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Hurricane Five
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Surface map of the storm on October 10
FormedOctober 9, 1910 (1910-10-09)
DissipatedOctober 23, 1910 (1910-10-24)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 150 mph (240 km/h)
Lowest pressure≤ 924 mbar (hPa); 27.29 inHg
Fatalities≥113
DamageAt least $1.25 million (1910 USD)
Areas affectedCuba, Florida
Part of the 1910 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1910 Cuba hurricane, popularly known as the Cyclone of the Five Days, was an unusual and destructive

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. That same day, the hurricane moved in a counterclockwise loop and hit Cuba again. It then tracked toward Florida, landing near Cape Romano. After moving through the state, it hugged the coast of the Southeastern United States
on its way out to sea.

Due to its unusual loop, initial reports suggested it was two separate storms that developed and hit land in rapid succession. Its track was subject to much debate at the time; eventually, it was identified as a single storm. Analysis of the event gave a greater understanding of weather systems that took similar paths.

The hurricane is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Cuban history. Damage was extensive, and thousands were left homeless. It also had a widespread impact in Florida, including the destruction of houses and flooding. Although total monetary damage from the storm is unknown, estimates of losses in

Havana, Cuba exceed $1 million and in the Florida Keys
, $250,000. At least 100 deaths occurred in Cuba alone.

Meteorological history

A map depicting the track of a hurricane that starts in the southern Caribbean, heads north towards Cuba, and completes a counter-clockwise loop in the extreme southern Gulf of Mexico. It then proceeds northeastward through the Florida Peninsula and ultimately dissipates over the Atlantic.
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

In early October, 1910, anomalously low

Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.[3] On that day, the United Fruit Company steamship Abangarez issued a report indicating winds of Force 11 on the Beaufort scale, along with a barometric pressure of 29.30 inches of mercury (992.2 mb), at 09:00 UTC, giving the United States Weather Bureau its first confirmation of a storm in the Caribbean.[1][4] As the storm advanced toward Cuba, this and other nearby observations helped the Weather Bureau map the path of the storm with good accuracy.[1][4] Meanwhile, the cyclone continued to strengthen over the western Caribbean Sea, reaching winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) as it passed about 75 mi (121 km) southwest of George Town, Grand Cayman, early on October 13.[3] By 00:00 UTC on October 14, the hurricane attained winds equivalent to those of a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and shortly afterward it struck the Isla de la Juventud with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). As it did so, the cyclone, maintaining its strength, curved rather sharply to the northwest, bringing the center onto the mainland of Cuba near La Coloma, just southeast of Pinar del Río, in Pinar del Río Province.[3] Moving inland over Cuba, the eye of the hurricane passed over the city of Pinar del Río at about 07:00 UTC; the local weather station registered calm winds and a minimum central pressure of 28.36 inHg (960.4 mb).[5]

As the storm impacted western Cuba, numerous ships and land stations reported hurricane-force winds, as well as very low pressures, extending north and south of the island.

counterclockwise loop over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico before turning sharply eastward, heading back toward western Cuba by 06:00 UTC on October 17.[3] Observations from Cuban stations between October 14–17 indicated that the movement of clouds and winds shifted, consistent with a storm returning to the island.[12] While completing its loop, the hurricane battered several ships in the Gulf of Mexico; one of them, the Mallory steamship Brazos, experienced the storm for three days while en route from Texas to New York. The ship became incapacitated and drifted under extreme conditions, recording an unconfirmed minimum pressure of 27.10 inHg (917.7 mb)—the lowest its captain had ever witnessed.[13] Based on this datum, some researchers concluded that the storm could have reached Category 5 status, which would have made it the first Atlantic storm on record to do so.[14][3] However, because little information was obtained, researchers in 2000 refrained from upgrading the storm, leaving a hurricane in 1928 as the first Category 5 in the Atlantic, though subsequent work concluded that such a storm occurred even earlier, in 1924.[2] Instead, researchers relied on a peripheral ship reading of 27.95 inHg (946.5 mb) to estimate a central pressure of 924 mb (27.29 inHg), supporting Category 4 rather than Category 5 status.[15]

