Hurricane Gracie - September 27-October 2, 1959  A tropical
disturbance formed northeast of the Leeward Island on September
18th.  The system slowly organized, becoming a tropical
depression north of the Greater Antilles on the 20th.  The
system strengthened rapidly as it passed by San Salvador in the
Bahamas, quickly becoming a hurricane on the 22nd.  The system
strengthened further as it moved northward during the next
couple of days.  Its steering weakened on the 24th, with Gracie
edging eastward through the 26th.  As a deep layered ridge built
in to its north to northeast, the cyclone turned to the west-
northwest, following a parabolic track into the southern coast
of South Carolina as a major hurricane late in the morning of
the 30th.  The system weakened while moving inland, dropping
heavy rainfall near and east of its track while moving through
the western Carolinas and western Virginias.  Below is its
track, provided by the National Hurricane Center. Gracie (1959)
Track   The graphics below show the s