411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1940 Atlantic hurricane season
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
none
February 2012
Atl
1940
1940 Atlantic hurricane season summary map.png
May 19, 1940
November 8, 1940
Four
95
961
14
9
6
0
71
29.329
1
1940 Pacific hurricane season
1940 Pacific typhoon season
1940s North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942
The 1940 Atlantic hurricane season was a generally average period of tropical cyclogenesis in 1940.An average season, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has twelve tropical storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/ Tropical Cyclone Climatology National Hurricane Center October 5, 2021 "nb" Though the season had no official bounds, most tropical cyclone activity occurred during August and September. Throughout the year, fourteen tropical cyclones formed, of which nine reached tropical storm intensity; six were hurricanes. None of the hurricanes reached major hurricane intensity. Tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. As a result of a reanalysis project which analyzed the season in 2012, an additional hurricane was added to HURDAT.HURDAT is an official database listing the locations and intensities of Atlantic hurricanes since 1851. "nb" The year's first tropical storm formed on May 19 off the northern coast of Hispaniola. At the time, this was a rare occurrence, as only four other tropical disturbances were known to have formed prior during this period; since then, reanalysis of previous seasons has concluded that there were more than four tropical cyclones in May before 1940. The season's final system was a tropical disturbance situated in the Greater Antilles, which dissipated on November 8.
All three hurricanes in August brought flooding rainfall to areas of the United States. The first became the wettest tropical cyclone recorded in Louisiana history. The second hurricane impacted regions of the Southeastern United States, producing record precipitation and killing at least 52 people. Despite not making landfall, the third hurricane in August interacted with a stationary front over the Mid-Atlantic states, resulting in localized flooding and thus making the tropical cyclone the wettest in New Jersey history. This hurricane would also be the strongest in the hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph km/h on and a minimum barometric pressure of 961 mbar (hPa; 28.39 inHg), making it a high-end Category 2 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Activity decreased in September, though a damaging hurricane swept through areas of the Canadian Maritimes, resulting in large crop and infrastructural losses. Two tropical cyclones of at least tropical storm strength were recorded in October, though neither resulted in fatalities. Collectively, storms in the hurricane season caused 71 fatalities and $29.329 million in damages.All damage totals are in 1940 United States dollars unless otherwise noted. "nb" The 1940 South Carolina hurricane, which swept through areas of the Southeastern United States in August, was the most damaging and deadly of the tropical cyclones.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 68 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 below the 1931–1943 average of 91.2.Landsea, Christopher W. 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 km/h on, which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.
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Timeline
Systems
Tropical Storm One
Atl
Tropical Storm One weather map, May 22, 1940.jpg
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May 19
May 25
55
<996
List of off-season Atlantic hurricanes
On May 18, a weak low-pressure area was detected south of Hispaniola. Moving northward, the low became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical storm at 1200 UTC on May 19, southeast of Turks Island.Tropical Disturbance of May 18–27, 1940; Tropical Disturbances of August 1940; Tropical Disturbances of September 1940; Tropical Disturbances of October 1940 Monthly Weather Review 1940 68 5,8–10 148, 217–218, 245–247, 280 Gallenne, J.H. American Meteorological Society Washington, D.C. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/68/10/1520-0493_1940_068_0280_tdoo_2_0_co_2.xml?tab_body=pdf October 5, 2021 10.1175/1520-0493(1940)068<0280:tdoo>2.0.co;2 1940MWRv...68..280G mdy free subscription At the time, ship observations indicated that the disturbance had a well-defined cyclonic circulation, with the strongest winds situated in the northern semicircle of the cyclone. Continuing northward, the tropical storm gradually intensified and attained maximum sustained winds of 65 mph km/h on by 0000 UTC on May 22. The Belgian ship M.S. Lubrafol recorded a peripheral barometric pressure of 996 mbar (hPa; 29.42 inHg); this was the lowest pressure measured in connection with the storm. The following day, the tropical storm temporarily curved towards the east-southeast before recurving back towards a northeast direction. At the same time, the storm expanded in size and began to transition into an extratropical cyclone. By 1200 UTC, the cyclone completed its extratropical transition, due to the entrainment of colder air. The remnant system persisted until 0600 UTC on May 27.
