1927 Nova Scotia hurricane
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | August 18, 1927 |
Extratropical | August 25, 1927 |
Dissipated | August 29, 1927 |
Category 3 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 125 mph (205 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 950 mbar (hPa); 28.05 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 173–192 |
Damage | $1.6 million (1927 USD) |
Areas affected | New England, Atlantic Canada |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1927 Atlantic hurricane season |
The 1927 Nova Scotia hurricane (also known as the 1927 Great August Gale or the Great Gale of August 24) was the deadliest
In
Meteorological history
The
Thereafter, the storm accelerated toward Atlantic Canada. Around 18:00 UTC on August 24, the hurricane made its closest approach to the United States, passing about 60 mi (100 km) southeast of
Preparations and impact
Shipping ahead of the hurricane received repeated warnings broadcast by both American and Canadian weather officials. Small craft warnings and a hurricane warning for New York City were also issued.[4] However, the majority of fishing vessels in Atlantic Canada in this period did not have radios, leaving the large fishing fleet on the offshore banks unaware of the approaching disaster.[5]
Because of the fast forward speed of the hurricane, the damage was minimal in New England.[2] However, the hurricane was devastating in Atlantic Canada as the storm caused tremendous damage and 173-192 fatalities, most of which were at sea. The hurricane was the deadliest tropical cyclone (or remnants) in Canada at least since a hurricane in 1900.[6]
New England
Rainfall from the hurricane caused flooding portions of New England, especially Maine and Massachusetts. In the latter, up to 3 in (76 mm) of precipitation was recorded in Lawrence, a daily record for the city. Dirt roads were washed out, forcing evacuations, while a 50 ft (15 m) stone wall collapsed. Damage reached the thousands of dollars range. In nearby Shawsheen Village, a pond overflowed, inundating yards and streets.[7] Rainfall from the hurricane contributed to causing the Taunton River to reach its then-highest known crest at some locations, forcing floodgates to be opened. Route 24 was inundated with over 1 ft (0.30 m) of water, while several other roads were also flooded. Street cars stalled or were delayed as long as 45 minutes. About a half-dozen locations along the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad from Brockton to Middleborough were inundated with between 6 and 10 in (150 and 250 mm) of water, resulting in a difficult passage of trains over the low-lying grades.[8] In Maine, precipitation up to 2 in (50.8 mm) was reported across the state, causing isolated street flooding. In Eastport, a weather station reported a low pressure of 983 mbar (29.0 inHg).[9] Offshore, the hurricane damaged a fishing ship, leaving one dead and three injured.[10]
Atlantic Canada
Rank | Hurricane | Season | Fatalities |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Newfoundland (1)" | 1775 | 4,000–4,163† |
2 | "Nova Scotia (1)" | 1873 | 600† |
3 | "Nova Scotia (3)" | 1927 | 173–192† |
4 | "Labrador" | 1882 | 140 |
5 | Hazel | 1954 | 81 |
6 | "Newfoundland (2)" | 1883 | 80 |
7 | "Nova Scotia (2)" | 1926 | 55–58† |
8 | "Galveston" | 1900 | 52–232† |
9 | "Newfoundland (3)" | 1935 | 50† |
10 | "Saxby Gale" | 1869 | 37+ |
† – Estimated total | |||
Source: NOAA[11] |
Ship name | Crew lost |
---|---|
John C. Loughlin | 23–28 |
Loretta | |
Valena | |
Vienna | |
Columbia | 23 |
Joyce Smith | 22–24 |
Clayton Walters | 21–22 |
Mahala | 20 |
Uda R. Corkum | 19 |
Hilda Gertrude | 8 |
Annie Healey | 7 |
Unnamed schooner | 7 |
Ella | 6 |
Unnamed skiff | 6 |
Stanley Hubley | 4 |
McLaughlan | 2 |
Mystery II | 2 |
Sligo | 2 |
Julie Oppall | 1 |
Mary Bernice | 1 |
Noxall | 1 |
Annie Jean | All |
Haligonian | All |
Total | 175–183+ |
Nova Scotia received heavy rainfall up to 4 in (102 mm) and gale-force winds. The hardest hit area was Harbourville and adjacent settlements along the "Bay Shore" coastline of the Bay of Fundy.[13] There the hurricane completely destroyed a gravel road which had been built shortly before the storm's impact. Another road connecting to a hotel was also severely damaged. Heavy rainfall brought by the hurricane caused landslides and flooding along the Harbourville Mountain which washed out numerous roads.[12] In the Annapolis Valley, the rainfall fell so quickly that drainage ditches and small creeks overflowed. In Lakeville, flooding washed away a 25-foot (7.6 m) bridge, and fallen trees and other storm debris littered the streets and roads. The Cornwallis River overflowed its banks, causing serious flash flooding. Near Harrington's Crossing, a small creek overflowed its banks, stalling numerous automobiles.[14] Roads were extensively impacted in Digby, Wolfville, Yarmouth, and Annapolis County, which suffered $150,000 in damage to streets alone. Overall, there was about $500,000 in damage to roads in Nova Scotia.[12]
