1940 Atlantic hurricane season
1940 Atlantic hurricane season | |
---|---|
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | May 19, 1940 |
Last system dissipated | November 8, 1940 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | Four |
• Maximum winds | 110 mph (175 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
• Lowest pressure | 961 mbar (hPa; 28.38 inHg) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Total depressions | 14 |
Total storms | 9 |
Hurricanes | 6 |
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 0 |
Total fatalities | 71 |
Total damage | $29.329 million (1940 USD) |
Related articles | |
The 1940 Atlantic hurricane season was a generally average period of
All three hurricanes in August brought flooding rainfall to areas of the United States. The
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 68 units,[4] below the 1931–1943 average of 91.2.[5] ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.[4]
Timeline
Systems
Tropical Storm One
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | May 19 – May 25 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min); <996 mbar (hPa) |
On May 18, a weak
Hurricane Two
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | August 3 – August 10 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min); 972 mbar (hPa) |
The 1940 Louisiana Hurricane
On August 3, an
Reports of a potentially destructive hurricane near the
Hurricane Three
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | August 5 – August 14 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min); 972 mbar (hPa) |
The 1940 South Carolina Hurricane
A storm of potentially
The hurricane dropped torrential rainfall over the
Hurricane Four
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | August 26 – September 2 |
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Peak intensity | 110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min); 961 mbar (hPa) |
On August 26, a low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical cyclone. Moving slowly in a general west-northwest motion, the disturbance intensified, reaching tropical storm strength on August 28 and subsequently hurricane intensity on August 30.[3] The hurricane passed within 85 mi (137 km) of Cape Hatteras before recurving towards the northeast.[6] However, the hurricane continued to intensify, and reached peak intensity as a modern-day Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 961 mbar (961 hPa; 28.4 inHg), though these statistical peaks were achieved at different times on September 2. Afterwards, the tropical cyclone began a weakening trend as it proceeded northward, and had degenerated into a tropical storm by the time it made its first landfall on Nova Scotia later that day.[3] The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the next day while making another landfall on New Brunswick. The extratropical remnants persisted into Quebec before merging with a larger extratropical system late on September 3.[2][6]
Despite not making landfall on the United States,[2] the hurricane caused widespread damage.[16] Extensive precautionary measures were undertaken across the coast, particularly in New England. The heightened precautions were due in part to fears that effects from the storm would be similar to that of a devastating hurricane which struck the region two years prior.[17] Most of the damage associated with the hurricane occurred in New Jersey, where the combination of moisture from the hurricane and a stationary front produced record rainfall, peaking at 24 in (610 mm) in the town of Ewan. This would make the storm the wettest in state history.[18] The resultant floods damaged infrastructure, mostly to road networks. Damage in the state amounted to $4 million.[16] Further north in New England, strong winds were reported, though damage remained minimal.[6] Although the storm made two landfalls in Atlantic Canada, damage there too was minimal, and was limited to several boating incidents caused by strong waves.[19] Overall, the hurricane caused $4.05 million in damage, primarily due to flooding in New Jersey, and seven fatalities.[16]
Hurricane Five
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 7 – September 17 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min); <988 mbar (hPa) |
A
While off of the United States East Coast, the hurricane caused numerous shipping incidents, most notably the stranding of the Swedish freighter Laponia off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on September 16. Two other boat incidents resulted in two deaths.[21] The hurricane also brought strong winds of tropical storm-force and snow over areas of New England. In Atlantic Canada, a strong storm surge peaking at 4 ft (1.2 m) above average sunk or damaged several ships and inundated cities. In New Brunswick, the waves hurt the lobster fishing industry. In Nova Scotia, strong winds disrupted telecommunication and power services. The winds also severely damaged crops.[20] Roughly half of apple production in Annapolis Valley was lost during the storm, resulting in around $1.49 million in economic losses.[22] Strong winds in New Brunswick caused moderate to severe infrastructural damage, and additional damages to crops occurred there.[20] Overall, the hurricane caused three fatalities, with two off of the United States and one in New Brunswick.[20][21]
