1926 Nassau hurricane

1926 Nassau hurricane
Nassau Hurricane of 1926
Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Formed July 22, 1926
Dissipated August 2, 1926
Highest winds 1-minute sustained:
140 mph (220 km/h)
Lowest pressure ≤ 975 mbar (hPa; 28.79 inHg)
Fatalities 287 direct
Damage $7.85 million (1926 USD)
Areas affected Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Bahamas, Florida, Southeastern United States
Part of the 1926 Atlantic hurricane season

The Nassau Hurricane of 1926,[1] also known as the Bahamas-Florida Hurricane of July 1926 and Hurricane San Liborio, was a destructive Category 4 hurricane that affected the Bahamas at peak intensity. Although it weakened considerably before its Florida landfall, it was reported as one of the most severe storms to affect Nassau in the Bahamas in several years until the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, which occurred just two years later. The storm also delivered flooding rains and loss of crops to the southeastern United States and Florida.

Contents

Meteorological history

Storm path

The system was first spotted east of the Lesser Antilles as a tropical disturbance on July 22. Moving northwest, the tropical storm passed near Dominica with moderate intensity, then passed just south of Puerto Rico on July 23 with a gradual increase in intensity. San Juan, Puerto Rico, recorded maximum winds of around 66 mph (105 km/h) and a low barometric pressure of 1005 mbar as the storm's center passed near the extreme southwest corner of Puerto Rico.[2] The storm continued northwest and tracked over Hispaniola while strengthening to hurricane status. The storm continued strengthening, and by the time it reached the central Bahamas, it was at full Category 4 intensity with 140 mph (225 km/h) winds. On July 26, while still moving northwest, the storm's eye passed directly over Nassau,[3] where winds were unofficially estimated at 135 mph (220 km/h) and heavy damage was reported.[1] Moving slowly, the storm weakened while sliding up the Florida coast, making final landfall near Melbourne, Florida, on July 27 as a Category 2 hurricane.[4] In Florida, the storm's lowest barometric pressure of 975 mbar was observed.

The storm weakened rapidly as it moved inland, weakening to a tropical storm and eventually a depression as it moved across Georgia and Alabama while dumping heavy rains, resulting in serious flooding. It continued across the southeastern United States while losing tropical characteristics, gradually beginning to curve northeastward over Arkansas, Missouri, and the Ohio Valley, becoming extratropical on August 1.[5] It finally dissipated the following day as it moved northeastward over Lake Ontario.[6]

Impact

More than 287 people were killed in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, and Florida by the storm.[5]

Puerto Rico

The storm initially caused little damage until it passed near Puerto Rico, where heavy crop damage, most notably to coffee plantations in the west-central region of the island, occurred. Heavy rainfall of around 6.18 inches occurred on the island, while the average rainfall reported for July was 6.50 inches. Around 25 lives were lost when heavy floods resulted from rapid rise of rivers. Total losses in Puerto Rico were estimated at $2.350 million dollars.[2]

Hispaniola

Estimated damage amounted to around $3 million in eastern Santo Domingo as the storm center passed over the eastern half of the island.[2]

Bahamas

Although damage reports are not clear, the storm was reported to be destructive around Nassau, where "some roofs were torn off entirely" and that the storm was "more fearful and devastating than any most people can remember", according to an eyewitness account posted in the July issue of the Monthly Weather Review. Trees, power poles, and various debris littered streets, and many people were left homeless. Automobiles at Nassau were also reported damaged by the storm, and flooding was reported.[1] The hurricane also caused heavy damage nearby on Eleuthera and Andros, as well as in the Exumas.

Florida

The storm was also reported to have caused damage around the point of landfall in Melbourne, Florida, where uprooted citrus trees and roofs blown off were reported. An observer on Merritt Island reported a heavy storm surge along the Indian River which damaged or destroyed homes, docks, and boats.

Points further south along the Florida coast, such as Miami, received only a brush from the storm, resulting in rains and some light wind damage.[7] Flooding was also experienced at points such as Palm Beach.[8] Damage estimates in Florida exceeded $2.5 million.

Records

Prior to the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, this was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in July (with 140 mph winds) until Hurricane Emily of 2005, a Category 5 hurricane which had top sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a pressure of 929 millibars,[9] surpassed the intensity of the July 1926 hurricane. Hurricane Dennis, also from 2005, was also still more intense in barometric pressure and wind strength than the hurricane of July 1926.[10] Note that Hurricane Audrey was also more intense and occurred even earlier in the season in June.

See also

Cyclone Catarina from the ISS on March 26 2004.JPG Tropical cyclones portal

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nassau Hurricane of 1926 — Infobox Hurricane Name=Nassau Hurricane of 1926 Type=hurricane Year=1926 Basin=Atl Image location= Formed=July 22, 1926 Dissipated=August 2, 1926 1 min winds=120 Pressure=975 Pressurepre=≤ Da Inflated=0 Fatalities=287 direct Areas=Lesser Antilles …   Wikipedia

  • 1926 Atlantic hurricane season — Infobox hurricane season | name=1926 Atlantic hurricane season first storm formed=July 22, 1926 last storm dissipated=Nov. 16, 1926 strongest storm=Miami Hurricane 130 knots (150 mph) total storms=11 major storms=6 total da total fatalities=1315+ …   Wikipedia

  • List of Bahamas-related topics — This is a list of topics related to The Bahamas. Those interested in the subject can monitor changes to the pages by clicking on Related changes in the sidebar.Bahamas* The Bahamas * Bahamians * College of the Bahamas * Roman Catholic Archdiocese …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of the Bahamas — …   Wikipedia

  • Florida — This article is about the U.S. state of Florida. For other uses, see Florida (disambiguation). State of Florida …   Wikipedia

  • Miami — This article is about the city in Florida. For other uses, see Miami (disambiguation). Miami   City   …   Wikipedia

  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Fort Lauderdale   City   Downtown Fort Lauderdale skyline …   Wikipedia

  • Opa-locka, Florida — City of Opa locka, Florida Opa tisha woka locka   City   Opa locka City Hall …   Wikipedia

  • Downtown Miami —   Neighborhood of Miami   Downtown Miami skyline as seen from Biscayne Bay to the east …   Wikipedia

  • Bahamas, The — officially Commonwealth of The Bahamas Archipelago and nation consisting of about 700 islands and numerous cays, northwestern edge of the West Indies, lying southeast of Florida and north of Cuba. Area: 5,386 sq mi (13,950 sq km). Population… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”