1939 Atlantic hurricane season

none Atl 1939 1939 Atlantic hurricane season summary map.png June 12, 1939 November 6, 1939 Five 941 120 1 Tracking map of five tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean, concentrated near the United States. 10 6 3 1 11 1939 Pacific hurricane season 1939 Pacific typhoon season 1930s North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941 The 1939 Atlantic hurricane season was the least active since 1930. The season had below normal activity, with only six tropical storms, of which three became hurricanes and one became a major hurricane, equivalent to Category 3 status or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale. The first tropical cyclone formed on June 12, and the last dissipated on November 6. These dates are within the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. All of the storms affected land to some extent. The first two cyclones of the season made landfall along the coast of the United States, collectively causing only minor damage. Hurricane Five, the strongest of the year, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum atmospheric pressure of 941 mbar inHg on on. It took a northeastern path through the western Atlantic, striking Bermuda on October 16. The fifth and final storm was a minimal hurricane that wrought damage throughout the western Caribbean Sea, most notably in Jamaica and Cuba. The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 34 units,Hurricane Research Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 2021 Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/comparison_table.html October 4, 2021 far below the 1931–1943 average of 91.2.Christopher W. Landsea August 15, 2014 A Reanalysis of the 1931–43 Atlantic Hurricane Database 27 16 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/27/16/jcli-d-13-00503.1.xml?tab_body=pdf 6111 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration etal October 4, 2021 2014JCli...27.6093L 10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00503.1 PDF Journal of Climate Miami, Florida 1785238 free subscription ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here. Timeline Systems Tropical Storm One Atl Tropical Storm One weather map, June 16, 1939.jpg Weather map, focused on the southeastern United States, depicting the remnant low of Tropical Storm One AL01 1939 path.png The track of a storm through the Gulf of Mexico that starts in the western Caribbean and heads north towards the U.S. Gulf Coast June 12 June 18 55 999 ≤ The first tropical storm of the season developed in the extreme western Caribbean Sea on June 12.National Hurricane Center Hurricane Research Division Hurricane Research Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT) Meta Data, 1939 United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research December 2012 October 5, 2021 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_1939.html https://web.archive.org/web/20211005053345/https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_1939.html October 5, 2021 live Reports of the storm first came from the Mexican Weather Service office in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, and during the afternoon of June 12, vessels just offshore recorded squally conditions and choppy seas.Jean Galleen North Atlantic Tropical Disturbances of 1939 Weather Bureau 1939 December 6, 2009 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1939.pdf March 3, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195500/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1939.pdf live The cyclone moved northward, parallel to the coast of Belize, before moving over the northeastern corner of the Yucatán Peninsula. It continued steadily northward through the Gulf of Mexico, slowly strengthening to a peak of 50 mph (85 km/h) on June 14 with a minimum central pressure of 1000 mbar inHg on on. An area of high pressure to the north caused the storm to execute a counter-clockwise loop. A trough of low pressure turned it back to the north, and the cyclone made landfall near Mobile, Alabama, as a minimal tropical storm on June 16. Turning to the northwest, it quickly weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated on June 17 over Mississippi. In advance of the system, officials issued storm warnings for coastal areas of Alabama and western Florida, and residents in low-lying areas were advised to seek higher ground.Gale Winds Expected Along Florida Coast June 15, 1939 The Daily Capital News Damage associated with the cyclone was generally minor, and only one life was lost when a boy fell into the swollen waters of a river and drowned. Hurricane Two Atl Hurricane Two weather map, August 12, 1939.jpg Map of the eastern Gulf of Mexico featuring a small hurricane to the west of Florida AL02 1939 path.png A storm track starts near Puerto Rico