1931 British Honduras hurricane

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1931 Belize hurricane
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1931 British Honduras hurricane
Surface weather analysis of the hurricane on 10 September
Meteorological history
Formed6 September 1931 (6 September 1931)
Dissipated13 September 1931 (13 September 1931)
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds130 mph (215 km/h)
Lowest pressure952 mbar (hPa); 28.11 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities2,500
Damage$7.5 million (1931 USD)
Areas affected
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1931 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1931 British Honduras hurricane was the deadliest hurricane in the history of

Tampico, Mexico
, as a tropical storm on 13 September. Once inland, the storm quickly weakened and dissipated later that day.

Possibly due to celebrations of the anniversary of the defeat of Spanish conquerors by the British in 1798, there was little warning of the storm in British Honduras. At St. George's Caye, many structures were washed away by abnormally high tides and storm surge. Belize City was devastated, with the entire city being inundated with at least 5 ft (1.5 m) of water. Property on six streets was completely swept away, while overall 70% of the city was destroyed. Among the buildings severely damaged or demolished included many buildings and resident halls at St. John's College and the U.S. Embassy building; the Consul suffered fatal injuries during the collapse of the building. Further inland, severe damage to agriculture occurred. Overall, the storm left $7.5 million (1931 USD) in damage.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The hurricane began as a

tropical storm over the eastern Caribbean Sea. Owing to a lack of ship observations, data on the storm were scarce in that region. The first ship to identify the storm clearly was the tanker Geo H. Jones, which recorded strong winds in conjunction with rapidly decreasing barometric pressures late on 7 September.[4] As the storm remained west-northwest bound across the Caribbean,[5] more ships were able to record data on the cyclone.[2]

It is estimated that at 18:00 UTC on 8 September, the tropical storm attained hurricane intensity. Intensification remained gradual until the hurricane moved into the

Tampico, Mexico, with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) at around 00:00 UTC on 13 September.[2] Over the mountainous terrain of Mexico, the storm quickly weakened, and dissipated later on 13 September.[5]

Preparations, impact, and aftermath

Convent in Belize City after the hurricane

The day of the hurricane, 10 September, is also a national holiday for British Honduras, on which many locals gather in the streets to celebrate the Battle Of St. George's Caye.[6] It is widely believed that the hurricane struck without any warning, although some recent historians have disputed this. In his column for The Belize Times on 5 September 2004, Emory King claimed that Belizean authorities withheld continuous warnings from U.S. ships in the region of a possible hurricane strike on British Honduras so the festivities would not be interrupted.[7] King cited as evidence a letter dated 24 September 1931, from a local radio operator to the Colonial Secretary in which the warnings were discussed, adding that "perhaps none of [the authorities] had ever been in a hurricane and didn't know exactly how bad it was going to be."[8] Additionally, there was also belief among residents of Belize City that the reefs would provide a barrier against large tidal waves.[9]

The remains of St. John's College

Storm surge, abnormally high tides, and strong winds resulted in severe damage and many deaths in Belize City. The entire city was inundated with 5 ft (1.5 m) of water. Numerous boats were swept far inland, including a 200-ton dredge. Properties on six streets were completely swept away,[10] while 70% of the city overall was destroyed.[11] The U.S. Embassy building was severely damaged, after water reached the second floor. Giles Russell Taggart, the Consul, suffered injuries after the building collapsed that were ultimately fatal.[12] At St. John's College, several buildings and resident halls were extensively damaged or destroyed.[13] Government radio facilities in Belize City were cut out during the storm.[14] Several American priests in the city were killed during the storm.[15] Within a 25 mi (40 km) radius of Belize City and about 40 mi (64 km) upstream the Belize River, all agricultural plantations were obliterated.[16] Offshore at St. George's Caye, structures were completely destroyed, while 24 deaths occurred there.[17] Overall, damage in the country reached approximately $7.5 million.[2] The storm left approximately 2,500 deaths, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of Belize.[18]

The British government requested for the United States to send vessels to assist those affected by the storm.

Managua, Nicaragua, to send $2,500 worth of medical supplies to affected areas of British Honduras.[14] Throughout the city, relief kitchens were set up. The Government of British Honduras eventually began burning areas with debris and bodies, to prevent spread of disease.[17] Monrad Metzgen, a lieutenant of the British Honduras Defense Force, became responsible for the rescue of persons trapped, feeding those without shelter, and the burial of the deceased. For his efforts, Metzgen received an Order of the British Empire award from King George V of the United Kingdom.[19]

Authorities of Belize City considered abandoning the community and moving it to higher ground.[17] Additionally, there was a proposal to relocate the capital further south or inland to the pine ridge, with either resulting in a higher elevation of the capital.[20] However, the process of moving the capital did not begin until 1961, after Belize City was devastated by Hurricane Hattie. Belmopan became the capital city of British Honduras in 1970.[21][22]

Due to the weak intensity of the storm and a rural landfall location in Mexico, there were few observations of weather related to the storm in the country. In Tampico, located south of where the storm made landfall, winds reached only 20 mph (32 km/h).[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Weather map of tropical system 193106 on August 29, 1931 (JPG) (Weather map). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 29 August 1931. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Christopher W. Landsea; et al. Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  3. ^ Weather map of tropical system 193106 on September 1, 1931 (JPG) (Weather map). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1 September 1931. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. ^
    doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1931)59<364b:TSOSIN>2.0.CO;2
    . Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "September 10th: Belize Celebrates Battle of St. George's Caye". The San Pedro Sun. San Pedro, Belize. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  7. ^ "(Author name withheld) From the publisher [Letter to the editor]" (PDF). Amandala. Belize City, Belize. 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  8. ^ Ann-Marie Williams (31 October 2000). "1931 Hurricane myth disputed". Channel 5 Belize. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  9. ISBN 9789686233001
    . Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Belize Swept by Hurricane and Tidal Wave". The Northern Times. Washington, D.C. 17 September 1931. p. 3. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  11. ^ "400 Believed Dead in Hurricane". The Register-Guard. Mexico City, Mexico. Associated Press. 11 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  12. ^ "U.S. Embassy Chancery Building (1981 - 2006) Belize City". Arlington County, Virginia: United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Funeral Pyres Blaze as Ruined City Burns Dead". Chicago Tribune. Belize, British Honduras. Associated Press. 14 September 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  14. ^ a b c "200 Lives Lost In Tropic Hurricanes". The Free-Lance Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. 11 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  15. ^ "Americans Lose Lives In Tornado". The Free-Lance Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. 11 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  16. ^ "British Honduras. Toll of the Hurricane". The Sydney Morning Herald. London, United Kingdom. 12 October 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "Thousand Killed In Caribbean Hurricanes". South Australian Register. New York City, New York. 14 September 1931. p. 9. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  18. ^ Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (22 April 1997). The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996: Cyclones with 25+ Deaths. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  19. ^ "Belizean National Heroes". Belize National Library Service and Information System. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  20. ^ A Town Planning Scheme for Belize. Government Printer. 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  21. ^ Theodore A. Ediger (5 November 1961). "Battered School Shelters 200 Refugees in Belize". The Evening Independent. Vol. 3, no. 29. Belize City, British Honduras. Associated Press. p. 3A. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Hurricane 'Edith' Deepens Rapidly". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Vol. 46, no. 342. Associated Press. 7 September 1971. pp. 1A, 4A. Retrieved 10 January 2013.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1931 Belize hurricane.
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