1941 Florida hurricane

Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 1941 March 2013 1941 Florida hurricane 1941 Florida hurricane Daily Weather Map.jpg A daily weather map for October 6, 1941, depicting the hurricane approaching southeast Florida A weather map depicting the letter L, which signifies the center of a storm, and several surrounding circles which signify isobars. Florida is visible in the map. October 3, 1941 October 11 October 13, 1941 105 962 1941 10+ total 675000 Bahamas, Florida, Southeast United States Tropical Storm Moving Eastward in Atlantic The Evening Independent October 11, 1941 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HpELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KFUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2900,453543&dq=hurricane 2 May 29, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160428174913/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HpELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KFUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2900,453543&dq=hurricane April 28, 2016 live 1941 Atlantic hurricane season The 1941 Florida hurricane was a compact but strong tropical cyclone that affected the Bahamas, Florida, and the southeastern United States in October 1941. The fifth known storm of the 1941 Atlantic hurricane season, it was first observed to the north of the Virgin Islands on October 3. The storm tracked generally westward, reaching peak winds of 120 mi/h km/h 3 on before passing through the Bahamas.These wind speeds correspond to a Category 3 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, which did not exist at the time of this storm. After weakening somewhat, the storm later passed across southern Florida with winds of 100 mi/h km/h 3 on. The hurricane then emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm, but regained hurricane intensity and made another landfall along the Florida Panhandle. Turning northeast, it crossed Georgia and South Carolina, and entered the Atlantic Ocean on October 8. In advance of the storm, preparations were extensive; residents boarded up homes and businesses, while evacuations were recommended in some coastal areas. In the Bahamas, where winds reached 104 mph km/h 3 on, the storm killed three people. The city of Nassau was struck particularly hard. In Florida, damage was relatively severe, and included the deaths of several people. High winds brought down trees and power lines, though the storm was characterized by highly unusual rainfall patterns. In the Everglades region, a storm surge flooded local streets. As the storm progressed northward, the city of Tallahassee suffered widespread power outages and damage to numerous vehicles. Throughout the state, the hurricane inflicted US$675,000 ($US 675000 1941 2024 USD) in damage. The cyclone later killed one person in Georgia. Meteorological history AL05 1941 path.png new On October 3, the first indications of a tropical system were observed 300 mi km 3 on to the north of the Virgin Islands.Howard C. Sumner North Atlantic Tropical Disturbances of 1941 Monthly Weather Review 69 12 363–364 Weather Bureau 1942 December 29, 2008 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1941.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20090116193515/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1941.pdf January 16, 2009 live 1941MWRv...69..363S 10.1175/1520-0493(1941)069<0363:NATDO>2.0.CO;2 free A tropical storm is estimated to have been present late that day, though observations were very sparse near the cyclone.National Hurricane Center Hurricane Research Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT) Meta Data United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research March 2014 2014-03-15 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_master.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110604063810/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_master.html June 4, 2011 The next day, morning observations confirmed the presence of a circulation center, and soon afterward the cyclone underwent rapid intensification: it became a hurricane late that day, and 24 hours later, on October 5, the storm reached a peak of 120 mi/h km/h 3 on—equivalent to a modern-day Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Shortly afterward, the smaller-than-average, fast-moving cyclone tracked over Cat Island in the Bahamas, where a weather station indicated a pressure of 28.48 inHg mb 3 on inside the eye. The measurement coincided with light winds of 20 mi/h km/h 2 on, meaning it was not in the exact center of the eye, so a recent reanalysis found the central pressure to be somewhat lower, at 962 mb inHg 4 on. After striking Cat Island, the cyclone began a weakening trend and passed south of New Providence, seat of the Bahamian capital Nassau, early on October 6. At the time, the storm was still found to be a compact, well-developed hurricane. Later that day, it made landfall 13 mi km 2 on south of Miami in South Florida;Barnes, p. 162 observers reported that the small eye produced calm conditions at Goulds, near Homestead. The storm contained peak winds of 100 mi/h km/h 3 on—equivalent to low-end Category 2 status—and a radius of maximum wind just 10 mi km 2 on from the center. Originally, the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) listed winds