Pinar del Río Hurricane of 1944

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Pinar del Río Hurricane of 1944
Type=hurricane
Year=1944
Basin=Atl
Formed=October 12, 1944
Dissipated=October 23, 1944
1-min winds=105
Pressure=968
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=318 direct
Areas=Swan Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, Carolinas, Virginia
Hurricane season=1944 Atlantic hurricane season

The Pinar del Río Hurricane of 1944 (also known as the 1944 Havana Hurricane and 1944 Cuba-Florida Hurricane) was a large, intense Category 3 hurricane that affected western Cuba and Florida. The eleventh tropical cyclone, seventh hurricane, and third major hurricane of the season developed over the southern Caribbean Sea on October 12. It intensified to a hurricane on October 13, attained its peak on October 17, and struck Pinar del Río with gusts in excess of 160 mph (260 km/h). The hurricane accelerated, and it struck southwest Florida near Sarasota on October 19. It diminished to a tropical storm, briefly exited over water off southeast Georgia, and moved inland near Savannah on October 20. It became extratropical over southeastern Virginia on October 21. The late-season October storm was eventually responsible for very heavy rains, a wide swath of destruction, and over 300 deaths, especially in rural areas of Cuba.

Meteorological history

On the late afternoon of October 12, an area of disturbed weather organized to a tropical storm 190 miles (310 km) east of Cape Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua.cite web|author=Hurricane Research Division|year=2007|title=Atlantic hurricane best track|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2007-10-11|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyhurdat_5106.html] It was originally detected by the motorship "Silver Arrow", while rough seas were reported near the Swan Islands.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] The tropical storm moved slowly northward, and it quickly attained hurricane intensity. On October 13, heavy rainfall was reported through the afternoon at Grand Cayman, with sustained winds near 25 mph (40 km/h). The hurricane gradually intensified, and its forward motion slowed to a near stall 60 miles (100 km) southeast of George Town, Grand Cayman on October 14. As the hurricane began to drift westward, conditions grew more severe on the Swan Islands, although maximum gusts remained below 60 mph (95 km/h).cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] On October 16, the hurricane strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph (160 km/h). Grand Cayman remained north of center, though the island recorded gusts near 118 mph (190 km/h) on October 15.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11]

The hurricane slowly turned to the north along 83°W Longitude, and it steadily intensified on October 17. The hurricane strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane shortly prior to its landfall on the Isles of Pines with winds near 115 mph (185 km/h).cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] Later, the hurricane reached its peak of 120 mph (195 km/h) as it made landfall on Pinar del Río Province. The hurricane passed 15 miles (25 km) west of La Habana Province, and its forward motion gradually increased when it entered the southern Gulf of Mexico on October 18. The cyclone maintained its intensity when it passed to the west of the Dry Tortugas, though its large size spread hurricane force winds over the islands for several hours.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] Early on October 19, the hurricane struck the mainland of southwest Florida near Sarasota as a major hurricane.cite web|author=Blake, Rappaport, and Landsea|year=2006|title=The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones (1851 to 2006)|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2007-10-11|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-TPC-5.pdf]

The hurricane weakened as it moved inland, passing 20 miles (30 km) east of Tampa. Its forward motion increased to 20 mph (30 km/h), and it passed over the central Florida communities of Dade City and Ocala.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] The cyclone diminished to a tropical storm, and it moved into the western Atlantic waters 10 miles (15 km) east of Jacksonville. On October 20, the diminishing tropical storm moved ashore north of Savannahcite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] with winds near 50 mph (80 km/h). It moved inland over eastern South Carolina and North Carolina. On October 21, it became extratropical, and it passed into the Atlantic Ocean near Norfolk. Its forward motion increased off the eastern shore of Maryland, and the extratropical remnants moved inland over Nova Scotia.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] It produced gale force winds of Force 8 over Newfoundland, and it merged with a low pressure area off southern Greenland.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11]

Preparations

58 warnings and advisories were issued by the U.S. Weather Bureau during the nine day period when the storm impacted the western Caribbean islands and United States.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] In Miami, watches and warnings were broadcast via microphones at two to three-hour intervals when the hurricane threatened the state. The Red Cross reported 35,000 people were sheltered during the storm, which accounted for a small portion of those whom evacuated.cite web|author=H. C. Sumner|title=The North Atlantic Hurricane of October 13-21, 1944|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/1944.pdf|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2007-10-11] 150 small vessels were secured in Key West, while operational Army and Navy planes were transferred from Florida to safer airfields. In Cuba, communications were severed on the Isles of Pines, though Havana received ample warnings and was well prepared for the storm.cite web|author=Associated Press|title=Hurricane Hits Cuba; Florida Set for Blow|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
|publisher=The Salisbury Times|accessdate=2007-10-13]

Impact

The storm killed 300 people and left $10 million (1944 USD, $107 million 2005 USD) in damage. It is estimated a similar hurricane striking in the year 2005 would cause $38.7 million (2005 USD), making this one of the worst-case storms for western Florida.

Cayman Islands

Damage was minor and limited to docks and warehouses; however, severe flooding resulted from over 30 inches of rainfall on Grand Cayman Island. A 24-hour rainfall record of 16 inches was reportedly set. [http://www.ibiblio.org/uncpress/hurricanes/fl_book.html]

Cuba

There was severe damage, mostly in the eastern and northern regions of Pinar del Rio. Much of Havana Harbor was strewn with wrecked and sunken ships. About 300 people were killed in Cuba.

Florida

There was serious tide damage along the southwest Florida coast, and much of the citrus harvest was ruined by the storm. Nine people died when their boat capsized during the storm.

ee also

*List of tropical cyclones
*List of Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1944.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/1944/11/track.gifSanibel Island Hurricane Track (Unisys)]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/uncpress/hurricanes/fl_book.html Florida's Hurricane History by Jay Barnes]