1932 Florida–Alabama hurricane

Add links
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

1932 Florida–Alabama hurricane
Midwest United States, Ontario, Quebec
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1932 Florida–Alabama hurricane was a

Category 1 hurricane, before subsequently making its final landfall near the Mississippi–Alabama border on September 1. Over land, the hurricane weakened, and after becoming an extratropical cyclone on September 2, merged with another extratropical system over Quebec
on September 4.

At the storm's initial landfall in southern Florida, heavy rains and strong winds caused extensive damage to

hurricane force winds were produced across a wide swath of the coast. Agricultural lands in coastal regions of Mississippi and Alabama were damaged by strong winds and heavy rain. The hurricane caused one indirect death and $228,500 in total damages across its path.[nb 1]

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

A

Fort Myers.[1]

After entering the gulf, the tropical storm proceeded to organize, strengthening into hurricane intensity early on August 31. As it curved more towards the north, the hurricane eventually made landfall near the

transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over northern Mississippi the following day, after subsequently developing frontal boundaries.[2] The extratropical system strengthened slightly as it accelerated towards the northeast, but was later absorbed by a larger extratropical system over Quebec by 1800 UTC on September 4.[3]

Preparations, impact, and aftermath

Map of rainfall amounts, shown in contours.
Rainfall totals from the hurricane's second landfall

Florida

Prior to the storm's first landfall in southern Florida, the

relief agencies were also preparing supplies in the event of an emergency. In Pahokee and Belle Glade, an estimated 2,000 people evacuated to Okeechobee, fearing a repeat of the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.[4]

Most of the damage associated with the tropical storm's first landfall in Florida was confined south of

Everglades, Florida also went down during the storm.[7] Strong winds were responsible for destroying 2–25% of avocado and citrus trees along the path of the tropical storm.[3] Grapefruit crops also suffered loses due to strong winds.[4] Firefighters in Hollywood were forced to stop extinguishing a fire after winds damaged their equipment. The fire would eventually cause $20,000 in damages.[7] Offshore, a 60 ft (18 m) long boat that was towed out of Biscayne Bay for dredging operations partially sank due to the rough seas.[4]

Before the hurricane's second landfall, another hurricane warning was issued for portions of the state, for areas of the coast from

wharves. The strong surf alone was responsible for about $1,000 in damages.[3] Strong storm surge off of Pensacola caused water levels that were the highest in the area in several years.[10] Sections of a pier at Pensacola Beach were washed away by the strong waves.[11] Five fishermen were initially reported drowned after their fishing boat struck a reef and was swamped by the storm surge in Pensacola Bay.[12] However, the men were later reported safe at a coast guard life saving station. The misreport was likely due a lack of communication with the station.[13] Another three men went missing after they departed in a small boat in aid of another boat offshore Pensacola.[12]

Inland effects of the hurricane's second landfall in Florida were mostly confined to areas of the

signboards. In Pensacola Beach, communications were disrupted due to the storm.[13]
A 12–year old boy in Pensacola died after touching an active
electric wire that had fallen during the storm.[10][11] Total damages in the Pensacola area were estimated to amount to around $100,000.[3]

Mississippi and Alabama

Hurricane warnings were posted by the Weather Bureau for the entire Alabama coast, and portions of the Mississippi coast from Biloxi eastward prior to the storm.[5] Merchants in potentially affected areas prepared their stores ahead of the hurricane.[8] The potential storm surge threat forced boats in Biloxi to be taken to shelter in a nearby landlocked harbor.[11]

Bayou LaBatre and Bayou Coden in Mobile.[15] Total property damage in the city amounted to $105,000 in damages.[16] In Gulfport, Mississippi, damage was confined primarily to trees, communication lines, and small craft.[15] Further inland, the hurricane spawned an F2 tornado 3 mi (4.8 km) southwest of Troy, Alabama on September 1. The tornado destroyed two homes and several barns and injured four people in its 6 mi (9.7 km) path,[17] causing $2,500 in damages.[16]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All damage totals are in 1932 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1932)60<177:TTSOAI>2.0.CO;2
    . Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Landsea, Chris; et al. "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  4. ^
    The Evening Independent
    . Fort Myers, Florida. Associated Press. August 30, 1932. p. 1,4. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  5. ^
    The Evening Independent. Associated Press
    . August 31, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "County Escapes Damage From Tropical Storm". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Washington, D.C. Associated Press. August 31, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Southern Florida Escapes Fury Of Hurricane Winds". Greensburg Daily Tribune. Washington, D.C. United Press International. August 30, 1932. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Southern Florida Reports Little Loss". The Tuscaloosa News. Tampa, Florida. Associated Press. August 31, 1932. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "Gulf Storm Lashes Apalachicola, FLA". The New York Times. September 1, 1932. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Pensacola Center of Tropical Disturbance". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Pensacola, Florida. Associated Press. August 31, 1932. p. 12. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c "Tropical Disturbance is Moving With Force Being Greatly Diminished Today". Times Daily. Mobile, Alabama. Associated Press. September 1, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Tropical Disturbance Moving With Force". Times Daily. Pensacola, Florida. Associated Press. September 1, 1932. p. 1,3. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Warnings Posted of Hurricane Are Heeded in Ports". Pensacola, Florida. Associated Press. August 31, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Schoner, R.W.; Molansky, S. "Rainfall Associated With Hurricanes (And Other Tropical Disturbances)" (PDF). United States Weather Bureau's National Hurricane Research Project. p. 84. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Tropical Storm In South Diminishing". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Mobile, Alabama. Associated Press. September 1, 1932. p. 1,10. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  16. ^
    doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1932)60<191:SLSS>2.0.CO;2
    . Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  17. ^ Birmingham, Alabama National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office (September 24, 2012). "Alabama Tornadoes 1932". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Ser. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1932_Florida–Alabama_hurricane&oldid=1170502435"