****************************************************************************
Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT -
2005 Changes/Additions for 1911 to 1914
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By Chris Landsea, William Bredemeyer, John Gamache, and Lenworth Woolcock.
(Special thanks are due to Michael Chenoweth and Cary Mock.)
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1911/01 - 2005 ADDITION:
19889 08/04/1911 M= 9 1 SNBR= 457 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0
19889 08/04* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*310 860 20 0*311 848 20 0*
19889 08/05*312 837 20 0*313 826 20 0*315 815 25 0*317 805 25 0*
19889 08/06*318 795 25 0*319 785 25 0*320 775 25 0*320 764 25 0*
19889 08/07*320 753 30 0*320 742 30 0*320 730 30 0*320 719 30 0*
19889 08/08*320 708 30 0*320 697 30 0*320 685 30 0*323 672 30 0*
19889 08/09*328 660 35 0*334 647 35 0*340 635 35 0*346 623 35 0*
19889 08/10*352 611 40 0*358 599 45 0*365 585 50 0*374 568 50 0*
19889 08/11*384 546 50 0*395 520 45 0*410 490 40 0*425 460 35 0*
19889 08/12*440 430 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
19889 TS
This is a new tropical storm, previously not documented in _Monthly Weather
Review_ or Neumann et al. (1999). Evidence for this system comes from
the Historical Weather Map series and the COADS ship database.
August 4: A closed circulation formed over the southeast U.S., centered
near 31N, 86W. No frontal boundaries can be detected near the system and
heavy rain occurred mainly to the east and north of the center. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 5: The system moved to the east, reaching the ocean along the Georgia
border. HWM indicated a low of at most 1015 mb surface pressure at 32N,
80.5W, though the center appears to have been farther west and south near
31.5N, 81.5W. Heavy rainfall again fell near and to the northeast of the
system. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 6: The system moved to the east with little observed change in
intensity. HWM indicated a low of at most 1015 mb at 32N, 79W, though the
center appears to have been father east near 32N, 77.5W. No gale force
winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 7: The system moved to the east with little observed change in
intensity. HWM indicated a low of at most 1015 mb at 31N, 75.5W, though the
center appears to have been farther east and north near 32N, 73W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 8: The system moved to the east and the observations indicated
some intensification. HWM indicated a low of at most 1015 mb at 31N, 67W,
though the center appears to have been farther west and north near 32N,
68.5W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 9: The system moved toward the northeast with evidence of near gale
force winds close to the center of the system. HWM indicated a low of at
most 1015 mb at 35N, 61W, though it appears that the center was farther
west and south near 34N, 63.5W. Heavy rain was also reported at Bermuda as
this system moved eastward just to the north of the island. No gale force
winds (or implied from pressures) were observed. Ship highlight: 30 kt SW
at 33.7N, 61.8W at 12 UTC (HWM).
August 10: The system continued to move toward the northeast, along with
a few reports of gale force winds. HWM indicated a low of at most 1010 mb
at 36.5N, 58W, though it appears that the center was farther west near 36.5N,
58.5W. A stationary front was located to the northeast of the system. Ship
highlight: 45 kt N at 36.1N, 60.4W at 12 UTC (HWM).
August 11: The system accelerated to the northeast and wind observations
available were weaker. HWM indicated a baroclinic low of at most 1010 mb
at 41N, 49W with a cold front extending southwest from the center and a
warm front extending east of the center. However, evidence is weak that
the cold front exists and that the warm frontal feature may not have
extended into the center of the system. No gale force winds (or implied
from pressures) were observed.
August 12: The system apparently continued to weaken and no closed
circulation center could be found. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed.
The system began on the 4th as a tropical depression (over land), reaching
the ocean early on the 5th, reached tropical storm intensity on the 9th,
achieved maximum intensity on the 10th, weakened on the 11th and dissipated
early on the 12th. Given that the strongest observed wind was a northerly
ship measurement of 45 kt on the 10th as the system was moving to the
northeast, an estimate of (at least) 50 kt in the strong semi-circle is
indicated.
*******************************************************************************
1911/02 - 2005 REVISION:
19890 08/09/1911 M= 6 1 SNBR= 456 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
19890 08/09/1911 M= 7 2 SNBR= 458 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
* * ***
(The 8th is new to HURDAT.)
19893 08/08* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*255 825 30 0*255 826 30 0*
19895 08/09* 0 0 0 0*248 820 60 0*254 825 65 0*260 830 70 0*
19895 08/09*255 827 30 0*255 828 35 0*257 830 35 0*260 833 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** **
19900 08/10*265 833 70 0*271 838 70 0*278 843 70 0*281 848 70 0*
19900 08/10*265 836 40 0*271 839 45 0*276 843 50 0*281 848 55 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** **
19905 08/11*286 854 70 0*290 859 70 0*295 865 70 0*300 871 70 0*
19905 08/11*286 854 60 0*290 859 65 0*295 865 70 0*300 871 70 0*
** **
19910 08/12*305 876 65 0*310 881 60 0*315 886 50 0*320 890 40 0*
19910 08/12*304 877 65 0*306 883 55 0*308 890 45 0*309 898 40 0*
*** *** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** ***
19915 08/13*324 893 35 0*329 897 30 0*334 900 30 0*339 904 30 0*
19915 08/13*310 907 35 0*310 916 30 0*310 925 30 0*314 930 30 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
19920 08/14*344 907 25 0*350 911 20 0*355 915 20 0* 0 0 0 0*
19920 08/14*322 933 25 0*334 934 20 0*350 935 20 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
19925 HRAFL1 AL1
Major changes from the track and intensity shown in Neumann et al. (1999),
originally storm number 1. Evidence for these alterations comes
from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship database, Original
Monthly Record station data from NCDC, _Monthly Weather Review_, Tannehill
(1938), Connor (1956), Dunn and Miller (1960), Ho et al. (1987), and
Jarrell et al. (1992).
August 8: Possible closed low (or southwest to northeast trough) centered
near 25.5N, 82.5W from HWM. No HURDAT position/intensity on this date. No
gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 9: Possible closed low (or southwest to northeast trough) centered
near 25.7N, 83W from HWM. HURDAT listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at
12 UTC at 25.4N, 82.5W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures)
were observed, but peak observations were 27 kt and 1012 mb at 21 UTC in Key
West. "A moderate atmospheric depression was evident in the east Gulf"
(MWR).
August 10: No closed circulation indicated in HWM from available
observations. HURDAT listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at
27.8N, 84.3W. Peak winds observed were 50 kt E at Pensacola (PEN) at 22 UTC
(likely in outer band, as gale force winds were not observed again at
Pensacola until 18 UTC on the 11th).
August 11: Closed low indicated near 27.5N, 86.5W with 1010 mb pressure at
most from HWM. HURDAT listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at
29.5N, 86.5W. Station highlight: 70 kt SE and 1007 mb at 2248 UTC at
Pensacola (MWR). "[The storm] appeared as a distinct disturbance between
Burwood, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, and Pensacola on the
morning of the 11th. The atmospheric pressure at Pensacola fell slowly from
29.95 inches [1014 mb] at 11 a. m. to 29.73 inches [1007 mb] at 5 p. m., the
lowest attained, and the 7 p. m. weather map revealed that the storm was
then central between Pensacola and Mobile ... at 5.48 p. m. a maximum [5 min
velocity] of 80 miles was registered ... total precipitation on 11th and
12th, 4.48 inches ... At Pensacola ... considerable damage was done to
property in the city and harbor ... One-third of the roof of the Monarch
pavilion on Santa Rosa Island was torn off, and also a few portions of old
roofs in the city ... About 12 barges dragged anchors and grounded, some
small launches and fishing smacks were wrecked, and some coal barges
belonging to the navy yard went ashore. In the city telegraph and telephone
lines were blown down and the street car and electric light services were
interrupted. The damage at Pensacola is conservatively estimated as
follows: To electric lines, $500; local lumber interests $500; to launches,
barges, etc., $3,000; fishing smacks, $2,500; loss of coal belonging to hay
yard, $1,100; total, $12,600. The highest wind at Mobile was 35 miles an
hour and no damage resulted at that place" (MWR). "Passed inland near
Pensacola on August 11. It was of small diameter but of considerable
intensity; the wind reached 80 miles an hour from the southeast at
Pensacola" (Tannehill). "Aug 12 1911; center crossed coast near Pensacola;
Pensacola 1 ft tide" (Connor). "Aug. 11, NW FL, Minimal" (Dunn and Miller).
This U.S. landfalling hurricane not mentioned. The implication is that it
was not deeper than 982 mb at landfall, which was Ho's criterion for
inclusion (Ho et al. 1987). 1911 Aug NW-FL1 (AFL1) and AL1, U.S. landfalling
minimum sea level pressure missing (Jarrell et al. 1992).
August 12: Closed low indicated near 30N, 90W with 1010 mb pressure at most
in HWM, but wind observations suggest a position somewhat farther north and
east. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 31.5N, 88.6W.
Station highlight: 56 kt S at 03 and 05 UTC at Pensacola (PEN). "The storm
drifted slowly westward to Louisiana and Texas on the 12th, with heavy rains
causing some washouts. Rain and high southeast winds continued at Pensacola
on the 12th" (MWR).
August 13: Possible closed low centered near 31N, 92.5W in HWM. HURDAT
listed this as a tropical depression at 12 UTC at 33.4N, 90.0W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
August 14: Possible closed low centered near 35N, 93.5W in HWM. HURDAT
listed this as a tropical depression at 12 UTC at 35.5N, 91.5W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
Track of this system is begun a day early (8th) than in HURDAT based upon HWM
data. Track is also adjusted slightly to the west on the 9th and 10th
based upon HWM/COADS data. Larger changes to the track made on the 12th
to the 14th (biggest on the 13th) again based upon synoptic data. Note
that the changes after landfall are now consistent with the description on
the system's position given in MWR. The system was substantially weaker
than originally estimated in HURDAT early in its lifetime as shown by Key
West observations on the 9th. Observational evidence for intensity
suggests that hurricane stage achieved earlier on the 11th. Winds reduced
on the 9th and 10th, accordingly. Peak observed winds of 70 kt from that
era's anemometer converts to 54 kt after accounting for their high bias
(Fergusson and Covert 1924) and then to 57 kt after converting from a peak
5 min wind to a maximum 1 min wind (Powell et al. 1996). As it is unlikely
that the observed wind in Pensacola sampled the highest winds existing in
the storm, a higher intensity estimate is appropriate. The 70 kt at landfall
(Category 1) originally in HURDAT is consistent with winds somewhat higher
than seen at Pensacola and also with the resulting wind-forced damage in the
same town. Thus no change to the landfall intensity is made to HURDAT.
Landfall near the Alabama/Florida border occurred around 2300 UTC on the
11th. Utilizing the Kaplan and DeMaria (1995) inland decay model, this
suggests winds of 63, 51, 44, and 38 kt for the 12th at 00, 06, 12, 18 UTC.
Peak observed winds after landfall within two hours of the synoptic time
were 70, 56, 43 and 36 kt. (These convert to 57, 46, 36 and 30 kt,
respectively after for correction for bias and time averaging.) Inland
winds reduced slightly in HURDAT at 06 and 12 UTC on the 12th based upon
these observations. (The winds in HURDAT could be reduced even more after
landfall based upon measurements, but as these were only available at
Pensacola and Mobile, higher winds likely did occur but were not measured.)
Peak observed storm tide was 1 ft at Pensacola (Connor), though it is likely
that higher values would have occurred near the Florida-Alabama border.
*******************************************************************************
1911/03 - 2005 REVISION:
19930 08/23/1911 M= 8 2 SNBR= 457 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
19930 08/23/1911 M= 9 3 SNBR= 459 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
* * ***
19935 08/23* 0 0 0 0*237 668 50 0*241 674 50 0*245 680 55 0*
19935 08/23* 0 0 0 0*252 655 35 0*255 665 40 0*258 674 40 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
19940 08/24*250 687 65 0*254 693 70 0*258 700 70 0*262 707 75 0*
19940 08/24*261 683 45 0*263 692 50 0*265 700 55 0*267 707 60 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** *** **
19945 08/25*265 714 75 0*269 721 80 0*273 728 85 0*279 735 85 0*
19945 08/25*269 714 65 0*272 721 70 0*275 728 70 0*280 735 75 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** *** **
19950 08/26*287 743 85 0*296 751 85 0*301 758 85 0*305 764 85 0*
19950 08/26*287 743 80 0*296 751 80 0*301 758 80 0*305 764 80 0*
** ** ** **
19955 08/27*308 771 85 0*311 778 85 0*315 787 85 0*317 792 80 0*
19955 08/27*308 771 80 0*311 778 80 0*315 787 85 0*318 792 85 0*
** ** *** **
19960 08/28*318 796 65 983*320 803 65 0*322 810 65 0*323 815 45 0*
19960 08/28*320 796 85 0*321 803 85 972*322 810 65 0*323 815 50 0*
*** ** *** *** ** *** **
19965 08/29*324 820 45 0*324 825 45 0*325 829 45 0*328 830 40 0*
19965 08/29*324 820 45 0*323 825 35 0*321 830 35 0*320 834 30 0*
*** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
19970 08/30*332 830 40 0*336 830 40 0*340 828 35 0*345 822 35 0*
19970 08/30*322 837 30 0*330 839 30 0E340 840 30 0E348 835 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** * *** ** **** *** **
(The 31st is new to HURDAT.)
19972 08/31E354 825 25 0E358 810 25 0E360 795 20 0* 0 0 0 0*
19975 HR GA2 SC2
19975 HR GA1 SC2
***
Minor changes from the track and major alterations to the intensity shown in
Neumann et al. (1999), originally storm number 2. Evidence for these
alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS
ship database, Original Monthly Record station observations from NCDC,
_Monthly Weather Review_, Cline (1926), Tannehill (1938), Dunn and Miller
(1960), Schwerdt et al. (1979), Ho et al. (1987), and Jarrell et al. (1992).
