1903 New Jersey hurricane
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1903 Atlantic hurricane season |
The 1903 New Jersey hurricane, also known as the Vagabond Hurricane by
Rough surf and moderate winds from the hurricane capsized several ships along the East Coast of the United States; 30 people were left missing and presumed killed from a shipwreck in Chincoteague, Virginia. Along the coast, 57 people died due to the storm. In New Jersey, the hurricane caused heavy damage, particularly near the coast and in Atlantic City. Dozens of buildings were damaged or destroyed, and damage across the state totaled $8 million (1903 USD). In New York City, high winds disrupted traffic, closed businesses, and overturned wagons, with many windows and roofs damaged. On Long Island, President Theodore Roosevelt directly experienced the effects of the hurricane while on a yacht. The life of the president was briefly threatened by the rough conditions, though none on board the yacht suffered any problems from the hurricane.
Meteorological history
The genesis of the storm is unknown; it was first observed on September 12 as a 70 mph (115 km/h) tropical storm about 550 miles (890 km) northeast of Antigua in the Lesser Antilles.[2] On that day, the storm appeared on weather maps, and subsequently was tracked by ship reports as a small system.[3] The storm tracked quickly northwestward, followed by a turn to the west-northwest. Around 18:00 UTC on September 13, the storm passed about 270 mi (435 km) south of Bermuda. Its exact track and intensity is unknown, though it is estimated the storm attained hurricane status late on September 14 about 360 mi (580 km) west-southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane steadily intensified as it curved northward, and attained an estimated peak intensity of 100 mph (160 km/h) late on September 15 about 110 mi (175 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.[2]
By late on September 15, the hurricane was beginning to affect the North Carolina coastline. The high winds near the center prompted the United States
Impact
Overall, the hurricane killed 57 people during its passage through the
The hurricane first brought rainfall to coastal parts of Georgia and South Carolina.[8] Strong winds were reported along coastal areas of North Carolina, with sustained winds peaking at 72 mph (116 km/h) at Kitty Hawk. Winds reached 54 mph (87 km/h) at Cape Henry, Virginia,[9] and the combination of the winds and rough surf washed some boats ashore. The schooner Beatrice was lost near Chincoteague with a crew of 30;[10] 28 people on board were killed.[11] A squall line destroyed the front mast of a schooner near Cape Henry. Several boats broke free from their moorings near Salisbury and were subsequently destroyed after passing downstream.[10] The schooner Hattie A. Marsh encountered strong winds from the hurricane along the Delaware coast,[10] while strong waves washed it ashore the rocky coastline. The boat was wrecked and the rooms on board were washed overboard, killing five members of the crew. Two people were rescued after conditions calmed, one of whom was injured and taken to a hospital.[11]
A flock of birds encountered the hurricane over eastern Virginia; hundreds of birds were killed and fell to the ground near
Described by the Weather Bureau as "a most unusual tempest,"[3] the storm was one of only four to produce hurricane-force winds in New Jersey.[12] The storm's strong surf destroyed several boats along the coastline, including 34 in Waretown.[1] Less than 10% of the people in Atlantic City evacuated, and after the storm, many people visited the city to observe the storm damage described in newspapers.[16] High winds disrupted 800 telephone lines in Atlantic City, and most communications were cut from the Jersey Shore to the Philadelphia region.[14] Initial damage reports were provided by trains,[17] although there were severe transportation delays due to ongoing flooding.[18] The disrupted communications sparked "wild rumors that the great resort had been entirely washed away," according to The New York Times.[19] Monetary damage in Atlantic City was estimated around $1 million (1903 USD).[15] Atlantic City's power was deliberately shut off to prevent accidents.[14] In the city, the roof of one hotel and the porch of another were destroyed. Trees and awnings were damaged,[20] and thousands of windows were damaged.[14] The winds destroyed the roofs of an estimated 50 to 60 cottages.[17] The surf damaged or destroyed most fishing piers and oceanfront pavilions in the Atlantic City area, with tons of debris dispersed across the beach.[17] The strong winds, combined with heavy rainfall, resulted in one indirect fatality when a man, unable to see owing to the hurricane, drove into a train in Cape May.[17] In Asbury Park, the storm wrecked the roofs of six hotels. High waves damaged the boardwalks at Belmar and Allenhurst.[21] High winds heavily damaged fruit crops in Monmouth, Middlesex, and Hunterdon counties. Fruit trees were uprooted in Vineland, and in Flemington, about 75% of apples and pears were lost.[22] Damage across the state was estimated at $8 million (1903 USD); the worst of the damage occurred in Atlantic City, though moderate damage extended from Cape May northward through Asbury Park.[17][23]
More havoc was caused by yesterday's big storm than has been caused by any other storm in recent years.
