1909 Greater Antilles hurricane

Category 2 Atlantic hurricane in 1909 1909 Greater Antilles hurricane Greater Antilles hurricane weather map, November 13, 1909.jpg Surface weather analysis showing the hurricane north of Puerto Rico on November 13 November 8, 1909 November 14, 1909 90 1909 At least 198 direct 10000000 Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic 1909 Atlantic hurricane season The 1909 Greater Antilles hurricane was a rare, late-season tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage and loss of life in Jamaica and Haiti, and the wettest Atlantic hurricane on record. Forming out of a large disturbance in early November, the hurricane began as a minimal tropical storm over the southwestern Caribbean on November 8. Slowly tracking northeastward, the system gradually intensified. Late on November 11, the storm brushed the eastern tip of Jamaica before attaining hurricane status. The following afternoon, the storm made landfall in northwest Haiti with winds of 85 mph km/h on 5. After moving over the Atlantic Ocean, the hurricane further intensified and attained its peak winds of 105 mph km/h on 5 on November 13. The system rapidly transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the following day before being absorbed by a frontal system northeast of the Lesser Antilles. Including rainfall from the precursor to the hurricane, rainfall in Jamaica peaked at 114.50 in mm on at Silver Hill Plantation, making it the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the Atlantic Basin. These extreme rains led to widespread flooding that killed 30 people and left $7 million in damage throughout the country. The worst damage in Haiti was caused by rains exceeding 24 in mm on that led to catastrophic flooding. At least 166 people are known to have been killed in the country; however, reports indicate that hundreds likely died during the storm. Meteorological history AL12 1909 path.png newThe origins of the 1909 Greater Antilles hurricane are unclear, but are believed to have begun with a large, slow-moving storm system near Jamaica in early November. By November 8, it was classified as a tropical storm and was situated over the southwestern Caribbean, north of Panama.Hurricane Research Specialists Division National Hurricane Center 2010 May 12, 2010 Easy-to-Read HURDAT 1851-2009 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyread-2009.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100515015126/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyread-2009.html 15 May 2010 live A ship in the vicinity of the system recorded an atmospheric pressure of 1004 mbar (hPa; 1004 mbar inHg on 4 out).Partagás, p. 19 Slowly moving northeastward, an unusual direction for a Caribbean cyclone, the storm gradually intensified. The forward motion of the system steadily increased on November 10 as it headed towards Jamaica. Late on November 11, the system brushed the eastern tip of Jamaica as a strong tropical storm, with maximum winds estimated at 70 mph km/h on 5. Several hours later, the storm intensified into what would now be classified a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. During the afternoon of November 12, the hurricane made landfall in northern Haiti, in Nord-Ouest, with winds of 85 mph km/h on 5. After briefly moving over land, the storm entered the Atlantic Ocean and turned east-northeast and further accelerated. Early on November 13, the hurricane further intensified to the equivalent of a Category 2 system and attained peak winds of 105 mph km/h on 5. No barometric pressure was recorded at the time of peak intensity since it occurred over water and away from any ships. In an initial analysis of the storm made by meteorologist José Fernández Partagás in 1999, he wrote that at the storm's peak, it was a strong tropical storm, not a hurricane. In a report, it was stated that "It was a difficult case for the author [Partagás] to decide whether or not to upgrade to a hurricane".Partagás, p. 21 It was not until the Atlantic hurricane database re-analysis reached 1909 in February 2004 that the storm was designated as a hurricane.Jack Beven National Hurricane Center March 2004 May 15, 2010 Comments of and replies to the National Hurricane Center Best-Track Change Committee http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/comments_feb2004.htm By November 14, the storm began to weaken as it turned nearly due east. Later that day, it quickly transitioned into an extratropical cyclone before being absorbed by a frontal system northeast of the Lesser Antilles.Partagás, p. 20 Impact right Jamaica Prior to becoming a tropical storm, the precursor low had been producing heavy rainfall across Jamaica since November 5. Further rains fell as the system intensified and neared the country. Between November 5 and 11, the system produced 30.45 in mm on of rain in Kingston. More extreme rains fell upon the Silver Hill Plantation, where 114.50 in mm of rain accumulated in the five-day period of November 5–9, with eight-day totals from November 4–11 reaching 135.00 in mm.World Meteorological Organization Operational Hydrology Report No. 1: Manual For Estimation of Probable Maximum Precipitation J. L. H. Paulhaus World Meteorological Organization 1973 178 This rainfall triggered severe flooding. Roughly 500,000 banana plants were lost as a result of the floods, about 20% of the entire country's yield. Around Kingston, the waterworks was destroyed and several tunnels and railways were blocked by landslides. Many bridges and roads were also damaged or destroyed. This led to many towns being isolated and hampered rescue efforts. Flood waters in the town of Annott Bay reached 3 ft m on. Throughout Jamaica, the flooding killed 30 people and damage was estimated at $7 million (1909 USD).W. J. Gardiner New York Times November 27, 1909 A Stormy Island And Its History BR744 Following the severe flooding, the