By 12:00 UTC on October 17, the storm ceased its loop and accelerated northeastward toward western Cuba. By then, it had already begun a weakening trend, but it still made its second

landfall on Cuba as an even stronger hurricane, with winds of 145 mph (233 km/h).[3] The storm struck the coast a short distance west of Minas de Matahambre, producing potent winds and much rainfall nearby.[16] At the time, forecasters were still struggling to account for the location and movement of the storm. Posthumously, they postulated that two storms rather than one affected Cuba: the first storm dissipated over the Gulf of Mexico on October 16, while a new, second hurricane approached Cuba from the south.[17] Until the early 1920s, this view held dominant in the meteorological community. When meteorologists reexamined available data from the time, however, they found that surface weather analysis contradicted their previous perspective.[18] Two studies—each conducted separately by Cuban and American specialists—determined that a single storm, in close proximity to Cuba, had conducted a loop over the Gulf of Mexico and affected the island twice. To support their position, the researchers noted that ship observations indicated a single center, while land data consistently suggested a single, well-developed cyclone. Based on their interpretation, officials came to believe that a single storm had indeed been responsible for the effects.[18] This view remains currently accepted and is reflected in the track contained in HURDAT, an official database holding data on tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific areas.[2] One major problem with the alternative view is that two major storms forming in close proximity are theoretically unlikely; both storms would have existed less than 150 mi (241 km) apart.[18][3] The original view may have persisted for several years because meteorologists had not yet experienced an erratic hurricane. In fact, the 1910 storm marked the first time that the U.S. Weather Bureau encountered a "loop hurricane."[19] Initially, the mechanisms behind such storms—and behind erratic storm paths in general—remained poorly understood.[20] The advent of upper-air radiosonde networks later showed, however, that changes in pressure patterns and heights often influenced the path of tropical cyclones. These often resulted in storms making sudden shifts in their tracks.[21] As soon as the center of high pressure to the north of the storm weakened, the 1910 hurricane completed its loop and turned to the northeast.[22]

"Whether two storms have been raging in Cuban waters within the past week, or whether the same storm has revisited Cuba, traversing southern Florida in its backwards course, remains to be determined. If the later supposition be correct, the recurve of the storm, after its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico, must have been unusually sudden and sharp."

The Washington Post, October 19, 1910[23]

Upon striking western Cuba for a second time, the storm increased in size and began posing a threat to Florida.

Key West with winds of 120 to 130 mph (193 to 209 km/h). As it did so, its path gradually bent to the north-northeast.[3] The weather station at Sand Key Light estimated peak wind gusts of 125 mph (201 km/h) and measured a barometric minimum of 28.4 inHg (962 mb) at 18:30 UTC.[11] Nearby, winds were less intense in Key West, but still gusted to 110 mph (177 km/h).[26] At 00:00 UTC on October 18, the hurricane made a sharp turn to the north, paralleling the mainland coast of Southwest Florida. The storm then lost major hurricane status just before making landfall over Punta Rassa with winds of 110 mph (177 km/h).[3] (Operationally, weather officials believed that the storm actually entered land farther south, near Cape Romano.[22][11]) After making landfall at about 06:00 UTC, the storm moved inland near Fort Myers, where the local newspaper office recorded a central pressure of 28.2 inHg (955.0 mb).[27] Originally, the National Hurricane Center listed the storm as a Category 3 cyclone in Southwest Florida, but the storm featured a larger-than-average wind field and storm surges were lower than expected for such a strong storm. Revisions in 2000 downgraded the storm to Category 2 at landfall.[2] Peak winds extended about 35 mi (56 km) from the eye, indicating a large radius of maximum wind. The cyclone quickly weakened after moving inland.[28]