Tropical Storm Six
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 18 – September 25 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min); 1002 mbar (hPa) |
A westward moving tropical depression developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea just west of
Upon making landfall, the tropical storm produced strong winds over a wide area. The strongest winds were reported by a station in
Hurricane Seven
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 22 – September 28 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min); <977 mbar (hPa) |
In late September, a tropical wave persisted in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The low-pressure area later became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical storm at 0000 UTC on September 22.[6][3] The disturbance quickly organized after tropical cyclogenesis, and reached a strength equivalent to a modern-day Category 1 hurricane strength at 1800 UTC later that day.[6] The American steamship Otho encountered the system that day, and reported gale-force winds in conjunction with a peripheral barometric pressure of 996 mbar (996 hPa; 29.4 inHg).[25] The tropical cyclone continued to the east-northeast, where it gradually intensified. At 1200 UTC on September 23, the hurricane attained modern-day Category 2 hurricane intensity with winds of 100 mbar (155 km/h); a peak which would be maintained for at least the following 12 hours.[3] A second steamship, the Lobito, reported hurricane-force winds along with a minimum pressure of 977 mbar (977 hPa; 28.9 inHg); this would be the lowest pressure measured associated with the tropical cyclone.[25] After reaching peak intensity, the hurricane began a weakening trend, and degenerated to a Category 1 hurricane at 0600 UTC as it passed over the Azores.[3] The following day, the hurricane recurved westward, where it weakened before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on September 28.[6] This remnant system subsequently dissipated.[3]
As the hurricane passed over the Azores, several weather stations reported low barometric pressures,
Hurricane Eight
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | October 20 – October 24 |
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Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min); <983 mbar (hPa) |
On October 19, a low-pressure area moved into the southwestern Caribbean Sea.[2] The area of disturbed weather quickly became well-organized,[2] and was analyzed to have become a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on October 20.[3] Initially, the tropical cyclone moved very slowly towards the west and then the northwest. Shortly after formation, the disturbance intensified into a tropical storm at 1800 UTC later that day.[3] The S.S. Cristobal provided the first indications of a tropical cyclone in the region, after reporting strong gusts and low pressures north of the Panama Canal Zone during that evening.[2] Continuing to intensify, the storm reached hurricane intensity at 0600 UTC on October 22.[3] Several vessels in the storm's vicinity reported strong gusts and rough seas generated by the storm.[2] Later that day at 1200 UTC, the ship S.S. Castilla reported a minimum pressure of 983 mbar (983 hPa; 29.0 inHg) near the periphery of the storm. Based on this observation, the hurricane was estimated to have reached intensity at the same time with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).[6] The hurricane subsequently curved west and then southwest, before making its only landfall in northern Nicaragua at 1900 UTC on October 23 at peak intensity. Once inland, the tropical cyclone rapidly weakened over mountainous terrain, and dissipated at 1200 UTC the following day.[3] Reports of damage were limited, though a report stated that considerable damage had occurred where the hurricane made landfall.[2]
Tropical Storm Nine
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | October 24 – October 26 |
---|---|
Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min); <1007 mbar (hPa) |
On October 23, an open trough was centered north of Hispaniola near the
Tropical depressions
In addition to the storms which attained at least tropical storm strength in 1940, five additional tropical depressions were analyzed by the HURDAT reanalysis project to have developed during the season. Due to their weak intensity, however, they were not added to HURDAT.
