1926 Louisiana hurricane

Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 1926 February 2025 1926 Louisiana hurricane Louisiana hurricane weather map, August 25, 1926.jpg Surface weather analysis of the hurricane nearing peak intensity as it approaches landfall in Louisiana on August 25 August 20, 1926 August 27, 1926 100 955 1926 25 6000000 Cuba, Louisiana 1926 Atlantic hurricane season The 1926 Louisiana hurricane caused widespread devastation to the United States Gulf Coast, particularly in Louisiana. The third tropical cyclone and hurricane of the 1926 Atlantic hurricane season, it formed from a broad area of low pressure in the central Caribbean Sea on August 20. Moving to the northwest, the storm slowly intensified, reaching tropical storm strength on August 21 and subsequently attaining hurricane strength after passing through the Yucatán Channel. The hurricane steadily intensified as it recurved northwards in the Gulf of Mexico, before reaching peak intensity just prior to landfall near Houma, Louisiana on August 25 with winds of 115 mph km/h on 5. After moving inland, the tropical cyclone moved to the west and quickly weakened, before dissipating on August 27. The hurricane's strong storm surge at landfall caused extensive damage to coastal regions, especially lighthouses. Strong winds caused severe infrastructural and crop damage, destroying homes and disrupting communications. Heavy rainfall, peaking at 14.5 in mm on in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, also helped to damage crops. Widespread power outages also occurred in areas along the Gulf Coast. 25 deaths were reported as a result of the hurricane, with damages estimates totaling $6 million.All damage totals are in 1926 United States dollars unless otherwise noted. "nb" Meteorological history AL03 1926 path.png new A tropical depression first formed on August 20 in the central Caribbean Sea from a broad area of low pressure, based on weather reports from weather stations and ships in the vicinity.Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_dec12.html United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 19, 2013 Landsea, Chris etal Moving steadily to the west-northwest towards the western Caribbean, the disturbance slowly intensified, attaining tropical storm strength by 1200 UTC the next day. Prior to the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project, however, the system was analyzed to be an open trough up until August 22. The tropical storm began to move more towards the west in the Gulf of Mexico after clipping the Guanahacabibes Peninsula—the westernmost region of Cuba—late on August 22. Once in the Gulf of Mexico on August 22, the tropical storm continued to intensify, reaching hurricane strength early the next day north of the Yucatán Peninsula. A ship in the hurricane's vicinity reported a barometric pressure of 994 mbar hPa inHg on, and other ships also reported similarly low pressures. Beginning on August 24, the system began to curve northwards towards the Louisiana coast in response to a nearby cold front.August 24 Surface Analysis https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/weathermaps/192603-aug24.jpg National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory 19 January 2013 Hurricane Research Division JPG August 24, 1926 The hurricane continued to intensify as it moved northwards, reaching Category 2 hurricane intensity the same day and subsequently the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on August 25. A ship reported an eye associated with the system, observing 100 mph km/h on winds with a pressure of 959 mbar hPa inHg on at 2100 UTC that day. The major hurricaneA major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqHED.html Hurricane Research Division: Frequently Asked Questions A: Basic Definitions https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqA.html A3) What is a super-typhoon? What is a major hurricane ? What is an intense hurricane ? Chris Landsea Neal Dorst National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorology Laboratory June 2, 2011 January 27, 2013 "nb" intensified up until making landfall near Houma, Louisiana at 2300 UTC late on August 25, 1926, with winds estimated at 115 mph km/h on and an estimated minimum barometric pressure of 955 mbar hPa inHg on, based on a pressure report of 959 mbar hPa inHg on in Houma. Maximum sustained winds extended 23 mi km on from the hurricane's center. Once over land, however, the hurricane rapidly weakened. By 1200 UTC on August 26, the system had already degenerated to a tropical storm, while still located over Louisiana near Baton Rouge. The next day, the storm weakened further to tropical depression strength as it moved towards the west, before degenerating into an open trough of low pressure near Hillsboro, Texas by 1800 UTC on August 27. Preparations In preparation for the oncoming hurricane, the weather forecast office in New Orleans began to issue tropical cyclone warnings and watches and advisories for the storm on August 23. The first storm warnings were issued for areas of the United States Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Matagorda, Texas at 10:30 p.m CDT (0430 UTC) that day, indicating an approaching system with considerable intensity. As the hurricane unexpectedly recurved to the north the next day, the previously issued storm warning was shifted eastward to include areas from Morgan City, Louisiana to Galveston, Texas, while a hurricane warning was issued by the weather forecast office for areas between Morgan City and Mobile, Alabama at 10:00 p.m. CDT (0400 UTC). A storm warning was also placed for areas east of Mobile to Apalachicola, Florida. After the hurricane rapidly weakened over land, warnings and advisories from the New Orleans weather office related to the storm were discontinued by 9:00 p.m. (0500 UTC) on August 25. The warnings were communicated to potentially affected areas via mail, telegraph, and other forms of communication.New Orleans Forecast District Monthly Weather Review August 1, 1926 54 8 357–358 10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<357b:NOFD>2.0.CO;2 http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/054/mwr-054-08-0357b.pdf January 19, 2013 1926MWRv...54R.357. free During the time that the hurricane was approaching the coast, the United States Weather Bureau also began experimentally transmitting surface weather analysis maps to ships by radio.Thomas L. Stokes Weather Maps to be Sent to Ships at Sea by Radio https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=05sLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lVQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1615,1466770&dq=hurricane&hl=en January 19, 2013 The Evening Independent August 24, 