The storm crossed inland portions of Central Florida early on October 18. The center traveled about 50 mi (80 km) west of Lake Okeechobee and passed very close to the towns of Pine Level and Arcadia.[3] The storm then headed past Lakeland, about 35 miles (56 km)* east of Tampa. By 18:00 UTC, the cyclone lost hurricane status, but still retained strong tropical storm status, with winds of 70 mph (113 km/h).[3] The storm further weakened overnight to a moderate tropical storm. Early on October 19, the cyclone began a smooth curve to the north-northeast and passed only about 10 mi (16 km) west of Jacksonville.[3] The Weather Bureau office in the city reported peak winds of 65 mph (105 km/h) and a barometric minimum of 29.09 inHg (985.1 mb). Winds gradually veered from northeast to west.[29] The storm later entered extreme southeast portions of the state of Georgia. Shortly after 12:00 UTC, the storm curled to the northeast on a path that brought it offshore, into the western North Atlantic, near Sapelo Island. Once over water, the storm restrengthened somewhat, approaching hurricane status with winds of 70 mph (113 km/h). Continuing on its curve, the storm paralleled the coastal Southeastern United States as it passed just southeast of Savannah and Charleston, South Carolina, late on October 19. On October 20, the storm began weakening for the final time and quickened its pace to the northeast. It brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but apparently did not make landfall on those barrier islands. It bypassed Cape Hatteras shortly before 18:00 UTC. Afterward, the storm veered progressively to the east-northeast—a trend that continued for about a day—but by 06:00 UTC on October 21, it had forfeited its tropical characteristics. The non-tropical storm then angled to the east-southeast for two more days before losing its identity by 18:00 UTC on October 23; the storm still retained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) at that time.[3]

Preparations and impact

On October 15, all vessels within a 500 mi (800 km) radius of Key West were warned of the approaching storm, and many ships anchored in harbors.[30] Throughout the region, storm warnings and advisories were issued.[31]

Cuba

The storm wrought severe destruction in Cuba, considered to be among the worst effects from a tropical cyclone on record. High winds and torrential rainfall flooded streets, destroyed crops,

Casilda was devastated,[34] while the town of Batabanó was inundated by flood waters. The hurricane cut off communications to inland areas.[35] The majority of the fatalities and property damages were suspected to be in the Pinar del Río province.[36]

The

New York Times wrote that Cuba had "probably suffered the greatest material disaster in all its history".[37] It was reported that thousands of peasants were left homeless due to the cyclone. Losses in Havana were also extensive; along the shore, scores of ships carrying valuable cargo had sunk. The storm also seriously damaged goods stored on local wharves and barges.[38] "Tremendous" waves crashed ashore, flooding coastal areas.[39] Numerous ships and small watercraft were wrecked by the cyclone.[40][41] The raging seas submerged about 1 sq mi (2.6 km2) of Havana's oceanfront land. The Malecón sea wall breached, allowing flood waters to engulf the roadway there and residences in the area.[37]

It is estimated that at least 100 people lost their lives, mostly due to mudslides, including five persons in Havana.[42][43] However, reports range as high as 700.[44] Initial estimates of the financial damage caused by the storm were in the millions of dollars, including losses of $1 million in Havana, largely from the destruction of Customs House sheds there, which were filled with many valuable goods.[37] Some of these buildings were swept 0.5 mi (0.80 km) away, and the winds tore the roof off the main warehouse.[36] In the aftermath—while the hurricane was still widely considered to be two separate storms—rumors arose "of the approach of a third storm",[37] although in actuality no additional storms were known to have occurred in the 1910 season.[45]

Gulf of Mexico

A four-masted schooner, the Holliswood, became trapped in the storm in the Gulf of Mexico. The vessel departed from New Orleans on October 1, carrying cypress wood. The crew fought the storm for days and eventually the masts were cut to avoid capsizing.[46] Waterlogged, the ship was blown miles off course.[47] As described by the owner of the schooner, Paul Mangold:[46]

On Wednesday, the 12th, we began to get the first of the hurricane. We were running under very little canvas. Early Saturday morning we got the full force of the storm. We managed to get the sails fast and ran with the hurricane under bare poles. The wind circled about us sometimes at a hundred-mile rate. The seas came from all directions, though it was from the starboard that the real trouble seemed to come.