Jamaican government allocated about $150,000 in funds for damage repair.Press Association Wanganui Herald November 15, 1909 Hurricane In Jamaica 5 Communication cables were partly repaired and connection with Kingston was re-established by November 15,The Wilkes-Barre Record November 16, 1909 October 11, 2021 West Indian Cables Work https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86914043/ 3 Newspapers.com and communications across the Caribbean were repaired by November 25.The New York Times November 25, 1909 October 11, 2021 West Indian Cables Open https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86915287/ 1 59 18933 Newspapers.com Haiti In nearby Haiti, the damage from the hurricane was catastrophic as torrential rains triggered widespread flooding and landslides throughout the country.Staff Writer The Lewiston Daily Sun November 10, 1909 May 13, 2010 No Word Received https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yaggAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XGkFAAAAIBAJ&dq=haiti%20hurricane&pg=1323%2C2972932 9 Rainfall in the first half of November reached 29 in mm on in Cap-Haïtien, while totals in interior Haiti reached 38 in mm on.The Allentown Democrat November 18, 1909 October 11, 2021 Haiti Heavily Drenched https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86914551/ 8 80 287 Newspapers.com Initial reports from Haiti were slow to reach the news media as most roads were flooded or destroyed. Several days after the hurricane's passage, reports began to indicate that immense damage had taken place due to the storm. The Tonazeau River near Port-au-Prince also topped its banks, inundating nearby areas.Staff Writer New York Times November 14, 1909 May 13, 2010 Hurricane In Haiti Did Great Damage https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/11/14/101031224.pdf C2 The city of Gonaïves was completely flooded for two days after a nearby river overflowed its banks. All of the city's roads were damaged or destroyed. Residents sought safety from the flood waters in the upper floors and roofs of their homes. Sixteen people were killed in the city after a bridge was destroyed by the swollen river. Bodies were unearthed from cemeteries and floated through the city.The Washington Post November 14, 1909 October 11, 2021 Many Dead in Haiti Gale https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86913612/ 1 12211 Newspapers.com At least 19 people died in Port-de-Paix.Pittston Gazette November 13, 1909 October 11, 2021 Great Havoc in Haiti https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86912377/ 1 Newspapers.com Cap-Haïtien was devastated by what press reports described as a "tidal wave". Along the Yaqui River, unprecedented flooding led to the creation of a large lake, estimated to be 30 mi km on long and up to 80 ft m on deep. Many villages were destroyed by the floods, with hundreds of fatalities expected to result from the storm. Monetary losses for Haiti following the disaster are scarce, with the only known damage estimate being $3 million. However, the true damage cost from the hurricane is likely much higher.Alexander E. Barthe New York Times November 25, 1909 May 13, 2010 The West Indian Sufferers https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/11/25/101906638.pdf 10 At least 166 fatalities are known as a result of the storm in Haiti;Edward N. Rappaport Jose Fernandez-Partagas Jack L. Beven National Hurricane Center April 22, 1997 May 13, 2010 The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml? however, many reports state that several hundred people likely perished during the storm.Staff Writer Gettysburg Times November 23, 1909 May 13, 2010 Hundreds Killed In Haiti https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QaslAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OPwFAAAAIBAJ&dq=haiti%20hurricane&pg=3241%2C3746512 2 Most of the fatalities took place in the Nord-Ouest, where 150 victims were identified.Ayitigouvenans 2010 May 13, 2010 January 12 Earthquake in Haiti http://www.ayitigouvenans.org/January%2012%20Earthquake%20in%20Haiti.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120306155634/http://www.ayitigouvenans.org/January%2012%20Earthquake%20in%20Haiti.pdf March 6, 2012 Earthquakes accompanied the devastating floods. Elsewhere Seven days of rain affected parts of the Dominican Republic, with at least 48 in mm on falling in a four-day period in Puerto Plata. Floods and landslides caused extensive damage. The railway connecting Santiago de los Caballeros and Moca was severed and two bridges near Puerto Plata was destroyed.Pittston Gazette November 13, 1909 October 11, 2021 Santo Domingo Suffered Heavily https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86912614/ 1 Newspapers.com Communications with interior communities was cut off.Pittston Gazette November 13, 1909 October 11, 2021 Tidal Wave in Haiti https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86912824/ 1 Newspapers.com Heavy rain and hurricane-force winds were reported across the Turks and Caicos.The Observer November 14, 1909 October 11, 2021 Many Lives Lost in Ruined Towns https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86913248/ 12 118 6182 Newspapers.com See also Tropical cyclones List of wettest tropical cyclones References General Partagás, José Fernández Diaz, H. A Reconstruction of Historical Tropical Cyclone Frequency in the Atlantic from Documentary and other Historical Sources Part VI: 1909-1910 1999 Climate Diagnostics Center Specific 2 External links Monthly Weather Review for 1909 Greater Antilles Category:Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes Category:Hurricanes in Jamaica Category:Hurricanes in Haiti Category:Hurricanes in Cuba Category:Hurricanes in the Dominican Republic Category:1909 in Haiti Category:1909 in Jamaica Category:1909 in the Caribbean Category:November 1909 in North America