August 23: No closed low indicated from observations, though not much
data available to south and west of system. Troughing indicated along
about 66.5W longitude. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at
24.1N, 67.4W. "First observations of this storm were at about 27N
and 66W" (Tannehill). No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
August 24: No closed low indicated from observations, though not much
data available to east, south, and west of system. Troughing indicated along
about 70W longitude. HURDAT listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC
at 25.8N, 70.0W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
August 25: Closed low indicated on HWM at 26N, 73W with 1010 mb pressure at
most, but center with additional COADS observations appears to be closer to the
original HURDAT location. HURDAT listed this as a Category 2 hurricane at
12 UTC at 27.3N, 72.8W. Peak ship observations: 45 kt ESE at 01 UTC at
29.5N, 70.5W (COA), 45 kt SE at 17 UTC at 28.5N, 71.5W (COA), and 45 kt SSE
at 21 UTC at 28.5N, 71.5W (COA).
August 26: Closed low indicated on HWM at 26.5N, 75.5W with 1010 mb pressure
at most, but little data is available west and south of the center. HURDAT
listed this as a Category 2 hurricane at 12 UTC at 30.1N, 75.8W. Peak ship
observation: 35 kt NW at 21 UTC at 30.0N, 77.0W (COA).
August 27: Closed low indicated on HWM at 31.N, 79.0W with 1010 mb pressure at
most. Cline gave positions for this system of 31.4N, 77.3W (am) and 32.1N,
78.7W (pm). HURDAT listed this as a Category 2 hurricane at 12 UTC at 31.5N,
78.7W. Center of low shown in MWR at 12 UTC at 32N, 77.2W with 1010 mb central
pressure. Peak ship observation: 60 kt WNW, 1000 mb at 01 UTC at
30.0N, 77.0W (COA). Peak station wind: 52 kt NE at 2250 UTC at
Charleston, SC (MWR). "[At Charleston] the wind in force from the north
[during the afternoon] attaining a velocity of 46 miles an hour ... At
6.50 p. m. the velocity was 60 miles an hour" (MWR).
August 28: Closed low indicated just inland on HWM at 32.5N, 81W with 1005 mb
pressure at most. Cline gave positions for this system of 32.9N, 80.3W (am)
and 32.8N, 81.8W (pm). HURDAT listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC
at 32.2N, 81.0W. Center of low shown in MWR at 00 UTC at 32N 79W with 1000 mb
central pressure and at 12 UTC at 32.2N 80.5W with 983 mb central pressure.
Peak ship observation: 35 kt SE at 12 UTC at 28.2N, 78.7W (HWM). Peak
station observations: 82 kt E at 0320 UTC, 992 mb at 0350 UTC at Charleston
(MWR); 76 kt NW at 0710 UTC, 982 mb at 0810 UTC at Savannah (MWR).
"Pursuing a west-northwest course, it passed inland between Savannah and
Charleston on the 28th. There was great damage from winds and high tides
between those cities. At Charleston, the barometer fell to 29.30 inches
[992 mb] and the wind reached 106 miles an hour [estimated by observer after
instrument failure] from the northeast at 11:50 p.m. of the 27th. On the 28th,
at 3:10 a.m. the center was closest to Savannah, barometer 29.02 inches
[983 mb], wind 88 miles northwest" (Tannehill). Aug. 27-28 Ga., S.C., Major
Hurricane, 17 killed near Charleston (Dunn and Miller). Aug GA2, SC2.
No mention of MSLP (Jarrell et al.). Aug. 28, 1911 Storm direction toward
280 deg. Est MSLP 979 mb (computed from pressure profile and adjusted to the
coast). Lowest obs. Pressure 983 mb, Savannah, GA, 27 nmi RMW observed from
wind speed record at Savannah, GA, 8 kts translational speed, landfall point
32.2N 80.6W (Ho et al.). 75 kt estimated max 1 min, surface wind at landfall,
1011 mb environmental pressure (Schwerdt et al.). "The Charleston-Savannah
hurricane of August 27-29, 1911, was characterized by its relatively small
diameter but intense energy, its unusual path directly from east to west, and
its rapid loss of power after entering the coast line ... At Charleston the
lowest pressure, 29.30 inches [992 mb], occurred at 11:50 p.m., August 27, wind
southeast; at Savannah it was 29.02 inches [983 mb] at 8 a. m., August 28,
wind northwest. The diameter of the isobar of 29.30 inches [992 mb]
surrounding the storm was approximately 100 miles. The center or eye of
the storm passed a few miles north of Savannah, where for two hours, from
8.10 a. m. to 10.10 a. m., the 28th, the pressure remained lowest
and the wind decreased to only 20 miles an hour. The eye of the storm was
about 14 or 15 miles in diameter. At Savannah the wind backed from
northwest to south about 10 a. m., the 28th, and the wind again increased
suddenly in velocity, heavy rain began, and the pressure rose rapidly.
At Charleston the wind veered from northeast to east and southeast, and
the destruction of property was much greater than at Savannah because the
winds were onshore. At Charleston the damage to property is estimated
to have exceeded $1,000,000 and 17 lives were lost. The damage at
Savannah was of a minor nature though large in the aggregate ... [In
Charleston the wind velocity reached] at 8.40 p. m. [27th] 68 miles, at
9.15 p. m. 72, and at 9.45 p. m. 86. The wind shifted to east ... and
at 11.20 was blowing with a velocity of 94 miles an hour when the anemometer
ceased to properly record. After 11.20 the wind became southeast and
was estimated to have attained a velocity of 106 miles an hour. It
continued to blow steadily from the southeast all of next day (28th),
remaining above 50 miles an hour most of the forenoon ... the barometer
reached its lowest point, 29.30 inches [992 mb], at 11.50 p. m. Great damage
was done by the wind ... Tin roofs began to be blown off and hundreds of
houses were unroofed and chimneys were blown down. A great many windows and
display signs were broken. The streets were a tangle of fallen trees and
wires. Many houses were destroyed and 4 persons were killed by falling
walls and 13 were drowned ... The high tide that night reached a point
10.6 fee above mean low water, or somewhat lower than the tide of 1893.
A great deal of damage was done by water in the wholesale districts and in
other low portions of the city. The water front next day was a confused
mass of wrecked vessels and damaged wharfs ... [In Savannah] the wind
attained a maximum (5 minute) velocity of 88 miles an hour shortly after
3 a. m. on August 28, with an extreme (1 mile) velocity of 96 miles an
hour at 3.08 a. m. during one of the terrific gusts ... The wind reached
62 miles an hour at 11.40 p. m., still blowing from the northwest with
strong gusts, and at midnight the pressure registered 29.50 inches [999 mb].
The wind attained a velocity of 66 miles an hour at 12.05 a. m. August 28,
74 miles at 1.40 a. m., 78 at 2.45 a. m., and between 3.05 and 3.10 a. m.
it reached its maximum force of 88 miles an hour from the northwest. From
3 a. m. to 6.05 a. m. the wind maintained a velocity ranging between 80
and 90 miles an hour from the northwest ... At 8 a. m. the lowest pressure,
29.02 inches [983 mb], was recorded, the wind diminished with astonishing
quickness, and from 8.10 to 10.10 a. m., the vortex of the storm passed
practically over Savannah, the wind dying down to 20 miles an hour and shifting
to south about 10 a. m. Immediately ... the velocity rapidly increased and
the rainfall became heavier. The highest velocity attained after the
passage of the center was 64 miles an hour at 11.30 a. m. and at 12.05 p. m.
... Considering the severity of the storm it is remarkable that the damage
in the city of Savannah and contiguous territory was not larger. No lives
were lost, and while the aggregate property loss was large, the damage
done was mostly of minor nature ... Small craft in the river and at
nearby resorts suffered greatly. That the storm was not more destructive
on the water front was due to the fact that the wind was westerly and
southerly and not at any time from the east. The hotel and residences on
Tybee Island were greatly damaged" (MWR).
August 29: Low centered near 32.5N, 83.5W in HWM with 1010 mb pressure at
most. A stationary front was analyzed to the north and west of the storm.
Cline gave positions for this system of 32.1N, 82.4W (am) and 31.8N, 83.7W
(pm). HURDAT listed this as a storm at 12 UTC at 32.5N, 82.9W with 45 kt
of wind. Low centered near 32.5N, 82.0W with 1004 mb central pressure at
00 UTC in MWR. Low centered near 32.8N, 83.5W with 1005 mb central pressure
at 12 UTC in MWR. Peak station observation: 52 kt S at 00 UTC at Savannah
(MWR). "The storm drifted slowly to southeastern Georgia on the
29th, with the pressure below 29.70 inches [1006 mb], and was accompanied by
exceptionally heavy rains near the coast of Georgia, where much damage was done
to crops and live stock and numerous washouts occurred on the railroads.
County roads suffered and many bridges were washed away ... [In Charleston the
wind did not fall] below 36 miles an hour until after 4. a. m. on the 29th ...
[In Savannah] the wind fell below the verifying velocity of 36 miles at
2.10 a. m." (MWR).
August 30: No closed low indicated in HWM, but a center may have been near
34.5N, 83.5W. The system is shown to be along a stationary frontal boundary.
Cline gave positions for this system at 33.5N, 94.1W (am) and 35.5N, 83.5W
(pm). HURDAT lists this as a storm at 12 UTC 34.0N, 82.8W with 35 kt of
wind. Center of system plotted near 32.0N 84.5W and with 1009 mb central
pressure at 00 UTC in MWR. Center of system is plotted near 34.0N, 84.5W
with 1011 mb central pressure at 12 UTC in MWR. No gale force winds (or
implied from pressures) were observed.
August 31: No closed low indicated in HWM. Cline gave a position in the
morning at 36.2N, 80.2W.
Moderate adjustments to the track are made on the 23rd and 24th to better
agree with available ship observations indicating a position farther north
than originally shown. Another moderate change to the track on the 29th
and 30th was made to better match inland reports showing a position
somewhat farther west than originally indicated as well as to better
match Cline's detailed analysis after landfall. Track extended an
additional day based upon HWM and Cline analyses. Winds reduced from the
23rd to the 26th based upon available ship observations. For the
intensity at landfall (which may also in this case be the peak intensity
of the system), evidence was available from winds, pressure, storm surge
and damages. Highest observed winds were 82 kt in Charleston, with an
estimate that the maximum that they reached after the anemometer was
disabled was 92 kt. However, reducing for the high-bias of the
instrument at the time alters these to 63 kt observed and 70 kt estimated
(Fergusson and Covert 1924). Altering these to a maximum 1 min wind (Powell
et al. 1996) gives 67 kt observed and 74 kt estimated. Ho et al.'s estimated
central pressure of 979 mb suggests winds of 76 kt from the subtropical
pressure-wind relationship. However, Ho et al. did not take into account that
the hurricane's central pressure would have filled some between the time of
landfall (~0930 UTC on the 28th) and the time it made its closest approach
to Savannah (~1300 UTC). A run of the inland pressure deficit decay model
(also in Ho et al.) suggest a central pressure at the coast of 970 mb from
the Atlantic coast model (South Carolina to New England) and 974 mb from
the Florida peninsula model. As the landfall location was at the Georgia-
South Carolina border, a compromise of these two analyses was utilized to
come up with the final estimate of 972 mb at landfall at the coast. (The
983 mb observed in Savannah, originally was listed in HURDAT as a central
pressure, is replaced with this revised 972 mb value.) 972 mb central
pressure suggests 84 kt from the subtropical pressure-wind relationship.
Ho et al.'s analysis of 27 nmi RMW has been reconfirmed and is close to that
expected from climatology for this latitude of landfall and central pressure
(25 nmi - Vickery et al. 2000), so no large deviation from 84 kt would be
expected. A storm tide of 10.6 feet was reported in Charleston with
moderate wind forced damage. Given that it is unlikely that Charleston
experienced the exact peak winds of the hurricane at landfall, a value
higher than that observed (and even estimated with some caution being taken)
would be reasonable. Thus 85 kt maximum 1 min winds are analyzed for this
hurricane at landfall near the Georgia/South Carolina border near 0930 UTC on
the 28th. This is at the low end of a Category 2, which is what is analyzed
for conditions occurring in South Carolina. However, Georgia's impact is
reduced to Category 1 based in part on the modest winds reported in Savannah
and in part on the moderate sized RMW which would have kept the peak winds
on the front right quadrant in South Carolina and would have avoided
Georgia. Category 2 in South Carolina retains what was estimated previously
in HURDAT, Jarrell et al. and Neumann et al., though Category 1 in Georgia
is a reduction by one category from those references. After landfall, a run
of the Kaplan and DeMaria's (1995) inland decay model gave 60 kt at
28th/12 UTC, 47 kt at 18 UTC, 36 kt at 29th/00 UTC, and 30 kt at 06 UTC.
Highest observed winds within 2 hours of these times were 73, 56, 52, and
37 kt. These correct to 59, 46, 43, and 31 kt after adjusting for bias and
to 1 min peak values, which are very close to that suggested by the inland
decay model. (It should be noted that data coverage at landfall for this
system was quite good with observations available at Charleston, Savannah,
Columbia, Macon, and Augusta.) No gales were observed after 07 UTC on the
29th. Winds in HURDAT slightly increased at 18 UTC on the 28th and reduced
on the 29th and 30th, accordingly. The system is characterized on the 30th
as extratropical in its decay over land, due to being absorbed by frontal
system.
