 The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Gracie , which peaked as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir – Simpson hurricane wind scale . After weakening slightly , Gracie made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in South Carolina on August 29 . It brought strong winds , rough seas , heavy rainfall , and tornadoes to the state , as well as North Carolina and Virginia . Overall , Gracie caused 22 fatalities and $ 14 million in damage . Following Hurricane Gracie was Hurricane Hannah , a long @-@ lived storm that did not cause any known impact on land . The last two tropical cyclones , Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Judith , both caused minor coastal and inland flooding in Florida . The storms of the 1959 Atlantic hurricane season were collectively attributed to $ 24 million ( 1959 USD ) and 64 fatalities . 
