125 Years of Extreme Weather for Lady Liberty
Friday, Oct. 28 marks the 125th "birthday" of the Statue of Liberty.
The statue, which was formally dedicated in a day of ceremonies on Oct. 28, 1886, was a gift from France to America to recognize the "friendship established during the American Revolution," according to the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). President Grover Cleveland attended the service.
ALSO:"Happy 125th Birthday, Statue of Liberty!" from Scientific American
In the 125 years since then, Lady Liberty has endured a wide range of extreme weather. In fact, bad weather can be traced all the way back to day one. Weather History
Barry Moreno, historian for the Statue of Liberty and author of The Statue of Liberty Encyclopedia, said on the day of it's dedication, there was heavy fog and rain.
"The fog was so thick that the fireworks display that had been set for [that evening] was delayed until Nov. 1," Moreno said.
Just two years later in 1888, New York City experienced one of the worst blizzards on record. Moreno said wind was so strong, it blew snow in through the statue's windows, covering stairs and galleries.
In August 1933, a heavy summer storm put the torch light out, and it had to be re-lit, according to Moreno.
Exposed to the elements, the Statue of Liberty has experienced natural weathering over the years. Eventually, her copper exterior turned green. Patina, as the greenish result is called, occurs due to chemical reactions between water and metal.
Weather-related repairs were made in 1937 because water leaked into the base. A protective 250-foot copper covering was constructed to solve the problem, according to Copper.org.
In 1938, New York was slammed by the New England Hurricane. As a Category 3 hurricane, it is the most powerful storm to have made landfall nearby. The New York City Office of Emergency Management wrote that the hurricane killed 200 people, including 10 in New York City. It caused millions of dollars in damage and widespread loss of of electricity, along with destroying 100 large trees in Central Park. The Statue of Liberty, however, was unharmed.
Lady Liberty needed restoration in 1984, this time from corrosion. Repairs fixed the interior and exterior copper skin and supported the arm holding the torch and the torch itself.
Moreno said the statue still closes when there is severe weather, including heavy rain and and snowfall.
Wind
The statue was built for wind resistance, Moreno said. Its architect included plans for the interior construction that would allow the statue to withstand strong winds when the design was submitted in 1881.
According to the NPS, the statue can sway up to three inches, and her torch can move up to six inches during 50 mph winds.
The National Weather Service (NWS) recorded winds of 113-plus mph in New York City on Oct. 14, 1954. When AccuWeather.com told Moreno the statue may have withstood similar winds based on its proximity to the city, he said, "Well, she is a goddess."
Extremes
Lady Liberty survived other extremes, too, ranging from record rainfall to unbearably hot weather. The following are New York City area statistics from AccuWeather.com archives and the NWS:
Coldest day: -15 degrees on Feb. 9, 1934 Hottest day: 106 degrees on July 9, 1936
Wettest month: August 2011, with 18.95 inches of rain Driest month: June 1949, with 0.02 of an inch of rain
Snowiest month: February 2010, with 36.9 inches of snow *The norm for February is only 7.6 inches!
Record wind: 113-plus mph Oct. 14, 1954
Most consecutive days of rainfall: 17 days, from May 6-22, 1943 Most consecutive days without measurable rain: 36 days from Oct. 9 - Nov. 13, 1924
Earliest date the temperature dropped to freezing (32 degrees): Oct. 15, 1876 Earliest date the temperature reached 100 degrees: June 26, 1952
The Statue Liberty also gets struck by lightning several times a year. An exact number is not known, but her height and copper coating, which conducts electricity, make her an easy target for lightning.
Friday's birthday celebration will include music, special tours, programs and ceremonial readings. The theme is "Honor, History, Envision the Future," according to the NPS.
Despite anticipated snow in the Northeast this weekend, the forecast for Friday's celebration should be better than 125 years ago. The current forecast says the New York City area will be mostly sunny with a high of 51 degrees.
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