*******************************************************************************
1911/04 - 2005 REVISION:
19980 09/03/1911 M=10 3 SNBR= 458 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0
19980 09/03/1911 M=10 4 SNBR= 460 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0
* ***
19985 09/03* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*137 579 35 0*138 598 35 0*
19985 09/03* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*120 570 30 0*122 584 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** **
19990 09/04*139 616 35 0*140 630 35 0*140 640 35 0*140 647 35 0*
19990 09/04*124 598 30 0*126 612 30 0*128 625 35 0*129 637 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** *** ***
19995 09/05*140 653 35 0*140 658 35 0*140 667 35 0*141 672 40 0*
19995 09/05*130 648 35 0*130 659 35 0*130 670 35 0*130 680 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20000 09/06*141 680 40 0*142 688 45 0*143 696 45 0*144 705 50 0*
20000 09/06*130 690 40 0*130 700 45 0*130 710 45 0*129 718 50 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20005 09/07*146 714 50 0*147 723 55 0*147 732 55 0*146 741 60 0*
20005 09/07*128 724 50 0*127 730 55 0*125 735 55 0*123 741 60 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20010 09/08*144 751 60 0*141 761 65 0*139 770 70 0*136 777 70 0*
20010 09/08*122 747 60 0*121 753 65 0*120 760 70 0*120 768 70 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20015 09/09*134 784 75 0*131 791 80 0*130 800 85 0*130 811 85 0*
20015 09/09*121 777 75 0*122 787 80 0*123 797 85 0*124 809 85 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20020 09/10*130 823 85 0*131 834 80 0*132 846 60 0*133 857 45 0*
20020 09/10*126 822 85 0*128 834 85 0*130 846 60 0*132 857 45 0*
*** *** *** ** *** ***
20025 09/11*133 868 40 0*134 879 40 0*134 890 35 0*136 902 35 0*
20030 09/12*138 916 35 0*140 931 35 0*140 935 30 0*141 940 30 0*
20035 HR
Major changes from the track and minor changes to the intensity shown in
Neumann et al. (1999), originally storm number 3. Evidence for these
alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship
database and _Monthly Weather Review_.
September 3: Likely closed circulation near 12N, 57W. HURDAT listed this
as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 13.7N, 57.9W. No gale force winds (or
implied from pressures) were observed.
September 4: No closed circulation was apparent, but there was a lack of data
on west and south sides of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this lack,
a low was indicated in HWM near 13.5N, 64W with 1010 mb pressure at most.
HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 14.0N, 64.0W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 5: No closed circulation was apparent, but there was a lack of data
on north, west and south sides of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this
lack, a low was indicated in HWM near 12.5N, 66W with 1005 mb pressure at most.
HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 14.0N, 66.7W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 6: No closed circulation was apparent, but there was a lack of data
on west and south sides of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this lack,
a low was indicated in HWM near 13.5N, 69.5W with 1005 mb pressure at most.
HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 14.3N, 69.6W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 7: No closed circulation was apparent, but there was a lack of data
on west, south and east sides of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this
lack, a low was indicated in HWM near 12.5N, 73W with 1000 mb pressure at most.
HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 14.7N, 73.2W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 8: No closed circulation was apparent, but there was a lack of data
on north and south sides of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this lack, a
low was indicated in HWM near 11.5N, 76W with 995 mb pressure at most. HURDAT
listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at 13.9N, 77.0W. No gale force
winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 9: Possible closed circulation near 12.5N, 80W with 990 mb pressure
at most in HWM, but there was a lack of data near the center of the storm at
HURDAT location. HURDAT listed this as a Category 2 hurricane at 12 UTC at
13.0N, 80.0W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 10: No closed circulation was apparent, but there was a lack of
data on all quadrants of the storm at the HURDAT location. Despite this
lack, a inland low over Nicaragua was indicated in HWM near 13N, 85W with
990 mb pressure at most. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC
at 13.2N, 84.6W. "A cable report ... from Corinto, Nicaragua ... states that
a hurricane struck that city, causing the death of 10 and injury to 50
persons. Eight city blocks, comprising 250 houses, were razed to the ground
with an estimated loss of $2,000,000" (MWR). No gale force winds (or implied
from pressures) were observed.
September 11: No closed circulation was apparent, but there is a lack of data
on north and east sides of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this lack, an
inland low over El Salvador was indicated in HWM near 13.5N, 89W with 995 mb
pressure at most. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at
13.4N, 89.0W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 12: No closed circulation was apparent, but there is a lack of data
on all quadrants of storm at HURDAT location. Despite this lack, a low
(back over water) was indicated in HWM near 14N, 95W with 1000 mb pressure at
most. HURDAT listed this as a tropical depression at 12 UTC at 14.0N, 93.5W.
No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
September 13: No closed circulation was apparent, but there is a lack of data
on the east side of storm. Despite this lack, a low was indicated in HWM
near 15N, 99.5W with 1005 mb pressure at most. However, available ship
observations to the west of this position are inconsistent with a low located
there. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
The track is adjusted to the south by 100-200 km from the 3rd through the
9th. While data for most dates is sparse near the center, indications for a
more southerly track are most apparent on the 3rd and the 8th. Additionally,
these more southerly positions are for most days quite consistent with
that shown in HWM. No changes are made to the storm for the 11th and 12th.
Winds are reduced slightly on the 3rd and 4th in accordance with no gale
force winds recorded in its passage through the Lesser Antilles. The only
other change to its intensity is at 06 UTC on the 10th to maintain Category 2
intensity (85 kt) until landfall. Making few changes is primarily because
of the lack of inner core data throughout most of its history and that the
existing intensity estimates are consistent with the system becoming a
hurricane on the 8th and making landfall as a destructive hurricane in
Nicaragua on the 10th around 07 UTC. Utilizing the inland decay model of
Kaplan and DeMaria (1995), the following inland winds of 57, 41 and 41 kt
were obtained for 10th/12, 18, and 11th/00 UTC. These are close to existing
HURDAT values and no changes are made to the inland winds.
*******************************************************************************
1911/05 - 2005 ADDITION:
20036 09/15/1911 M= 6 5 SNBR= 461 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0
20037 09/15* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*340 550 45 0*340 550 45 0*
20038 09/16*340 550 45 0*340 551 50 0*340 555 50 0*340 563 50 0*
20039 09/17*340 573 55 0*340 587 55 0*340 600 55 0*345 610 55 0*
20039 09/18*355 618 50 0*370 626 50 0*380 635 45 0*388 645 45 0*
20039 09/19*394 657 40 0*398 667 40 0E400 675 40 0E399 678 40 0*
20039 09/20E396 676 35 0E393 673 35 0E390 670 30 0E387 667 25 0*
20039 TS
This is a new tropical storm, previously not documented in _Monthly Weather
Review_ or Neumann et al. (1999). Evidence for this system comes from
the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship database and Tucker (1995).
September 14: No data in vicinity of where system may have been.
September 15: Closed non-baroclinic system indicated. Center indicated
in HWM near 32.5N, 57.5W with 1005 mb pressure at most. Gale force winds
indicated in two ship observations, though westernmost one appears
suspect as flow is away from system's center. Center suspected to be
closer to 34N, 55W due to placement with eastern observations and continuity
with better defined center on the 16th. Peak ship observation: 40 kt S at
33.9N, 53.2W at 12 UTC (HWM).
September 16: System either remained stationary or moved slowly to the
west. Center near 34N, 55.5W in HWM with 1005 mb pressure at most. No
gale force winds (or implied by pressures) were observed.
September 17: System moved westward and intensified. Center was near 34N,
60W in HWM with 995 mb pressure at most. At the same time a weak
extratropical system approached from the west and was located near 36N, 69W.
Winds well to the north of the system increasing due to enhanced pressure
gradient. Peak ship observations: 30 kt ENE and 999 mb at 35.2N, 59.4W at
12 UTC (HWM) and 35 kt SE at 38.8N, 52.6W at 12 UTC (HWM). Tucker (1995):
"September 17th., St. Georges again suffered a freak storm, -- a local tornado
passed over the Sanatorium grounds uprooted trees, injured the bathehouse tops
and balustrades, blew blinds off the old house and unroofed the stables The
wind passed over Market Wharf shortly before 5 p.m. A general blow had been,
on account of the falling glass, anticipated at St. Georges; and all the coal
hulks and other floating property had been specially moored to withstand it."
September 18: System moved toward the northwest and apparently merged with
the decaying extratropical low, though a main stationary frontal boundary
remained to the north of the system. A trailing cold front in HWM extending
from the center of the storm appears suspect. Center was near 38N, 63W in
HWM with 1005 mb pressure at most. Numerous gale force wind reports were
observed poleward of the frontal boundary, not directly related to the
system. Ship highlight: 35 kt S at 38.9N, 61.3W at 12 UTC (HWM).
September 19: System continued to move toward the northwest and the frontal
boundary apparently reached the circulation center as gale force winds
with temperatures around 60F were observed just west and north of the center.
Center of system near 40N, 67.5W in HWM with 1005 mb pressure at most.
September 20: System weakened and moved slightly to the southeast. Frontal
boundary associated with system also weakened. Center of system near
39N, 67W in HWM with 1005 mb pressure at most.
September 21: System absorbed by stronger frontal system that moved in
from the northwest.
The system is started on the 15th as a tropical storm, reached peak intensity
on the 17th, became extratropical on the 19th and dissipated late on the 20th.
The conditions reported by Tucker likely was due to the periphery of the
storm and a rainband-induced tornado. The 999 mb peripheral pressure on the
17th suggests winds of at least 50 kt from the subtropical wind-pressure
relationship. 55 kt chosen for the best track at this time, which may have
been the peak intensity. The storm did exhibit some hybrid characteristics
and might, in a later era, be classified as a subtropical storm. Note that
complete lifecycle of this system is not known, as its genesis before the
15th is uncertain due to lack of data.
*******************************************************************************
1911/06 - 2005 REVISION:
20040 10/23/1911 M=10 4 SNBR= 459 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0 L
20040 10/26/1911 M= 7 6 SNBR= 462 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0 L
** ** * ***
(The 23rd through the 25th are removed from HURDAT.)
20045 10/23* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*175 702 35 0*178 719 35 0*
20050 10/24*181 735 35 0*184 748 35 0*188 759 35 0*188 767 35 0*
20055 10/25*191 775 35 0*192 781 35 0*194 787 35 0*195 792 35 0*
20060 10/26*196 797 35 0*198 801 35 0*199 805 35 0*200 808 40 0*
20060 10/26*225 755 30 0*225 770 30 0*225 785 30 0*224 799 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20065 10/27*201 810 40 0*203 812 40 0*204 815 45 0*205 818 45 0*
20065 10/27*223 813 30 0*222 827 35 0*220 840 40 0*217 848 40 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20070 10/28*207 822 45 0*208 825 45 0*210 828 45 0*212 831 45 0*
20070 10/28*214 853 40 0*212 857 40 0*210 860 40 0*208 862 40 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20075 10/29*214 834 45 0*216 837 40 0*219 840 40 0*223 844 35 0*
20075 10/29*206 864 40 0*205 865 40 0*205 865 40 0*208 864 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20080 10/30*228 849 35 0*233 855 35 0*239 859 35 0*245 862 35 0*
20080 10/30*212 863 35 0*218 861 35 0*225 859 35 0*235 860 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** **
20085 10/31*251 863 35 0*258 864 35 0*265 863 35 0*273 859 30 0*
20085 10/31*245 861 45 0*255 861 45 0*265 860 45 0E275 850 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** **** *** **
20090 11/01*285 847 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
20090 11/01E290 825 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
**** *** **
20095 TS
Major changes from the track and minor changes from the intensity shown in
Neumann et al. (1999), originally storm number 4. Evidence for these
alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship
database, the _Monthly Weather Review_, the Original Monthly Records
station data, Perez (2000), and ship observations provided by Dr. Ramon Perez.
October 23: No closed circulation was apparent from HWM and COADS
observations, but there was a lack of data on south side of storm at HURDAT
location. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 17.5N, 70.2W.
"A decided pressure fall over the West Indies indicated the presence of a
disturbance in the Caribbean Sea not far from Porto Rico and Santo Domingo"
(MWR). No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
October 24: No closed circulation apparent from HWM and COADS observations.
HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 18.8N, 75.9W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
October 25: No closed circulation was apparent, but there is a lack of data on
south side of storm at HURDAT location. HURDAT listed this as a tropical
storm at 12 UTC at 19.4N, 78.7W. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed.
October 26: No closed circulation was apparent in HWM, but observations
from HWM, COADS and the Cuban ship data indicate a center near 22.5N, 78.5W.
A warm front was analyzed extending from near the system's center north
through Cuba and Florida, but evidence for this feature is weak. HURDAT
listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 19.9N, 80.5W. No gale force
winds (or implied from pressures) were observed near the storm.
October 27: A weak circulation with 1010 mb pressure at most in the HWM
was indicated in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, with an embedded stationary
front extending northeastward across Florida. Evidence for the front is
weak from available observations. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm
at 12 UTC at 20.4N, 81.5W. Observations suggest that the center was
near 22N, 84W. "The disturbance was of small diameter and moved slowly
west-northwestward, passing south of and near Habana, Cuba, early on the
morning of Friday, October 27th, and moving into the Gulf of Mexico during
the day" (MWR). Peak station observation: 40 kt SE "early morning" at
Havana (MWR).
October 28: Circulation center ill-defined, but farther west than indicated
in HURDAT is likely. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at
21.0N, 82.8W with 45 kt winds. A stationary front is analyzed to begin near
the storm's center and extend off to the northeast over Florida though the
evidence is weak for this feature. Center likely located near 21N, 86W.
No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed near the storm.
October 29: Circulation center ill-defined, but appears to be farther west
and south than indicated in HURDAT is likely. HURDAT listed this as a
tropical storm at 12 UTC at 21.9N, 84.0W. A stationary front is analyzed
to begin near the storm's center and extend off to the northeast
over Florida though the evidence is weak for this feature. Center likely
located near 20.5N, 86.5W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures)
were observed near the storm.
October 30: Circulation center ill-defined, but appears to be farther south
than indicated in HURDAT is likely. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm
at 12 UTC at 23.9N, 85.9W. Center likely located near 22.5N, 86W. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed near the storm.
October 31: Circulation center near 26.5N, 86.5W in HWM with 1005 mb pressure
at most, close to that indicated by HURDAT. HURDAT listed this as a tropical
storm at 12 UTC at 26.5N, 86.3W. Moderate cold front analyzed to be
approaching the system from the north and west. "On Tuesday, October 31, there
were strong indications that the storm had recurved and was approaching the
northwest coast of Florida" (MWR). Ship highlight: 35 kt N at 27.2N, 87.7W at
12 UTC (HWM). Station highlight: 10 kt S with 1009 mb (minimum for
month) at Tampa at 18 UTC (OMR).