Hurricane Two
Atl
1940 Louisiana hurricane analysis 7 Aug 1940.png
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August 3
August 10
85
972
The 1940 Louisiana Hurricane
1940 Louisiana hurricane
On August 3, an extratropical cyclone developed into a tropical depression off the west coast of Florida. Initially a weak disturbance, it moved generally westward, slowly gaining in intensity. Early on August 4, the depression attained tropical storm intensity. Ships in the vicinity of the storm reported a much stronger tropical cyclone than initially suggested. After reaching hurricane strength on August 5 south of the Mississippi River Delta, the storm strengthened further into a modern-day Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph km/h on and a minimum barometric pressure of 972 mbar hPa inHg on at 0600 UTC on August 7. The hurricane moved ashore near Sabine Pass, Texas later that day at peak strength. Once inland, the storm executed a sharp curve to the north and quickly weakened, degenerating into a tropical storm on August 8 before dissipating over Arkansas on August 10.
Reports of a potentially destructive hurricane near the United States Gulf Coast forced thousands of residents in low-lying areas to evacuate prior to the storm moving inland.Gale Blows 90 Miles Per Hour https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QmsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rqsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1516,3424795&dq=hurricane&hl=en April 22, 2013 San Jose News August 7, 1940 United Press Port Arthur, Texas 1Port Arthur Citizens Flee Coming Storm https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A94-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=BU0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6026,4394485&dq=hurricane&hl=en April 23, 2013 The Tuscaloosa News August 7, 1940 Associated Press Port Arthur, Texas 1 Offshore, the hurricane generated rough seas and a strong storm surge, peaking at 6.4 ft m on on the western edge of Lake Pontchartrain.Louisiana Hurricane History http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/lahur.pdf United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service April 23, 2013 Roth, David M Hydrometeorological Prediction Center The anomalously high tides flooded many of Louisiana's outlying islands, inundating resorts. Strong winds caused moderate infrastructural damage, primarily in Texas, though its impact was mainly to communication networks along the U.S. Gulf Coast which were disrupted by the winds. However, much of the property and crop damage wrought by the hurricane was due to the torrential rainfall it produced in low-lying areas, setting off record floods. Rainfall peaked at 37.5 in mm on in Miller Island off Louisiana, making it the wettest tropical cyclone in state history. Nineteen official weather stations in both Texas and Louisiana observed record 24-hour rainfall totals for the month of August as a result of the slow-moving hurricane.Texas Hurricane History http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service April 22, 2013 Roth, David M Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Property, livestock, and crops – especially cotton, corn, and pecan crops – were heavily damaged. Entire ecosystems were also altered by the rainfall.Hurricanes in Louisiana History http://www.thecajuns.com/lahurricanes.htm#August_7th,_1940 thecajuns.com April 23, 2013 March 25, 2013 Overall, the storm caused $10.75 million in damages and seven fatalities.
Hurricane Three
Atl
South Carolina hurricane weather map, August 11, 1940.jpg
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August 5
August 14
85
972
The 1940 South Carolina Hurricane
1940 South Carolina hurricane
A storm of potentially Cape Verde origin was detected in the Virgin Islands at 1800 UTC on August 5. Initially moving westward, the tropical storm gradually gained in intensity before making a sharp curve towards the north on August 8. The storm continued in a northerly motion before a second curvature brought it in a generally westward direction on August 9. Shortly after, the tropical storm reached hurricane intensity as a modern-day Category 1 hurricane. The hurricane eventually made landfall at peak intensity on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina at 2030 UTC on August 11. At the time, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph km/h on and a minimum central pressure of 972 mbar hPa inHg on, equivalent to a modern-day Category 2 hurricane. Once inland, the tropical cyclone gradually weakened, and recurved northeastward before dissipating over the Appalachian Mountains on August 14.
The hurricane dropped torrential rainfall over the Southeast United States, causing unprecedented devastation in the region. The storm was considered the worst to impact in the region in at least 29 years.Ivan Ray Tannehill Hurricanes Princeton University Press 1943 250–251 Precipitation peaked at 20.65 in mm on in Idlewild, North Carolina.Southeast Hurricane - August 10-18 1940 http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/sehrcn1940.html Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service May 8, 2013 Roth, David M. Weather Prediction Center Silver Spring, Maryland The heavy rainfall caused streams to greatly exceed their respective flood stages, damaging waterfront property.Early Twentieth Century http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/vaerly20hur.htm United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service May 8, 2013 Roth, David M. Weather Prediction Center Silver Spring, Maryland Many of the deaths occurred in North Carolina, where 30 people died. Transportation was disrupted as a result of the debris scattered by the wind and rain. In Caldwell County alone, 90 percent of bridges were swept away.Laurelmor and Landslides https://wncsos.blogspot.com/2008/03/laurelmor-and-landslides.html WNCSOS May 8, 2013 March 5, 2008 Overall, the storm caused 50 fatalities and $13 million in damages.
