocked into a swollen creek where the occupants drowned.
Hurricane Connie brought the heaviest rain seen in New York in over 50 years during its passage, dropping 5.32 in (135 mm) in New York City within a 20 hour span. Large areas of the city, including subways, were flooded and many residents were left without power. At least seven people were killed in various incidents across the state.
Read more about this topic: Hurricane Connie
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