November 1: "By night [Oct. 31-Nov. 1] the storm center was over northern
Florida. It still retained its moderate character and passed northeastward
over the Atlantic Ocean during the [next] night with decreasing intensity"
(MWR). In partial support of this statement, 00 UTC observations showed
SW winds at Tampa and NE winds at both Pensacola and Jacksonville. However,
by 12 UTC all three stations reported N winds a substantially cooler
temperature behind the front and no remnant circulation remained.
Observations are sufficient to determine that a delay in the genesis of
this tropical storm is required. The storm is now begun as a tropical
depression on the 26th just northeast of Cuba, rather than having
genesis on the 23rd just south of Hispanola. Ship data of the "Regina"
provided by Dr. Ramon Perez were crucial in determining that the system had
developed into a tropical depression east of Cuba rather than south of
Cuba. Winds recorded by this ship were SW-SSW at 20-25 kt for 12 hours late
on the 26th and early on the 27th and minimum pressure was 1010 mb at 21Z
on the 26th (though pressure values appear to be about 4 mb too high for
this ship - a minimum of 1006 mb looks more reasonable). The system crossed
Cuba as a tropical depression moving just south of due west and it became
a tropical storm on the 27th while south of Havana. The track is
adjusted to the west on the 28th and to the south and west on the 29th to
better match ship observations and to better correspond with pressure
changes in Havana. Track moved to the south on the 30th to match
observations and continuity with the position on the 29th. These track
changes around Cuba on the 26th to the 30th are in agreement with that
suggested by Perez (2000). Winds are analyzed to have peaked around 45 kt
on the 31st. Due to being absorbed by the cold front late on the 31st and
early on the 1st, the status is changed to an extratropical cyclone at
those times.
*******************************************************************************
1911 - Additional Notes:
1) Historical Weather Maps and COADS indicate a trough present near 50W on 17
February 1911. The trough progressed westward on the 18th near 53W and
eventually became a tropical depression on the 19th near 22N, 52W (HWM).
Available observations indicate a clear circulation of 30 kt winds (HWM,COA)
with peak observations of 45 kt and 1008 mb early on the 20th. The system's
brief stint as a tropical depression ended on the 21st as it quickly
dissipated. One ship reported (somewhat suspect) gale force wind observations
of 35 and 45 kt on the 19th and early on the 20th (COA). However, without
additional pressure and/or wind observations this system is considered a
tropical depression and not added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Feb 17 --- --- Open Inverted Trough along ~50W
Feb 18 --- --- Open Inverted Trough along ~53W
Feb 19 22N 52W Tropical Depression
Feb 20 25N 49W Tropical Depression
Feb 21 --- --- Dissipated
2) Historical Weather Maps and COADS indicate that a tropical cyclone developed
near 36N, 55W on 22 May 1911 from an existing extratropical storm. The system
then meandered around 35N, 53W over the next three days before being absorbed
by a second extratropical cyclone on the 24th. Highest winds observed
from this tropical cyclone were 35 kt on the 23rd (HWM). Lowest pressures
observed were 1009 mb on the 23rd (HWM). Although one gale of 35 kt is
present, not enough evidence is available that the system reached tropical
storm intensity. Thus it is considered a tropical depression (or perhaps
a subtropical depression) and not added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
May 19 35N 53W Extratropical
May 20 36N 49W Extratropical
May 21 37N 52W Extratropical
May 22 36N 55W Tropical Depression
May 23 32N 53W Tropical Depression
May 24 33N 53W Tropical Depression (being absorbed)
May 25 35N 53W Extratropical
3) A cyclone formed on the 29th of June northwest of Bermuda, moved toward
the east-northeast, reached a peak intensity of around 50 kt on the 2nd of
July, and was absorbed by a large extratropical cyclone on the 3rd. Peak
observations were a ship with winds of 45 kt on the 30th and 997 mb peripheral
pressure on the 1st. While the system may have gained some tropical (or
subtropical) characteristics on the 1st and 2nd, it was judged to still
retain baroclinic features and thus is not added into HURDAT. Information
for this system was obtained from the Historical Weather Map series and the
COADS ship database.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Jun 29 36N 69W Extratropical
Jun 30 37N 64W Extratropical
Jul 01 39N 61W Extratropical
Jul 02 41N 56W Extratropical
Jul 03 -- -- Absorbed by larger extratropical system
4) Mr. Michael Chenoweth uncovered this information from _The Voice of
St. Lucia_ newspaper dated 7 Oct. 1911:
"Extract from The Jamaica Gleaner, undated.
Port Limon, Costa Rica, Sept. 4 [Monday]. The tail of a hurricane
struck this locality on Tuesday [29 August], doing some heavy damage
to some farms. Westfalia, a comparatively small banana farm, is said
to have lost 10,000 bunches of bananas, while others escaped
entirely."
A review of the Historical Weather Map series for the 28-30 August time
frame does suggest a tropical disturbance moved through Central America
during these dates. However, perhaps because of the lack of both
ship and station data, no closed circulation could be identified nor
were there any gale force observations. Likewise, a search of the COADS
ship database while also being somewhat sparse for observations in the
region did not provide any evidence of a closed low or gale force winds
(or equivalent in pressure). Thus this system will be kept here in the
additional notes section as a possible new storm, but one needing
additional corroborative evidence to be added into HURDAT.
5) An area of disturbed weather in mid-September in the Caribbean was
investigated for possible inclusion as a tropical cyclone. Information
was obtained from summaries in the Monthly Weather Review, the Historical
Weather Map series and COADS database. "On the morning of the 16th a
decided fall in barometer set in over the West Indies ... the center of
the disturbance and its intensity were not definitely known ... Some
indications disturbance south of Haiti. On the morning of the 17th ...
placing the center of the disturbance south-southwest of Jamaica. On the
18th ... indications disturbance in Caribbean Sea is west of Jamaica and
approaching Yucatan Channel. Intensity unknown. At Habana a wind
velocity of 32 miles an hour from the northeast was reported as having
occurred during the night of the 17th-18th. No further evidence of
this storm has been reported" (MWR). This system appears to be a strong
easterly wave that moved across the Caribbean without becoming a tropical
cyclone. It is possible though that it did become a tropical depression
on the 17th and/or 18th, but definite evidence for a closed circulation
does not exist. Additionally, no winds (or winds implied from pressure)
support tropical storm intensity. Thus this system is not included into
HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Sep. 16 --- --- Open wave (trough along 70W)
Sep. 17 --- --- Open wave? (trough along 75W)
Sep. 18 --- --- Open wave? (trough along 80W)
Sep. 19 --- --- Open wave (trough along 85W)
6) The Historical Weather Map series and COADS database indicate the
presence of a storm system from 16-20 October, 1911 in the North Atlantic.
This system moved eastward for 5 days at about latitude 35N. While
no frontal features could be determined during most of the storm's
lifetime, gale force winds in the were storm were primarily to be found
well away from the storm's center. This system is judged to be a large
non-tropical gale center. While the storm was non-baroclinic, it lacked
the high wind mesoscale structure required of tropical cyclones. The one
possible exception during its lifetime occurred on the 20th, when a gale
force report was found just to the south of the center. However, lack of
collaboration with additional data make this single report ambiguous for
knowing the structure of the system at that time. Thus this storm is not
included as an additional system for HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Oct. 16 38N 66W Non-tropical low
Oct. 17 34N 56W Non-tropical gale center
Oct. 18 36N 53W Non-tropical gale center
Oct. 19 35N 52W Non-tropical gale center
Oct. 20 34N 49W Non-tropical gale center
Oct. 21 --- --- Dissipated
7) Historical Weather Maps, Monthly Weather Review, and COADS indicate a that a
low pressure area formed near 21.5N, 71W on 11 December 1911 and appeared to be
a tropical cyclone in structure. The system was likely a tropical depression on
the 11th as indicated by MWR, "maximum winds of 36 mph [30 kt], southwest, in
the afternoon and lowest pressure of 29.68 inches [1005 mb] in the morning" for
the Turks Islands. This pressure observation implies at least 36 kt from the
southern pressure-wind relationship, unless the observation is considered a
central pressure which would in turn indicate maximum winds of ~35 kt. The
depression maintained its intensity and "moved westward, centered immediately
north of eastern Cuba" on the 12th (MWR). It is also noted to, "soon dissipate
as it moved into the Gulf as indicated by pressures and winds in Havana and
south Florida" (MWR). On the 13th, the system was weakening and by the 14th was
completely dissipated. Although this system contained one observation of gale
force, such pressures (1008 mb and higher) do not support winds of tropical
storm force from the southern pressure-wind relationship. Therefore, this storm
is considered a tropical depression and should not be added to HURDAT.
Dec 09 19N 69W Extratropical
Dec 10 20N 68W Extratropical
Dec 11 21N 73W Tropical Depression
Dec 12 22N 77W Tropical Depression
Dec 13 32N 53W Tropical Depression - Dissipating
Dec 14 33N 53W Dissipated
*******************************************************************************
1912/01 - 2005 REVISION:
20190 06/07/1912 M=10 1 SNBR= 460 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
20190 06/07/1912 M=11 1 SNBR= 463 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
** ***
20195 06/07* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*230 853 35 0*235 855 35 0*
20195 06/07* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*280 880 35 0*277 877 35 0*
*** *** *** ***
20200 06/08*239 858 35 0*242 860 35 0*245 863 35 0*246 866 35 0*
20200 06/08*274 874 40 0*272 871 45 0*270 870 50 0*268 873 50 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20205 06/09*247 869 35 0*248 873 35 0*248 876 35 0*248 879 40 0*
20205 06/09*267 878 50 0*266 884 50 0*265 890 50 0*264 895 50 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20210 06/10*248 883 40 0*247 886 45 0*247 890 45 0*247 894 45 0*
20210 06/10*262 900 50 0*261 905 50 0*260 910 50 0*261 912 50 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20215 06/11*247 899 50 0*247 903 50 0*248 908 50 0*250 914 50 0*
20215 06/11*262 913 55 0*263 914 60 0*265 915 60 0*268 917 60 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20220 06/12*255 919 50 0*261 925 45 0*269 929 45 0*277 931 45 0*
20220 06/12*272 920 60 0*276 923 60 0*280 925 60 0*285 924 60 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20225 06/13*286 929 45 0*295 921 45 0*305 908 40 0*316 888 35 0*
20225 06/13*291 920 60 0*298 915 55 0*305 908 50 0*315 895 45 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** ** *** *** **
20230 06/14*328 862 35 0*340 835 35 0*350 814 35 0*355 798 35 0*
20230 06/14*325 875 40 0E335 845 35 0E345 810 35 0E350 785 35 0*
*** *** **** *** **** *** **** ***
20235 06/15*358 784 35 0*360 769 35 0*360 752 35 0*359 734 35 0*
20235 06/15E353 770 35 1005E354 756 40 0E355 745 40 0E355 730 40 0*
**** *** ******** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** **
20240 06/16*358 715 35 0*355 696 35 0*351 675 30 0* 0 0 0 0*
20240 06/16*355 710 35 0*355 694 35 0*355 680 30 0*353 670 30 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** **
(17th is new to HURDAT.)
20242 06/17*351 661 30 0*348 653 30 0*345 645 30 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20245 TS
Major changes from the track and intensity shown in Neumann et al. (1999).
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series,
the COADS ship database, and _Monthly Weather Review_.
June 5: Closed low shown in HWM at 23.5N, 92.5W with pressure 1010 mb at
most. The MWR Map of Low Pressure Tracks locate it at 23N, 92.5W (a.m.) and
24N, 94W (p.m.). However, available observations depict only an open trough.
No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
June 6: Closed low shown in HWM at 25N, 92W with pressure 1010 mb at most.
The MWR tracks locate it at 25.5N, 92.8W (a.m.) and 27N, 90.2W (p.m.).
However, available observations depict only an open trough. Station
highlight: 38 kt SE wind at Pensacola (MWR).
June 7: Closed low shown in HWM at 28.5N, 88W with pressure 1010 mb at most.
The MWR tracks locate it at 28N, 87.8W with 1008 mb pressure (a.m) and 28.2N,
85W (p.m.). HURDAT first lists this system at 12 UTC as a tropical storm at
23.0N, 85.3W. the MWR track appears to be most accurate from available
observations. Ship and coastal station data do at this point indicate a
closed circulation. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
June 8: Closed low shown in HWM at 26N, 85W with pressure 1005 mb at most.
The MWR tracks locate it at 27.2N, 83.5W with 1010 mb pressure (a.m.) and
25.7N, 84.2W with 1004 mb pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a
tropical storm at 24.5N, 86.3W at 12 UTC. Available observations suggest a
position north and slightly west of HURDAT. Ship highlight: 1005 mb pressure
at 10 UTC at 27.0N, 87.0W (COA), 50 kt NE wind at 14 and 18 UTC at
28.0N, 87.0W (COA).
June 9: Closed low shown in HWM at 25N, 89.5W with pressure 1005 mb at
most. The MWR tracks locate it at 25.3N, 87.2W with 1000 mb pressure (a.m.)
and 25.3N, 89.2W with 1005 mb pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a
tropical storm at 24.8N, 87.6W at 12 UTC. Available observations suggest
a position north and west of HURDAT. Ship highlight: 50 kt NE wind
at 02 UTC at 28.0N, 88.0W (COA) and 50 kt NE wind and 1003 mb pressure at
12 UTC at 27.2N, 89.8W (HWM). "On the 9th a wireless vessel report from the
middle Gulf of Mexico indicated the presence of a disturbance of moderate
intensity in that region" (MWR).
June 10: Closed low shown in HWM at 25.5N, 91W with 1010 mb pressure at
most. The MWR tracks locate it at 23.5N, 88.5W with 1007 mb pressure (a.m.)
and 25.5N, 91.2W (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at
24.7N, 89.0W at 12 UTC. Available observations suggest a position just
north of HWM. Ship highlight: 35 kt E wind at 06 UTC at 28.0N, 88.0W
(COA); 35 kt ENE wind at 12 UTC at 28.3N, 88.3W (HWM).
June 11: Closed low shown in HWM at 26.5N, 91W with 1005 mb pressure at most.
The MWR tracks locate it at 27N, 93W (a.m.) and at 26N, 94.3W (p.m.).
HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 24.8N, 90.8W at 12 UTC.