The New York Times[24]
In New York, the outer periphery of the storm produced 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain in
The high waves and winds caused the greatest marine damage in a decade around New York City.[24] More than 100 boats were overturned or beached in Jamaica Bay, and another 150 boats were wrecked between Hell Gate and the west end of Coney Island.[26] At least ten houseboats were damaged or sank, with boaters injured and requiring rescue.[24] A man attempting to row ashore near Point O' Woods required rescue amid strong winds.[11] Passengers swam safely ashore after their boat capsized in Hell Gate.[24] President Theodore Roosevelt directly experienced the effects of the hurricane while vacationing on the naval yacht Sylph along Long Island. Also on the yacht were Roosvelt's wife, son, his secretary, several friends and members of the press association.[27] The yacht experienced gusty winds and heavy rainfall,[10] along with rough seas, and witnessed a boat capsizing in Hell Gate. Passengers left the deck of the yacht for safety while their belongings were secured. After the President was considered to be in danger, the yacht headed for land, and instead of embarking toward Ellis Island as originally planned, the yacht landed at Brooklyn Navy Yard.[27] Farther north, high winds downed many trees along coastal Connecticut, which cut telegraph and telephone lines in Bridgeport. A boy was killed in Hartford after stepping onto a downed power line. Several boats were washed ashore along the Connecticut coast. Farther inland, winds disrupted power in Leicester and damaged crops.[28]
See also
- List of New Jersey hurricanes
- east coast of the United Statesin 1821
- Hurricane Irene – struck just northeast of Atlantic City in 2011
- Hurricane Sandy – struck just northeast of Atlantic City in 2012 as an extratropical cyclone, becoming the fourth-costliest storm on record in the United States
- List of Delaware hurricanes
References
- ^ ISBN 0-945582-51-X.
- ^ a b c d e "Meteorological Data for Hurricane #4 (1903)". Hurricane Research Division. 2006. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ a b Jose Fernandez-Partagas (March 31, 1997). Storms of 1901-1904 (PDF) (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ a b c E. B. Garriott (1903). "September, 1903 Monthly Weather Review" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ Detailed List of Continental United States Hurricane Impacts/Landfalls 1851-1955, 1983-2015 (Report). Hurricane Research Division. March 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- ^ Anthony R. Wood (August 25, 2003). "Stormy story of the Shore peaked in 1903 That year, a hurricane hit Atlantic City". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- ^ Edward N. Rappaport; Jose Fernandez-Partagas (May 28, 1995). The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ "Storm was Ocean Born" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
- ^ a b c d North Shore WX (2007). "The New Jersey Hurricane of September 16, 1903". Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e David Roth (2001). "Early Twentieth Century Virginia Hurricanes". Weather Prediction Center. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ a b c Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1904. United States Treasury Department. 1904. pp. 96, 180, 384.
- ^ a b Continental United States Hurricane Impacts/Landfalls 1851-2015 (Report). Hurricane Research Division. March 2016. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ "Wrecks off Delaware" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Severe Storm Does Great Damage". The Piqua Daily Call. September 16, 1903. Retrieved July 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b c "Hurricane Works Awful Damage Along the Coast". The Washington Times. September 16, 1903. Retrieved July 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "News from Atlantic City" (PDF). The New York Times. September 19, 1903. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Hurricane Sweeps Atlantic Coast". Lincoln Evening News. September 16, 1903.
- ^ "Storm Sweeps Jersey Coast". Fort Wayne Sentinel. September 16, 1903.
- ^ "Damage at Atlantic City" (PDF). The New York Times. September 18, 1903. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ "Damage at Atlantic City" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ "Asbury Park's Season Ends" (PDF). The New York Times. September 19, 1903. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
- ^ "Destruction in New Jersey" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ "Shore of Atlantic Swept by Storm". The Daily Northwestern. September 16, 1903.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Furious Gale Lashes the City and Harbor" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ "Wrecks on Staten Island" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
- ^ "30 Dead as a Result of the Hurricane". The Marion Star. September 17, 1903. Retrieved July 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b "Mr. Roosevelt's Weather Gale". The Baltimore Morning Herald. September 17, 1903. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ "Almost a Hurricane". The Fitchburg Sentinel. September 17, 1903. Retrieved July 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com .