View source for Hurricane Faith

{{short description|Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 1966}}
{{Other hurricanes|List of storms named Faith}}
{{good article}}
{{Update|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Hurricane Faith 1966.jpg
| caption =  Faith on September 1 as it moved towards [[Cape Hatteras]]
| formed = August 21, 1966
| extratropical = September 4, 1966
| dissipated = September 15, 1966
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 105
| pressure = 950
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1966
| fatalities = 4 direct, 1 indirect
| damage = 
| areas = [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Bermuda]], [[Faroe Islands]], Europe
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1966 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}

'''Hurricane Faith''' was a long-lived [[Cape Verde hurricane]] and was the sixth named storm and fifth hurricane of the [[1966 Atlantic hurricane season]]. Faith [[Cape Verde type hurricane|developed from an area of disturbed weather between Cape Verde]] and the west coast of Africa on August&nbsp;21. Tracking westward, the depression gradually intensified and became Tropical Storm Faith on the following day. Moving westward across the Atlantic Ocean, it continued to slowly strengthen, reaching hurricane status early on August&nbsp;23. Over the next several days, the storm trekked north of the Lesser Antilles, weakening into a tropical storm on August&nbsp;26. Located near the [[Lesser Antilles]], the outer bands of Faith produced gale-force winds in the region, especially [[Puerto Rico]], the [[Virgin Islands]], and [[Antigua]]. Minor coastal damage occurred as far south as [[Trinidad and Tobago]].

On August&nbsp;27, the storm reached hurricane status again, and the next day, the storm further intensified into a major hurricane after curving north-northwestward near [[The Bahamas]]. The next day, the storm weakened back to a Category&nbsp;2 hurricane and began re-curving to the northeast. One person drowned in the western Atlantic after his ship sank. Heavy rainfall and strong winds pelted [[Bermuda]], though no damage occurred. The storm maintained hurricane intensity for several days, while tracking east of the [[United States]]. On September&nbsp;3, Faith reattained major hurricane status as it underwent extratropical transition, reaching peak winds of {{convert|120|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Faith weakened as it completed extratropical transition, finally losing tropical characteristics while east of Atlantic Canada. The system continued traversing the Atlantic Ocean for several days, finally dissipating on September&nbsp;15, while located just north of [[Franz Josef Land]]. Three other drowning deaths occurred in the [[North Sea]] near [[Denmark]]. A fifth death occurred after a man succumbed to injuries sustained during a boating incident related to the storm.

==Meteorological history==
{{Update|reason=Information provided has become out of date per HURDAT2|date=September 2023}}
{{storm path|Faith_1966_track.png}}
[[Television Infrared Observation Satellite]] XI (TIROS XI) imagery indicated the presence of an area of disturbed weather over [[Ivory Coast]] on August&nbsp;18. The system moved slowly westward and eventually reached the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="prelim1">{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1966-prelim/faith/prelim01.gif|title=Hurricane Faith, August&nbsp;18 &ndash; September&nbsp;12, 1966 (Preliminary Report)|page=1|year=1966|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> It is estimated that a tropical depression developed at 0000&nbsp;UTC on August&nbsp;21, while located about {{convert|240|mi|km}} southeast of [[Cape Verde]].{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Continuing westward, the depression intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Faith on the following day. Gradual intensification persisted as Tropical Storm Faith headed nearly due westward at {{convert|17|to|23|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="prelim1"/>{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} By August&nbsp;23, Faith was upgraded to a Category&nbsp;1 hurricane.<ref name="prelim1"/>{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Curving slightly west-northwestward, the storm reached Category&nbsp;2 intensity and briefly peaked at sustained winds of {{convert|105|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Hurricane Faith curved to the northwest and weakened back to a Category&nbsp;1 hurricane while approaching the northeastern [[Leeward Islands]] on August&nbsp;25.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Initially, Faith was scheduled to be [[Cloud seeding|seeded]] as part of [[Project Stormfury]]. However, the scheduled seeding was cancelled as Faith was approaching The Bahamas.<ref>{{cite report|author=Ray Popkin|title=The Environmental Science Services Administration|publisher=[[Environmental Science Services Administration]]|date=1967|page=240|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WusOAAAAMAAJ&q=bahamas+%22hurricane+faith%22+1966|access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> Bypassing the Leeward Islands, Faith remained at nearly the same intensity, until re-strengthening into Category&nbsp;2 hurricane on August&nbsp;28, near [[Turks and Caicos Islands]]. The storm quickly intensified further into a Category&nbsp;3 hurricane only six hours later.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}}