Available observations suggest a position just north of HWM. No gale force
winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
June 12: Closed low shown in HWM at 27.5N, 92.5W with 1000 mb pressure at
most. The MWR tracks locate it at 28N, 94.2W with 1011 mb pressure (a.m.) and
at 28.5N, 93W with 1008 mb pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a
tropical storm at 26.9N, 92.9W at 12 UTC. Available observations suggest
a position just east of HURDAT. Ship highlight: 40 kt NNE wind
and 995 mb pressure at 12 UTC at 28.4N, 92.5W (HWM). "On the morning of the
12th observations from west Gulf stations indicated that the disturbance was
apparently approaching the eastern Texas or the Louisiana coast and advices
were accordingly sent to Gulf stations and vessel interests" (MWR).
June 13: Closed low has moved inland over Louisiana as shown in HWM at
31N, 91.5W with 1005 mb pressure at most. The MWR tracks locate it at
30.7N, 90.7W with 1006 mb pressure (a.m.) and at 33.2N, 86.8W with 1000 mb
pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 30.5N, 90.8W
at 12 UTC. Station highlight: 37 kt wind at New Orleans (MWR); 1000 mb
pressure at Birmingham (MWR). "By the morning of the 13th the center had
passed inland over Louisiana causing some damage by the spreading of flood
waters; no damage however was reported to shipping" (MWR).
June 14: Closed low still inland over South Carolina is shown in HWM at
35N, 80.5W with 1005 mb pressure at most and with a stationary front draped
across it from WNW to ESE. (However, observations do not appear to support
such a frontal analysis.) The MWR tracks locate it at 34.7N, 80.7W with
1004 mb pressure (a.m.) and at 35N, 75.5W with 1004 mb pressure (p.m.).
HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 35.0N, 81.4W at 12 UTC.
Available observations suggest a position closest to the MWR center.
Station highlight: 42 kt wind at 0215 UTC in Atlanta (MWR); 1002 mb pressure
at 00 UTC in Montgomery (OMR). "The storm, which was of moderate intensity,
passed east-northeastward to the North Carolina coast by the evening of the
14th, causing storm winds over the south Atlantic coast warnings of which
were issued on the 14th. A severe local storm was reported near
Fayetteville, N.C., during the 14th" (MWR).
June 15: Closed low back over water in the Atlantic is shown in HWM at
35N, 75W with 1010 mb pressure at most. The MWR tracks locate it at
34.5N, 73.7W with 1010 mb pressure (a.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a
tropical storm at 36.0N, 75.2W at 12 UTC. Available observations suggest
a position just south and east of HURDAT. Station highlight: 4 kt E and
1005 mb at 00 UTC at Cape Hatteras (OMR) - possible central pressure.
June 16: Closed low is shown in HWM at 34N, 67.5W with 1015 mb pressure at
most. HURDAT lists this system as a tropical depression at 35.1N, 67.5W at
12 UTC. Available observations suggest a position just north and west of
HURDAT. No gale force winds (or implied by pressure) were observed.
June 17: An open trough is shown in HWM, but available observations
indicate a closed low near 34.5N, 64.5W. No gale force winds (or implied by
pressure) were observed.
Major adjustments to the track on the 7th through the 10th to the north
and west are justified by ship and coastal observations. Minor changes
to the track are made from the 11th through the 16th. Additional day
added to the track on the 17th based upon ship and Bermuda observations.
Intensity increased from the 8th to the 13th based upon ship observations.
995 mb pressure from HWM ship at 12 UTC on the 12th suggests winds of at
least 54 kt from the Gulf of Mexico wind-pressure relationship - 60 kt
utilized. 60 kt tropical storm at landfall around 05 UTC on the 13th is
consistent with high winds (42 kt in Atlanta) and low pressures (1004 mb in
Charlotte) found inland along track. This wind adjusts to 35 kt after
accounting for the high bias of the anemometer of the era and converting to
a peak 1 minute wind (Fergusson and Covert 1924 and Powell et al. 1996).
Utilizing the Kaplan and DeMaria (1995) inland decay model, this suggests
winds of 52, 43, 35, and 27 kt for the 13th at 06, 12, 18 UTC and 14th at
00 UTC. Peak observed winds after landfall were 35 kt (after adjustment)
at 02 UTC on the 14th. This suggests a slower than usual decay. Winds of
55, 50, 45, and 40 kt, respectively, are chosen for the intensities.
Intensity increased slightly on the 15th due to coastal observations as the
system reached the ocean.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1912/02 - 2005 REVISION:
20250 07/12/1912 M= 6 2 SNBR= 461 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
20250 07/12/1912 M= 6 2 SNBR= 464 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
***
20255 07/12* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*264 711 35 0*270 718 35 0*
20255 07/12* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*250 740 35 0*258 745 35 0*
*** *** *** ***
20260 07/13*275 724 35 0*280 731 35 0*284 738 35 0*287 745 35 0*
20260 07/13*266 750 35 0*273 755 35 0*280 760 35 0*285 764 35 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20265 07/14*291 752 35 0*294 759 35 0*297 767 35 0*300 776 40 0*
20265 07/14*289 767 35 0*293 771 35 0*297 775 35 0*300 781 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
20270 07/15*304 784 40 0*309 792 40 0*313 807 45 0*313 819 45 0*
20270 07/15*304 788 40 0*309 797 40 0*313 807 45 0*313 819 40 0*
*** *** **
20275 07/16*313 831 35 0*313 843 30 0*313 855 30 0*314 865 25 0*
20275 07/16*313 831 40 0*313 843 35 0*313 855 30 0*314 865 25 0*
** **
20280 07/17*315 875 25 0*316 884 20 0*317 893 20 0* 0 0 0 0*
20285 TS
Major changes from the track and minor alterations to the intensity shown in
Neumann et al. (1999). Evidence for these alterations comes from the
Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship database, _Monthly Weather
Review_, and Dunn and Miller (1960).
July 12: No closed low depicted in HWM; however, a center may be present
near 25N, 74W. HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 26.4N,
71.1W at 12 UTC. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
July 13: No closed low depicted in HWM; however, a center may be present
near 28N, 76W. The MWR Map of Low Pressure Tracks locate it at 29.8N,
79.7W with 30.08" pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a tropical
storm at 28.4N, 73.8W at 12 UTC. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed.
July 14: No closed low depicted in HWM; however, a center is located from
ship and coastal observations near 29.5N, 77.5W. The MWR tracks locate it
at 28.5N, 78.5W with 30.00" pressure (a.m.) and at 32N, 80.2W with 1011 mb
pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 29.7N,
76.7W at 12 UTC. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
July 15: No closed low depicted in HWM; however, a center is located from
ship and coastal observations near 31.5N, 80.5W. The MWR tracks locate it at
31N, 81.3W with 1014 mb pressure (a.m.) and at 31.3N, 83W with 1011 mb
pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at
31.3N, 80.7W at 12 UTC. Station highlight: 43 kt SE wind at Savannah
at 16 UTC. "The following report on the storm near the Georgia
coast is taken from notes furnished by Mr. C. J. Doherty, local forecaster,
in charge at Savannah, Ga.: A decided fall in the barometer took place on
the 14th, with increasing winds. The regular p. m. reports showed an
incipient disturbance near the Georgia coast, and high winds with unusually
rough seas prevailed at Tybee Beach during the night. The morning reports
of the 15th indicated that the storm had increased slightly in intensity.
The weather was thick and threatening, with light intermittent showers which
continued during the day and night. After midnight the wind became fresh and
gusty. A verifying velocity was attained at 7.35 a. m. of 36 miles an hour,
and thereafter the wind continue high until 10 p. m., with a maximum velocity
of 49 miles from the southeast shortly after 11 a. m. on the 15th. During
the day the displayman at Tybee reported unusually wild seas, with high winds
and swell from the southeast. Northeast storm warnings were displayed from
Jacksonville to Charleston. No material damage was reported" (MWR). "On the
evening of the 14th there was an unsettled condition off the Georgia coast,
and by the morning of the 15th pressure had fallen slightly over that region,
and a maximum wind velocity of 36 miles from the east was reported from
Charleston. Storm warnings were ordered from Charleston to Jacksonville, and
special observations were called for, but no further development was noted.
Heavy rains, however, occurred over Georgia and South Carolina" (MWR). 1912
July 14-15 ; Ga., S.C.; Minimal intensity; Center near Tybee Beach (Dunn and
Miller).
July 16: No closed low depicted in HWM; however, a circulation center can
be identified inland near 31.5N, 85.5W from available ship and station
reports. The MWR tracks show the system at 31.1N, 85.7W with 1013 mb
pressure (a.m.) and at 32N, 87.8W with 1012 mb pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists
the system as a tropical depression at 31.3N, 85.5W at 12 UTC. Station
highlight: 40 kt SE wind at Charleston at "morning" (MWR). "... and a maximum
wind velocity of 46 miles from the southeast was reported on the morning of
the 16th from Charleston. This disturbance caused showers and thunderstorms
over the East Gulf and South Atlantic States for several days following the
16th" (MWR).
July 17: No closed low depicted in HWM; however, a possible circulation
center could be seen near 31.5N, 89.5W based upon station reports. It is
possible though that the circulation has decayed to an open trough
oriented west-east. HURDAT lists this system as a tropical depression
at 31.7N, 89.3W at 12 UTC. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures)
were observed.
A large west shift in the track was analyzed for the 12th to the 14th based
upon available ship and coastal station reports. Intensity not altered
before landfall in Georgia. Landfall around 16 UTC on the 15th with winds
of 45 kt from HURDAT originally matches observed peak winds of 43 kt from
Savannah. (This wind adjusts to 36 kt after accounting for the high bias
of the anemometer of the era and converting to a peak 1 minute wind
[Fergusson and Covert 1924 and Powell et al. 1996]). Observed 40 kt (33 kt
true) winds early on the 16th are the reason for slightly increasing the
intensity on the 16th.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1912/03 - 2005 ADDITION:
20286 09/02/1912 M= 5 3 SNBR= 465 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
20287 09/02*382 725 30 0*381 725 30 0*380 725 35 0*378 725 40 0*
20288 09/03*376 725 45 0*373 725 45 0*370 725 45 0*365 728 45 0*
20289 09/04*360 732 40 0*355 735 40 0*350 740 40 0*345 747 40 0*
20289 09/05*340 754 35 0*335 762 35 0*330 770 35 0*326 780 30 0*
20289 09/06*322 792 30 0*318 807 30 0*315 825 25 0*313 845 20 0*
20289 TS
This is a new tropical storm, previously not documented in _Monthly Weather
Review_ or Neumann et al. (1999). Evidence for this system comes from
the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship database, and Original
Monthly Record station data from NCDC.
September 2: A low forms off of the North Carolina/Virginia coast
centered at 36.5N, 72.5W with 1015 mb pressure at most from HWM.
Additional COADS observations indicate the center was farther
north. Low appears to be tropical as no frontal features are apparent
in the vicinity of the storm. Ship highlight: 45 kt ESE at
38.0N, 71.0W at 21 UTC (COA).
September 3: The low was located at 37N, 72.5W with 1015 mb pressure at
most from HWM. Ship highlights: 35 kt SE at 37.5N, 71.5W at 13 UTC
(COA) and 15 kt SW and 1007 mb at 35.2N, 70.8W at 12 UTC (HWM).
September 4: The low was located at 35N, 73.5W with 1015 mb pressure at
most from HWM. Additional COADS observations indicate the center was
somewhat farther east. A dissipating cold front was analyzed in HWM
to be just north of the storm, which is reasonable. No gale force
winds (or equivalent in pressure) were observed for this day.
September 5: The low was located at 32N, 77W with 1015 mb pressure at
most from HWM. Additional COADS observations indicate the center was
somewhat farther north. Peak station observation: 32 kt E and 1015 mb
at Charleston at 22 UTC. No gale force winds (or equivalent in pressure)
were observed for this day.
September 6: The low was located inland over Georgia at 32N, 83W with
1015 mb pressure at most from HWM. Additional data indicates the center
was somewhat farther south and east. No gale force winds (or equivalent
in pressure) was observed for this day.
September 7: The low dissipated by the 12 UTC analysis in HWM.
The system began on the 2nd as a tropical storm, quickly reached its peak
intensity of 45 kt on the 3rd, gradually weakened over the next two days
with a decay to tropical depression stage on the 5th, made landfall early
on the 6th and dissipated by late on the 6th. Individual hourly
observations from Savannah indicate that landfall occurred just
north of Savannah around 03 UTC on the 6th. Peak observed winds at
the coast were 32 kt from Charleston at 22 UTC on the 5th. These
adjust to 28 kt after accounting for the high bias of the anemometer
of the era and converting to a peak 1 minute wind (Fergusson and Covert
1924 and Powell et al. 1996). Additionally, the lowest pressure recorded
in Savannah was 1014 mb (00 UTC on the 6th) and in Charleston was 1015 mb
(22 UTC on the 5th). Thus the system is analyzed to have made landfall
near the Georgia/South Carolina border as a 30 kt tropical depression.
*******************************************************************************
1912/04 - 2005 REVISION:
20290 09/11/1912 M= 4 3 SNBR= 462 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
20290 09/10/1912 M= 6 4 SNBR= 466 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
** * * ***
(The 10th is new to HURDAT.)
20292 09/10* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*290 840 30 0*290 843 35 0*
20295 09/11* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*290 841 60 0*288 843 60 0*
20295 09/11*290 845 40 0*290 848 45 0*290 850 50 0*289 852 55 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
20300 09/12*286 845 65 0*285 848 70 0*283 854 70 0*282 857 70 0*
20300 09/12*287 854 60 0*286 857 65 0*285 860 70 0*285 863 75 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** **
20305 09/13*281 862 70 0*280 867 70 0*280 872 70 0*283 876 70 0*
20305 09/13*286 867 80 0*288 871 80 0*290 875 80 0*293 878 75 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20310 09/14*292 880 70 0*304 884 65 0*318 888 50 0*350 885 30 0*
20310 09/14*297 881 70 0*301 883 65 0*308 885 50 0*318 885 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** **
(The 15th is new to HURDAT.)
