1936 Mid-Atlantic hurricane

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1936 Mid-Atlantic hurricane
United States East Coast, Atlantic Canada
Part of the 1936 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1936 Mid-Atlantic hurricane (also referred to as 1936 Outer Banks hurricane) was the most intense

Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale, the hurricane abruptly recurved out to sea near Virginia on September 18 without ever making landfall and transitioned into a hurricane-strength extratropical cyclone early the next day.[2]

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

On September 9, ships observed signs of a potentially developing tropical disturbance in the central Atlantic Ocean. The first reports of such

tropical storm strength by 18:00 UTC later that day. At the time, the system was tracking northwestward.[4] The following day, ships continued to report rough seas generated by the storm approximately 250 mi (400 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.[1] On September 10, westerly winds south of the storm's estimated position were reported, confirming the existence of a closed circulation center and justifying the system's classification as a fully-tropical cyclone.[2] Gradual intensification continued, and at 00:00 UTC on September 12, it is estimated that the tropical storm intensified to hurricane intensity. At roughly the same time, the hurricane also began to track a more northerly course.[4]

Moving through favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development, intensification continued, and it is estimated that the hurricane reached an intensity equivalent to that of a

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. At the time, the tropical cyclone was the equivalent of a modern-day Category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 964 mbar (hPa; 28.47 inHg).[2][4] The hurricane passed roughly the same distance from the Virginia coastline before abruptly recurving off to sea.[2]

As it began to recurve away from the Eastern Seaboard, the hurricane continued to weaken. The tropical cyclone was analyzed to have weakened to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale by 18:00 UTC on September 18. Due to its continued progression towards more northerly latitudes, the hurricane began to transition into an extratropical cyclone — a process which was completed by 12:00 UTC on September 19.[2][4] Afterwards, the transitioned cyclone began to trek eastward.[4] The extratropical system retained winds equivalent to that of a hurricane until after 00:00 UTC on September 22. For reasons which remain unclear, the cyclone drastically slowed in forward speed and began heading towards the north until September 25, by which time the storm resumed its easterly bearing. The system was estimated to have dissipated by 18:00 UTC that day, as the low-pressure area became extremely large and broad in its circulation.[2]

Preparations

On September 16, the

Sandy Hook, New Jersey were changed to whole gale warnings on September 18; these warnings were later extended northward to Provincetown, Massachusetts. All warnings were discontinued by the time the extratropical storm moved out of the area.[1]

Prior to the storm, the

cutters to the southern U.S. Atlantic coast to monitor and prepare to render aid to other ships in the path of the approaching hurricane.[8]

Impact

Atlantic Ocean

While in the central Atlantic, the Norwegian steamship Torvangen was struck by turbulent seas caused by the hurricane 500 mi (800 km) north of

cutter Unalaga and the Panamanian steamship F.J. Wolfe were also dispatched to assess the situation.[10] After temporary impromptu repairs were made, the Torvangen was escorted to Bermuda.[11]

Nova Scotia

Passing south of

car accident; three people were injured as a result. In the Annapolis Valley, the rains caused thousands of dollars in damage to grain crops. However, apple crops in the region were unaffected. Floodwaters caused Wrights River Lake in Antigonish to overflow its banks. A person attempting to swim in the lake later drowned. In Liver Pool, the rains disrupted communication networks and flooded gardens and cellars. Rivers overflowed their banks in Truro, flooding flats. Numerous roads in the province were flooded and washed out. In Shelburne
, roads were inundated under 3 ft (1 m) of water.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ HURDAT is the official hurricane database used by the National Hurricane Center which lists track data on tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean of at least tropical storm strength since 1851.[3]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1936)64<297:TDS>2.0.CO;2. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on March 3, 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Landsea, Chris; Atlantic Oceanic Meteorological Laborartory (December 2012). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. ^ Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (2006). "NOAA Revisits Historic Hurricanes". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Hurricane Likely To Miss Florida". The Telegraph-Herald. Vol. 98, no. 57. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. September 16, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Hurricane Moving Toward U.S. Coast". Prescott Evening Courier. Prescott, Arizona. Associated Press. September 17, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Hurricane Will Rake Seaboard, Bureau Advises". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Associated Press. September 17, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Ten U.S. Cutters Ready To Give Aid". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Associated Press. September 17, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Hurricane Batters Norwegian Steamer". Lewiston Evening Journal. Vol. 74. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. September 15, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Season's Worst Hurricane Roars On Shipping Lanes". The Painsville Telegraph. Vol. 115, no. 52. Painesville, Ohio. Associated Press. September 15, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Disabled Boat Limps To Port". Sarasota Herald. Vol. 11, no. 295. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. September 15, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
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