Canadian Tropical Cyclone Season Summary for 1958

Tropical Storm Becky (August 8 to August 17, 1958)

Becky was the second tropical storm of the 1958 season. It was first identified on August 11, while located halfway between Puerto Rico and the Cape Verde Islands. On the August 7, the tropical depression began moving in a westward direction that continued until the 9^th. Tropical Storm Becky could be followed either as a storm or a disturbance over a long track from the Cape Verde Islands to north of Puerto Rico and then, after re-curving, well off the east coast of the United States.

Although the hurricane force squalls were reported briefly in the northeastern semicircle on August 14, Becky never reached full hurricane intensity. By August 15, Becky had degenerated into an area of squalls with little, or no cyclonic patterns. Late on the 16^th, Becky moved into an old frontal zone and became extratropical.

Hurricane Cleo (August 11 to August 22, 1958)

Hurricane Cleo, which moved through the mid-Atlantic from August 11 to August 21, was quite severe but remained far from any land area. On the August 14, maximum winds of 325 kilometres per hour (175 knots) were reported, as Cleo turned northward. On the August 16, the storm turned north-northwestward and gradually increased its forward speed. On August 19, Cleo accelerated to the northeast and later took a more eastward course until it became extratropical on the 20^th.

Fortunately Hurricane Cleo remained at sea throughout its life span and there were no reports of any severe damage to shipping nor any deaths reported, despite the fact that the storm crossed the principle transatlantic shipping lanes.

Hurricane Daisy (August 24 to August 31, 1958)

Daisy formed just east of the Bahamas on August 24 and became a hurricane the next day. Hurricane Daisy moved very slowly north-northwestward before re-curving and increasing forward speed on the 26^th. The centre passed about 120 kilometres east of Hatteras on August 28 and then passed about 110 kilometres southeast of Nantucket on the 29^th. The North Carolina capes New England coasts felt only periphery gales as a result of Daisy.

There was no loss of life or significant property damage in the United States as a result of Hurricane Daisy. Maximum intensity was attained on August 28, when wind speeds were estimated in excess of 240 kilometres per hour (130 knots).

Hurricane Helene (September 24 to October 4, 1958)

Hurricane Helene was not only one of the most intense storm of 1958, but it was the most destructive. Helena developed from an easterly wave that can be traced back to the Cape Verde Islands on September 16, 1958. This disturbed condition began to intensify on September 23 and became a hurricane late on the 24^th. Hurricane Helene approached the South Carolina coast on the 26^th. Helene reached its greatest intensity around midnight of the same day, while located about 125 kilometres east of Charleston. The following day, as Helene re-curved, the western edge of the eye of the hurricane came within 16 kilometres off the coast at Cape Fear, North Carolina. The weather bureau at Wilmington recorded a maximum wind of 140 kilometres per hour (76 knots) and a peak gust of 217 kilometres per hour (117 knots). Although property damage was estimated at $11,000,000 in North Carolina, no lives were lost directly as a result of the hurricane and only one life was lost indirectly.

Tropical Storm Ilsa (September 24 to September 31, 1958)

Tropical Storm Ilsa was located about 1280 kilometres east of San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 24, 1958. By the September 25, Ilsa had reached hurricane intensity. Ilsa deepened rapidly on the 26^th and it had a well defined eye. Winds were in excess of 200 kilometres per hour (108 knots). Although Hurricane Ilsa immediately followed Helene, Ilsa re-curved northward east of Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

No loss of lives or property damage was reported in association with Ilsa.

Hurricane Janice (October 5 to October 13, 1958)

The last hurricane of the season began developing on October 4 just south of central Cuba. Janice reached hurricane intensity during the evening of the 6^th as it passed through the Bahamas. Rains in excess of 50 centimetres caused floods in Jamaica and one man was drowned in Nassau habour. Damage was from $200,000 to $300,000 in the Bahamas.

The hurricane drifted slowly north-northeastward to northeastward then began accelerating northeastward to east-northeastward on October 9. It continued in this direction until the 11^th, when it began losing tropical characteristics and later merged with a deep low pressure system that moved from the Maritimes into the North Atlantic.

Date modified:

2014-01-15