20312 09/15*330 885 35 0*350 885 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
20315 HR AL1
20315 HR AL1AFL1
****
Major changes from the track and minor alterations to the intensity shown in
Neumann et al. (1999). Evidence for these alterations comes from the
Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship database, the Original
Monthly Record station observations from NCDC, _Monthly Weather Review_,
Connor (1956), Dunn and Miller (1960), and Jarrell et al. (1992).
September 6-9: Beginning on the 6th of September as storm 1912/03 was inland
over Georgia, a trough of low pressure formed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
This trough appears to be a separate entity to storm 1912/03 or its remnants.
The trough remained in the eastern Gulf of Mexico from the 6th through
the 9th, though it did not seem possible to close off a well-defined
center of circulation. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures)
were observed.
September 10: A closed low is indicated in HWM near 29N, 84.5W with 1010 mb
pressure at most. The MWR tracks have the center at 29N, 84W for both a.m.
and p.m. Available observations indicate that the center indicated in MWR
is most reasonable. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
September 11: A closed low is indicated in HWM near 28.5N, 86W with 1010 mb
pressure at most. The MWR tracks have the center at 29N, 84W (a.m.) and at
27N, 87W (p.m.). (The MWR tracks then keep this system stationary until the
13th p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 29.0N, 84.1W at
12 UTC. Available observations indicate that the center was likely west
of the HURDAT position. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were
observed.
September 12: A closed low is indicated in HWM near 29N, 86W with 1010 mb
pressure at most. The MWR tracks have the center at 27N, 87W at both a.m.
and p.m. HURDAT lists this system as a Category 1 hurricane at 28.3N, 85.4W
at 12 UTC. Available observations suggest that the center was likely just
north and west of HURDAT's position. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed. "The period of 6 days from the 7th to 12th was
noteworthy for excessive rains on the west coast of Florida, Tampa, receiving
13.71 inches, Pinellas Park 15.31, and Cedar Keys 23.15 inches" (MWR). "From
the 6th to the 13th conditions were unsettled off the east Gulf coast and
reports from land stations as well as those from vessels by wireless
indicated the existence of a disturbance of slight intensity in that region.
On the afternoon of the 12th, special observations indicated that the storm
was increasing in intensity" (MWR).
September 13: A closed low is indicated in HWM near 29N, 86W with 1000 mb
pressure at most. The MWR tracks have the center at 27N, 87W (a.m.) and at
28N, 87.5W with 1002 mb pressure (p.m.). HURDAT lists this system as a
Category 1 hurricane at 28.3N, 85.4W at 12 UTC. Ship highlight: 70 kt wind
and 982 mb pressure from the barkentine Golden Rod near 29.4W, 87.2W at
03 UTC (MWR). Station highlight: 41 kt at Pensacola at 22 UTC (HWM).
Available observations suggest a position north and just west of HURDAT.
"The barkentine Golden Rod ... encountered the storm off Cape San Blas
on the night of the 12th. The squalls grew more frequent and severe and at
night he was driven along before them under bare poles, passing about 60 miles
south of Pensacola at 11 p.m., when his barometer fell to 29 inches [982 mb].
He [the captain] said the squalls were terrific and the ship remained over on
her beam ends during the height of the storm" (MWR).
September 14: A closed low is indicated in HWM near 30N, 89W with 1005 mb
pressure at most and with an ill-defined warm front to the north and west of
the system. (The frontal analysis appears suspect.) The MWR tracks have the
center at 31.5N, 88.5W with 1002 mb pressure (a.m.) and at 33N, 92.5W (p.m.)
HURDAT lists this system as a tropical storm at 31.8N, 81.8W at 12 UTC.
Station highlight: 64 kt SE wind at 0600 UTC and 1003 mb pressure at 0730
UTC at Pensacola (MWR); 45 kt SE wind at 0850 UTC and 995 mb pressure at
0830 UTC at Mobile (MWR). Available observations suggest a center south and
just east from HURDAT. "[At Pensacola on the 13th] fifty-three miles
from the southeast was registered at 7.18 p. m., 50 southeast at
8.14 p. m., 59 southeast at 9.21 p. m., with an extreme 62 miles;
58 southeast at 10.57 p. m., and 58 southeast at 11.56 p. m. ...
at 7 p. m., the tide was 1 foot above normal. On the 14th extremely
severe southeast squalls continued to 7 a. m., reaching 68 miles southeast
at 12.24 a. m., and 74 southeast at 2 a. m., with an extreme velocity of
86 miles at 1.58 a. m. The next squall, at 2.26 a. m., carried away the
anemometer, which had worked loose on its stand. The anemometer record was
started again at 8.26 a. m. It was the general opinion that the squall at
2 a. m. was the hardest, but the severe squalls of about 60 miles continued
to 6 a. m., south winds prevailing after 3 a. m. ... Pressure fell to 29.62
inches [1003 mb] at 2.30 a. m., then began rising rapidly, reaching 30 inches
[1016 mb] at 9 p. m. ... The tide during the night of the 13th-14th rose 2 feet
above normal high water, the waves were about 4 feet high, and the wind
carried the spray over the American National Bank Building ... Beginning at
Pensacola entrance and making a circuit of Pensacola Bay, the following damage
by the storm was observed: Fishing smack Two Boys ashore. The tracks of the
Pensacola Electric Co. were undermined for a distance of about 1,200 feet
immediately south of Bayou Grande: also about 1,000 feet on Maine Street;
their tracks were also inundated by high tide at the corner of Intendencia
Street and Ninth Avenue. Private wharves along the bay shore from Fort
Barrancas to Baylen Street were generally carried away, together with numerous
small houses for fishermens equipment. The entire beach was strewn with
timber and about 20 barges went ashore; only a few barges remained at anchor
and retained their cargoes of lumber. The British SS. Meltonian, moored along
the east side of Perdido Wharf, broke away and went aground on Rat Island...
One of them [coal barges] damaged the steamer Edna C, the quartermasters
steam yacht Page, and rammed and sank the revenue cutter Penrose. At
Jefferson Street Wharf a house-lighter sank with a cargo of naval stores.
Traffic over the L. & N. R. R. was suspended for about 18 hours on account
of the damage to the bridge by being rammed with rafts of timber. The west
end of the roof of Monarch Pavilion on Santa Rosa Island was blown off and a
portion of the southeast corner of the roof of the Gulf Beacon Inn was torn
off by the gales. The British S. S. Conniston went ashore about 75 miles
east of Pensacola. The fishing smack Isabelle went ashore about 12 miles
west of Pensacola entrance...The damage by wind throughout the city was
slight. The Western Union lines went down during the night and were out of
order until 1 p. m. of the 14th. Electric light circuits were cut off
about 1 a. m. of the 14th. Telephone lines to the navy yard were blown
down...The estimated damage by tide and waves in Pensacola is $23,500, and
by winds $1,500" (MWR). "The storm that passed inland from the Gulf on the
night of September 13-14, with its center probably not over 20 miles west of
Mobile, was much less destructive than several other storms recorded in the
meteorological history of Mobile. The short duration of the high winds, the
comparatively low accompanying tides, and the absence of heavy rainfall for
an extended period tended to lessen its disastrous effects...The tides in
Mobile River had been abnormally low, but during the east and southeast winds
rose rapidly, and reached the level of the top of the lowest wharves at about
4.30 a. m. ... A maximum rate of 32 miles and hour was attained at 2.50 a. m.,
and the highest velocity, 52 miles an hour, at 3.50 a. m. No high winds
occurred after 6 a. m. On September 14 east winds prevailed from 1.30 a. m.
to 3.15 a.m., and were followed by southeast winds changing to south at
4.45 a. m. At Pascagoula, Miss., about 35 miles southwest of Mobile, the
wind backed from northeast to southwest, and the highest wind was from the
northwest. The wind did not reach dangerous velocities at Gulfport, Miss.,
or other storm warning stations farther west...A rapid fall began after
midnight; the lowest atmospheric pressure, 29.37 inches [995 mb], occurred at
3.30 a. m., the pressure remaining almost stationary for half an hour, and
then rising steadily until 29.65 inches [1004 mb] was reached at 8 a. m. on the
14th. The loss of property in the city of Mobile from the high winds is
estimated at $8,000. A church, a very weak structure, on the corner of
Delaware and Cedar Streets, was blown down, as were also some business signs
and many fences. The wire systems also sustained considerable damage. The
loss to vessels in the bay and river is estimated at $4,000. The larger
vessels had been made fast with extra cables, and many of the smaller vessels
had ascended the river to places of safety. The principal loss to shipping
interests was a barge, valued at $2,000, which was lost in Mobile Bay, and
the steamboat National, which sank in shallow water about 3 miles up the
river. During the storm a watchman on a barge fell overboard and was drowned"
(MWR). "1912 Sep 13; Pensacola; Minimal intensity; Center moved W of Mobile...
1912 Sep 13-14; Mobile; Minor intensity; Tide 5.2 ft above MLW" (Dunn and
Miller). "Estimated lowest pressure 29.32" [993 mb]" (Connor). AL
Category 1 hurricane, no central pressure provided (Jarrell et al.).
This U.S. landfalling hurricane not mentioned. The implication is that it
was not deeper than 982 mb at landfall, which was Ho's criterion for inclusion
(Ho et al. 1987).
September 15: The system appears to have dissipated in HWM by 12 UTC.
The MWR Tracks indicated the system was at 38.2N, 85.5W with 1010 mb pressure
(a.m.) and at 42N, 74.5W with 1008 mb pressure (p.m.). (MWR Tracks also
gave a 16th a.m. position of 40.5N, 69W with 1006 mb pressure.)
Genesis of this system is begun a day early, due to evidence from HWM and
COADS data of a closed circulation. Track has minor alterations from the
11th to the 14th to better match available observations. Additional
half day added on the 15th for more realistic translational velocity at
end of track and to better match observations of the decaying system.
Intensity slightly reduced on the 11th and 12th to accommodate weak surface
observations, which is also in accordance with MWR assessment. Intensity
chosen to peak at 80 kt on the 13th over the Gulf of Mexico, rather than
70 kt originally, due to 982 mb peripheral pressure report. (This supports
winds of at least 74 kt from the Gulf of Mexico pressure-wind relationship.)
However, landfall of this system as a weaker hurricane (winds 65 kt) as
originally found in HURDAT is supported by available wind data as well as
observations of modest wind-caused damages primarily in Pensacola. The peak
observed 5 min winds of 64 kt convert to about 53 kt after accounting for
bias of that era's anemometer (Fergusson and Covert 1924) and going to a
maximum 1 min wind (Powell et al. 1996). Landfall as a minimal hurricane
is also consistent with the assessment by Connor of central pressure near
993 mb. (This pressure would suggest maximum 1 min winds of 58 kt from the
Gulf of Mexico pressure-wind relationship. Thus no changes are made to the
intensity around the time of U.S. landfall around 08 UTC on the 14th
of a 65 kt Category 1 hurricane. Category 1 conditions are the same as that
listed in HURDAT/Neumann et al., though Northwest Florida (AFL) is added
as experiencing hurricane conditions. It appears that the peak
winds for this system were likely found between Pensacola and Mobile, so that
the radius of maximum winds for this system were somewhere between 40 and
60 nmi. After landfall, a run of the inland decay model (Kaplan and DeMaria
1995) suggests winds of 50 kt, 37 kt and 29 kt at 12 and 18 UTC on the 14th
and 00 UTC on the 15th. Highest observed winds within 2 hours of these
synoptic times were: 42 kt, 41 kt, and 32 kt. Winds in HURDAT are thus
increased from 30 to 40 kt at 18 UTC, but kept at 50 kt at 12 UTC as higher
winds may have been present though not observed. Highest observed storm
tide was 2' in Pensacola from MWR.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1912/05 - 2005 REVISION:
20320 10/04/1912 M= 6 4 SNBR= 463 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0
20320 10/03/1912 M= 8 5 SNBR= 467 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0
** * * ***
(The 3rd is new to HURDAT.)
20322 10/03* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0E285 885 30 0E286 872 30 0*
20325 10/04* 0 0 0 0*283 768 50 0*294 764 50 0*300 759 55 0*
20325 10/04E287 858 30 0E288 844 30 0E290 830 30 0E292 814 30 0*
**** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** **
20330 10/05*306 754 55 0*311 751 60 0*316 749 65 0*321 746 70 0*
20330 10/05E294 796 35 0E297 778 40 0E310 760 45 0E313 750 50 0*
**** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** **
20335 10/06*325 744 70 0*329 744 75 0*332 750 75 0*331 753 80 0*
20335 10/06*316 744 55 0*318 741 65 0*320 740 75 0*322 743 80 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** *** ***
20340 10/07*327 757 80 0*323 760 80 0*321 758 80 0*320 751 80 0*
20340 10/07*324 749 80 0*323 755 80 0*321 758 80 0*320 755 80 0*
*** *** *** ***
20345 10/08*319 743 75 0*321 734 75 0*324 724 75 0*326 716 70 0*
20345 10/08*319 749 75 0*321 742 75 0*324 735 75 0*326 726 70 0*
*** *** *** ***
20350 10/09*327 708 60 0*327 699 55 0*329 690 35 0*333 677 25 0*
20350 10/09*327 717 60 0*327 708 50 0*329 700 40 0*331 695 35 0*
*** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
(The 10th is new to HURDAT.)
20352 10/10*334 692 30 0*337 691 30 0*340 690 30 0*345 690 25 0*
20355 HR
Major changes from the track and intensity shown in Neumann et al. (1999).
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series,
the COADS ship database, and _Monthly Weather Review_.
September 30-October 2: Moderate cold front pushed into the Gulf of
Mexico. While the HWM showed a closed low on the 1st and 2nd, evidence
from observations for this is inconclusive. "On September 27 a moderate
depression (Brownsville 29.92 inches [1013 mb]) appeared at the mouth of the
Rio Grande. It moved slowly across the Gulf of Mexico in an east-northeast
direction without any material increase in intensity" (MWR).
October 3: HWM depicts an extratropical system centered near 28.5N, 88.5W
with 1012 mb pressure at most and with a cold front extending southwestward
and a warm front extending eastward from the center. No gale force winds (or
implied from pressures) were observed.