and heads northwestward, moves across the state of Florida, and after turning northeastward, it continues into the interior northeast August 7 August 19 985 65 On August 7, a tropical storm formed north of the Leeward Islands, likely from a tropical wave. It tracked to the west-northwest, slowly strengthening to a hurricane as it moved through the Bahamas on August 11. Later that day, it struck the east coast of Florida near Stuart, and crossed the state in around 15 hours.National Hurricane Center Hurricane Research Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Chronological List of All Continental United States Hurricanes: 1851–2011 United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research April 2012 May 14, 2012 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/All_U.S._Hurricanes.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140210221648/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/All_U.S._Hurricanes.html 2014-02-10 dead After weakening to a tropical storm, it quickly re-strengthened upon emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, and made another landfall near Apalachicola, Florida, on August 13. Over land, the cyclone slowed considerably and quickly deteriorated. By August 14, the storm had weakened to a tropical depression as it drifted through Alabama. The depression turned to the northeast, and remained a tropical depression until it dissipated just offshore New Jersey on August 20. Due to timely reports and warnings, the storm was reportedly forecast with "exceptional accuracy". In Florida, damage was minor, amounting to uprooted trees, broken windows, moderate crop damage, and downed power lines. A few flimsy structures and small watercraft also sustained damage. Along the Florida Panhandle, the storm's winds impacted power, telephone, and telegraph lines, and inflicted $2,000 worth of damage to a dock warehouse. A man in Cedar Key, Florida, drowned after rough surf overturned his rowboat, and at least two other people suffered minor storm-related injuries.Hurricane Passes Over Florida Tip August 12, 1939 5 Associated Press The Gallup Independent https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86525219/the-gallup-independent/ October 5, 2021 Newspapers.com Torrential rain fell in Alabama as a result of the storm's slow forward movement, leading to severe flooding. Further inland, the storm spawned a tornado in North Carolina which caused one death. As the depression continued heading inland, it dropped heavy precipitation throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, exceeding 14 in mm on in Tuckerton, New Jersey, and 18 in mm on in Manahawkin, New Jersey.NA 2–3 Storm Total Rainfall In The United States United States Army Corps of Engineers War Department 1945 Tropical Storm Three Atl Tropical Storm Three weather map, August 18, 1939.jpg AL03 1939 path.png August 15 August 19 <1000 55 An operationally unnoticed tropical storm developed on August 15. At its peak, sustained winds were 65 mph (100 km/h) and the minimum pressure of 1000 mbar inHg on on. By August 19, the storm dissipated. Tropical Storm Four Atl Tropical Storm Four weather map, September 26, 1939.jpg Map of the northern Gulf Coast with a tropical storm near the coast of Louisiana, moving inland AL04 1939 path.png The track of a storm starts in the southern Gulf of Mexico, and heads uneventfully northward towards land September 23 September 27 <1004 45 An area of disturbed weather over Central America organized into a tropical storm in the Bay of Campeche on September 23. Uneventfully, it moved generally north-northeastward through the Gulf of Mexico and its winds strengthened to a peak of 50 mph (85 km/h). The storm made landfall on south-central Louisiana on September 26, and dissipated later that day. The Weather Bureau office in New Orleans posted numerous advisories, although the effects from the storm were minimal. Hurricane Five Atl Hurricane Five weather map, October 16, 1939.jpg AL05 1939 path.png The track of a hurricane stretching from near Puerto Rico northeastward through the western Atlantic, ending near Newfoundland October 12 October 17 941 ≤ 120 On the afternoon of October 9, reports from the Leeward Islands of low pressures and unsettled weather indicated that a storm was forming in the vicinity. The disturbance strengthened into a tropical storm on October 12 to the northeast of Puerto Rico. The quickly escalating storm tracked northwestward before turning towards the northeast, away from a high pressure area building in from the west. Early on October 15, the storm attained hurricane intensity and continued to mature until October 16, when it reached its peak at a strength corresponding to Category 4 status on the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. That same day it passed just east of Bermuda. It weakened