Hurricane Four
1940 New England hurricane
Atl
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August 26
September 2
95
961
On August 26, a low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical cyclone. Moving slowly in a general west-northwest motion, the disturbance intensified, reaching tropical storm strength on August 28 and subsequently hurricane intensity on August 30. The hurricane passed within 85 mi km on of Cape Hatteras before recurving towards the northeast.Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_dec12.html United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 2, 2013 Landsea, Christopher W. Atlantic Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory December 2012 etal However, the hurricane continued to intensify, and reached peak intensity as a modern-day Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph km/h on and a minimum barometric pressure of 961 mbar hPa inHg on, though these statistical peaks were achieved at different times on September 2. Afterwards, the tropical cyclone began a weakening trend as it proceeded northward, and had degenerated into a tropical storm by the time it made its first landfall on Nova Scotia later that day. The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the next day while making another landfall on New Brunswick. The extratropical remnants persisted into Quebec before merging with a larger extratropical system late on September 3.
Despite not making landfall on the United States, the hurricane caused widespread damage.New Jersey Fights To Prevent Disease https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q2koAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CMcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5844,633654&dq=hurricane&hl=en May 5, 2013 Daytona Beach Morning Journal September 2, 1940 Associated Press Camden, New Jersey 1 Extensive precautionary measures were undertaken across the coast, particularly in New England. The heightened precautions were due in part to fears that effects from the storm would be similar to that of a devastating hurricane which struck the region two years prior.Storm Veers Away From New England https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yR9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YE0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5306,561886&dq=hurricane&hl=en May 2, 2013 St. Petersburg Times September 2, 1940 Associated Press 1 Most of the damage associated with the hurricane occurred in New Jersey, where the combination of moisture from the hurricane and a stationary front produced record rainfall, peaking at 24 in mm on in the town of Ewan. This would make the storm the wettest in state history.Rainfall Associated With Hurricanes (And Other Tropical Disturbances) http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/1956NHRPreportNo3.pdf National Hurricane Research Project May 2, 2013 Schoner, R.W. Molansky, S. Hydrologic Services Division Washington, D.C. 262–263 July 1956 The resultant floods damaged infrastructure, mostly to road networks. Damage in the state amounted to $4 million. Further north in New England, strong winds were reported, though damage remained minimal. Although the storm made two landfalls in Atlantic Canada, damage there too was minimal, and was limited to several boating incidents caused by strong waves.1940-4 http://www.ec.gc.ca/Hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=B36A3A3C-1 Storm Impact Summaries Government of Canada May 2, 2013 Environment Canada November 12, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20130703045538/http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=B36A3A3C-1 July 3, 2013 live Overall, the hurricane caused $4.05 million in damage, primarily due to flooding in New Jersey, and seven fatalities.
Hurricane Five
1940 Nova Scotia hurricane
Atl
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September 7
September 17
85
<988
A tropical depression was first detected east of the Lesser Antilles on September 7, though at the time weather observations in the area were sparse. The disturbance gradually intensified throughout much of its early formative stages, attaining tropical storm strength on September 10; further strengthening into a hurricane north of Puerto Rico occurred two days later. Shortly thereafter, the hurricane recurved northward, and reached peak intensity the following day as a modern-day Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph km/h on and a minimum barometric pressure of at least 988 mbar hPa inHg on. The cyclone steadily weakened thereafter before making landfall on Nova Scotia on September 17 with winds of 85 mph km/h on.1940-5 http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=F164E429-1 Storm Impact Summaries Government of Canada April 28, 2013 Environment Canada November 13, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20130703045543/http://www.ec.gc.ca/hurricane/default.asp?lang=En&n=F164E429-1 July 3, 2013 live Moving into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence later that day, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The remnant system curved eastward and passed over Newfoundland before dissipating over the Atlantic on September 19.