October 4: HWM depicts an extratropical system centered near 29N, 83W with
1010 mb pressure at most and with a cold front extending southwestward and a
warm front extending eastward from the center. HURDAT listed this as a
tropical storm at 12 UTC at 29.4N, 76.4W. Available observations suggest
a position just east of HWM. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed. "[The storm] crossed the Florida Peninsula on
October 4" (MWR).
October 5: HWM depicts an extratropical system centered near 32N, 75W with
1010 mb pressure at most and with a cold front extending southwestward and warm
fronts extending eastward from the center. HURDAT listed this as a Category 1
hurricane at 12 UTC at 31.6N, 74.9W. Available observations suggest a
center south and west of HURDAT. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed.
October 6: HWM depicts the system centered near 32N, 76W with 1010 mb
pressure at most and with weakening frontal features. HURDAT listed this as a
Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at 33.2N, 75.0W. Available observations
indicate a center south and west of HURDAT. Station highlight: 40 kt N at
Cape Hatteras (MWR). Ship highlight: 45 kt NNE wind at 12 UTC at
32.7N, 79.6W (HWM) and four other ship reports of 45 kt). "[The storm] then
followed a sharp turn to the north-northeastward with rapidly increasing
intensity attendant upon a change in direction to the northward" (MWR).
October 7: HWM depicts the system centered near 32.5N, 76W with 1005 mb
pressure at most as a non-baroclinic closed low. HURDAT listed this as a
Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at 32.1N, 75.8W. Ship highlight: 996 mb
pressure and 50 kt E wind at 05 UTC at 32.5N, 74.5W (MWR/COA) and two other
ship reports of 50 kt. "On the evening of October 6 the storm was
central about 350 miles east of Charleston, S. C., a vessel observation in
that locality showing a barometer reading of 29.42 inches [996 mb]" (MWR).
October 8: HWM depicts the system centered near 32N, 72.5W with 1005 mb
pressure at most as a closed low. A new cold front approached the storm from
the north and west and was located a couple hundred miles away. HURDAT listed
this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at 32.4N, 72.4W. Available
observations indicate a center west of HURDAT. Ship highlight: 1001 mb
pressure and 50 kt W wind at 05 UTC at 31.5N, 74.5W (COA); 1000 mb pressure
and 50 kt W wind at 09 UTC at 31.5N, 74.5W (COA). "Heavy rains and winds of
hurricane force attended the storm which continued north-northeastward with
slowly decreasing intensity" (MWR).
October 9: HWM depicts the system centered near 32.5N, 69W as a closed low with
1015 mb pressure at most and a weakening stationary front extending from near
the center off to the northeast. HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at
12 UTC at 32.9N, 69.0W. Available observations indicate a center west of
HURDAT. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
"...it was lost somewhere between the North Carolina coast and the island of
Bermuda" (MWR).
October 10: System not indicated in HWM, but available observations place
a center near 34N, 69W. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures)
were observed.
Genesis for this system is begun on the 3rd as a weak extratropical storm
in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, rather than on the 4th as a tropical storm
in the Atlantic east of Florida. Available observations indicated that the
system moved eastward with little change in intensity through the 5th. This
is consistent with the assessment in the Monthly Weather Review. The storm
appears to have both attained a tropical cyclone structure and intensified
early on the 6th. Thus intensity reduced on the 4th and 5th and system
is indicated as an extratropical system in the revision for these dates.
Minor changes in the location of the system was included for most of
its lifetime, except for the 4th where translation of the system from
the west is indicated rather than formation just north of the Bahamas.
No direct observations of hurricane force winds were obtained which
would have substantiated HURDAT's listing of this system as peaking as
a Category 1 hurricane. However, the MWR indicated "winds of hurricane
force" were found on the 8th, though these could not be confirmed in either
HWM or COADS. Several 50 kt reports were found on the 7th through the 8th
and a low pressure of 996 mb on the 7th suggests winds of at least 55 kt
from the subtropical pressure-wind relationship. Thus maintaining this
system as a minimal hurricane would appear prudent. Enough evidence was
found on the 10th to extend the track for this system an additional day,
though it was only of tropical depression status at the time.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1912/06 - 2005 REVISION:
20360 10/11/1912 M= 7 5 SNBR= 464 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
20360 10/11/1912 M= 8 6 SNBR= 468 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
* * *** *
20365 10/11* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*196 807 60 0*197 817 65 0*
20365 10/11* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*185 807 35 0*189 815 35 0*
*** ** *** *** **
20370 10/12*198 826 70 0*199 836 75 0*201 845 75 0*203 854 80 0*
20370 10/12*193 823 40 0*197 831 45 0*201 840 50 0*205 850 55 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
20375 10/13*205 864 80 0*208 873 85 0*210 882 85 0*213 890 85 0*
20375 10/13*209 861 60 0*212 872 50 0*215 882 45 0*217 890 50 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** *** **
20380 10/14*215 897 85 0*218 903 85 0*221 910 85 0*224 918 85 0*
20380 10/14*218 897 55 0*219 903 60 0*221 910 65 0*224 918 70 0*
*** ** *** ** ** **
20385 10/15*228 926 85 0*232 933 85 0*238 941 85 0*243 949 85 0*
20385 10/15*228 926 75 0*232 933 80 0*238 941 85 0*244 949 85 0*
** ** ***
20390 10/16*250 956 80 0*255 962 80 0*262 968 75 0*268 972 70 0*
20390 10/16*251 957 85 0*258 964 85 0*265 970 85 0*271 974 85 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
20395 10/17*273 976 65 0*279 980 50 0*286 982 30 0*292 969 25 0*
20395 10/17*277 976 50 0*283 977 40 0*288 978 30 0*292 977 25 0*
*** ** *** *** ** *** *** ***
(The 18th is new to HURDAT.)
20397 10/18*295 975 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
20400 HRATX1
20400 HRATX2
****
Minor changes to the track and major changes to the intensity shown in Neumann
et al. (1999). Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical
Weather Map series, the COADS ship database, Original Monthly Record station
data from NCDC, _Monthly Weather Review_, Connor (1956), Dunn and Miller
(1960), Ho et al. (1987), Ellis (1988), and Jarrell et al. (1992).
October 7 to 10: A strong wave moved through the Lesser Antilles and into
the Caribbean Sea, as indicated by wind shifts, pressure drops and rainfall
amounts. Highest daily rainfall amount indicated was 1.82" for 24 hours
up to 12 UTC on the 8th in San Juan (HWM). From the _St. Kitts Daily
Express_, 8 October 1912, courtesy of Michael Chenoweth: "Yesterday was a
day of rain. Copious showers fell all day and business in nearly all
departments was at a standstill." However, a closed circulation was not
evident, nor were there any observations of gale force winds (or pressure
equivalents).
October 11: HWM depicts a closed low centered near 17.5N, 80W with pressure
at most 1005 mb. However, observations do not completely support a closed
circulation, though data near the southerly side of the system are lacking.
HURDAT listed this as a tropical storm at 12 UTC at 19.6N, 80.7W. Available
observations suggest a center between the HWM and HURDAT estimates. No gale
force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
October 12: HWM depicts a closed low centered near 20N, 84W with pressure
at most 1005 mb. HURDAT listed this as a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at
20.1N, 84.5W. The MWR Map of Low Pressure Tracks locate a center at
19.5N, 86.5W with 999 mb pressure (p.m.). Available observations suggest
that HWM is the most reasonable center. Ship highlight: 35 kt E wind at
23.5N, 82.5W at 09 UTC (COA), 999 mb pressure near 21N, 86W (MWR). "A week
later [October 12] it was off the eastern coast of Yucatan, with reported
barometer readings of 29.50 inches [999 mb]" (MWR).
October 13: HWM depicts a closed low near 21N, 87.5W with pressure at most
1005 mb. A stationary front is depicted to the north of the system in
HWM, which could have been extended westward to just south of Brownsville,
Texas. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2 hurricane at 12 UTC at 21.0N,
88.2W. The MWR Tracks locate a center at 20.5N, 89W and pressure 998 mb
(a.m.) and 23N, 89.5W (p.m.). Available observations suggest a position
just north of HURDAT's estimate. Ship highlight: 35 kt ENE at 23.6N, 88.3W
at 12 UTC (HWM). Station highlight: 1004 mb pressure at Merida at 12 UTC
(HWM).
October 14: HWM depicts a closed low near 22.5N, 90W with pressure at most
1005 mb. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2 hurricane at 12 UTC at 22.1N,
91.0W. The MWR Tracks locate a center at 24N, 91.5W (a.m.) and 24.5N, 94W
(p.m.). A dissipating stationary front is depicted in the HWM north of the
system, though it appears that the temperature contrast was still quite
strong and the front should have been extended to south of Brownsville,
Texas. No gale force winds (or implied from pressures) were observed.
October 15: HWM depicts a closed low near 24.5N, 94W with pressure at most
1000 mb. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2 hurricane at 12 UTC at 23.8N,
94.1W. The MWR Tracks locate a center at 25N, 94W (a.m.) and 25N, 95W
(p.m.) with 1008 mb pressure. While no frontal boundary was depicted in
HWM, there does appear to be a significant front just north of the
storm. However, while data are sparse near the storm's center, the system is
likely to still be a tropical cyclone. No gale force winds (or implied from
pressures) were observed.
October 16: HWM depicts a closed low on the coast near the border of Texas
and Mexico near 26N, 97W with pressure at most 995 mb. HURDAT lists this as
a Category 1 hurricane at 12 UTC at 26.2N, 96.8W (just offshore). The MWR
Tracks locate a center at just offshore at 26N, 97W (a.m.) with 996 mb
pressure and inland at 27.5N, 97.5W (p.m.). The previously mentioned frontal
feature - still not depicted in HWM - is likely dissipating at this time,
though temperatures themselves are still quite cool. Station highlight:
48 kt wind and 996 mb pressure at Brownsville at "morning" (MWR).
"... at the morning observation of October 16, [Corpus Christi] reporting a
barometer reading (reduced to sea level) of 29.86 inches [1011 mb] and
[Brownsville] 29.40 inches [996 mb]. In the meantime a steady rain set in
along the entire Texas coast and the weather continue squally, with high
tides and approaching the mouth of the Rio Grande ... On Wednesday,
October 16, the storm moved inland between Corpus Christi and Brownsville ...
the steamship Nicaragua ... foundered on October 16 about 100 miles southeast
of Corpus Christi. The following is an extract from the report of this
storm, made by Mr. Joseph L. Cline, local forecaster, in charge of the
Weather Bureau office at Corpus Christi: ... Northerly winds prevailed for
several days at this station, shifting to the east on October 16. the
maximum wind velocity was 30 miles from the north on the 14th and 37 miles
from the north on the 15th. On the 16th storm velocities prevailed from
12.03 a. m. to 8.18 a. m., with a maximum velocity of 51 miles from the
north at 4.10 a. m., and from 6.32 p. m. to 7.46 p. m. 110th a maximum
velocity of 40 miles from the southeast at 7.05 p. m. The wind lulled and
shifted to the southwest during the night of October 16-17. Rain fell from
4.57 a. m. to 7.14 p. m. of October 15, and from 7.52 p. m. of the 15th to
5.33 p. m. of October 16. the total amount was 3.99 inches of which
3.33 inches fell in 22 hours and 50 minutes from 4.31 p. m. of the 15th.
The barometric pressure remained above 30 inches [1016 mb] until the
afternoon of October 15, when it commenced falling and continued to fall
until the afternoon of the 16th, reaching the lowest, 29.75 inches [1007 mb]
about 5 p. m. Moderately high tides were reported on the morning of
October 16, doing several hundred dollars damage to property on Harbor
Island and nearly $1,000 damage to the municipal wharf now under
construction at this place. Considerable damage was reported from Point
Isabel near Brownsville, Tex. No other damage was reported, except the
sinking of the steamer Nicaragua in the Gulf of Mexico east of Padre
Island, or southeast of Corpus Christi, on the morning of October 16.
This boat sailed from Tampico, Mex., October 11 for Port Arthur, Tex.,
loaded with cotton and miscellaneous freight valued at $20,000. It had
length of 286 feet and a net tonnage of 310 tons and was owned by the Cia
Consolidita de Maderas, of Tampico, Mex. The crew consisted of 27 men.
Capt. E. Eschevarra and 12 members of his crew were picked up in the Gulf of
Mexico by members of the United States life-saving station at Port Aransas,
Tex., on the afternoon of October 22. They were in two lifeboats. The
captain believes that six of the crew were lost at the time the vessel
foundered and that the others may still be drifting in lifeboats somewhere
along the south Texas shore line. (Sinking of Nicaragua taken from newspaper
reports.) [End of Cline's report.] Considerable damage was caused along the
Texas coast between Rockport and Brownsville by wind and tide. Padre and
Brazos Islands were reported submerged for several hours and a number of
buildings were washed away. At Point Isabel, a fishing station about
22 miles from Brownsville, the damage to buildings and fishing boats is
estimated at $7,000. At Brownsville several windmills were wrecked, trees
were blown down, and poorly constructed buildings more or less damaged. No
loss of life was reported. The total damage, however, is insignificant when
compared with the benefits resulting from the heavy rains accompanying this
storm. About two-thirds of the entire area of Texas received a copious
supply of moisture, the amounts ranging from 1 to over 5 inches, which not
only relieved the droughty conditions existing in many localities, but also
prepared the ground for fall plowing and sowing. By far the greater portion
of the moisture soaked into the ground as evidenced by an extremely small
run-off. The heaviest rainfall occurred at Brownsville, where the total
amount from this storm measured 8.26 inches, and in a large number of
localities northward as far as Corsicana the amounts ranged from 4 to 5
inches ... the highest wind velocities reported were 55 miles an hour at
Brownsville, Tex." (MWR). "Oct 15 1912; Ft. Point (GLS) 1.8 ft; (Connor).