On October 7, a large elongated extratropical cyclone extended across the Atlantic Ocean with a pressure of at most 1,015 mbar (1,015 hPa; 30.0 inHg). The following day, the low-pressure area became more narrow and well-defined, with its central pressure deepening to 1,000 mbar (1,000 hPa; 30 inHg). On October 9, the extratropical system was analyzed to have become a tropical depression. The low moved slowly to the northeast and gradually weakened before dissipating on October 10. On October 14, offshore observations indicated that a tropical depression had developed north of The Bahamas. The following day, however, the depression became less defined and degenerated into a trough of low pressure. On October 16, two ships listed in the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set reported winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) off the coast of North Carolina. However, since these reports occurred in a higher pressure gradient, the system was not included in HURDAT.[6]
On November 2, a trough of low-pressure was analyzed near the Lesser Antilles. The system moved westward into the Caribbean Sea without much organization. On November 7, the low-pressure area moved south of Cuba and became sufficiently organized to be considered a tropical depression with a pressure of at least 1,010 mbar (1,010 hPa; 30 inHg). The depression moved over Cuba and into the Atlantic, where it dissipated the following day. On November 9, a second system was detected northeast of Bermuda with a pressure of 1,005 mbar (1,005 hPa; 29.7 inHg), though it remained unclear whether the two systems were related.[6]
Season effects
Saffir–Simpson scale | ||||||
TD | TS | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 |
Storm name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) |
Min. press. (mbar) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Ref(s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
One | May 19 – May 25 | Tropical storm | 65 (100) | <995 | None | None | None | |||
Two | August 3 – August 10 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 (155) | 972 | Southern United States (Texas, Louisiana) | $10.75 million | 7 | [9][10] | ||
Three | August 5 – August 14 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 (155) | 972 | Mid-Atlantic states
|
$13 million | 52 | [2] | ||
Four | August 26 – September 2 | Category 2 hurricane | 110 (175) | 961 | Mid-Atlantic states, New England, Atlantic Canada | $4.05 million | 7 | [16] | ||
Five | September 7 – September 17 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 (155) | <988 | New England, Atlantic Canada | $1.49 million | 3 | [20][21][22] | ||
Six | September 18 – September 25 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 1002 | Central America, Southern United States | $39,000 | 2 | [24] | ||
Seven | September 22 – September 28 | Category 2 hurricane | 100 (155) | <977 | Azores | None | None | |||
Eight | October 20 – October 24 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | <983 | Nicaragua | Unknown | None | |||
Nine | October 24 – October 26 | Tropical storm | 45 (75) | <1007 | None | None | None | |||
Season aggregates | ||||||||||
9 systems | May 19 – October 26 | 110 (175) | 961 | $29.3 million | 71 |
See also
- 1940 Pacific hurricane season
- 1940 Pacific typhoon season
- 1900–1950 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
- 1940s Australian region cyclone seasons
- 1940s South Pacific cyclone seasons
Notes
- ^ An average season, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has twelve tropical storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.[1]
- ^ HURDAT is an official database listing the locations and intensities of Atlantic hurricanes since 1851.
- ^ All damage totals are in 1940 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.
- ^ British Honduras, formerly a British Overseas Territory, attained its independence in 1981, becoming the country of Belize.[23] The region is referred as British Honduras in the article.
References
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ . Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". Hurricane Research Division. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. September 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- S2CID 1785238. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Landsea, Christopher W.; Atlantic Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory; et al. (December 2012). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ "Gale Blows 90 Miles Per Hour". San Jose News. Port Arthur, Texas. United Press. August 7, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
- ^ "Port Arthur Citizens Flee Coming Storm". The Tuscaloosa News. Port Arthur, Texas. Associated Press. August 7, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Roth, David M; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Louisiana Hurricane History (PDF). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c Roth, David M; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Texas Hurricane History (PDF). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
- ^ "Hurricanes in Louisiana History". thecajuns.com. March 25, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ Ivan Ray Tannehill (1943). Hurricanes. Princeton University Press. pp. 250–251.
- ^ Roth, David M.; Weather Prediction Center. "Southeast Hurricane - August 10-18 1940". Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima. Silver Spring, Maryland: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ Roth, David M.; Weather Prediction Center. "Early Twentieth Century". Silver Spring, Maryland: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Laurelmor and Landslides". WNCSOS. March 5, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "New Jersey Fights To Prevent Disease". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Camden, New Jersey. Associated Press. September 2, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "Storm Veers Away From New England". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. September 2, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ a b Schoner, R.W.; Molansky, S.; Hydrologic Services Division (July 1956). "Rainfall Associated With Hurricanes (And Other Tropical Disturbances)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Hurricane Research Project. pp. 262–263. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ Environment Canada (November 12, 2009). "1940-4". Storm Impact Summaries. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Environment Canada (November 13, 2009). "1940-5". Storm Impact Summaries. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Hurricane Hits Steamer; Rescue Ship Draws Near". The Evening Independent. New York, New York. Associated Press. September 16, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Diminishes After Causing $1,000,000 Damage in Canadian Area". St. Petersburg Times. Halifax, Nova Scotia. United Press. September 18, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ "Belize country profile". BBC News. August 2, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ . Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ . Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Clippers Again Are Delayed". The New York Times. September 27, 1940. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- . Retrieved October 5, 2021.