[[File:Hurricane Faith on August 20, 1966.jpg|thumb|[[Nimbus program|Nimbus 2]] satellite image of the precursor to Faith on August&nbsp;20, emerging off the west coast of Africa]]
At 00:00&nbsp;UTC on August&nbsp;29, Faith attained its maximum sustained winds of {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} After reaching maximum sustained winds late on August&nbsp;29, Faith began to gradually weaken and decreased to Category&nbsp;2 hurricane intensity early on August&nbsp;30.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} By that time, the storm turned to the northeast around the periphery of an Atlantic subtropical anticyclone while located about midway between [[Bermuda]] and Florida.<ref name="prelim1"/><ref>{{cite report|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/094/mwr-094-11-0669.pdf|page=672|title=The Weather and Circulation of August 1966|author=James F. Andrews|date=November 1966|work=[[Weather Bureau]]|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> Faith remained well offshore of the [[East Coast of the United States]] and [[Atlantic Canada]], after veering eastward on September&nbsp;1.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Thereafter, it began to accelerate and eventually curved northeastward.<ref name="prelim1"/> While approaching [[Europe]], Faith's forward speed increased to as much as {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. At 0600&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;3, a minimum [[barometric pressure]] of {{convert|950|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|lk=on}} was recorded &ndash; the lowest in relation to the storm. On September 4, Faith transitioned into an extratropical storm retaining Category 2 equivalent winds.<ref name="ahrp">{{cite report|author=S. Delgado and C. Landsea|date=April 2020|title=1966 Atlantic Hurricane Database Reanalysis|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata-1966-1970.pdf|publisher=[[National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=December 4, 2024|pages=37 to 39}}</ref>{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} It continued to weaken as it neared the [[Faroe Islands]] and crossed the [[North Sea]]. The extratropical remnants of Faith headed eastward and affected [[Norway]] with winds as high as {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Tracking over [[Scandinavia]], the extratropical storm weakened to the equivalent of a tropical depression before entering the [[Soviet Union]] (present day [[Russia]]). Eventually, the storm degenerated into an extratropical low pressure area, curved northward, and retained its identity until September&nbsp;15,<ref name="mwr">{{cite report|author=Arnold L. Sugg|date=March 1967|title=The Hurricane Season of 1966|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1966.pdf|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|access-date=February 27, 2013|pages=137 and 138}}</ref> when it was over [[Franz Josef Land]], which is roughly {{convert|600|mi|km}} from the [[North Pole]].<ref name="prelim2">{{cite report|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1966-prelim/faith/prelim02.gif|title=Hurricane Faith, August&nbsp;18 &ndash; September&nbsp;12, 1966 (Preliminary Report)|page=2|year=1966|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref>