"1912; Oct. 15-16; Lower coast of Texas; Minimal damage; Damage $28,000 (Dunn
and Miller). "1912 October 16 Hurricane with winds of 100 mph struck central
Padre Island [estimated, not observed] ... In Brownsville, the Herald
complained that the tropical storm was not tropical enough. They wrote 'On the
contrary it was a blue norther cold wet rain of the damp chilly variety so
familiar to the people in the semi-arctic regions around San Antonio and
Austin.' At Point Isabel, a number of buildings were wrecked and several boats
were capsized. The tide rose about six feet in less than four hours and the
rain fell non-stop day and night. The oldest inhabitant said he had never
seen such a storm" (Ellis). This U.S. landfalling hurricane not mentioned.
The implication is that it was not deeper than 982 mb at landfall, which was
Ho's criterion for inclusion (Ho et al. 1987). TXA1 [South Texas Coast], no
central pressure given (Jarrell et al.).
October 17: HWM depicts a closed low inland 29.5N, 97.5W with pressure at
most 1010 mb. HURDAT lists this as a tropical depression at 12 UTC at
28.6N, 98.2W (inland). The MWR Tracks locate a center inland at 28N, 98W
(a.m.) with 1010 mb pressure and at 30N, 96.5W (p.m.) with pressure 1009 mb.
Station highlight: 35 kt SE wind at Corpus Christi at 0005 UTC (MWR).
"[The storm was] decreasing rapidly in energy and breaking up on October 17
as an independent storm with general and heavy rains over the eastern
two-thirds of Texas" (MWR).
October 18-20: HWM and available observations suggest that the system
dissipated late on the 17th. HURDAT did the same. The MWR Tracks, however,
continued to track a remnant center: 33.8N, 94.5W with 1008 mb pressure on
18th a.m.; 32N, 88W with 1009 mb pressure at 18th p.m.; 31.2N, 85.5W with
1012 mb pressure at 19th a.m.; 30N, 84.2W with 1011 mb pressure at 19th p.m.;
27.7N, 84.7W (back over the Gulf) with 1011 mb pressure at 20th a.m.
Minor changes to the track from the 11th to the 13th and the 16th and 17th
are primarily based upon HWM and COA data. Track extended until 00 UTC on
the 18th to match available data and for a more realistic (slower)
translational velocity at the last point in HURDAT. Intensity is reduced
from the 11th to the 13th based on data that indicates that the system
did not reach hurricane strength until the getting back over the Gulf of
Mexico. Winds also reduced on the 13th and 14th after landfall in the Yucatan
of Mexico, which was not accounted for in the original HURDAT. No direct
measures of hurricane force winds (or implied by pressures) were observed
for this system. The peak observations were 48 kt of wind and 996 mb
pressure measured in Brownsville, Texas. (The 996 mb peripheral pressure
measurement suggests winds of at least 53 kt from the Gulf of Mexico
pressure-wind relationship.) However, the 6' storm tide and inundation
at Padre and Brazos Islands suggests landfall of a low-end Category 2
hurricane (~85 kt) in southern coastal Texas around 1800 UTC on the 16th.
This is an increase from the Category 1 assessment at landfall by Jarrell
et al. and Neumann et al., but is the same as the 85 kt shown originally in
HURDAT. A issue arose as to whether this system was or evolved into an
extratropical storm at any point. Evidence is clear until the 14th that
it was definitely a tropical cyclone. However, the data is ambiguous on
the 15th and 16th. It was decided to retain the system as a tropical cyclone
on these dates in part because of the rise in temperature at Brownsville by
8F (56F to 64F) from 12 UTC 15th to 12 UTC 16th, even though the winds
remained out of the northwest. This suggested that both the temperature
contrast of the existed frontal feature was decaying in addition to the
arrival of a warm core system. Thus the system is retained as a tropical
cyclone throughout its lifetime. Utilizing the Kaplan and DeMaria (1995)
inland decay model, this suggests winds of 58, 44, and 35 kt for the 00, 06,
and 12 UTC on the 17th. Peak observed winds after landfall within 2 hours of
these synoptic times were 35 kt, 32 kt, and 20 kt, respectively. It
appears that this system filled faster than what the model would suggest,
though the data coverage was (as usual) somewhat sparse near the system's
center. Winds are chosen to be 50, 40, and 30 kt, respectively. Peak
observed storm tide was 6' at Point Isabel (Ellis).
*******************************************************************************
1912/07 - 2005 REVISION:
20405 11/11/1912 M=15 6 SNBR= 465 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0 L
20405 11/11/1912 M=11 7 SNBR= 469 NOT NAMED XING=0 SSS=0 L
** * ***
20410 11/11* 0 0 0 0*112 790 35 0*114 800 35 0*117 803 35 0*
20410 11/11* 0 0 0 0*112 797 35 0*114 800 35 0*117 803 35 0*
***
20415 11/12*119 805 35 0*122 807 35 0*124 807 35 0*126 806 35 0*
20415 11/12*119 805 35 0*122 807 35 0*124 807 40 0*126 806 45 0*
** **
20420 11/13*128 805 35 0*130 804 35 0*131 803 35 0*132 802 35 0*
20420 11/13*128 805 50 0*130 804 55 0*131 803 60 0*132 802 65 0*
** ** ** **
20425 11/14*132 801 35 0*132 801 40 0*133 800 40 0*135 799 45 0*
20425 11/14*132 801 70 0*132 801 70 0*133 800 70 0*134 799 70 0*
** ** ** *** **
20430 11/15*138 798 50 0*141 797 60 0*144 796 65 0*148 796 70 0*
20430 11/15*135 798 70 0*137 797 70 0*140 796 70 0*145 796 75 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** *** **
20435 11/16*152 798 80 0*157 799 85 0*160 800 95 0*168 800 100 0*
20435 11/16*150 798 80 0*155 799 85 0*160 800 90 0*163 800 95 0*
*** *** ** ***
20440 11/17*165 798 105 0*168 797 115 0*170 795 120 0*173 792 125 0*
20440 11/17*165 798 100 0*168 797 100 0*171 795 100 0*174 792 100 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
20445 11/18*176 787 130 0*178 784 130 0*181 782 130 0*188 777 130 0*
20445 11/18*177 789 100 0*180 786 100 0*183 784 100 965*184 781 85 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20450 11/19*191 780 125 0*187 787 125 0*184 793 120 0*183 797 115 0*
20450 11/19*185 775 80 0*187 765 75 0*190 757 70 0*189 760 65 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
20455 11/20*182 800 110 0*180 804 105 0*179 808 100 0*181 811 95 0*
20455 11/20*187 767 60 0*185 780 55 0*183 793 50 0*182 803 45 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** **
20460 11/21*185 812 85 0*192 810 85 0*200 805 75 0*209 796 75 0*
20460 11/21*181 810 40 0*180 815 35 0*180 820 30 0*180 825 25 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
(The 22nd through the 25th are removed from HURDAT.)
20465 11/22*219 785 70 0*233 773 70 0*252 762 70 0*275 751 65 0*
20470 11/23*299 744 65 0*323 738 65 0*346 729 65 0*369 714 65 0*
20475 11/24*391 690 65 0E413 658 60 0E435 620 60 0E455 575 55 0*
20480 11/25E473 518 55 0E489 451 50 0E504 375 45 0E520 300 45 0*
20485 HR
Major changes are made to the track and intensity shown in Neumann
et al. (1999). Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical
Weather Map series, the COADS ship database, _Monthly Weather Review_,
Hall (1913), Mitchell (1924), Tannehill (1956), Perez (2000), and
and ship observations provided by Dr. Ramon Perez from the Cuban journal
Resena Meteorologica.
November 6-9: HWM observations show lowered pressures (by up to 4 mb)
occurred throughout the Lesser Antilles on the 6th and 7th, but without
a closed circulation. Despite this, HWM analyzed a closed center near
14N, 67W on the 7th; 15N, 70W on the 8th; and 14N, 68W on the 9th.
A severe squall impacted Trinidad on the 9th (see details extracted from
the _Trinidad Mirror_, provided by Mike Chenoweth). It was investigated
to see whether either the HWM closed circulation and/or the squall in
Trinidad had any direct association with storm #7. However, surface
observations from HWM, COADS and newspaper accounts show no closed
circulation existed from the 6th through the 9th, though the data is sparse
away from the Lesser Antilles. While the wave that went through the
Lesser Antilles on the 6th and 7th may have been associated with the
tropical disturbance that later formed into a tropical storm on the 11th,
it appears unlikely that the squall that impacted Trinidad on the 9th had
any direct association with the subsequent tropical cyclone.
"There was a severe depression of the barometer here Wednesday night [6th]
but happily nothing came of this warning. We have been getting some heavy
showers of rain since Sunday." (_Dominica Guardian_, Friday, Nov. 8, 1912 -
provided by Mike Chenoweth). The Grenada Chronicle and Gazette newspaper
mentions nothing of the system (provided by Mike Chenoweth). _Trinidad
Mirror_, Monday, 11 November 1912 "HEAVY SQUALL IN THE GULF! MANY
VESSELS DAMAGED, SEVERAL SUNK, No Human Casualties
An old mariner told one of our representatives on Saturday that in
all his local experience in the Gulf, which extended over more than thirty
years, he had never known of such a sharp squall as that which occurred at
about 5 a.m. on Saturday morning. For the past week there were many
indications of bad weather; vivid sheet lightning, slight winds, and some
rains alternated, in the meantime the barometer sinking continuously. Among
local shipowners and others who had business with the sea this occasioned
at first some serious apprehension and efforts were made to put every thing
in ship shape, ready for any eventuality. Since last week, as already
stated, the barometer was exceedingly low and on Thursday last we were
informed that it was seen at its lowest (locally) for the past ten years.
Nothing untoward having occurred, however, apprehension was cast aside and
people were lulled into a sense of security and began to pursue their
wonted course. Friday night was rather gloomy and there were sharp flashes
of distant lightning from a very early hour on Saturday morning. Then at
about 5 o'clock, the lightning increased and the south-west wind began to
rise. The latter increased in violence as a slight rain began falling and
the sea began to rise. It rose in mountainous, huge, towering billows,
thundering against the wharves and jetties, sending up masses of water
topped with wavy plumes of angry spray and banging and bashing and
battering all the craft moored alongside, soon making driftwood of many of
them.The tug Edith of the Trinidad Shipping and Trading Company, which was
moored against the St. Vincent Street Jetty, seeing the great danger and
the damage that was occurring, kept up a shrill wailing with her siren in
order to arouse mariners and apprise them of the state of affairs. People
hearing the whistles all over the town, seeing the lightning and rain and
feeling the wind, began to get rather uncomfortable, and made up their
minds to experience a bad time of it, but nothing worse occurred. Several
boat and lighter owners, of course, hastened to the wharves to see what was
up, while several others did not make any stir owing to the fact that
November is not considered a hurricane month. It must be borne in mind that
though we in Trinidad have been visited with no marine misfortunes of any
appreciable magnitude within the last 50 years or so, still it is the
custom, as is the case also all over the West Indies, to look our for bad
weather from about 25 June to October 25, and we are told that in some of
the Northern Islands at the latter date, the people unite in public
thanksgiving for having passed that trying time of the year without any
mishaps. November 8, therefore was not thought to be a likely date for bad
weather and as a consequence lighters were heedlessly moored alongside the
wharves, barges were anchored near to lighters and boats and particularly
none but the most elementary precautions were observed as the lightermen
and others, left the boats on Friday night. As a result when the winds blew
and the seas rose, a scene which almost beggars description was witnessed
by those who were either on the wharves or in the snug security of the
coastal and other steamers and vessels near by or out at their moorings a
safe distance away. Boats, barges, and lighters dragged at their anchors
and strained at their moorings. They banged and cannoned against each
other, creating a fearful din and doing great damage. Spars were broken and
fell overboard, bowsprits snapped off, while others served as rams which
stove in their neighbors, making big holes into which the fierce seething
waves impetuously flowed, soon filling and finally engulfing the vessels....
....We know as a fact that a boat belonging to Messrs. J. T. Hamlyn & Sons,
which for many years has been used in going off to the lighters at their
moorings in rough weather, capsized with five men aboard, some of whom had
a very narrow escape from a watery grave. Another boat carrying four oars
with seven men aboard was then sent out to assist in rescuing the people,
but this one also got swamped. The squall began to subside about 9:30 a.m.
.... The weather moderated about 11 a.m. and at about mid-day the gulf had
practically assumed its normal condition."
[large list of losses and other details of damages done are omitted]
The same day's paper on another page carried news from San Fernando, Trinidad.
"HEAVY WEATHER IN THE GULF FLATS DAMAGED AND SUNK, GALLANT RESCUE WORK BY
SERGEANT RILEY AND HIS MEN. NO LIVES LOST. DAMAGE TO FLATS AND GOODS
ESTIMATED AT $6,000.
San Fernando woke on Saturday morning to find that much damage had
been done in the Gulf by heavy winds....
THE SQUALL
At about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday the sea was calm as usual though the
sky was a bit cloudy and the air worst [sic]. But about ten minutes or so
after a strong southwesterly wind began blowing and conditions were
immediately upset. A squall set in. Boats and lighters were tossed about
vigorously, the launch Guapo was constantly beating against the jetty...The
sea was rough and rowing difficult and dangerous, for as the boat attempted
to go forward it seemed that the angry waves would upset her. [were able to
save men on flat going down] On the way back they saw two fisherman in the
water clinging on their capsized boats. These men were also taken in and
brought to shore." [Other accounts of damages follow].
The Trinidad Mirror, Tuesday, November 12, 1912
"The squall which wrought such havoc to the gulf on Saturday morning was not
confined to Trinidad solely as the Dutch mail steamer Prins der
Nederlandern, which arrived here yesterday morning coming from Curacao via
Venezuelan posts reports that La Guayra was left on Friday evening about
half three o'clock and there was a heavy swell along the coast until about
midnight when it began to blow a gale which lasted about four hours.
Evidently the squall which struck this steamer is the same one which struck
the gulf about five o'clock, the duration being about the same length of
time, as matters began to quiet down in the gulf four hours after the start."
[Further damage reports follow concerning the storm at Port of Spain on
Saturday, and clean-up efforts]
(The above extracts from Trinidad papers provided by Mike Chenoweth.)
November 10: HWM depicts a closed low centered near 15N, 71.5W with pressure
at most 1010 mb. However, observations do not support a closed circulation,
though data near the southerly, westerly and easterly sides of the system
are lacking. No g