The steamboat Harold spotted the ship and rescued all of its crew except Captain E. E. Walls, who opted to stay behind with the order "Report me to my owners".[46] At the time, the Holliswood was badly damaged, with her house destroyed and her rudder torn away. The crew apparently advised the captain that the ship would not stay afloat for another five hours, although he dismissed their concerns. After the crew was rescued, Captain Walls struggled against the storm for days without food or fresh water. On October 20, the Parkwood rescued Walls unconscious, but initially feared to be dead.[47] Once aboard, he regained consciousness and, reportedly amidst an episode of delirium, asked to be returned to the Holliswood. Ultimately, the captain of the Parkwood agreed to tow the battered ship to shore.[47]

Southern Florida

At Key West, pressures began to fall at midnight on October 12 as the storm approached from the southwest. By late on October 13, heavy rain had begun to fall, and winds began to increase, reaching 50 mph (80 km/h) on October 14.

Weather Bureau office was submerged by rising waters.[48] Before the rain gauge was washed out to sea, 3.89 in (99 mm) of precipitation was recorded. Damage throughout the Florida Keys was moderate, estimated at worth around $250,000 (1910 USD). Property damage was generally limited to structures along the shore.[31]

Weather map depicting a storm straddling the coast of North Carolina.
Weather map of the storm on October 20

As the storm progressed westward,

Flamingo to Cape Romano. The surf continued well inland, forcing survivors to cling atop trees.[48] North of Tampa, the hurricane's effects were moderate or light, while in the southwestern part of the state, damage increased in severity. A portion of the local citrus crop was destroyed.[31] Property damage was widespread from Tampa to Jacksonville and points south. High winds tore the roofs off homes and shook some structures off their foundations.[49]

Seven men lost their lives in the wreckage of several Cuban schooners at Punta Gorda. Nearby, one man and a baby drowned as a result of the storm surge, and another died while attempting to cross a flooded river.[31] A French steamship, the Louisiane, went ashore with 600 passengers; all people aboard the vessel were rescued by the Forward, a Revenue cutter.[48]

Northeastern Florida and southern United States

Damage on the Atlantic coast was less severe, although at Jupiter, the Weather Bureau office reported: "the rainfall at this point did more damage than the wind. It had rained every day from the 3rd to the 13th, with a total fall of 5.96 inches (151 mm), and the creeks and flat woods were full of water when the first storm began. From the 14th to the 18th, inclusive, 14.27 inches (362 mm) more fell. The inlet being closed the rivers rose 8 feet (2.4 m) above normal high water, which in a flat country like this, puts practically all land under water from 1 foot (0.30 m) to 8 feet (2.4 m). Fortunately the sea remained low and comparatively smooth so that it was possible to open the inlet and let the water out."[48]

A large number of pine trees were blown down near the city of Jupiter. One man near

Florida East Coast Railroad bed were washed out, and repairs were anticipated to be costly. An American schooner blew ashore at Boca Raton, killing three and leaving the rest of the crew stranded for 12 hours until help arrived. Estimates of the cyclone's impact on citrus crops in the region vary widely.[31]

On its way to sea, the storm passed just west of Jacksonville. Although very little damage occurred in and around the city, persistent northeasterly winds caused flooding in low-lying coastal areas. Minor flooding extended northward into Georgia and South Carolina; initially, interruptions of communication between cities led to exaggerated reports of damage in those states. Early on October 18, light precipitation began to fall in Savannah as the winds picked up. By October 19, winds had reached 70 mph (110 km/h). However, it was said that the city's worst damage came as a result of the high tides rather than the intense winds. Certain rivers exceeded their banks, submerging surrounding farmland. Minor damage occurred in Charleston, South Carolina.[31]

Aftermath, records, and legacy

The storm is the second-strongest ever to enter the Gulf of Mexico in the month of October, behind only the Category 5 hurricane of 1924, which produced winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) at landfall in Cuba and over nearby waters. The 1910 hurricane is also one of the strongest ever to make landfall on the island of Cuba and is tied with storms in 1944 and 1952: only a hurricane in 1932, Hurricane Gustav in 2010, and the 1924 hurricane were stronger.[3] While the cyclone was later identified as a single storm, forecasters gained valuable experience in dealing with an unpredictable hurricane. Observations on the hurricane led to advances in the understanding of tropical cyclones with similar paths.[19]

