Part 1 Outer Banks Storm on Ash Wednesday March 1962

Photos of Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962. The 'perfect storm'.

The 'Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962' occurred on March 6-8, 1962 along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. In an area accustomed to a hurricane season from late August to early November each year, and the periodic major winter storms known as "Nor'easters", the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 was unlike anything anyone living could recall. It was considered by the U.S. Geological Survey to be one of the most destructive storms ever to impact the mid-Atlantic states. One of the ten worst storms in the United States in the 20th century, it lingered through five high tides over a three day period, killing 40 people, injuring over 1,000 and causing hundreds of millions in property damage in six states.
Combination of atmospheric conditions: The massive storm was caused by an unusual combination of three pressure areas, combined with atmospheric conditions of the Spring equinox which normally cause exceptionally high tides. The storm stalled in the mid-Atlantic for almost 3 days, pounding coastal areas with continuous rain, high winds, and tidal surges, and dumping large quantities of snow inland for several hundred miles.
Coastal impact: Homes, hotels, motels, and resort businesses were destroyed along North Carolina's Outer Banks from Cape Hatteras, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hill. It was the 'perfect storm' before the storm that became a movie. This is the first in a series about one of my favorite places in the world. The Outer Banks of North Carolina. I know about this because we drove thru the area after the storm. You could see large houses sitting out in the Atlantic and in the back sound. Every building was damaged to some extent, most had major damage. It was the time when telephones poles had five arms and were loaded with glass insulators. Along Hwy 12 every pole was snapped off at the base; mile after mile of them.