:Hurricane How

{{storm path|How 1951 track.jpg}}

The origins of Hurricane How were from an easterly wave that organized into a tropical depression, in the western Caribbean Sea on September 28, 1951. It moved to the north-northwest, passing by the Yucatan peninsula before turning to the east in the central Gulf of Mexico on October 1. That day, a reconnaissance aircraft in the system reported gale-force winds and, as a result, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm How. The storm strengthened to just below hurricane force, making landfall near Punta Gorda, Florida with {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} winds (115 km/h). While it crossed the state, the center was not very organized, and consequently the strongest winds were in the south and southeastern portion of the storm; heavy rains, however, fell across its path.{{cite journal|author=Grady Norton|publisher=American Meteorological Society|journal=Monthly Weather Review|volume=80|issue=1|page=4|date=January 1952|title=Hurricanes of 1951|access-date=2010-01-09|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1951.pdf|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1952)080<0001:ho>2.0.co;2|bibcode = 1952MWRv...80....1N |doi-access=free}}

Tropical Storm How emerged into the Atlantic Ocean near Vero Beach, quickly intensifying to hurricane strength by October 3. Turning northeastward, Hurricane How reached peak winds of {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on October 4 as it passed near the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Subsequently, the hurricane embarked on a slow weakening trend, as it briefly posed a threat to New England. It passed southeast of Cape Cod before turning more to the east-northeast. It became an extratropical storm on October 7, and the next day the remnants of How dissipated in the far northern Atlantic.

As the storm was not very well-organized when it crossed Florida, the strongest winds were not near the center, and instead were confined to squalls in the Florida Keys and the southeast coast. Miami reported a gust of {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and West Palm Beach reported {{convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|year=1951|title=Storm Causes Widespread Damage in South Florida|access-date=2010-01-09|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xR0LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5044,626311&dq=florida+storm&hl=en}} Wind damage was minor, confined to a few broken windows and the sinking or damaging of some small craft. Nevertheless, heavy rainfall occurred along its path. The highest total was {{convert|15.7|in|cm}} near Bonita Springs, near where it moved ashore.{{Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in Florida}} Elsewhere, Fort Myers reported {{convert|10.43|in|cm}}, while Clewiston along the western shore of Lake Okeechobee received about {{convert|10|in|cm}}; the lake rose about {{convert|4|in|cm}} from the rainfall, but no overflow was expected. Elsewhere, the precipitation caused some significant street flooding, while about {{convert|7000|acre|km2}} of tomato and bean fields were deluged.

Further north, the hurricane threatened to strike or move very close to the Outer Banks. Hurricane warnings were posted from Cape Hatteras to Manteo, and ships were advised to remain at port.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=1951-10-04|title=Hurricane Bearing Down on North Carolina Coast|access-date=2010-01-09|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZyENAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z2oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3025,5548032&dq=hurricane&hl=en}} Hurricane How produced {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} winds and high tides along the Outer Banks and southeastern Virginia. Some minor damage was reported, and two ships were washed ashore. In New England, the Weather Bureau issued storm warnings from Block Island, Rhode Island to Portland, Maine, with rains, fog, and heavy surf reported. Several roads were closed in Massachusetts due to the tides.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=1951-10-05|title=Hurricane Not Expected to Hit Main Hard|access-date=2010-01-09|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XXQpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RmcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2540,386561&dq=hurricane+how&hl=en}}

Offshore, a ship called Southern Isle was wrecked by the high surf. It had been sailing from Puerto Rico with a full load of iron ore and, as it approached the hurricane, the vessel changed directions and slowed. By October 5, winds were strong and the seas were moderately rough. Very quickly, the ship broke into two, which prevented any time to escape on lifeboats.{{cite web|author=United States Coast Guard |year=1952 |title=Marine Board of Investigation; foundering MV Southern Isles in position 32º30'N 73º00'W, 5 October 1951, with loss of life |access-date=2010-01-09 |url=http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/docs/boards/southernisle.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609192713/http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/docs/boards/southernisle.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2011 }} By the day after the wreck, rescue boats and helicopters found seven people, one of whom later died from their injuries.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|publisher=The Free Lance-Star|date=1951-10-06|title=Ships, Planes Hunt Freighter Survivors Off Hatteras|access-date=2010-01-09|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CX0TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rooDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6530,606040&dq=hurricane&hl=en}} Ultimately, 17 people died in the event.

Overall, Hurricane How caused about $2 million (USD) in damage. It was the only storm to strike the United States during the year, and consequently, 1951 had the least tropical cyclone damage in the United States since the 1939 season.

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Category:1951 Atlantic hurricane season

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