Legacy in Cuba

Legacy in Southwest Florida

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Bowie 1910, p. 1614
  2. ^ a b c d National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (May 2015). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT) Meta Data". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b Willis L. Moore 1911, p. 164
  5. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, p. 10
  6. ^ Mitchell 1924, pp. 25–6, Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, pp. 10–5
  7. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, pp. 10, 12, Bowie 1910, p. 1614
  8. ^ Herrmann 1910, p. 1489, Bowie 1910, p. 1615
  9. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, p. 11, Bowie 1910, p. 1615
  10. ^ Mitchell 1924, pp. 30–1
  11. ^ a b c Herrmann 1910, p. 1489
  12. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, p. 11, Bowie 1922, p. 138
  13. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, pp. 10–5, Herrmann 1910, p. 1489
  14. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, p. 14
  15. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, p. 11
  16. ^ Herrmann 1910, pp. 1488–9, Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, pp. 10–5
  17. ^ Bowie 1910, p. 1615, Herrmann 1910, p. 1489
  18. ^ a b c Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, pp. 12–3, Bowie 1922, pp. 137–8
  19. ^ a b Barnes 1998, p. 92
  20. ^ Bowie 1922, pp. 137–8, Mitchell 1924, pp. 30–1
  21. ^ Barnes 1998, p. 93, Emanuel 2005, pp. 133–4, 228–9
  22. ^ a b Barnes 1998, p. 93
  23. ^ "The West Indian Hurricane". The Washington Post. October 19, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Mitchell 1924, pp. 25–6, Bowie 1910, p. 1615
  25. ^ a b Herrmann 1910, p. 1489, Mitchell 1924, p. 39
  26. ^ Barnes 1998, p. 94
  27. ^ Fernández-Partagás & Díaz 1999, p. 15
  28. ^ Landsea, Chris; Anderson, Craig; Bredemeyer, William; et al. (January 2022). Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description). Re-Analysis Project (Report). Miami, Florida: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  29. ^ Herrmann 1910, p. 1490
  30. ^ "Hurricane Nears the Florida Coast". The New York Times. October 15, 1910. Retrieved December 24, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference MWR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ "Great Storm in Cuba: Severe Damage Done to the Tobacco Crop". The Observer. October 16, 1910. p. 9.
  33. ^ "West Indian Hurricane". The Scotsman. October 18, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "Terrific Hurricane". The Evening Post. October 15, 1910. Retrieved December 24, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ "Hurricane in Cuba Costs Many Lives". The Spokane Daily Chronicle. October 17, 1910. Retrieved December 24, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ a b "Cyclone in Cuba". The Scotsman. October 18, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ a b c d "Cyclone Works Havoc in Cuba" (PDF). The New York Times. October 18, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  38. ^ "The Hurricane in Cuba". The Manchester Guardian. October 17, 1910. p. 7.
  39. ^ "Hurricanes Have Overwhelmed Cuba". The Galveston Daily News. October 18, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  40. ^ "West Indian Hurricane". The Scotsman. October 19, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "The Hurricane Moving North". The Manchester Guardian. October 20, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ Longshore, p. 109
  43. ^ a b "Liners Defy Cyclone". The Washington Post. October 15, 1910. p. 1.
  44. ^ "Cuba Hurricanes Historic Threats: Chronicle of hurricanes in Cuba". Cuba Hurricanes. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  45. ^ Cite error: The named reference hurdat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  46. ^ a b c "Sticks to His Ship, a Derelict at Sea" (PDF). The New York Times. October 25, 1910. Retrieved February 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  47. ^ a b c "Skipper, Who Stood by Ship, Picked Up". The New York Times. October 27, 1910. Retrieved February 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  48. ^ a b c d Barnes, p. 94
  49. ^ "West Indian Storm and Cold Wave May Meet". The Galveston Daily News. October 19, 1910. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

Bibliography

External links

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Cuba Hurricane, 1910 Category:Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes Category:Hurricanes in Cuba Category:Hurricanes in Florida Category:Hurricanes in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Hurricanes in South Carolina

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