as it accelerated to the northeast, and became extratropical near Newfoundland a couple of days later. Numerous ships encountered the hurricane along its course. On the President Harding, en route to New York, one crew member drowned due to the rough conditions and 73 crew and passengers suffered injury, of various severity, requiring a call for emergency medical supplies. The ship itself sustained a bit of damage. As the storm passed near the island of Bermuda, it generated strong winds—gusting to 131 mph km/h on—and heavy precipitation.Bermuda Weather Service Hurricanes — General Information for Bermuda 2007 December 7, 2009 http://www.weather.bm/TropicalArchive/Hurricanes_Info_for_Bermuda_2007.doc https://web.archive.org/web/20120310050141/http://www.weather.bm/TropicalArchive/Hurricanes_Info_for_Bermuda_2007.doc 2012-03-10 live Damage was fairly significant; the winds uprooted trees, shattered windows, and disrupted public utilities.Bermuda Hurricane Rips Up Trees, Halts Utilities October 18, 1939 Associated Press 5 The Chicago Daily Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86525322/chicago-tribune/ October 5, 2021 Newspapers.com In Newfoundland, the remnants of the storm destroyed a house in St. John's and caused minor flooding in other areas of the province. Six people drowned offshore Newfoundland.http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=9562CB1E-1 1939-4 Environment Canada November 18, 2009 February 7, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20130703050505/http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=9562CB1E-1 July 3, 2013 live Hurricane Six Atl Hurricane Six weather map, October 31, 1939.jpg AL06 1939 path.png The meandering track of a hurricane through the western and northern Caribbean and southern Bahamas October 28 November 6 989 ≤ 80 On October 29, the sixth and final known tropical cyclone of the season developed in the western Caribbean Sea from a tropical wave. It initially moved northwestward, but turned toward the east shortly thereafter. Drifting due eastward, the storm grew into a minimal hurricane on October 31 while passing over the Cayman Islands. The hurricane's center passed just north of the island of Jamaica later that day as it weakened back into a tropical storm. Eventually, the storm turned abruptly northeastward and crossed the eastern tip of Cuba. By November 3, it had emerged into the Atlantic and entered the southern Bahamas. Beginning to accelerate, the tropical storm passed to the west of Bermuda before becoming extratropical on November 6. At Grand Cayman, winds from the storm reached 92 mph km/h on with a minimum pressure of 990 mbar inHg on. According to press reports, the hurricane inflicted considerable damage on the Cayman Islands. In northern Jamaica, property damage was also widespread. The hurricane brought heavy rainfall, high winds, and pounding surf to the island, leaving one dead. Another death was reported in Cuba, where the torrential rains also caused extensive flooding and losses to livestock and crops. Tropical depressions In addition to the six systems reaching at least tropical storm intensity, there were four cyclones that remained a tropical depression. A tropical wave developed into a tropical depression over the eastern Gulf of Mexico just offshore Florida on July 7. The depression moved generally westward and struck southern Texas on July 11 and dissipated on the following day. Houston observed a sustained wind speed of 46 mph km/h on. However, no weather stations farther south observed tropical storm-force winds, while the wind speed recorded in Houston may have been associated with a squall line in advance of a frontal system. Thus, the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project did not retroactively upgrade the depression to a tropical storm. On August 19, a disturbance that may have detached from Tropical Storm Five developed into a tropical depression. However, the depression was soon absorbed by a frontal system. Another depression formed from a tropical wave near Bermuda on August 25. The cyclone moved northeastward for a few days, before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on August 28 and then being absorbed by a frontal system. Early on September 30, another tropical depression developed over the central Atlantic. The depression initially moved southeastward and later curved to the south before degenerating into a tropical wave on October 3. See also Tropical cyclones 1900–1950 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons 1930s Australian region cyclone seasons 1939 Pacific hurricane season 1939 Pacific typhoon season References External links Monthly Weather Review 1930 Atlantic hurricane 1939 Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines Category:Meteorological events in 1939 Category:1939 natural disasters