THE WEST INDIES METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE

(BAHAMAS DIVISION)

Meteorological Office

Windsor Airport,

Nassau, Bahamas.

Ref: Nasmet 8.58.85	17th November, 1958.

Dr. Gordon E. Dunn,

Meteorologist-in-Charge,

U.S. Dept. of Commerce,

Weather Bureau,

Miami 42, Florida.

Dear Dr. Dunn,

Further to my letter 8.58.83 of 10th of November I now have the original observations and barograph trace for October 6th. from Harbour Island.

The maximum pressure (1700 E.S.T.) was 29.176 ins. (988,0 mbs.) and the maximum wind was SE 31 m.p.h.(1500 E.S.T.). There was a marked wind change between 1700 and 1800 E.S.T, when it went from ESE 16 m.p.h to WNW 10 m.p.h. I was rather surprised that from 19OO to 0100 E.S.T. the wind, westerly, varied between only 17 and 24 m.p.h.

I have yet to receive the original records from San Salvador and Hope Town but I will forward any additional information as soon as it is to hand.

The Chief Out Island Commissioner has received no more reports of damage so it appears that paragraph 6 of my previous letter contains details of all damage of any consequence. The yacht "Despatcher" was owned by one of your wealthy fellow-countrymen and was insured in the States. It was a fair-sized sea-going yacht and was worthy I suppose, about £4000. I have been unable to determine the final fate of the dredger which was lost near Rock Sound. The Insurance Agents would not volunteer any information on its value so I assume it may be salvaged. From the information I have been able to obtain it appears that the estimate of total damage is £15000 - £16000. It could be two or three thousand pounds more than this figure but I cannot obtain any more precise information.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely

(signed)

J. A. Channon

Senior Meteorologist.

THE WEST INDIES METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE

(BAHAMAS DIVISION)

Meteorological Office

Windsor Airport,

Nassau, Bahamas.

Ref: Nasmet 8.58.83	17th November, 1958.

Dr. Gordon E. Dunn,

Meteorologist-in-Charge,

U.S. Dept. of Commerce,

Weather Bureau,

Miami 42, Florida.

Dear Dr. Dunn,

I still do not have the full information necessary to answer your letter of October 22nd but I am sending you what is available. I will write again on the rmainder when it is to hand. I requested copies of the observations and the barograph charts from Green Turtle Gay, Mangrove Cay, The Bight(Cat Ids), George Town(Exuma), Clarence Town(Long Isd.), Harbour Island, San Salvador and Hope Town(Abaco). The first five replied but I have had nothing rrom the remaining three.

2. Reports are as follows:-

Nassau - Min. pressure 993.6 mbs.(29.34 ins.). Max wind WNW-NW 61 m.p.h

Green Tartle Cay	- Min. pressure 997.8 mbs.(29.465 ins.).

- Max. Wind NNE 55 m.p.h.

Mangrove Cay	- Min. pressure 991.4 mbs.(29.276 ins.).

- Max. wind NW 36 m.p.h.

The Bight	- Min. pressure 1001.0 mbs.(29.56 ins.)

- Max. wind SSE 51 m.p.h.

George Town	- Min. pressure 1004.1 mbs.(29.65 ins.).

- Max. wind S 45 m.p.h.

Clarence Town	- Min, pressure iOO5.4 mbs.(29.69 ins).

- Max. wind SSW 28 m.p.h.

For the other stations., hourly reports received by radio gave the following:-

Harbour Island	- Min. pressure 988.2 mbs.(29.18 ins.).

- Max. wind W 28 m.p.h.

Hope Town, Abaco	- Min. pressure 995.9 mbs.(29.41 ins.).

- Max. wind ENE 50 m.p.h.

San Salvador	- Min. pressure 1003.7 mbs.(29.64 ins.).

- Max. wind WSW 63 m.p.h.

3.	I am fairly sure that the centre passed over Mangrove Cay between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. E.S.T., about 25 miles SE of Nassau between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. E.S.T., and over Harbour Island about 5 p.m. E.S.T.

The villain of the piece was the observer at Mangrove Cay who not only made errors in his observations but also made errors tn the coded messages sent from there. I phoned your forecaster about 2 p.m. giving my opinion on the storm's course and to tell him that I had disregarded much of Mangrove Cay's observations. Unfortunately the regalar observer at Mangrove Cay was ill and the observat ions were made by a junior assistant.

4.	There was only one life lost. A man in Nassau Harbour attempted to move a skiff during the morning of the 6th but fell overboard and was drowned. A newspaper report of some Haitians being drowned off Long.Island was untrue.

5.	The Halbour Master, Nassau, states that the tide was about six inches above the figure given in the tide tables. This, of course, does not take into account the heavy swell set up by the wind. The water broke over the sea walls in exposed places and was responsible for most of the damage.

6.	So far as I am able to ascertain, damage directly caused by the wind was only minor. The following information has been obtained from the Chief Out Island Comissioner's office:-

Governorts Harbour - Sea wall, shore road and Palmetto Point Dock damaged. Estimated cost of repair £8655.

Rock Sound	- Yacht "Despatcher" smashed against dock wall*

Dredger lost,	Estimated cost of repair to dock and sea walls £2420.

Mangrove Cay	- Some farms destroyed through flooding. No figure given.

The Bight	- The wharf and coast roads damaged. Some crops badly damaged through
flooding. No estimate for repair or compensation given.

Green Turtle Cay	- Some crops damaged. Estimated compensation £30.

Sandy Point, Abaco	- Some crops damaged. Estimated compensation £30.

This is all of the information that I have to date. Anything additional I will forward to you.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

J. A. Channon

Senior Meteorologist.