1926 United News Washington, D.C. Small craft offshore of Mobile were recalled to the Port of Mobile, while floating dock property was removed in New Orleans. Due to the potential effects of the hurricane on the cotton industry, cotton market reported gains of eight to fifteen points from the first trades,Tropical Storm Goes Northward https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1JsLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lVQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2850,1579819&dq=hurricane&hl=en January 19, 2013 The Evening Independent August 25, 1926 New Orleans, Louisiana 1, 7 with stock prices closing with a net gain as high as 24 points.Cotton Moves Up on Weather News https://www.nytimes.com/1926/08/26/archives/cotton-moves-up-on-weather-news-prices-advance-to-the-highest.html January 20, 2013 New York Times August 26, 1926 Impact thumb|Map of the total rainfall associated with the hurricane in the United States A storm surge of 15 ft m on was reported in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. At Timbalier Bay, tides were 10 ft m on above average. The New Canal Light was damaged by the strong wind and waves. Previously damaged by the 1915 New Orleans hurricane, the new damage instigated a project to raise the lighthouse by 3 ft m on. The third Timbalier Bay lighthouse was also damaged by the hurricane. Several small fishing schooners were lost during the storm after failing to evacuate to ports prior to the storm.A Tropical Storm Hits Gulf Coast https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TlMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-dcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1814,6019340&dq=hurricane&hl=en January 20, 2013 Nevada Daily Mail August 26, 1926 New Orleans, Louisiana 1 Upstream of the Mississippi River near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, a boat sank. Strong hurricane force winds were reported along the Louisiana coast at landfall. Grand Isle reported sustained winds of 100 mph km/h on, while gusts in Thibodaux and Napoleonville were estimated at 120 mph km/h on. Three churches, a warehouse, and ten stores were destroyed in Thibodaux. A weather station in New Orleans observed a peak wind gust of 52 mph km/h on. Severe damage was reported between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, which included uprooted trees and displaced barns. Roads were also blocked by debris. Window damage caused by strong winds was reported in New Orleans. Baton Rouge was affected by a power outage, resulting in $20,000 in losses to the local electric company. Communication wires were downed in Morgan City, preventing communication with other cities. Houses were also unroofed in the city by strong winds. A ferry was also wrecked by the hurricane offshore of Morgan Point.City In Darkness https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0DJFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j7sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3112,6712885&dq=hurricane&hl=en January 20, 2013 The Telegraph-Herald August 26, 1926 1 In Houma, an estimated 90% of sugar cane was lost due to the hurricane. The city's sugarhouse was also destroyed, along with an Episcopal church.Louisiana Hurricane History https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/lahur.pdf United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service January 19, 2013 Roth, David M Hydrometeorological Prediction Center 31–32 Three passenger trains along the Southern Pacific Railroad were detained in Avondale, Louisiana after winds were determined to be too unsafe for rail operations. The strong winds and rain also caused a mail plane to crash. In Tulane University, a chemistry building was destroyed by a fire during the hurricane.Southern States In Path of Storm; Sweeps Louisiana https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108708559/the-atlanta-constitution/ August 31, 2022 Atlanta Constitution August 26, 1926 Atlanta, Georgia Newspapers.com Several other fires were reported in various areas of New Orleans.Trains Are Delayed As Wind Rages https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HBBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oUwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5946,3218590&dq=hurricane&hl=en January 20, 2013 St. Petersburg Times August 25, 2013 Associated Press New Orleans, Louisiana 1 The hurricane also dropped heavy rains along the coast, which were increased by atmospheric instability in the region just prior to the storm's landfall. Rainfall peaked in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, where 14.5 in mm on of rain was reported in a 24–hour period from August 25 to the 26th.Rainfall Associated With Hurricanes (And Other Tropical Disturbances) https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/1956NHRPreportNo3.pdf United States Weather Bureau's National Hurricane Research Project January 21, 2013 Schoner, R.W. Molansky, S. 32–33 24–hour rainfall records were set in 11 locations, including Donaldsonville. The rains destroyed a pecan orchard in Schriever, Louisiana, and damaged crops in Crowley, Louisiana. Other rainfall amounts of at least 3 in mm on were widespread across the coast. Outside of Louisiana, rainfall peaked at 10 in mm on in the Florida Panhandle, with localized rainfall measurements of at least 5 in mm on The hurricane caused 25 deaths and an estimated $6 million in damages, of which $4 million were attributed to infrastructural damage.Severe Local Hail and Wind Storms, August, 1926 Monthly Weather Review August 1, 1926 54 8 354–355 10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<354:SLHAWS>2.0.CO;2 http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/054/mwr-054-08-0354.pdf January 21, 2013 1926MWRv...54..354. free After the storm, the American Red Cross sent relief to Houma, Louisiana and other affected regions to assist in rehabilitation work.25 Perish in Hurricane https://www.nytimes.com/1926/08/29/archives/25-perish-in-hurricane-red-cross-and-army-push-relief-to-houma-la.html January 21, 2013 New York Times August 29, 1926Red Cross to Help https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HxBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oUwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6309,4157278&dq=hurricane&hl=en January 21, 2013 St. Petersburg Times August 29, 1926 Associated Press Washington, D.C. 1,7 See also Tropical cyclones 1915 New Orleans hurricane 1909 Grand Isle hurricane 1906 Mississippi hurricane Notes nb References 2 Category:1926 in Louisiana Category:1926 natural disasters in the United States Category:Meteorological events in 1926 Louisiana Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes Category:Hurricanes in Louisiana