While off of the United States East Coast, the hurricane caused numerous shipping incidents, most notably the stranding of the Swedish freighter Laponia off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on September 16. Two other boat incidents resulted in two deaths.Hurricane Hits Steamer; Rescue Ship Draws Near https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4eFPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rFQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5730,4100374&dq=hurricane&hl=en April 28, 2013 The Evening Independent September 16, 1940 Associated Press New York, New York 1 The hurricane also brought strong winds of tropical storm-force and snow over areas of New England. In Atlantic Canada, a strong storm surge peaking at 4 ft m on above average sunk or damaged several ships and inundated cities. In New Brunswick, the waves hurt the lobster fishing industry. In Nova Scotia, strong winds disrupted telecommunication and power services. The winds also severely damaged crops. Roughly half of apple production in Annapolis Valley was lost during the storm, resulting in around $1.49 million in economic losses.Hurricane Diminishes After Causing $1,000,000 Damage in Canadian Area https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2R9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YE0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5252,4236257&dq=hurricane&hl=en April 29, 2013 St. Petersburg Times September 18, 1940 United Press Halifax, Nova Scotia 3 Strong winds in New Brunswick caused moderate to severe infrastructural damage, and additional damages to crops occurred there. Overall, the hurricane caused three fatalities, with two off of the United States and one in New Brunswick.
Tropical Storm Six
Atl
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September 18
September 25
45
1002
A westward moving tropical depression developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea just west of Bluefields, Nicaragua at 1200 UTC on September 18. The following day, the depression intensified into a tropical storm at 0600 UTC. The tropical storm made landfall on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua at 1400 UTC, with winds of 40 mph km/h on. The cyclone weakened to a tropical depression over land, but reintensified back to tropical storm strength upon entry into the Gulf of Honduras on September 20. The cyclone's northwest motion caused it to make a second landfall near the border of Mexico and British Honduras at 0300 UTC on September 21 as a slightly stronger system with winds of 50 mph km/h on;British Honduras, formerly a British Overseas Territory, attained its independence in 1981, becoming the country of Belize.August 2, 2012 Belize country profile BBC News May 8, 2013 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1211472.stm The region is referred as British Honduras in the article. "nb" this would be the storm's peak intensity. Over the Yucatán Peninsula, the tropical storm re-weakened, but later intensified once again once it reached the Gulf of Mexico. In the Gulf, the storm made a gradual curve northward, before making a final landfall near Lafayette, Louisiana at 0900 UTC on September 24 with winds of 45 mph km/h on and a minimum barometric pressure of 1002 mbar hPa inHg on. Once inland, the tropical cyclone curved eastward and weakened before dissipating the next day, after becoming absorbed by a frontal boundary.
Upon making landfall, the tropical storm produced strong winds over a wide area. The strongest winds were reported by a station in San Antonio, Texas, which reported 40 mph km/h on winds, far removed from the storm's center; these strong winds were likely due to squalls. Heavy rainfall was also reported, though the rains mainly occurred to the east of the passing tropical cyclone. Precipitation peaked at 10 in mm on in Ville Platte, Louisiana. The tropical storm produced three tornadoes over the Southern United States which collectively caused $39,000 in damage and caused two fatalities. Two of the tornadoes formed in Mississippi while one formed in Louisiana. Several other people were also injured by the tornadoes.Severe Local Storms Monthly Weather Review September 1, 1940 68 9 268 10.1175/1520-0493(1940)068<0268:SLS>2.0.CO;2 Souder, Mary O. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/68/9/1520-0493_1940_068_0268_sls_2_0_co_2.xml?tab_body=pdf October 5, 2021 American Meteorological Society 1940MWRv...68..268. free subscription
Hurricane Seven
Atl
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September 22
September 28
85
<977
In late September, a tropical wave persisted in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The low-pressure area later became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical storm at 0000 UTC on September 22. The disturbance quickly organized after tropical cyclogenesis, and reached a strength equivalent to a modern-day Category 1 hurricane strength at 1800 UTC later that day. The American steamship Otho encountered the system that day, and reported gale-force winds in conjunction with a peripheral barometric pressure of 996 mbar hPa inHg on.Weather On The North Atlantic Ocean Monthly Weather Review September 1, 1940 68 9 253–254 10.1175/1520-0493(1940)068<0253:WOTNAO>2.0.CO;2 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/68/9/1520-0493_1940_068_0253_wotnao_2_0_co_2.xml?tab_body=pdf October 5, 2021 Hunter, H.C. American Meteorological Society 1940MWRv...68..253H free subscription The tropical cyclone continued to the east-northeast, where it gradually intensified. At 1200 UTC on September 23, the hurricane attained modern-day Category 2 hurricane intensity with winds of 100 mbar (155 km/h); a peak which would be maintained for at least the following 12 hours. A second steamship, the Lobito, reported hurricane-force winds along with a minimum pressure of 977 mbar hPa inHg on; this would be the lowest pressure measured associated with the tropical cyclone. After reaching peak intensity, the hurricane began a weakening trend, and degenerated to a Category 1 hurricane at 0600 UTC as it passed over the Azores. The following day, the hurricane recurved westward, where it weakened before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on September 28. This remnant system subsequently dissipated.