of 120 mi/h km/h 3 on at landfall in South Florida, but reanalysis determined that these winds occurred somewhat earlier, over the eastern Bahamas. Maintaining a small size, the hurricane moved through the Everglades, passing between Everglades City and Fort Myers. The storm entered the Gulf of Mexico as a strong tropical storm and broadly curved toward the northwest, tracking offshore along the west coast of Florida. It remained over open waters and recovered its intensity until the following day, when it made landfall at Carrabelle with winds of 90 mi/h km/h 3 on, equivalent to a high-end Category 1 hurricane, and a measured central pressure of 29 inHg mb 3 on. The cyclone still exhibited a small radius of outermost closed isobar but had reduced its forward speed. Turning north and then northeast, the storm moved beyond Tallahassee and entered Georgia. It weakened as it progressed inland, and after passing through South Carolina, the storm re-emerged into the Atlantic Ocean on October 8 with winds of 40 mi/h km/h 2 on. While over water, the storm re-intensified, reaching peak winds of 60 mi/h km/h 2 on on October 9. The cyclone kept its intensity for two more days as it moved toward the southeast, executed a small loop, and turned generally toward the east-northeast, passing south of Bermuda on the night of October 11. The storm became extratropical on October 12, fully dissipating the next day. Preparations 30em #ACE1AF right In one downtown office building, more than a score of children of all ages had the time of their lives. Their parents—weary from putting their homes in order before going downtown—tried vainly to get them to sleep on desks softened by sofa cushions. The Vidette-Messenger, October 6, 1941Towns Ready; Damage from Storm Minor October 6, 1941 The Vidette-Messenger During the days before the storm's arrival in Florida, the Weather Bureau issued 40 tropical cyclone-related advisories. Extensive preparations that resulted in a low loss of life and property were attributed to the warnings. In southern Florida, residents boarded up homes and businesses, and sought shelter in large structures. Hurricane parties took place in bars and hotel rooms, while some residents sat in hotel lobbies, listening to radio broadcasts.Miami Bars Busy in Wait on Hurricane October 6, 1941 Waterloo Daily Courier In Miami, stores sold out of various essentials—including bread and butter—as people prepared for the storm. Miami Boards Up, Battens Down for Expected Blow St. Petersburg Times October 6, 1941 6 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=7207%2C1211367 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160521211340/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=7207,1211367 May 21, 2016 live Evacuations were recommended from Homestead to Key West,Nassau Left in Darkness by Wind, Fire: Hurricane Will Hit Florida Coast Today October 6, 1941 Nevada State Journal and three Coast Guard planes dropped warnings to boats near the Florida coast. The Civilian Conservation Corps also evacuated 150 of its workers from West Summerland Key to Key West. Key West Prepares St. Petersburg Times October 6, 1941 6 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=6631%2C1211685 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160506045851/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=6631,1211685 May 6, 2016 live Local chapters of the American Red Cross organized first-aid stations and shelters; transportation was provided to those who were unable to reach the shelters. In advance of the storm, Pan American World Airways suspended flights departing from and arriving at Miami and redirected them to Havana, Cuba.Hurricane skirts Miami October 6, 1941 Syracuse Herald Journal The United States Navy also prepared its bases in the Florida Keys for the arrival of the storm by securing boats to piers and canceling all shore leaves, Navy Base is Prepared The New York Times October 6, 1941 10 105732204 while the United States Army Air Corps moved its planes from Morrison Field to a safer location inland. Palm Beach is Boarding Up The New York Times October 6, 1941 10 The state of Florida stockpiled food for those affected by the storm, establishing depots in West Palm Beach, Miami, and Fort Myers, The Florida Storm St. Petersburg Times October 7, 1941 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vpMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=5293%2C1420596 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160509160651/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vpMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=5293,1420596 May 9, 2016 live and the Governor of Florida, Spessard Holland, ordered state agencies to prepare for relief work. A detachment of officers from the Florida Highway Patrol was sent to Miami and patrolled along highways to provide gasoline to motorists evacuating the storm. The state also opened all of the school buildings in Dade County as emergency shelters. Warnings Up on West Coast to Bradenton St. Petersburg Times October 6, 1941 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=5511%2C1211081 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160513065819/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vZMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=5511,1211081 May 13, 2016 live Impact Bahamas In the Bahamas, where considerable property damage was reported, the storm killed three people. Winds in Nassau reached 104 mph km/h 3 on.Edward Morgan Brooks An Unusual Rainfall Distribution in a Hurricane 1945 Massachusetts Institute of Technology https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015659/http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/13079/26336365.pdf?sequence=1 http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/13079/26336365.pdf?sequence=1 April 3, 2015 City streets were filled with debris, including a schooner, four sloops, and numerous other boats deposited by the winds on Nassau's Bay Street. 