==Impact==
[[File:Faithinsertmap.png|thumb|left|Track map of Hurricane Faith as an extratropical cyclone]]
In the [[Leeward Islands]], the approach of Faith caused the tracking station on [[Antigua]] &ndash; which was monitoring an unmanned rocket launched by the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA) &ndash; to shut down 45&nbsp;minutes after the [[rocket]] lifted off.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4204/ch17-7.html|title=More Launches of the Saturn IB|publisher=[[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> Faith also produced gale-force winds across [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Virgin Islands]], though only minor damage and no fatalities or injuries were reported.<ref name="prelim2"/> Further south, Faith brought rough seas to [[Trinidad and Tobago]], with waves ranging from {{convert|10|to|15|ft|m}}. These conditions inflicted minor damage to small boats and jetties.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523100912/http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone Affecting Trinidad and Tobago 1725 to 2000|publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service|date=May 2001|author1=C. B. Daniel |author2=R. Maharaj |author3=G. De Souza |archive-date=May 23, 2005|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> In the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]], [[Coastal management|sea defenses]] suffered some damage as Faith passed about {{convert|65|mi|km}} to the east-northeast.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|date=1968|title=Turks and Caicos Islands: Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npi72EgeGf0C&q=bahamas+%22hurricane+faith%22+1966|page=38|access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> Along the [[East Coast of the United States]], the storm produced rough seas and high tides from [[Cape Canaveral]] (then Cape Kennedy), Florida, to the [[Virginia Capes]]. Additionally, the Weather Bureau warned of possible gale-force winds in [[The Carolinas]] and [[Virginia]], but also noted that the area would only experience fringe effects from the storm.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=19660901&id=TxgvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mGUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2153,7071|title=Hurricane Faith Losing Its Punch|date=September 1, 1966|agency=United Press International|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|page=1|access-date=February 23, 2013}}</ref> In Bermuda, the outer rainbands of Hurricane Faith produced heavy rainfall and wind gusts up to {{convert|62|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://bermuda-online.org/climateweather.htm|publisher=Bermuda Climate and Weather|title=Hurricane history (b) 1963-present that affected Bermuda|date=February 6, 2013}}</ref>

Five people died as a result of the storm, though only one of them on land.<ref name="ej"/><ref name="EC"/> Rough seas in the western Atlantic battered the ''Alberto Benati'', pitching one man overboard. Two others drowned near [[Denmark]] while attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a [[rowboat]]. Another man was missing and presumed dead after heavy seas forced him and his shipmates to abandon their boat off the northern coast of Denmark. Property damage was minimal, mainly because the areas impacted by Faith were sparsely populated.<ref name="EC">{{cite report|url=http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/storm66.html|date=October 12, 1999|title=Storms of 1966|publisher=[[Environment Canada]]|access-date=February 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001007233143/http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/storm66.html|archive-date=October 7, 2000}}</ref> A 2,726&nbsp;ton Norwegian car ferry known as ''Skagerak'' began to sink as it headed for [[Hirtshals]] in [[Region Nordjylland]] of Denmark. Waves pounded the side hatches, which flooded in the engine room, causing the ship to become disabled. A large-scale search operation was conducted to rescue the 144&nbsp;passengers aboard. All passengers were rescued and treated for their injuries in [[Hjørring]], Denmark, however one person later died in the hospital.<ref name="ej">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UiJlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H4gNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,1657589&hl=en|title=Ferry Boat Captain Credits Luck|date=September 8, 1966|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|page=41|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> In Norway, the remnants of Faith impacted areas between [[Ryfylke]] and [[Sunnfjord]]. The storm brought heavy rainfall and resulted in glacier melting, which in turn caused rampant flooding in some locations. Discharge from the [[Folgefonna]], [[Fjærland]], and [[Sunnfjord]] glaciers reached a record high melt due to the remnants of Faith.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.nve.no/Global/Publikasjoner/Publikasjoner%202008/Oppdragsrapport%20A%202008/oppdragsrapportA14-08.pdf |title=Rainfall Floods and Weather Patterns |author=Lars Andreas Roald |date=2008 |publisher=[[Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate]] |pages=31 and 34 |access-date=February 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003953/http://www.nve.no/Global/Publikasjoner/Publikasjoner%202008/Oppdragsrapport%20A%202008/oppdragsrapportA14-08.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2013 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[Tropical cyclone effects in Europe]]
*[[List of Bermuda hurricanes]]
*[[Atlantic hurricane records]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{1966 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes}}

[[Category:1966 Atlantic hurricane season|Faith]]
[[Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Cape Verde hurricanes|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Leeward Islands|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Antigua and Barbuda|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saint Barthélemy|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saint Martin (island)|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saba (island)|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Anguilla|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saint Kitts and Nevis|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the British Virgin Islands|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the United States Virgin Islands|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Puerto Rico|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Turks and Caicos Islands|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Bermuda|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Europe|Faith (1966)]]
[[Category:History of British Antigua and Barbuda]]
[[Category:1966 in Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla]]