In
Wind gusts in Newfoundland as strong as 90 mph (140 km/h) at the Corner Brook subdivision of Curling caused about $500 in damage to circus tents and associated equipment.[12] In New Brunswick, precipitation peaked at 3.3 in (84 mm) in Saint John. A car tumbled into washed out culvert in Horseman's Hill, injuring three people. Several bridges and culvert were destroyed in Springhill. A dam broke near University of St. Joseph's College, severely flooding the campus and demolishing the gymnasium. Throughout the province, streets, bridges, gardens, and crops, particularly hay and grain, were damaged, while railroad lines were destroyed. Power outages and loss of telephone services were common. Damage in New Brunswick totaled at least $51,000. In Prince Edward Island, 2 in (51 mm) of rain fell in Charlottetown and winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) were observed. The city was littered with debris. Generally minor street flooding occurred. Fruit trees and crops suffered extensive damage. At the exhibition grounds, buildings and fences received about $1,000 in damage.[12]
Offshore, seventy-five fishing boats of the Lunenburg fishing fleet were reported missing in the
The Nova Scotia hurricane of 1927 followed another tragic August storm the previous year and together they became known as "The August Gales", remembered for generations as one of the worst tragedies in the fisheries of Maritime Canada. The severe shipping losses, especially among banks fishing schooners, accelerated a move to outfit Canadian schooners with motors and radios. Today, the hurricane is commemorated in a waterfront monument and an exhibit at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.[22]
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Canada hurricanes
- 1926 Nova Scotia hurricane
- Hurricane Bill (2009)
- Hurricane Earl (2010)
Notes
- USD using the exchange rates listed in the September 1927 Federal Reserve Bulletin.[1]
References
- Federal Reserve System. September 1927. p. 662. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Christopher W. Landsea; et al. (December 2012). Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- . Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ F. W. Wallace (1945). The Canadian Fisheries Manual 1914–1944. Inland Press. p. 10.
- ^ "Notable Canadian Tropical Cyclones". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Moncton, New Brunswick: Environment Canada. Canadian Hurricane Centre. July 23, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ "Flood Conditions in Taunton District". Brockton, Massachusetts: Fitchburg Sentinel. Associated Press. August 24, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved July 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wayne Cotterly. Hurricanes affecting Maine (PDF) (Report). p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ "Heavy Loss In Storm Off Banks Feared". The Hartford Courant. Boston, Massachusetts. Associated Press. August 26, 1927. Retrieved December 20, 2015. (subscription required)
- ^ Rappaport, Edward N; Fernandez-Partagas, Jose (January 1995). The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 – 1994 (PDF) (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-47). United States National Hurricane Center. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f 1927-1. Canadian Hurricane Centre (Report). Moncton, New Brunswick: Environment Canada. November 19, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ Mika (1982). Place-Names and Places of Nova Scotia (Report). Public Archives of Nova Scotia. pp. 279–28.0
- ^ a b E. W. Kapple (August 31, 1927). "Valley Ravaged By Terrific Storm". The Register. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Gales of 1926 and 1927". Lost At Sea. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Feared Lost in the Great Gale of August 24". The Bridgewater Bulletin. September 6, 1927. Archived from the original on September 6, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Listed as Lost". The Bridgewater Bulletin. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. September 11, 1927. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Uda R. Corkum-1927". Nova Scotia Museum Marine Heritage Database (Report). Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
- ^ "Eighty Men Drowned and Monetary". The Bridgewater Bulletin. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. September 27, 1927. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Four Schooners Foundered With All on Board – Damage Beyond Estimation". The Bridgewater Bulletin. St. John's, Newfoundland. August 30, 1927. Archived from the original on September 17, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Columbia-1927". Nova Scotia Museum Marine Heritage Database (Report). Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
- ^ "The August Gales". Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2017.