102-Mile-an-Hour Wind Hurls Boats on Shore and Darkens Nassau as Southern Resorts Put Up Boards in Preparation United Press International The New York Times October 6, 1941 1Tropical Storm Menaces Florida October 6, 1941 Albuquerque Journal The winds knocked down trees and power lines, resulting in fires and extensive power outages.Nassau Left in Darkness by Wind, Fire October 6, 1941 Nevada State Journal Along the coast, boats were ripped from their moorings and smashed against seawalls. No casualties occurred in the city. A schooner, the Goodwill II, sank during the storm. Properties and gardens received significant damage. On Cat Island, the storm produced 1.62 in mm 1 of rainfall. Two men, Christopher Whymss and Salathiel Johnson, drowned near Andros Island after trying to reach shore from a drowning schooner. One man, Samuel Seymour, was killed on Cat Island after his home was toppled by the wind, and several other injuries were reported on the island. "Most homes, all churches, and most public buildings" on Cat Island were also destroyed by the storm. The storm also downed telephone lines and destroyed crops. As a result, the Duke of Windsor, governor-general of the Bahamas, cabled to the Red Cross for assistance, and a ship carrying "food, clothing, building materials and seeds" was quickly dispatched to Cat Island. Three Deaths in the Bahamas The New York Times October 8, 1941 25 According to a survey conducted a few days after the hurricane, 300 families on Cat Island were left homeless as were 120 families on Watlings Island. Bahaman Homes Wrecked The New York Times October 11, 1941 4 To aid these families, the Duke of Windsor announced on October 7 that he would establish a relief fund for those affected by the storm. Windsor Starts Belief Fund The New York Times October 8, 1941 25 United States right|thumb|Map of Florida marking the area first affected On making landfall, the storm generated high winds at the Fowey Rocks Light, although they were below hurricane force. A peak wind gust of 123 mph km/h 3 on was reported at Dinner Key with sustained winds up to 90 mph km/h 3 on. Unusually little rain fell in association with the storm; 0.35 in mm of precipitation was reported in Miami, while locations closer to the center of the cyclone received less than 1 in mm.Kleinberg, p. 70 The light rainfall was evident throughout southeastern Florida, except for the Florida Keys, where thunderstorms enhanced the precipitation. This aspect of the storm was considered highly unusual, as most tropical cyclones are characterized by heavy rainfall. According to one study, the unusual precipitation patterns can be attributed to one of two possible conditions: "the air might have been too dry", or "the horizontal convergence of air might have been insufficient to produce a large enough transport of moisture upwards". The intense winds blew salt water several miles inland; due to the lack of rainfall, the salt burned vegetation throughout the region. The high winds brought down trees and utility poles and shattered some windows in Dade County. No deaths were reported in the region, although minor damage was inflicted on communication lines and homes and several injuries were reported. Several communities lost electricity. Some hospitals were left without power, forcing the delivery of six babies by candlelight.Minor Damage By Hurricane in Miami Area October 6, 1941 Oelwein Daily Register The storm injured seven people in the Miami area, including five firefighters who were injured "as they fought a blaze fanned by the high winds" of the hurricane. Small Hurricane Lashes Across Florida Today Luddington Daily News October 6, 1941 1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s88KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=804DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=5717%2C3773725 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160516203626/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s88KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=804DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=5717,3773725 May 16, 2016 live As the hurricane tracked inland, it passed over the Everglades, producing winds of 65 mph km/h 3 on at Everglades City. Along the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee, winds gusted to 60 mph km/h 2 on; barometric pressure there fell to 995 mb inHg 4 on. Storm surge in the region triggered foot-deep flooding of some streets in local towns. Docks and fishing equipment suffered extensive damage in the region. As the hurricane passed offshore, winds reached 60 mph km/h 2 on near Tampa Bay. The storm also grounded a fishing schooner from Cuba off the coast of Collier County, Florida. Although no one was injured, members of the schooner crew were detained by immigration authorities. left|thumb|A Cuban schooner washed ashore by the storm. After emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane made another landfall at Carrabelle on the Florida Panhandle. Winds in the region were estimated at 75 mph km/h 3 on, and tides ran at up to 8 ft m above normal. In Tallahassee, the winds downed trees and power lines and scattered debris, rendering roads impassable. