One of the most interesting characteristics of Hazel was it's rate of acceleration after landfall. While the central circulation winds weakend, the storm's forward speed rapdily increased to a point when it passed west of the District, it was moving at 60 mph. Around 5 pm winds dramatically increased in Washington. Winds at National Airport started buffeting the airport control tower. The structure started shaking and several of the windows blew in. The winds gusted to 98 mph. That was the highest wind speed ever recorded in Washington and that record still stands today. Employees were quickly evacuatued.
Around 5:30 pm , the center of the hurricane passed the western suburbs of Baltimore. Outside our house just north of the Baltimore City line, winds started going crazy. Large branches started falling from the trees. In our side yard were three large oak trees. Each stood at least 75 feet tall. I was standing on the living room sofa looking out the window. My parents and brothers were all huddled next to me as a terrific gust of wind pulled one of those trees completely out of the ground. It was incredible to see. The roots were pulled upward creating a huge ( at least to a four year old ) hole and forced another tree to violently lean over. I remember the sound of things hitting the house. The porch furniture was blown off the porch and our home made an eerie groaning noise. Then we had dinner and I grew up to be vice president and chief meteorologist at abc 7. Really, I don't remember much more than what I described. Needless to say it had enough of an impact on me that I can still remember the storm, in detail , 53 years later.
Given my weather phobia that developed 3 years after Hazel, it's interesting that in remembering what happened with those winds, I have no recollection of being afraid. It was as if we were watching a movie.