As the hurricane passed over the Azores, several weather stations reported low barometric pressures, with the lowest being a measurement of 984 mbar hPa inHg on on Terceira Island at 0600 UTC on September 25. As a result of the impending storm, several Pan Am Clipper flights to the archipelago were suspended for three consecutive days.Clippers Again Are Delayed https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/27/archives/clippers-again-are-delayed.html May 6, 2013 The New York Times September 27, 1940 The maximum reported gust in the Azores was an observation of 65 mph km/h on on September 25. As a result of moving slowly over the islands, torrential rainfall was also reported. At Angra do Heroísmo, 13.11 in mm on of precipitation was reported in a four-day, accounting for a third of the station's yearly average rainfall. Strong storm surge was reported at the same location. The waves swept boats away from the coasts of islands. Further inland, there was extensive damage to homes and crops, though no people died. Despite evidence that the system had distinct tropical characteristics, it was not operationally added to HURDAT.
Hurricane Eight
Atl
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October 20
October 24
70
<983
On October 19, a low-pressure area moved into the southwestern Caribbean Sea. The area of disturbed weather quickly became well-organized, and was analyzed to have become a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on October 20. Initially, the tropical cyclone moved very slowly towards the west and then the northwest. Shortly after formation, the disturbance intensified into a tropical storm at 1800 UTC later that day. The S.S. Cristobal provided the first indications of a tropical cyclone in the region, after reporting strong gusts and low pressures north of the Panama Canal Zone during that evening. Continuing to intensify, the storm reached hurricane intensity at 0600 UTC on October 22. Several vessels in the storm's vicinity reported strong gusts and rough seas generated by the storm. Later that day at 1200 UTC, the ship S.S. Castilla reported a minimum pressure of 983 mbar hPa inHg on near the periphery of the storm. Based on this observation, the hurricane was estimated to have reached intensity at the same time with winds of 80 mph km/h on. The hurricane subsequently curved west and then southwest, before making its only landfall in northern Nicaragua at 1900 UTC on October 23 at peak intensity. Once inland, the tropical cyclone rapidly weakened over mountainous terrain, and dissipated at 1200 UTC the following day. Reports of damage were limited, though a report stated that considerable damage had occurred where the hurricane made landfall.
Tropical Storm Nine
Atl
Tropical Storm Nine weather map, October 25, 1940.jpg
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October 24
October 26
40
<1007
On October 23, an open trough was centered north of Hispaniola near the Turks and Caicos islands. At 0000 UTC the following day, the area of disturbed weather became organized and was analyzed to have become a tropical storm southeast of Inagua, based on nearby vessel reports. Initially, the storm drifted northward, but later began to accelerate towards the northeast after a roughly 12-hour period. At 0600 UTC on October 25, the disturbance slightly gained in intensity to attain maximum wind speeds of 45 mph km/h on; these would be the strongest winds associated with the storm as a fully tropical cyclone. A reanalysis of the system indicated that due to a lack of definite tropical features, the storm may have had been a subtropical cyclone. On October 26, the system became increasingly asymmetric and had developed frontal boundaries, allowing for it to be classified as an extratropical cyclone at 0600 UTC that day. Once transitioning into an extratropical system, the storm continued to intensified as it moved northward. On October 27, the system was analyzed to have a minimum pressure of at least 985 mbar hPa inHg on after passing to the southeast of Bermuda. At 1200 UTC later that day, the cyclone reached an extratropical peak intensity with winds of 80 mph km/h on just east of Newfoundland. Had the storm been tropical at the time, it would have been classified as a modern-day Category 1 hurricane. Subsequently, the extratropical storm curved eastward, where it persisted before dissipating by 1800 UTC on October 29.