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that "at the height of the wind several hundred Tallahasseeans were seen rushing into their yard to gather pecans which were knocked down by the swaying trees".Barnes, p. 163 The storm destroyed vehicles throughout the region; replacement automobiles were sparse, as assembly plants were producing cars for the Army.Two months after the storm, in December 1941, the United States entered World War II and new vehicles became unavailable, forcing residents to resort to horse-drawn carriages for transportation. See Barnes, p. 163 Despite a lack of electricity due to the winds, the Tallahassee Democrat managed to publish 6,000 copies of a special storm edition. Initial fears of severe damage along the coast prompted rescue crews to push toward St. Marks; however, upon arrival a group of local residents convinced the crew that their assistance was unnecessary. Considerable crop and property damage was reported; total losses in the state were estimated at US$675,000 ($US 675000 1941 in today's terms).Although the damage from the storm was relatively light, Roger A. Pielke, Jr. and Christopher Landsea estimated that if the hurricane had hit in 1992, it would have caused $5 billion in damages, due to changes in population density and home construction. Normalized Hurricane Damages in the United States: 1925- 1995 Weather and Forecasting Roger Pielke Christopher Landsea 13 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publication_files/resource-168-1998.11.pdf 624 June 8, 2009 10.1175/1520-0434(1998)013<0621:NHDITU>2.0.CO;2 3 September 1998 1998WtFor..13..621P https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221608/http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publication_files/resource-168-1998.11.pdf December 17, 2013 live Note Seven injuries were reported, and five men drowned in the storm tide at a fishing net drying yard in Panacea, Florida. Winds Fall as They Head for Carolina Coast -- Many Fishermen Reported Missing -- Great Lakes Shipping Warned The New York Times October 8, 1941 25Small Hurricane Whipped Across Southern Florida October 6, 1941 Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune Initially, there were reports of 20 missing fishermen.Nine Reported Killed By Tropic Storm in South October 8, 1941 Albuquerque Journal 34 Cuban fishermen were also trapped off the coast near Carrabelle when 10 boats ran aground and were damaged after the storm surge subsided. The fishermen's supply of food was destroyed by salt water, but they were rescued by the Coast Guard cutter Nemesis without any injuries. Nemesis Assists in Rescue of Stranded Cubans The Evening Independent October 13, 1941 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H5ELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KFUDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=1505%2C629079 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160307114300/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H5ELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KFUDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=1505%2C629079 March 7, 2016 live After their rescue, they reported that five men had drowned in a small boat nearby. Nemesis Home After Rescue St. Petersburg Times October 13, 1941 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xJMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=4936%2C2696289 June 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160307093551/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xJMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane&pg=4936%2C2696289 March 7, 2016 live The storm was still producing high wind gusts as it tracked into Georgia, killing one person and leaving a trail of considerable damage as far north as Albany. The single death in Georgia was a 16-year-old girl, Frances Hester, of Pavo, Georgia, who died after tripping over an electrical wire downed by the storm. Up to 6 in mm of rain fell within the state. The storm passed through South Carolina with little damage. Throughout parts of the southeastern United States, rainfall associated with the hurricane was unusually light and unevenly distributed along its track. See also Tropical cyclones List of Florida hurricanes List of United States hurricanes Notes Note References 30em Further reading Barnes, Jay Florida's Hurricane History 2007 Chapel Hill Press 978-0-8078-3068-0 registration https://archive.org/details/floridashurrican00barn Kleinberg, Eliot Florida Fun Facts 2004 Pineapple Press 978-1-56164-320-2 Florida Hurricane, 1941 Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes Category:Hurricanes in Florida Category:Hurricanes in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Hurricanes in South Carolina Category:1941 in Florida Category:1941 natural disasters in the United States Category:Meteorological events in 1941