Tropical depressions
thumb|A tropical depression off the east coast of Florida on October 14
In addition to the storms which attained at least tropical storm strength in 1940, five additional tropical depressions were analyzed by the HURDAT reanalysis project to have developed during the season. Due to their weak intensity, however, they were not added to HURDAT. On September 2, a closed low-pressure area was detected in the open Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda and was analyzed as a tropical depression. At the time, the disturbance had a minimum pressure of at least 1015 mbar hPa inHg on. The depression initially moved to the southeast, but later recurved towards the northwest over the next two days. On September 4, the S.S. West Kebar en route for Boston, Massachusetts reported winds of 40 mph km/h on,Ocean Gales and Storms Monthly Weather Review September 1, 1940 68 9 255 10.1175/1520-0493(1940)068<0255:OGAS>2.0.CO;2 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/68/9/1520-0493_1940_068_0255_ogas_2_0_co_2.xml?tab_body=pdf October 5, 2021 American Meteorological Society 1940MWRv...68..255. free subscription which would be considered as tropical storm-force winds. The depression later moved to the northeast before it was absorbed by a stationary front on September 7. Since there was only one report that the disturbance may have reached tropical storm intensity, it was not included in HURDAT. Later on September 10, a trough was detected in a similar region in the Atlantic where the first depression formed. The trough later became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression. The cyclone moved slowly to the east and did not further intensify before dissipating on September 13.
On October 7, a large elongated extratropical cyclone extended across the Atlantic Ocean with a pressure of at most 1015 mbar hPa inHg on. The following day, the low-pressure area became more narrow and well-defined, with its central pressure deepening to 1000 mbar hPa inHg on. On October 9, the extratropical system was analyzed to have become a tropical depression. The low moved slowly to the northeast and gradually weakened before dissipating on October 10. On October 14, offshore observations indicated that a tropical depression had developed north of The Bahamas. The following day, however, the depression became less defined and degenerated into a trough of low pressure. On October 16, two ships listed in the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set reported winds of 40 mph km/h on off the coast of North Carolina. However, since these reports occurred in a higher pressure gradient, the system was not included in HURDAT.
On November 2, a trough of low-pressure was analyzed near the Lesser Antilles. The system moved westward into the Caribbean Sea without much organization. On November 7, the low-pressure area moved south of Cuba and became sufficiently organized to be considered a tropical depression with a pressure of at least 1010 mbar hPa inHg on. The depression moved over Cuba and into the Atlantic, where it dissipated the following day. On November 9, a second system was detected northeast of Bermuda with a pressure of 1005 mbar hPa inHg on, though it remained unclear whether the two systems were related.
Season effects
center1940 North Atlantic tropical cyclone
storm One May 19 – May 25 65 (100) <995 None None None
cat2 Two August 3 – August 10 100 (155) 972 Southern United States (Texas, Louisiana) $10.75 million 7
cat2 Three August 5 – August 14 100 (155) 972 Southeastern United States (South Carolina), Mid-Atlantic states $13 million 52
cat2 Four August 26 – September 2 110 (175) 961 Mid-Atlantic states, New England, Atlantic Canada $4.05 million 7
cat2 Five September 7 – September 17 100 (155) <988 New England, Atlantic Canada $1.49 million 3
storm Six September 18 – September 25 50 (85) 1002 Central America, Southern United States $39,000 2
cat2 Seven September 22 – September 28 100 (155) <977 Azores None None
cat1 Eight October 20 – October 24 80 (130) <983 Nicaragua Unknown None
storm Nine October 24 – October 26 45 (75) <1007 None None None
9 May 19 – October 26 110 (175) 961 $29.3 million 71
See also
Tropical cyclones
1940 Pacific hurricane season
1940 Pacific typhoon season
1900–1950 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
1940s Australian region cyclone seasons
1940s South Pacific cyclone seasons
Notes
nb
References
External links
Monthly Weather Review
1940 Atlantic hurricane
1940
Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines