1936 Storm 1 – Revised 2012
28380 06/12/1936 M= 6 1 SNBR= 625 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
28385 06/12* 0 0 0 0*163 875 35 0*180 871 35 0*194 868 35 0*
28385 06/12*181 873 30 0*189 866 35 0*197 864 40 0*204 865 40 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** ** *** *** **
28390 06/13*206 866 40 0*216 865 40 0*225 865 40 0*234 864 40 0*
28390 06/13*211 866 40 0*221 867 40 0*232 867 40 0*239 865 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28395 06/14*241 862 40 0*246 859 40 0*250 856 40 0*255 850 40 0*
28395 06/14*243 864 40 0*247 862 40 0*250 860 40 0*254 853 40 998*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28400 06/15*260 840 40 0*259 823 40 0*257 801 35 0*261 777 35 0*
28400 06/15*258 840 40 0*260 823 40 0*258 805 40 1002*261 782 40 0*
*** *** *** *** ** **** *** **
28405 06/16*271 751 35 0*288 721 35 0*305 692 35 0*321 670 30 0*
28405 06/16*271 757 40 0*281 730 40 0*295 702 40 996*311 675 40 0*
*** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** *** **
28410 06/17*336 654 30 0*358 633 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28410 06/17*329 652 40 0*350 632 40 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** ** *** *** **
28415 TS
U.S. landfall:
6/15/1936 – 08Z – 25.9N, 81.7W – 40 kt
Major track changes but only minor intensity changes are analyzed for this cyclone.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series,
Monthly Weather Review, COADS ships database, Original Monthly Records, Weather
Bureau operational advisories, the Mexican surface analyses, and Dunn and Miller.
June 8: HWM indicates an open low near 15N 89W over Central America. HURDAT
does not list this system until the 12th. MWR did not give a position estimate.
No gales or low pressures.
June 9: HWM isobaric analysis did not indicate a closed low. MWR did not give
a position estimate. Ship highlight: 50 kt E at 12.6N, 92.6W (time unknown - MWR);
988 mb pressure and 40 kt SSE at 12.6N, 92.6W at 13Z (MWR); 20 kt NW and 1000 mb
at 13.3N 93.4W at 21Z; 50 kt SW at 13.3N 93.4W (time unknown – MWR). “It is
worthy of note that on June 8 and 9, just prior to the appearance of the
disturbance in the Bay of Honduras, a tropical cyclone was reported in the Pacific
Ocean off Guatemala…This and other reports indicate that this cyclone was moving
northeastward toward the coast of Guatemala on the 8th and 9th. While there are
no further ship reports in the Pacific that connect this storm directly with the
disturbance which appeared on the 11th in the Bay of Honduras yet there were heavy
rains on the 9th and 10th in Yucatan and British Honduras, with pressure and wind
changes that indicate that this disturbance crossed to the Caribbean Sea” (MWR).
“The pressure has decreased markedly in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, therefore in the
case the central region of the United States becomes dominated by a nucleus of high
pressure, there is the possibility that a tropical disturbance will develop” (Mexican).
June 10: HWM isobaric analysis did not indicate a closed low. MWR did not give a
position estimate. Ship highlights: 25 kt S and 1005 mb at 12.5N 92.5W at 12Z
(HWM). Station highlights: 10 kt E and 1005 at Tapachula, Mexico at 12Z (HWM);
10 kt N and 1005 mb at Salina Cruz, Mexico at 12Z (HWM). “A nucleus of high
pressure of moderate intensity has invaded the central region of the United States
and the possibility that a tropical disturbance will develop in the Gulf of
Tehuantepec has increased, where the pressures will continue to decrease” (Mexican).
June 11: HWM isobaric analysis did not indicate a closed low, but low pressure is
depicted near 18N, 88.5W in Belize. MWR did not give a position estimate. Ship
highlights: 10 kt SE and 1005 mb at 18N 86W at 12Z (HWM). Station highlights:
10 kt SW and 1004 mb at 12Z at Tela, Honduras (HWM); 10 kt N and 1005 mb at 12Z
at Payo Obispo, Mexico (Mexican). “The central region of the United States has
been invaded by a high pressure of moderate intensity, therefore there remains the
possibility of a tropical disturbance to develop over the western portion of the
Caribbean Sea” (Mexican).
June 12: HWM isobaric analysis indicated a closed low of no more than 1005 mb near
20.5N, 85.5W. HURDAT position is near 18.0N, 87.1W. No position estimate was given
in MWR. Ship highlights: 1001 mb and NNW wind (no speed) at 19.8N, 86.4W at 12Z (COA).
Station highlights: 10 kt N and 1005 mb at 12Z at Cozumel, Mexico (HWM, Mexican).
“The pressure remains high across the western region of the United States and the
pressures have decreased in the Yucatan peninsula, therefore there is the
possibility of the formation of a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of
Honduras” (Mexican).
June 13: HWM isobaric analysis did not indicate a closed low but a low position was
given near 22N, 86W. MWR Tracks of Lows position is near 21N, 87.5W. HURDAT positions
the center near 22.5N, 86.5W. Station highlight: 10 kt NW and 1001 mb at Cozumel at
06Z (MWR). “The reports at hand do not show more definite cyclonic development
until 8 pm EST of June 12 [01Z June 13], when the center was near the northeastern
tip of Yucatan. The report from Cozumel Island gave pressure 29.56 inches [1001 mb],
wind NW, light” (MWR). “The barometric depression we have been observing in the Gulf
of Honduras has been moving to the northwest, affecting the northeastern region of
the Yucatan peninsula, situation that in the case of persisting, will keep the
drought over the majority of the country, and it's probable to see a light frost in
the southern part of the central plateau” (Mexican).
June 14: HWM isobaric analysis indicated a very broad closed low of no more than
1010 mb roughly centered near 21N, 87.5W. HURDAT has the storm much farther north
at 25N, 85.6W. The MWR Tracks of Lows position is around 24N, 85.5W. Ship highlights:
998 mb at ~18Z (Ship “Cities Service Boston” - USWB Advisory); 10 kt E and 1002 mb
at 12Z at 25.2N 85.9W (COA); 10 kt N and 1004 mb at 12Z at 25.7N 87.1W (COA).
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
June 15: HWM isobaric analysis indicated a broad elongated closed low of no more than
1005 mb near 24N, 81.5W. HURDAT positions the center near 25.7N, 80.1W. MWR Tracks of
Lows position is near 26N, 81W. Ship highlights: 25 kt S and 1000 mb at 12Z at 24.6N
81.0W (COA); 20 kt WNW and 1001 mb at 15Z at 26.6N 73.9W (COA); 25 kt SSW and 1002 mb
at 12Z at 25.0N 80.3W (COA). Station highlights: Calm winds and 1002 mb at Miami at
1303-1323Z and max wind 42 kt NE at 1331Z (MWR, OMR); 999 mb at Fort Myers around 06Z
(USWB Advisory); 26 kt at Naples around 06Z (USWB Advisory). “The center crossed the
Florida Gulf coast about 20 miles south of Fort Myers at 1 am EST [06Z], on June 15.
The center passed directly over Miami with a lull in the wind from 8:03 am to 8:23 am
[1303Z to 1323Z] of the 15th” (MWR). “The highest wind velocity at Miami was 39 mph
from the NE. Wind velocities of 30 to 40 mph were estimated at points elsewhere on
the mainland of extreme southern Florida. No extensive damage was caused by the
winds” (MWR). “Place: Fort Myers, Miami, FL; Date: 15; Time: 8-8:30 am; Loss of life:
1; Character of Storm: Torrential rains; Remarks: More than 8 inches of rain in places
causing much flooding in lowlands near the storm path. Highways flooded south of Fort
Myers-Lake Okeechobee section, and several towns including Bonita Springs, Estero,
Immokalee and La Belle were so badly flooded as to necessitate evacuation or removal
to the second stories with consequent water damage to furniture and merchandise;
livestock drowned; considerable damage to fields, gardens and highways. Railroad track
into Immokalee washed out and bridges near LaBelle down” (MWR).
“S FL – minor (<74 mph)” (Dunn and Miller).
June 16: HWM isobaric analysis indicated a closed low of no more than 1000 mb near
30N, 70W. HURDAT has the position near 30.5N, 69.2W and the MWR Tracks of Lows position
is near 30N, 70W. A cold front is depicted extending southwestward from the low and
into the Yucatan Peninsula. Ship highlights: 1001 mb at 07Z near 26N, 73W (MWR);
35 kt W and 1003 mb at 08Z at 25.8N, 73.1W (MWR, COA); 35 kt S and 1000 mb at 12Z at
28.0N 70.0W (HWM); 15 kt SSW and 998 mb at 12Z at 30.5N 70.0W (HWM).
June 17: HWM isobaric analysis did not indicate a closed low. HURDAT does not give a
position and intensity estimate for 12Z and loses the system at 06Z that day. A frontal
boundary is depicted in HWM extending from Canada into the Bahamas. Ship highlights:
35 kt SSE and 1012 mb at 12Z at 39.1N 55.9W (COA). Land/station highlights: 35 kt S
with 998 mb around 00Z on the 17th at Bermuda (MWR). “[Around 00Z on the 17th] it was
a short distance northwest of Bermuda, where barometer read 29.48 inches [998 mb] with
wind south, force 8 [35 kt]” (MWR).
Major changes were considered for the genesis of this tropical cyclone. Observations
and analyses indicate that a tropical cyclone formed on the 8th of June in the northeast
Pacific, intensified on the 9th, crossed Guatemala and Belize on the 10th and 11th as
an area of low pressure, and emerged into the Caribbean Sea around 00Z on the 12th.
However, the evidence is not enough to determine that a well-defined closed low (and
tropical depression) crossed Central America. It is also noted that a weak low/wave
moving northwestward across the Caribbean Sea on the 9th and 10th may have either
merged with the existing tropical cyclone or - alternatively – may have been the source
of the tropical cyclone in the northwestern Caribbean on the 11th. Thus because of the
ambiguity of whether the system remained intact as a tropical cyclone moving across
Central America, the dates back to the 8th are not added to this system.
Genesis is now begun at 00Z on the 10th, six hours earlier than originally shown in
HURDAT. A major northward track adjustment is implemented at 06Z on the 12th. From
the 12th – 14th, the cyclone moved northward, passing just east of Cozumel late on
the 12th or near 00Z on the 13th. No gales were recorded from the 12th through the
14th. Pressures of 1001 mb were recorded on the 12th and on the 13th, and a 998 mb
likely central pressure was recorded from a ship in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the
14th. This central pressure is added to HURDAT at 18Z on the 14th. A central pressure
of 998 mb equals 47 kt according to north of 25N pressure-wind relationship and 51 kt
according to the southern pressure-wind relationship. Since the cyclone did not contain
a very tight inner-core and no gales were recorded on those days, a 40 kt intensity is
analyzed from 12Z on the 12th through 18Z on the 14th. The cyclone is analyzed to have
made landfall near Naples, FL around 08Z on 15 June. A 999 mb pressure was recorded at
Fort Myers, and winds of at least 26 kt were recorded at Naples (both of those values
may not have been the peak values observed). The center is analyzed to have passed near
Naples, not Fort Myers, but the central pressure was likely only perhaps 1-2 mb lower
than 999 mb because the observations indicate a spread out center with a somewhat large
area of lower than 1000 mb pressure (with the central pressure not being much below
that). Miami experienced the calm center for 20 minutes from 1303-1323Z on the 15th.
The lowest pressure at Miami was 1002 mb, and the barometer was at about that value
from at least 1030Z until likely around 1323Z. Based on this data, a central pressure
of 1002 mb is added to HURDAT at 12Z on the 15th. The highest wind recorded at Miami,
after adjusting downward with height to a 10m 1-min wind was 37 kt at 1331Z (just after
the center passed). The calm center was described by observers to be about 13 miles
in diameter, which could mean that the RMW may have been about ~10 nmi. This data
seems to appear somewhat contradictory to the data around Naples/Fort Myers that
indicated a broad center area. The exact geometric center likely passed just south
of the station at Miami as evidenced by the wind shifts. The analyzed intensity at
12Z (after the cyclone had been inland for 4 hours) is 40 kt due to the 37 kt at Miami
at 1331Z. The analyzed landfall intensity at 08Z on the 15th is also 40 kt. After
emerging into the Atlantic, the cyclone accelerated east-northeastward. Ships on the
16th between 05Z-12Z were very helpful at locating the center as well as the intensity.
At 12Z on the 16th, a ship with 15 kt SSW winds and 998 mb pressure indicates the
central pressure was approximately 996 mb. This value is added to HURDAT at 12Z on
the 16th and yields 50 kt according to the north of 25N pressure-wind relationship.
Even though the cyclone had a fairly fast forward motion, the system was embedded in
very low environmental pressure and had a somewhat monsoon depression-like structure.
Thus an intensity of 40 kt was maintained over the Atlantic on the 16th and early on
the 17th – substantially lower than that suggested by the pressure-wind relationship
but more consistent with the peak observed winds from ships and Bermuda of 35 kt.
40 kt is also the peak intensity of the system while it was in the Atlantic basin
(unchanged from original HURDAT). At 00Z on the 17th, the cyclone bypassed Bermuda
closely to the northwest. Bermuda recorded a pressure of 998 mb and 35 kt winds
around 00Z on the 17th. No changes are made to the timing of dissipation (after
06Z on the 17th) as the cyclone was absorbed by a frontal system.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 2 – Revised 2012
28420 06/19/1936 M= 4 2 SNBR= 626 NOT NAMED XING=0
28425 06/19* 0 0 0 0*223 890 35 0*232 901 35 0*235 906 35 0*
28425 06/19* 0 0 0 0*223 904 30 0*227 908 35 0*232 911 40 0*
*** ** *** *** *** *** **
28430 06/20*238 912 35 0*242 919 35 0*246 927 35 0*250 937 35 0*
28430 06/20*238 914 45 1000*242 919 45 0*246 927 45 0*250 939 45 0*
*** ** **** ** ** *** **
28435 06/21*252 947 35 0*250 957 35 0*247 966 35 0*244 971 35 0*
28435 06/21*248 949 45 0*244 959 45 0*241 969 45 0*238 977 45 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28440 06/22*240 981 35 0*237 987 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28440 06/22*236 983 35 0*234 989 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** *** ***
28445 TS
Minor track changes and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this tropical storm.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS
ships database, Monthly Weather Review, Mexican synoptic maps, and Connor.
June 18: The HWM indicated a stationary front lying across the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at 20N, 89W (am) with 1009mb and
at 21N, 91W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No
gales or low pressures. “On June 18 squally weather was reported a short distance north
of Yucatan without, however, any definite cyclonic circulation” (MWR). “The pressures
remain low in the northwest of the republic, starting to increase in the states of the
northeast. In the southern region of the Yucatan Peninsula there is a weak area of low
pressures and there is the chance that it will gain strength in the waters of the
Gulf of Mexico” (Mexican).
June 19: HWM does not analyzed any features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT
lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 23.2N, 90.1W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks
of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at 21.5N, 92W (am) with 1008mb and at 23N,
94W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures. “Radio reports on the 19th indicated the presence of a tropical
disturbance to the northwest of Yucatan” (MWR). “The weak disturbance that was located
in the southern region of Yucatan, is now apparently to the north and close of the
Triangulo (Triangle) Island, moving towards the northwest or north-northwest. The
pressures will remain low across the northwest of the republic” (Mexican).
June 20: HWM does not analyzed any features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT
lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 24.6N, 92.7W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks
of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 23N, 95W (am) and at 23.5N, 97W (pm).
Ship highlights: center fix at 02Z at 24.0N, 91.6W with 1000 mb central pressure with
5 kt variable winds (MWR); 35kt E with a pressure of 1005mb near 25N, 90W at 6Z (MWR);
35 kt E with 1001 mb at 18Z at 25.3N, 94.0W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures. “The disturbance moved in a northwesterly direction until the evening
of June 20, when it was located approximately at 25N, 95W, after which it turned
toward the southwest, crossing the Mexican coast between Brownsville and Tampico,
probably near Sota la Marina” (MWR). “During the 20th, storm warnings were hoisted on
the Texas coast from Matagorda Bay to Brownsville. Although tides were somewhat above
normal, the change in the path of the disturbance resulted in less severe conditions
than had been anticipated” (MWR). “The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is located
approximately 300 km to the east-southeast of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, moving to the
northwest or north-northwest. Its intensity remains moderate. The pressures remain
weak in the country” (Mexican).
June 21: HWM does not analyzed any features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT l
ists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 24.7N, 96.6W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of
Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 24N, 97W (am). Ship highlights: 35 kt NNW
with 1004 mb at 06Z at 23.8N, 96.6W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
“The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico appears to be moving towards the extreme north of
the state of Tamaulipas, and it's likely that it will move inland around midday producing
heavy rainfall in the region” (Mexican).
June 22: HWM does not analyzed any features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT’s
last position for this cyclone was at 06Z at 23.7N 98.7W as a 25 kt tropical depression.
No gales or low pressures were observed. “The tropical cyclone that after changing course
towards the southwest became a threat to southern Tamaulipas and now appears to be
dissipating, so the rainy season will establish across the country” (Mexican).
While there are some indications of a broad low pressure developing over Yucatan on the
18th of June, timing of genesis at 06Z on the 19th is unchanged. Observations on the
19th indicate that a significant westward track adjustment needs to be implemented on
the 19th. The cyclone moved northwestward on the 19th through early on the 20th until
a ship recorded a central pressure of 1000 mb with 5 kt variable winds in the center at
24.0N, 91.6W on the 20th at 02Z. A central pressure of 1000 mb is added to HURDAT at
00Z on the 20th, and this value yields 47 and 44 kt, respectively, according to the
Brown et al. southern and north of 25N pressure-wind relationships. A 45 kt intensity
is chosen for HURDAT beginning at 00Z on the 20th. Based on that central pressure and
other data, the cyclone is analyzed to have become a tropical storm at 12Z on the 19th
(six hours later than originally). Later on the 20th, ship data indicates that the
cyclone was turning toward the west-northwest and then west. At 18Z on the 20th, a
ship recorded 35 kt with 1001 mb, and the center was placed 20 nmi from this ship.
Although this would indicate the central pressure may have fallen a few mb from
earlier in the day, the intensity is kept at 45 kt at 18Z as well. The largest track
change made on the 20th was only two-tenths of a degree. On the 21st, the cyclone
turned towards the west-southwest toward the coast of northern Mexico. A 35 kt gale
with a 1004 mb pressure from a ship at 06Z on the 21st confirmed that the system was
still a tropical storm. Based on that ship and other data, the positions on the
21st are adjusted about six-tenths of a degree SSW of the original HURDAT positions.
The cyclone made landfall at 18Z on the 21st with an analyzed position of 23.8N,
97.7W. This location is roughly halfway between Tampico, Mexico and Brownsville,
TX, but is somewhat closer to Tampico. Brownsville recorded winds of 21 kt from
the NE and Tampico recorded west winds of 26 kt on the 21st followed by lighter
winds from the southwest after the cyclone moved inland. A 45 kt intensity is
analyzed from 00Z on the 20th through the landfall at 18Z on the 21st (up from 35 kt
originally at all times). The landfall was adjusted in terms of the timing and the
exact position of landfall from the original HURDAT. After landfall, the cyclone
continued moving inland toward the west-southwest. No changes are made to the
timing of weakening to a depression to the timing of dissipation. The final point
at 06Z on 22 June is 23.4N, 98.9W as a 25 kt tropical depression. It should be
noted that the intensity of the cyclone from the 20th up until landfall is quite
uncertain due to the lack of inner core observations. An alternative scenario –
as depicted by the Mexican analyses – was that the cyclone dissipated over the
Gulf of Mexico waters and did not make a Mexican landfall.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 3 – Revised 2012
28450 06/26/1936 M= 3 3 SNBR= 627 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
28455 06/26* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*262 955 35 0*
28455 06/26* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*262 955 40 0*
**
28460 06/27*267 960 65 0*270 963 70 0*274 968 70 0*280 974 60 0*
28460 06/27*266 958 50 0*270 962 60 0*275 966 70 987*281 973 60 0*
*** *** ** *** ** *** *** *** *** ***
28465 06/28*286 980 35 0*291 985 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28465 06/28*286 980 45 0*291 986 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
** ***
28470 HRATX1
28470 HRBTX1
*
U.S. Landfall:
6/27/1936 – 16Z – 27.9N, 97.0W – 70 kt – 987 mb – 1013 mb OCI – 150 nmi ROCI
Minor track changes and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this hurricane which
struck Texas. Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps
Series, the COADS ships database, Monthly Weather Review, the Original Monthly Records
from NCDC, Connor (1956), Roth, Jarvinen et al. (1984), Dunn and Miller (1960),
Tannehill, Jarrell et al. (1992), and Ellis.
June 26: HWM analyzed no features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “A tropical
storm of small diameter appears to have developed near the coast between Brownsville
and Corpus Christi on the night of June 26 to 27” (MWR).
June 27: HWM indicates an open low near 25N, 96W. HURDAT lists this as a Category 1
hurricane with 70kt winds at 27.4N, 96.8W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 27N, 96W (am). Ship highlights: 70-75 kt ENE (estimated)
around ~0930Z (MWR); calm and 987 mb (central pressure) around ~1430Z (MWR); 990 mb
(Roth). Station highlights: 70kt WNW (estimated) at Port Aransas (27.8N, 97.1W) at 1545Z
(MWR); a pressure of 993mb at Port Aransas at 1600Z (MWR); 48 kt N (max w/1-min) at
Corpus Christi (27.8N, 97.4W) around ~1630Z (OMR); 70 kt NW at Aransas Pass (27.9N, 97.2W)
(MWR); 78 kt (either a measured gust or maybe an estimated wind) at Ingleside (27.9N,
97.2W) (Roth, Ellis); ~47-56 kt NW at Rockpoint (28.0N, 97.1W) (Connor); 13 kt NW (min
wind inside RMW) between ~1715-1730Z at Aransas Pass (MWR); 40 kt NNW with 1004 mb at
Corpus Christi at 18Z (OMR); 1004 mb at Refugio (28.3N, 97.3W) (Connor). “The first
indication of the disturbance was a rapid increase in the velocity of the wind from
north by east at the Port Aransas coast Guard station about 8am, EST. Pressure at that
time was approximately 29.70 inches. By 9:45am the wind had reached an estimated velocity
of 80miles an hour from west-northwest. Lowest pressure was 29.32 inches at noon. From
Port Aransas the storm moved northwestward over the southern portions of Aransas, Refugio,
and Bee Counties and into Live Oak County, with diminishing force” (MWR). “Place: Corpus
Christi, TX, 20 miles north-northeast; Date: 27; Character of Storm: Tropical hurricane
and thunderstorm; Remarks: Storm severe in areas to northeast and east; 40 to 60 percent
of crops damaged over an area of 28 square miles. This rainfall more beneficial than
damage was harmful” (MWR). “Place: Houston, TX; Date: 27; Character of storm: Hurricane;
Remarks: Considerable scattered property damage to frame buildings, small boats, and
crops. The disturbance formed on the Gulf of Corpus Christi and was accompanied by
torrential rains. At Port Aransas and Ingleside it was estimated the wind reached a
maximum velocity of 75 miles” (MWR). “Port Aransas – minimal (74-100 mph) - $550,000
damage” (Dunn and Miller). “Cat 1 – 987 mb” (Jarrell et al.)
June 28: HWM analyzed no features of interest over either the Gulf of Mexico or
Texas/Mexico. No gales or low pressures.
No changes are made to the genesis of this tropical cyclone. It is possible that system
was trying to form southeast of a 15 kt NE ship at 26N 94W at 12Z on the 26th. However,
there were no ships south of 26N west of 89W. Thus there is not evidence to conclude that
the cyclone had formed by 12Z on the 26th. The ship Sea Gull, which had sailed about
50 miles eastward from Corpus Christi, TX the night of the 26/27th of June, began
experiencing tropical storm force winds around 04Z, and hurricane force winds commenced
around 0830Z. From this time, the winds on the ship fluctuated between Beaufort forces
10 and 12 until the ship was in the calm center around 1430Z when a 987 mb central
pressure was recorded. Although the ship was located 50 miles east of Corpus Christi
before the winds increased, it is unknown whether or how much the winds pushed the ship
away from that location or if perhaps the ship tried to sail in some direction during
the entire night and into the morning of the 27th. Therefore, although this ship
provided valuable information on the intensity, it is not weighted very heavily at all
in the reanalysis of the track/position of the cyclone. Based slightly on that ship
but more upon the observations from coastal stations in Texas, the track from 00Z-18Z
on 27 June is revised one to two tenths of a degree to the right of the original track.
Since the ship measured a central pressure of 987 mb around ~1430Z, a central pressure
of 987 mb is added to HURDAT at 12Z on the 27th. This value yields 64 kt according to
the Brown et al. north of 25N pressure-wind relationship and 66 kt for the intensifying
subset. A 70 kt intensity is chosen for 12Z because data indicates that the cyclone
was significantly smaller than normal, including a visual report from the ship in the
eye that measured the 987 mb pressure that the area of complete calm was only about
1.5 miles across. Normally, this tiny size would warrant going 10 kt above the
pressure-wind relationship, but since the cyclone was slow-moving, we only went 5 kt
above the pressure-wind relationship. Observations from the Texas coast indicate that
the cyclone made landfall around 16Z on 27 June near 27.9N, 97.0W, or a few nmi NE of
Port Aransas. A 993 mb pressure was recorded at Port Aransas, and a minimum wind of
13 kt inside the RMW was experienced at Aransas Pass with winds of 70 kt before the
lull and 52 kt after the lull. The analyzed landfall intensity is 70 kt, and the
analyzed landfall central pressure is 987 mb. HURDAT originally listed a Category 1
impact for south Texas, but the hurricane made landfall in central Texas. A
Category 1 impact is added in for Central Texas (BTX1), and the Category 1 impact
previously listed in HURDAT for South Texas (ATX1) is removed as the highest winds to
occur on the barrier islands at the border between ATX and BTX are estimated to be
60 kt. The fastest-mile wind at Corpus Christi, which is in South Texas, was 48 kt at
an anemometer height of 24m above ground. This converts to a maximum 1-min 10m wind
of 46 kt at Corpus Christi. Runs of the Kaplan and DeMaria inland decay model to obtain
the intensity after landfall yield 59, 45, and 34 kt at 18Z on the 27th, 00Z on the
28th, and 06Z, respectively. Highest observed winds within 2 hr of the synoptic times
are 70 kt around 18Z on the 27th, 5 kt at 00Z on the 28th, and no observations available
at 06Z. Revised intensities in HURDAT are 60 kt at 18Z on the 27th (no change), 45 kt
at 00Z on the 28th (up from 35 kt originally), and 30 kt at 06Z on the 28th (no change).
Although Kaplan and DeMaria yields 34 kt for 06Z on the 28th, it is best not to make a
5-kt change to HURDAT, especially considering the possibility that the cyclone weakened
faster than normal due to its small size. No change is made to the timing of dissipation.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 4 – Revised 2012
28475 07/26/1936 M= 2 4 SNBR= 628 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
28475 07/26/1936 M= 3 4 SNBR= 628 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
*
28480 07/26* 0 0 0 0*233 845 35 0*238 860 35 0*244 876 35 0*
28480 07/26* 0 0 0 0*232 845 25 0*240 860 25 0*250 875 30 0*
*** ** *** ** *** *** **
28485 07/27*257 890 35 0*270 897 40 0*284 901 40 0*315 894 30 0*
28485 07/27*260 890 35 0*272 897 40 0*284 901 40 0*295 902 40 0*
*** *** *** *** **
The 28th is new to HURDAT
28487 07/28*304 902 35 0*311 899 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28490 TS
U.S. Landfall: 7/27/1936 – 16Z – 29.1N, 90.2W – 40 kt
Major track changes and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this U.S. landfalling
tropical storm. Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps
Series, the COADS ships database, Monthly Weather Review, Louisiana Climatological Data,
Connor (1956), and Dunn and Miller (1960).
July 25: HWM indicates a spot low near 20N 80W. HURDAT does not yet list this system
on the 25th. No gales or low pressures.
July 26: HWM does not analyze any features of interest in either the Gulf of Mexico or
northwestern Caribbean Sea. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at
23.8N, 86W at 12Z. Ship highlights: 35kt with a pressures of 1010mb at 26.5N, 88W at
23Z (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “From the ships weather
observations taken at 7am, EST, on July 26, it was evident that there was tropical
disturbance in the southeastern portion of the Gulf of Mexico; and by 7pm its position
could be fixed, from ship reports, as being near latitude 26N and longitude 89W, with
relatively slow movement in a northwesterly direction. At 5pm the S. S. Davanger near
26.5N, 88W reported squally weather, wind force 8, barometer 29.82 inches” (MWR).
July 27: HWM does not analyze any features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT
lists this as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds at 28.4N, 90.1W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks
of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 28N, 90.5W (am) with a pressure of
1008mb and at 30.5N, 90.5W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station
highlights: 1003mb at Delta Farms (29.6N, 90.3W) at 1830Z (MWR); 20 kt E (maximum wind
for month) at New Orleans (Louisiana); Port Eads maximum wind for the month was 23 kt
SW on the 18th of July (Louisiana). “This depression moved on a north-northwesterly
course during the next 12 hours, being located approximately 60 miles south of the
coast of Louisiana, near the 90th meridian, at 8am EST of the 27th. At 7am the S. S.
San Gil, at 28.3N, 89.5W, reported south-southeast winds of force 5 (Beaufort scale)
with barometer reading 29.76 inches. During the early afternoon of the 27th, the
disturbance moved inland over southern Louisiana. At Delta Farms, Lafourche Parish,
the lowest pressure was 29.62 inches (corrected) at 1:30pm EST. This is the lowest
barometer reading of record during the progress of the disturbance. It was accompanied
by an estimated wind velocity of 50 miles per hour. At the New Orleans Weather Bureau
Office, a short distance to the right of the path of the center, the lowest pressure
was 29.74 inches, at 5pm on the 27th. Advancing farther inland with a recurve to the
northeastward, the disturbance moved into Mississippi and dissipated on July 28” (MWR).
“Louisiana – minor (<74 mph)” (Dunn and Miller).
July 28: HWM does not analyze any features of interest in either the Gulf of Mexico or
over the southeastern United States. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the
center at about 32N, 90W (am) with a pressure of 1013mb. No gales or low pressures.
A tropical cyclone formed in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on 26 July, and there are
no changes made to the timing of genesis. It is possible that this cyclone originated
from a tropical wave that can be tracked back to 13N, 48W on 18 July. MWR p. 247
mentions that this system produced a brief period of gales in the Mona Passage on the
22nd, and the maximum wind recorded at San Juan that day was 29 kt S. The COADS was
obtained but there is not enough evidence to close off a circulation at any point prior
to the genesis point as originally shown in HURDAT at 06Z on the 26th. Observations on
the 26th indicate the circulation is weak and the cyclone is begun as a 25 kt tropical
depression instead of a 35 kt tropical storm on the 26th at 06 and 12Z. The cyclone
moved northwestward, and by 12Z on the 27th was located at 28.4N, 90.1W. The only ship
highlight occurred at 23Z on the 26th - a 35 kt gale was observed. 35 kt at 00Z on the
27th is retained. Thus intensification to a tropical storm is delayed by 18 hours in the
revised database. The cyclone made landfall on 27 July at 16Z in southeastern Louisiana
at 29.1N, 90.2W. As the cyclone moved northward through the marshland, a 1003 mb pressure
and winds estimated around 43 kt occurred at Delta Farms (29.6N, 90.3W) around 1830Z.
The 1003 mb and the estimated peak winds may have been simultaneous observations, but
this is unclear. A central pressure of less than or equal to 1003 mb yields a wind speed
of at least 38 kt according to the Brown et al. north of 25N pressure-wind relationship.
It is also noted that Port Eads, Louisiana just to the east had peak winds less than 23 kt,
as 23 kt was the maximum (5 min) wind recorded at that station – on the 18th - for the
month of July. Given the uncertainly of an estimated wind, 40 kt intensity is analyzed
for the 16Z landfall and at 18Z (unchanged in HURDAT previously for the 12Z synoptic time
before landfall). HURDAT originally listed a final position for this cyclone at 18Z on
the 27th as a 30 kt tropical depression at 31.5N, 89.4W. But at that time, the cyclone
had just made landfall two hours earlier, and was instead located at 29.5N, 90.2W (a major
track change of 2.1 degrees). The new final position is at 06Z on 28 July as a 25 kt
tropical depression at 31.1N, 89.9W.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 5 – Revised 2012
28495 07/27/1936 M= 6 5 SNBR= 629 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=3
28495 07/27/1936 M= 6 5 SNBR= 629 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
*
28500 07/27* 0 0 0 0*236 740 35 0*238 749 35 0*239 756 35 0*
28500 07/27* 0 0 0 0*236 740 30 0*238 749 30 0*240 758 35 0*
** ** *** ***
28505 07/28*241 764 35 0*244 776 40 0*247 787 45 0*249 793 50 0*
28505 07/28*242 767 35 0*244 777 40 0*247 787 45 0*249 794 50 0*
*** *** *** ***
28510 07/29*250 799 50 0*252 807 50 0*255 815 55 0*261 823 55 0*
28510 07/29*252 801 55 995*256 810 50 0*260 819 55 0*264 828 55 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28515 07/30*268 831 60 0*273 838 60 0*278 844 65 0*283 849 70 0*
28515 07/30*268 836 60 0*273 843 60 0*278 850 65 0*283 855 70 0*
*** *** *** ***
28520 07/31*289 854 75 0*295 859 80 0*301 864 80 973*307 869 65 0*
28520 07/31*289 859 80 0*295 862 85 0*301 865 90 964*308 869 70 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
28525 08/01*313 873 35 0*318 877 25 0*323 880 20 0* 0 0 0 0*
28525 08/01*314 873 50 0*318 877 40 0*320 880 30 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** ** ** *** **
28530 HRAFL3
28530 HRAFL2
****
U.S. Landfalls:
7/29/1936 – 02Z – 25.3N, 80.3W – 55 kt
7/31/1936 – 14Z – 30.4N, 86.6W – 90 kt – 964 mb – 20 nmi RMW – 1013 mb OCI – 200 nmi ROCI
Minor track changes and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this hurricane. Evidence
for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database,
Monthly Weather Review, the Original Monthly Records from NCDC, Florida Climatological Data,
Jarrell et al., Ho et al., Dunn and Miller, Schwerdt et al., Connor, Barnes, Tannehill, Ray,
Henning, and Kasper et al.
July 26: HWM does not analyze any features of interest on this day. HURDAT does not yet list
a system on this day. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. “A wave of subnormal pressure
appeared over the Leeward Islands July 23d, drifted west-northwestward” (Florida Climatological
Data). “It was first seen north of the Turks Islands on July 26…” (Barnes).
July 27: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 24N, 75W. HURDAT lists this as a
Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 23.8N, 74.9W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 23N, 74W (am) with a pressure of 1006mb and at 24N, 76W (pm). Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The
history of this disturbance is not clearly shown by the observations until the morning of July 27
when a well-formed but weak cyclonic circulation was charted a short distance south of Cat Island,
Bahamas” (MWR). “…by 27th had developed a moderate cyclonic wind circulation around a center
south of Cat Island, Bahamas” (Florida Climatological Data).
July 28: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 23.5N, 79W. HURDAT lists this as a
Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 24.7N, 78.7W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 24.5N, 78W (am) and at 25N, 80W (pm). Ship highlights: 40 kt S around
~12Z near ~26.0N, 76.8W (MWR); 45kt ESE with a pressure of 1007mb at 25.8N, 79.5W at 17Z (COA);
40 kt ESE with 1007 mb at 23Z at 26.3N, 79.3W (MWR). Station highlights: 36 kt NW (max w/1-min)
at 2230Z at Key West, FL (OMR). “Progressing on a west-northwesterly course, with increasing
intensity, the disturbance crossed Andros Island at 5am on the 28th. The S. S. Atenas passed
through a calm area between the hours of 6:15pm and 7:15pm EST on this date, while in the vicinity
of lat 25N and long 80W. The lowest barometer reported by this ship was 29.83 inches … On the
afternoon of the 28th the center of the storm was 75 miles southeast of Miami. (MWR). “On the
morning of the 28th, the storm center was about 110 miles east-southeast of Miami, and the storm
was increasing in intensity but not yet hurricane force” (Florida Climatological Data).
July 29: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb 26N, 83.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical
Storm with 55kt winds at 25.5N, 81.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the
center at about 25.5N, 83W (am) and at 26.5N, 84W (pm). Ship highlights: light winds ESE with a
pressure of 995mb at 25.2N, 80W at 0Z (COA); 50kt NW with a pressure of 1003mb at 25N, 80.2W at 0Z
(MWR); 40 kt NW with 998 mb at 00Z near 25.0N, 80.4W (MWR); 35 kt SSE with 1011 mb at 12Z at 24.3N,
82.0W (COA). Station highlights: center fix at Carysfort Reef Lighthouse (25.2N, 80.2W) around
0130Z (OMR); 994 mb at Carysfort Reef Lighthouse at 0030Z (Florida Climatological Data); 46 kt SE
(max 1-min wind) at Miami around ~0225Z (OMR); center fix at Homestead, FL at 0240Z (OMR); 43 kt ESE
(max w) G 57 kt at Miami Airport (MWR); 999 mb at Everglades City at 07Z (MWR, Florida Climatological
Data). “At 7pm EST [on the 28th], the S. S Tiger, a short distance from the Atenas, reported a
barometer reading of 29.48 inches with a northwest gale of force 9 (Beaufort scale), clear weather,
heavy rough sea, and squalls. An hour later, this same ship, giving her position as off Molasses Reef,
reported a maximum wind velocity of 44 miles an hour from the southeast, while the Miami Airport
Station gave east-southeast winds of 49 miles an hour with gusts of 65 miles an hour. Between 9:30
and 10pm EST, the storm center passed over Homestead and Florida City, maintaining a west-northwesterly
course, with a progressive movement of about 10 to 12 miles an hour…The center then moved to the
Gulf of Mexico; and at 8am EST of the 29th was located at approximately 26N, 82.3W … It crossed the
extreme southern tip of Florida, passing into the Gulf south of Everglades City with wind estimated
at 55 miles per hour. After reaching the Gulf, the storm moved in a general northwestward direction.
In the Boca Grande section the wind was estimated at 60 mph with little damage reported” (MWR). “The
storm center passed near Carysfort Reef Light about 7:30 p. m. [28th] with barometer reading 29.36
inches [994 mb] and, crossing Key Largo, several hours later reached Homestead. It crossed the
extreme southern tip of Florida, passing into the Gulf south of Everglades City, where the barometer
was 29.51 [999 mb] and the wind was estimated at 55 miles per hour. The tide was 5.5 feet above mean
low, and came up to a depth of 18 inches in the streets … The property damage in south Florida was
very small” (Florida Climatological Data). “The center passed over Carysfort Reef Lighthouse, which
is about 38 miles southward of Miami, between 8 and nine p.m., and over Florida City, Florida and
Homestead, Florida, between 9:20 pm and 10:00 pm. No damage of consequence was reported” (OMR Miami).
July 30: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 28N, 87W. HURDAT lists this as a Category 1
hurricane with 65kt winds at 27.8N, 84.4W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the
center at about 28N, 86W (am) and at 29N, 86.5W (pm). Ship highlights: 45 kt S with 1013 mb at 04Z at
24.2N, 83.1W (COA). Station highlights: 35 kt E with 1012 mb at Apalachicola, FL at 13Z (OMR). “The
storm after reaching the Gulf increased to hurricane intensity, turned more to the northwest, and
moved in a general northwestward direction across the Gulf during the 29th and 30th. In the Boca
Grande section, the wind was estimated at 60 miles per hour, but there was little damage” (Florida
Climatological Data).
July 31: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1000mb near 30N, 86.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Category 1
hurricane with 80kt winds at 30.1N, 86.4W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center
at about 30N, 86W (am) with a pressure of 975mb. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station
highlights: 60-65 kt and 1003 mb at 11Z at Panama City (Connor); 996 mb (min p) at 1245Z and 54 kt N
(max w/1-min) at 13Z at Pensacola (OMR); 964 mb (min p, and probable central pressure) at at 14Z Fort
Walton Beach (30.4N, 86.6W) (Florida Climatological Data); 973mb (min p) at Valparaiso (30.5N, 86.5W)
at 16Z (MWR). “At 11 o’clock EST on the morning of July 31, the storm had crossed the northwest Florida
coast and was centered over Valparaiso, a community on the northern shore of Choctawhatchee Bay,
situated about 45 miles east of Pensacola. Reports from Valparaiso at 9am gave a barometer reading of
28.80 inches attended by east-northeast winds, estimated at 90 to 100 miles an hour. The barometric
minimum, 28.73 inches, occurred there at 11am EST. The calm center was over Fort Walton and Valparaiso
about 1 hour and 20 minutes. With rapidly diminishing intensity, after passing inland, the storm
continued to move northwestward, and was centered just north of Pensacola at 8pm EST of July 31. It
dissipated on August 1 over the southwestern portion of Alabama” (MWR). “On the 31st winds were 60
to 70 mph on the coast in the vicinity of Camp Walton. In the Camp Walton-Valparaiso area damage was
estimated at $100,000; Panama City area $5,000; Apalachicola and vicinity $8,000; Pensacola area
negligible. Damage to highways $10,000 to $15,000; telephone and telegraph companies $10,000. Pears
and pecans blown from trees; crop loss not estimated, probably total damage $150,000” (MWR). “The
center reached the coast in the vicinity of Camp Walton, on the morning of the 31st, and a lull
lasted from 7:25 to 8:20 a. m., C. S. T., with lowest barometer 28.46 (corrected) [964 mb]. Preceding
the lull, winds were estimated at 80 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 125. Following the lull,
winds were 60 to 70 miles per hour. Hurricane winds occurred over Camp Walton-Valparaiso area and
eastward to Panama City, and high tides from Camp Walton to St. Marks. The tides to Valparaiso and
Panama City were 6 feet above normal and at Apalachicola 4.2 feet above normal” (Florida
Climatological Data). “Cat 3 – 964 mb – NW FL” (Jarrell et al.). “963.8 mb at Fort Walton Beach;
landfall at 30.4N, 86.4W” (Ho et. al). “NW FL – minimal (74-100 mph)” (Dunn and Miller). “Landfall
at 30.4N, 86.5W; 964 mb; 146 km/h (79 kt 10-min)” (Schwerdt et al.).
August 1: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1015mb near 32N, 88W. HURDAT lists this as a storm
with 20kt winds at 32.3N, 88W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at
about 32n, 88W (am) with a pressure of 1013mb. Ship highlights: 35kt SE with a pressure of 1017mb at
24.1N, 81.8W at 12Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The storm continued its
movement northwestward across Florida into Alabama and died out over central Alabama August 1st”
(Florida Climatological Data).
A tropical cyclone is analyzed to have formed at 06Z on 27 July at 23.6N, 74.0W (no change to timing
or location of genesis) except the intensity at that time is lowered from 35 to 30 kt based on
sufficient data that the cyclone was not a tropical storm by that time. Available observations on
the 26th from HWM and COADS indicate that while there is a sharp trough near 25N 75W a closed
circulation did not exist yet, the pressures are high, and the winds are weak. Despite this, Barnes
mentions that the system was first noticed north of Turks Island on the 26th. The cyclone moved
toward the west-northwest and the first gales from a ships were recorded on the 28th including a
45 kt observation at 17Z. As the system approached the coast of extreme southern FL (south of Miami)
around 00Z on 29 July, several key observations were made by ships in the vicinity of 25N, 80W. A
995 mb central pressure was measured at 00Z at 25.2N, 80.0W with light ESE winds. A 50 kt NW with
1003 was observed at 25.0N, 80.2W at the same time. The position was placed at 25.2N, 80.1W with
another ship measured a 998 mb at 00Z and reported their position at 01Z to be 25.0N, 80.4W. A
central pressure of 995 mb is added to HURDAT at 00Z on the 29th. This value yields 56 and 52 kt
according to the southern and north of 25N Brown et al. pressure-wind relationships, respectively.
A 55 kt intensity is chosen for 00Z on the 29th (up from 50 kt originally). The center passed over
Carysfort Reef Lighthouse (25.2N, 80.2W) early on the 29th, with a possible central pressure of
994 mb recorded at 0030Z – matching quite well the ship at 00Z. 994 mb suggests an intensity of 58 kt
from the south of 25N relationship and 53 kt from the north of 25 N relationship. 55 kt is also thus
utilized as the intensity at landfall. There are somewhat conflicting descriptions of the timing
(01-02Z in Original Monthly Records Miami versus 0030Z in Florida Climatological Data). Moving
northwestward, the tropical storm made landfall near the northern tip of Key Largo (25.3N, 80.3W)
at 02Z on 29 July. After landfall, the center passed over Homestead and Florida City around 0240Z.
(Given the ship observations around 00Z and the Homestead report, the 0030Z timing of the center
over Carysfort Reef appears to be most reasonable.) The highest wind recorded at the Miami Weather
Bureau Office was 41 kt SE (adjusted to a 10m 1-min wind) around 0225Z and the minimum pressure there
was 1006 mb with 31 kt E winds at 0200Z. Miami Airport recorded a maximum wind of 43 kt ESE with a
gust to 56 kt. The 55 kt intensity analyzed at 00Z is also the landfall intensity at 02Z. The
cyclone passed near Everglades City, where a minimum pressure of 999 mb and estimated maximum winds
of 48 kt NE were recorded around 07Z. By 10Z, the cyclone had emerged into the Gulf of Mexico. A
50 kt intensity is analyzed at 06Z while the cyclone was over Florida, by the analyzed intensity at
12Z is back to 55 kt (no change from HURDAT at either time). While in the Gulf of Mexico, the
cyclone gradually made a turn to the north-northwest.
The cyclone made landfall at Fort Walton Beach, FL on 31 July at 14Z where a 964 mb pressure was
recorded. Since commentary states that they experienced calm there for a period of over an hour,
the 964 mb pressure was likely a central pressure. The minimum pressure recorded at Valparaiso was
973 mb and likely was recorded about two hours after the 964 mb was recorded at Fort Walton Beach.
The revised track indicates that Fort Walton Beach was in the center of the eye, whereas also
Valparaiso experienced an extended period of calm as well, that city may have been further from the
geometric center of the eye. That combined with the fact that Valparaiso is farther inland and would
have experienced their minimum pressure later, it makes sense that the minimum pressure at Valparaiso
was higher than that at Fort Walton Beach. The 973 mb pressure in HURDAT at 12Z on 31 July is replaced
by a 964 mb central pressure, and this value is also the 14Z landfall central pressure. A central
pressure of 964 mb equals 91 kt according to the north of 25N pressure-wind relationship (and 95 kt
for the subset of intensifying cyclones). The system certainly intensified at some point while it
was in the Gulf of Mexico, though there is no definitive evidence that it was still intensifying at
landfall. Although the RMW from Ho et al. (~20 nmi) is slightly smaller than the 23 nmi
climatological value for this latitude and central pressure, the forward speed of the cyclone was
a slow 7 kt. A 90 kt intensity is chosen for landfall and for 12Z on the 31st (up from 80 kt
originally). This makes the hurricane a Category 2 for Northwest FL (AFL2), which is a downgrade
by a Category from the original HURDAT (AFL3). (Jarrell et al. [based upon Hebert and Taylor]
called this a Category 3 based on a 964 mb landfall central pressure, which was the main criterion
utilized in determining category before the advent of reliable aircraft reconnaissance winds measured
in hurricanes beginning in 1990.) Runs of the Kaplan and DeMaria inland decay model after landfall
yield 70, 52, 41, and 32 kt, at 18Z on the 31st, and 00, 06, and 12Z on 1 August, respectively.
Highest observed wind within 2 hr of synoptic times are 31 kt at 18Z on 31 July, 30 kt at 00Z on
1 August, no data at 06Z, and 15 kt at 12Z. Revised intensities in HURDAT are 70, 50, 40, and 30 kt
at 18Z on the 31st, and 00, 06, and 12Z on 1 August (all increases from 65, 35, 25, and 20 kt
originally), respectively. No changes are made to the timing of dissipation after 12Z on 1 August.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 6 – Revised 2012
28535 08/04/1936 M= 7 6 SNBR= 630 NOT NAMED XING=0
28535 08/04/1936 M= 8 6 SNBR= 630 NOT NAMED XING=0
*
28540 08/04* 0 0 0 0*188 598 35 0*197 608 35 0*203 621 35 0*
28540 08/04* 0 0 0 0*188 600 30 0*197 612 30 0*205 623 30 0*
*** ** *** ** *** *** **
28545 08/05*213 634 35 0*218 647 35 0*225 657 35 0*231 664 40 0*
28545 08/05*213 634 30 0*220 646 30 0*227 657 30 0*231 666 30 0*
** *** *** ** *** ** *** **
28550 08/06*236 669 40 0*242 675 40 0*248 680 40 0*258 687 40 0*
28550 08/06*234 674 30 0*237 681 30 0*242 688 30 0*251 695 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28555 08/07*269 693 40 0*278 696 35 0*286 698 35 0*294 700 35 0*
28555 08/07*261 700 35 0*271 704 35 0*280 705 35 0*286 703 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28560 08/08*301 700 35 0*309 697 35 0*316 691 35 0*323 683 35 0*
28560 08/08*291 700 35 0*296 696 35 0*301 691 35 0*308 684 35 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
28565 08/09*330 674 35 0*337 665 35 0*344 655 35 0*354 643 35 0*
28565 08/09*316 676 35 0*325 668 35 0*335 659 35 0*347 648 35 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28570 08/10E369 630 35 0E385 619 40 0E401 608 40 0E419 595 40 0*
28570 08/10E364 635 35 0E385 621 35 0E408 606 40 0E433 586 45 0*
*** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** **
The 11th is new to HURDAT
28572 08/11E460 555 40 0E487 520 40 0E515 475 40 0E545 425 35 0*
28575 TS
Minor track adjustments and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this minimal
tropical storm. A major change is to indicate an additional day to the end of
lifecycle of this system. Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical
Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database, and Monthly Weather Review.
August 4: HWM does not indicate any features of interest near the Lesser Antilles.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical storm with 35kt winds at 19.7N, 60.8W at 12Z. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 5: HWM does not show a closed low but it does show a circulation with a center
at about 20N, 66W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 22.5N,
65.7W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
August 6: HWM indicates a broad area of disturbed weather with now closed low. HURDAT
lists this as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds at24.8N, 68W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 7: HWM indicates an area of disturbed weather with no apparent circulation.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 28.6N, 69.8W at 12Z. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 8: HWM indicates a circulation with a center at 30N, 70W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 31.6N, 69.1W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 9: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1015mb near 33N, 67W. HURDAT lists
this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 34.4N, 65.5W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 10: HWM a closed low of at most 1005mb near 41N, 59W. HURDAT lists this as
an extratropical storm with 40kt winds at 40.1N, 60.8W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
35kt SSE with a pressures of 1001mb at 45.5N, 55.5W at 20Z (COA); 40 kt SSE with
1001 mb at 21Z at 45.2N, 55.6W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 11: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010 mb at 51N 49W with a secondary
closed low of at most 1010 mb at 50N 60W with frontal boundaries interconnecting the
two lows. Ship highlights: 35 kt WNW with 1010 mb at 48.5N 48.5W at 12Z (COA).
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 12: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010 mb at 54N 32W with frontal
boundaries extending southeast and southwest of the cyclone. No gales or low pressures.
Originally, HURDAT indicates that a tropical storm formed at 06Z on 4 August at 18.8N,
59.8W traveling northwestward, attaining a peak intensity of 40 kt, recurving around 00Z
on 8 August near 30N, 70W, becoming extratropical at 00Z on the 10th at 36.9N, 63.0W,
and dissipating after 18Z on the 10th at 41.9N, 59.5W. There are no gales or low
pressures observed for the entire tropical portion of the lifetime of this system.
Observations do indicate that the wind circulation was closed, and thus this system
was at least a tropical depression from 4-7 August. Genesis at 06Z on the 4th is
maintained, as a weak closed circulation appears to be evident the Historical Weather
Map and COADS observations at 12Z on that date. The cyclone is analyzed as a 30 kt
tropical depression beginning at the genesis time in the original HURDAT (06Z on 4
August). The depression is analyzed to have intensified to a 35 kt tropical storm at
18Z on 6 August. At 00Z and 12Z on the 7th, there are two observations from separate
ships of 30 kt winds, although these observations are somewhat far from the center,
but could be considered close enough to be part of the tropical cyclone circulation.
On the 8th, a weakening front, which had been approaching from the west collided with
the tropical cyclone, and after that time, although a circulation remained (albeit more
elongated and asymmetric), it is not certain whether this feature is due more to the TC
or the front. No change is made to the extratropical transition (at 00Z on the 10th)
as originally shown in HURDAT. The circulation became more pronounced, and the
extratropical cyclone deepened briefly early on the 10th before weakening and dissipating
by 00Z on the 12th. Originally, HURDAT dissipated the cyclone after 18Z on the 10th.
However, the system remained a closed low for an additional day before merging with
another extratropical low to its west. It is possible that this system never attained
tropical storm intensity (though it was at least a tropical depression). However, the
data coverage does not seem sufficient to justify its removal.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 7 – Revised 2012
28580 08/07/1936 M= 6 7 SNBR= 631 NOT NAMED XING=0
28585 08/07* 0 0 0 0*256 855 35 0*258 872 35 0*260 877 35 0*
28585 08/07* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*266 877 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** **
28590 08/08*263 883 35 0*266 890 35 0*269 896 35 0*272 900 35 0*
28590 08/08*269 881 30 1009*270 884 25 0*271 887 25 0*274 892 25 0*
*** *** ** **** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28595 08/09*274 904 35 0*276 908 35 0*278 913 35 0*279 918 35 0*
28595 08/09*278 899 30 0*281 907 30 0*284 914 35 0*285 919 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** *** ***
28600 08/10*280 923 35 0*280 927 35 0*278 931 35 0*273 937 35 0*
28600 08/10*283 924 35 0*281 929 35 0*278 933 35 0*274 937 35 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
28605 08/11*267 943 35 0*263 946 35 0*258 949 35 0*253 952 35 0*
28605 08/11*268 941 35 0*263 946 35 0*257 952 35 0*251 958 35 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
28610 08/12*247 957 35 0*240 965 35 0*233 973 35 0*224 986 30 0*
28610 08/12*244 965 35 0*237 972 35 0*230 979 35 0*224 986 25 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** **
28615 TS
Minor changes to both track and intensity are analyzed for this tropical storm.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the
COADS ships database, Monthly Weather Review, and the Mexican synoptic maps.
August 6: HWM shows no features of interest in the eastern Gulf of Mexico or the
northwestern Caribbean Sea. No gales or low pressures.
August 7: HWM shows an area of disturbed weather with not clear circulation. HURDAT
lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 25.8N, 87.2W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 8: HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 26.9N, 89.6W at 12Z.
Ship highlights: calm with 1009 mb [central pressure] at 00Z at 27.0N, 88.1W [center fix]
(COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The first definite sign of
development of a cyclonic circulation, with light winds, appeared in the 7pm ship reports
of August 8 about 200 miles west-southwest of Port Eads” (MWR).
August 9: HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 27.8N, 91.3W at 12Z.
Ship highlights: 30 kt E with 1013 mb at 28.8N, 92.1W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales
or low pressures. “During the 9th the winds became somewhat more vigorous with forces of
4-5 (Beaufort scale), except that in one instance a moderate gale (force 7) from east
occurred. This was radioed to the forecast centers by the S. S. E. R. Kemp (barometer 29.90)
in 28.8N, 92.1W, and was the highest velocity reported during the life of the depression.
At 7pm EST of the 9th the center of the disturbance was located near 28N, 92W, moving
slowly in a westerly direction, accompanied by moderate to fresh winds” (MWR).
August 10: HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 27.8N, 93.1W at 12Z.
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
“The center, with little apparent depression of the barometer, continued to move westward
until the morning observation of the 10th, at which time it was located near 27.5N, 94W.
Thereafter, the course of the depression was south-southwest to southwest, unaccompanied
by winds of known gale force, until, on the 12th, it entered the Mexican coast north of
Tampico” (MWR).
August 11: HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 25.8N, 94.9W at 12Z.
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
“The disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico remains weak and located about 350 km to the east
of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, with no definite movement. The rain has diminished across the
country” (Mexican).
August 12: HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 23.3N, 97.3W at 12Z.
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 10 kt S with 1008 mb at
Tampico, Mexico at 12Z (HWM). “The weak disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico is apparently
getting closer to the coast of Tamaulipas. The pressures have increased across most of
North America, especially in the Atlantic” (Mexican).
Genesis is delayed by 12 hours, as the Historical Weather Map and COADS data suggest that
the system was an elongated trough still at 12Z on the 7th. The largest track change made
for the lifetime of the system is at the first point (position moved 1.3 degrees WNW of
original HURDAT position), and this is due to an unrealistically fast forward motion during
the first six hours followed by a deceleration in the original HURDAT. Sufficient
observational coverage in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 7th and 8th indicates that the
cyclone was only a tropical depression on those days. At 00Z on the 8th, a ship at 27.0N,
88.1W measured a 1009 mb pressure with calm winds. The surrounding observations are
consistent in that the center of the circulation should have been in the vicinity of that
ship. Therefore, a central pressure of 1009 mb is added to HURDAT at 00Z on 8 August.
This value yields approximately 26 kt according to the Brown et al. north of 25N pressure-wind
relationship. The highest observed wind on the 7th-8th was 25 kt about 140 nmi east of the
center at 12Z on the 7th, but this single observation was the only 25 kt observation. A
30 kt intensity is analyzed from 06Z on the 7th through 00Z on the 8th, and a 25 kt intensity
is analyzed from 06-18Z on the 8th because sufficient observational coverage on the 8th
indicates a very weak tropical depression at that time. On the 9th, continued abundant ship
data allowed for an accurate position analysis, and a position of 28.4N, 91.4W is chosen for
12Z on the 9th. The cyclone had been moving west-northwestward since genesis a couple of
days earlier. A ship north of the center and likely about 50 nmi from the center recorded
30 kt east winds with a 1013 mb pressure. Other observations also indicate that the cyclone
was beginning to strengthen on the 9th. A 30 kt intensity is analyzed at 00-06Z on the 9th,
and the depression is analyzed to have become a 35 kt tropical storm at 12Z on the 9th.
Late on the 9th and early on the 10th, the cyclone turned west-southwestward. Observational
coverage from ships was more sparse on the 10th – 12th as the system moved into the
west-central Gulf of Mexico. However, when the cyclone made landfall north of Tampico,
Mexico on 12 August, the pressure at Tampico was 1007.8 mb at 12Z (a 1.3 mb pressure drop
from 24 hours prior). Landfall is analyzed to have occurred at 11Z about 50 nmi north of
Tampico (23.1N, 97.8W). A 35 kt intensity is analyzed. A 35 kt intensity is analyzed for
this tropical cyclone from 12Z on the 9th through 12Z on the 10th. Although there is some
observational coverage, it is borderline for whether there is enough evidence that the
cyclone was only a depression after that, so the 35 kt intensity is held from 12Z on the
9th through landfall at 12Z on the 12th. Dissipation occurred after 18Z on the 12th as
the cyclone moved further into Mexico. It is possible that this system never attained
tropical storm intensity (though it was at least a tropical depression). However, the
data coverage does not seem sufficient to justify its removal.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 8 – Revised 2012
28620 08/15/1936 M= 5 8 SNBR= 632 NOT NAMED XING=0
28620 08/15/1936 M= 6 8 SNBR= 632 NOT NAMED XING=0
*
28625 08/15* 0 0 0 0*204 870 60 0*212 872 50 0*221 875 35 0*
28625 08/15* 0 0 0 0*206 868 35 0*215 872 35 0*224 877 40 0*
*** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
28630 08/16*229 881 40 0*236 890 55 0*242 899 65 0*246 907 65 0*
28630 08/16*233 883 50 999*237 892 55 0*240 901 60 0*243 910 65 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** ** *** ***
28635 08/17*248 914 65 0*248 929 70 0*246 942 70 0*243 946 70 0*
28635 08/17*245 919 65 0*245 928 65 0*244 937 65 0*243 945 65 0*
*** *** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** **
28640 08/18*240 950 70 0*238 954 70 0*235 959 70 0*230 966 70 0*
28640 08/18*240 950 65 0*237 955 65 0*234 960 65 0*232 965 65 0*
** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28645 08/19*226 972 70 0*224 977 65 0*221 981 65 0*218 984 45 0*
28645 08/19*230 970 65 0*228 974 65 0*225 978 65 0*222 984 45 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** ***
The 20th is new to HURDAT
28647 08/20*220 989 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28650 HR
Minor track changes and major intensity changes are analyzed for this tropical cyclone.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS
ships database, Monthly Weather Review, and the Mexican synoptic maps.
August 14: HWM indicates a spot low near 12N 81W. HURDAT did not list this cyclone on
the 14th. No gales or low pressures.
August 15: HWM does not indicate any features of interest in the western Caribbean or
southern Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 50kt winds at
21.2N, 87.2W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about
22N, 87W (am) and at 22.5N, 89W (pm). Ship highlights: 25 kt SSE with 1011 mb at 12Z
at 22.1N, 85.9W (COA); 20kt E with a pressure of 1001mb near 23.7N, 88.6W at 2350Z (MWR).
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “This disturbance appears to have
originated over the extreme northwestern part of the Caribbean Sea on the 14th, but
available reports during the day showed only gentle winds and little depression of the
barometer. On the 15th the disturbed condition had moved northwestward, and at 6pm
local time was centered in approximately 23N, 88W. A report received subsequently by
mail showed that at this time the S. S. Cauto, Tampico to Baltimore, 23.7N, 88.6W,
experienced a north wind, force 5, barometer 29.73; at 6:50pm (local time) the wind,
of same force, had hauled to east, pressure 29.56. At 8pm, with rising barometer, the
ship reported a southeast gale, force 9, thereafter diminishing” (MWR).
August 16: HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 65kt winds at 24.2N, 89.9W
at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 23.5N, 92W
(am) and at 23.5N, 93W (pm). Ship highlights: 40kt SE near or slightly ENE of 23.7N,
88.6W at 1Z (MWR); 35 kt ESE at 1130Z at 24.5N, 90.0W (MWR). Station highlights: No
gales or low pressures. “The northwestward movement of the disturbance continued until
the morning of the 16th with no increase in intensity so far as reports indicate. The
highest wind during the day, according to mail reports, was of force 8 ESE during
squalls experienced by the S. S. San Benito between 4 and 7am (local time) near 24.5N,
90W, lowest barometer 29.83” (MWR).
August 17: HWM indicates a closed low with at most 1010mb near 22.5N, 94W. HURDAT lists
this as a Category 1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 24.6N, 94.2W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of
Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 23.5N, 94W (am) and at 23.5N, 95W (pm).
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
“The cyclone center, moving westward, was in approximately 24N, 93W, at 7am of the 17th,
with winds of force 4-5 reported by ships at a considerable distance from the center.
During the day the disturbance changed its course to southwesterly and at 7pm EST was
centered near 23.5N, 95W. At this time the highest wind reported in connection with the
disturbance was force 6, south, observed on the S. S. Agwistar, near 23N, 94.5W” (MWR).
August 18: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 22N, 95.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 23.5N, 95.9W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers
of Cyclones showed the center at about 23N, 97W (am) with a pressure of 1003mb and at 22.5N,
98W (pm). Ship highlights: 30kt W with a pressure of 1003mb at 22.5N, 96.5W at 12Z (MWR);
35kt SSE with a pressure of 1007mb at 23N, 95W at 12Z (MWR). Station highlights: No gales
or low pressures. “The center continued to move southwestward until 7am of the 18th, at
which time it was near 23N, 96W, and so far as reports indicated had meanwhile gathered
energy. At this time the S. S. San Abrosia, near 23N, 95W, had a south-southeast wind of
force 8, attended by rain squalls of hurricane force, barometer 29.73; while the S. S.
Agwistar, near 22.5, 96.5W, had a west wind of force 7, barometer 29.62” (MWR).
August 19: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 22N, 98W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 1 hurricane with 65kt winds at 22.1N, 98.1W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers
of Cyclones showed the center at about 22N, 98W (am) with a pressure of 1003mb. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 25kt SW with a pressure of
1000mb at Tampico (22.3N, 97.9W) at 14Z (MWR). “Thereafter the center moved toward
west-southwest, then west, and passed inland a short distance north of Tampico on the
morning of the 19th, accompanied by heavy rains” (MWR).
August 20: HWM indicates a broad low of at most 1010 mb over central Mexico near 23N 102W.
No gales or low pressures.
HURDAT originally lists a first point for this cyclone on 15 August at 06Z centered over
Cozumel, Mexico with a 60 kt intensity. The original track for the next several hours
takes the cyclone north-northwestward over the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula before
emerging back over water in the Gulf of Mexico and weakening to a 35 kt tropical storm while
over land. The timing of genesis is not changed, and the position is not significantly
altered either. But the starting intensity in HURDAT of 60 kt at 06Z on the 15th appears
incorrect and way too high. In fact, this system may have still been an open wave on the
15th, but it is possible it could have closed, so the 15th is kept in HURDAT. The starting
intensity is revised downward to 35 kt (down from 60 kt originally – a major change). The
revised track has the cyclone making landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula on the 15th at 07Z,
and the center emerged back over water into the Gulf of Mexico at 12Z on the 15th near
21.5N, 87.2W. The analyzed intensity at 12Z is also 35 kt (down from 50 kt originally).
Three observations from the same ship within a 2-hour period around 00Z on the 16th were
obtained and indicated a storm position at that time near 23.3N, 88.3W. The first was
1007 mb with 20 kt N, the next was 1001 mb with 20 kt E, and the last was 40 kt SE. Based
on this information, it is believed that the ship was inside the RMW at the 2nd of these
3 observations, and a 999 mb central pressure is added into HURDAT at 00Z on the 16th using
the 10 kt per mb rule inside the RMW. A central pressure of 999 mb equals 49 kt according
to the Brown et al. southern pressure-wind relationship, and a 50 kt intensity is chosen for
HURDAT at 00Z on the 16th (up from 40 kt originally). After that, the cyclone turned toward
the west early on the 17th near 24.5N, 92W, and then the cyclone turned west-southwestward.
After a 35 kt gale was recorded by a ship around 1130Z on the 16th, the next gale or low
pressure was not recorded until 12Z on the 18th (by which time the cyclone was near 23.4N,
96.0W). A ship measured a 35 kt wind, and another ship measured 30 kt with 1003 mb. It is
unknown whether or not the latter was inside the RMW. But this information indicates that
the intensity of the cyclone on the 18th was probably at least 50 kt (at least as intense
as it was on the 16th). The cyclone continued west-southwestward and made landfall slightly
north of Tampico, Mexico. The landfall is analyzed at 22.5N, 97.9W on 19 August at 13Z.
Tampico recorded SW winds of 25 kt with a pressure of 1000 mb at 14Z as the center passed to
its north (MWR says that this was the max wind and min pressure experienced at Tampico).
This peripheral pressure supports maximum winds of at least 47 kt according to the Brown et.
al southern pressure-wind relationship. Originally, HURDAT listed a 65 kt hurricane
landfall with the center passing directly over Tampico. The lack of observed or reported
tropical storm force winds at Tampico indicate that the center either passed farther north
of Tampico, or that the intensity was weaker. The track of the cyclone is shifted a couple
tenths north and the intensity is maintained as a 65 kt hurricane at landfall.
Although there is no data for the entire lifetime of this cyclone that indicates that it ever
reached hurricane intensity, the original HURDAT lists a peak intensity of 70 kt from 06Z on
the 17th through 00Z on the 19th. Since data coverage on those days is average at best, there
may not be enough evidence to lower the peak intensity to a tropical storm. On the other hand,
there is no source that indicates any evidence of hurricane intensity and it is quite possible
that this system never reached hurricane intensity. A compromise is decided upon, and a
revised peak intensity of 65 kt is chosen from 18Z on the 16th through 12Z on the 19th. After
landfall, the cyclone continued inland. Dissipation is analyzed 6 hours later than originally.
The new final point is at 00Z on 20 August at 22.0N, 98.9W as a 30 kt tropical depression.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 9 – Revised 2012
28655 08/20/1936 M= 4 9 SNBR= 633 NOT NAMED XING=1
28660 08/20* 0 0 0 0*255 753 35 0*260 755 35 0*265 759 35 0*
28660 08/20* 0 0 0 0*255 763 25 0*260 767 25 0*265 771 30 0*
*** ** *** ** *** **
28665 08/21*270 765 35 0*276 773 40 0*283 785 45 0*291 801 45 0*
28665 08/21*270 775 35 0*275 779 40 0*280 785 45 0*285 799 50 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** **
28670 08/22*298 817 40 0*301 831 35 0*303 846 30 0*304 862 25 0*
28670 08/22*292 815 45 0*299 832 35 0*303 849 30 0*304 866 25 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** ***
28675 08/23*304 881 25 0*303 891 20 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28675 08/23*304 883 25 0*303 900 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** **
28680 TS
U.S. landfall:
8/21/1936 – 22Z – 28.9N, 80.8W – 50 kt
Minor changes to both track and intensity are analyzed for this tropical storm that made
landfall on the northeastern coast of Florida. Evidence for these alterations comes from
the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database, Monthly Weather Review,
Florida Climatological Data, and Dunn and Miller (1960).
August 19: HWM shows a broad trough of low pressure over the Bahamas. HURDAT does not
list this cyclone on the 19th. No gales or low pressures.
August 20: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 26N, 79.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 26N, 75.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 24.5N, 77.5W (am) with a pressure of 1009mb and at 26N,
78W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures. “On the morning of August 20, slightly falling pressure, with cyclonic circulation,
over and northeast of the northern Bahama Islands was evident on the weather map. B 7pm EST
although no low center could yet be located, a more vigorous cyclonic circulation was
established over the region between approximately 25-30N, 75-80W, with ships reports showing
wind-forces of 4-6, on the Beaufort scale” (MWR).
August 21: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 27.5N, 77W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 28.3N, 78.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 27.5N, 79W (am) with a pressure of 1005mb and at 28N,
82W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 48kt W-SW with a
pressure of 1002mb at Titusville (28.6N, 80.8W) at 22Z (MWR). “At 7am of the 21st, observations
from a number of ships showed the development of a small cyclone center close to 28N, 78W,
with accompaniment of fresh to strong winds, highest force 6, with lowest barometer 29.71
inches” (MWR). “NE FL – minor (<74 kt)” (Dunn and Miller). “The center of a moderate
tropical disturbance passed inland between Titusville and Daytona Beach at about 5 p. m. of
the 21st…The pressure fell to 29.60 inches [1002 mb] at Titusville with winds from the west
and southwest of 40 to 55 miles pre hour as the center passed. Squalls of about 30 miles per
hour occurred northward along the coast beyond Jacksonville…Nieth loss of life nor appreciable
damage occurred in connection with this storm. Apparently the winds were not strong enough to
cause injury to fruits and other crops, after reaching inland to the citrus regions” (Florida).
August 22: HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 30kt winds at 30.3N, 84.6W at 12Z.
The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 30N, 86W (am) with a
pressure of 1010mb and at 31.5N, 91W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “Remnants of this disturbance persisted,
corssed the northern part of the State, and were in the vicinity of Apalachicola the morning
of the 22d” (Florida).
A tropical cyclone is analyzed to have formed at 06Z on 20 August (no change to timing of genesis).
This system originated from a trough of low pressure over the Bahamas on the 19th. It is possible
that the system had attained a closed low (and thus became a tropical depression) on the 19th, but
the observations are inconclusive. On the 20th, the cyclone was very weak. West winds on the
south side were only about 5 to 10 kt. Since there is sufficient observational coverage, a
tropical depression intensity is analyzed on the 20th. Westward position adjustments of 1 degree
are implemented from 06Z on the 20th through 00Z on the 21st due to evidence from observations.
Due mainly to observations from Titusville later on the 21st, the depression is analyzed to have
strengthened to a tropical storm at 00Z on the 21st (18 hours later than originally). The cyclone
made landfall in Florida north of Titusville on 21 August at 22Z at 28.9N, 80.9W. Prior to
landfall, the highest wind from any ship was 30 kt. The minimum pressure recorded at Titusville
was 1002 mb. The maximum winds at Titusville were reported to range from 35-48 kt, which are
likely to be visually estimated winds. All available information indicates that the center passed
between Titusville and Daytona Beach, and the 1002 mb is a peripheral pressure value. A peripheral
pressure of 1002 mb yields winds of greater than 40 kt according to the Brown et al. north of 25N
pressure-wind relationship. Given the quite weak impacts noted in the Florida Climatological Data
report (and that the 35-48 kt report on the south [weak] side of the cyclone was likely a visual
estimate), a 50 kt intensity is chosen for landfall and at 18Z on the 21st (up from 45 kt originally).
The position of landfall was also significantly changed to a position about half a degree south of
the original HURDAT landfall location. After landfall, the cyclone turned toward the west-northwest
and weakened. It weakened to a tropical depression at 12Z on 22 August. The depression moved due
westward from the 22nd through 06Z on the 23rd, and then it dissipated (no changes to the
dissipation timing).
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 10 (Was #11) – Revised 2012
28710 08/28/1936 M=10 11 SNBR= 635 NOT NAMED XING=0
28710 08/25/1936 M=13 10 SNBR= 635 NOT NAMED XING=0
** ** **
The 25th – 27th are new to HURDAT
28712 08/25* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*133 255 30 0*
28713 08/26*136 270 30 0*139 285 35 0*142 300 35 0*145 315 40 0*
28714 08/27*149 330 40 0*153 345 45 0*157 360 45 0*161 375 50 0*
28715 08/28* 0 0 0 0*172 400 65 0*173 433 70 0*174 443 70 0*
28715 08/28*165 390 55 0*169 405 60 0*172 420 60 0*175 432 65 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28720 08/29*176 451 70 0*178 458 75 0*180 465 75 0*182 473 75 0*
28720 08/29*177 442 70 0*180 451 75 0*183 460 75 0*186 469 75 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28725 08/30*185 480 80 0*188 486 80 0*193 493 80 0*200 502 80 0*
28725 08/30*189 478 80 0*192 487 80 0*196 496 80 0*202 505 80 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28730 08/31*208 512 85 0*215 520 85 0*222 528 85 0*231 538 90 0*
28730 08/31*210 514 85 0*219 523 85 0*228 532 85 0*236 542 90 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28735 09/01*241 549 90 0*251 558 90 0*261 566 90 0*274 576 95 0*
28735 09/01*244 552 90 0*253 561 90 0*262 570 90 0*272 577 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28740 09/02*287 585 95 0*294 588 95 0*301 589 95 0*315 585 95 0*
28740 09/02*282 583 95 0*292 583 95 0*302 580 95 0*315 573 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28745 09/03*330 562 95 0*341 543 95 0*352 525 95 0*367 508 95 0*
28745 09/03*332 559 95 0*350 544 95 0*360 525 95 0*370 508 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
28750 09/04*382 492 90 0*396 476 90 0*409 460 85 0*418 450 85 0*
28750 09/04*380 492 95 0*391 476 95 0*402 460 95 0*412 443 90 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
28755 09/05*427 433 80 0*438 412 80 0*449 372 75 0*460 329 70 0*
28755 09/05*421 423 90 0*431 398 85 0*446 372 80 0*461 343 75 0*
*** ** *** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
28760 09/06E472 278 65 0E486 220 60 0E500 162 60 0E520 146 55 0*
28760 09/06E476 293 70 0E488 233 60 0E501 175 60 0E515 125 55 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28765 HR
Minor track adjustments and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this hurricane.
Major changes are made to the genesis. Evidence for these alterations comes from the
Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database, and Monthly Weather Review.
August 24: HWM does not analyze any features of interest in the eastern Atlantic on this
day. HURDAT does not yet list a system on this day. Ship highlights: 25 kt S with 1004
mb at 12Z at 8.7N, 15.3W (COA).
August 25: HWM does not analyze any features of interest on this day in the eastern Atlantic.
HURDAT does not yet list a system on this day. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 26: HWM does not analyze any features of interest on this day in the eastern Atlantic.
HURDAT does not yet list a system on this day. Ship highlights: 35 kt ESE at 18Z at 14.5N,
30.5W (COA).
August 27: HWM analyzes a spot low near 12N, 40W. HURDAT does not yet list a system on this
day. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 28: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 14N, 42W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 17.4N, 44.3W at 12Z. Ship highlights: 20kt WSW
with a pressure of 1005mb at 16.2N, 43.2W at 12Z (MWR); 50kt SSE at 19Z at 17.5N, 42W (MWR).
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The first indications of this disturbance
were contained in radio reports from ships in the vicinity of 15N, 45W on August 28. According
to a report received by mail, the S. S. Van Rensselaer at about 9am (ships time ) on that date
at 16.2N, 43.2W, had wind WSW, 5, with barometer reading 29.67 inches (corrected); at 4pm the
highest wind, SSE, 10, was experienced on this ship at about 17.5N, 42W” (MWR). “Observations…
on the 28th were received by radio… at 7 pm (EST) from the S. S. Van Rensselaer which was then
at 17.5N, 41.3W, wind SE 5 (20 kt), with indications that a tropical storm had formed. This
is the farthest area to the eastward in the Atlantic in which the existence of a tropical
disturbance has been received by radio reports to the Weather Bureau. The previous record was
the location of a disturbance on the morning of September 10, 1928, by a radio report from the
S. S. Commack in 17N, 48.2W” (MWR).
August 29: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 16N, 47.5W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 1 hurricane with 75kt winds at 18N, 46.5W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low
pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 30: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 18N, 51W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 1 hurricane with 80kt winds at 19.3N, 49.3W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low
pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 31: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1000mb near 22.5N, 53W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 22.2N, 52.8W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 24N, 54W (pm). Ship highlights: 20kt NE with a pressure of 1003mb at
24.9N, 54.6W at 12Z (COA). “After August 28, observations were lacking in the vicinity of the
disturbance until the evening of August 31, when ship reports definitely placed the center of a
vigorous cyclone near 25N, 56W. It is not possible with available reports to locate the center
of the disturbance prior to August 31” (MWR).
September 1: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 26N, 56.5W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 hurricane with 90kt winds at 26.1N, 56.6W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 26N, 56W (am) and at 27N, 56.5W (pm). Ship highlights: 50 kt E with
983 mb at 12Z at 26.5N, 57.0W (HWM); 60kt NW with a pressure of 982mb at 27.2N, 58.1W at 17Z (MWR);
70 kt NW at 18Z near 27.2N, 58.1W (MWR); 70kt SE with a pressure of 1007mb at 28.5N, 55.5W at 20Z
(COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “By September 1 the disturbance had attained
full hurricane intensity. S. S. Pan America reported its lowest barometer reading, 29.01, at 9pm,
ships time, at 27.2N, 58.1W, with wind NW, force 11, increasing to NW 12 at 2pm” (MWR).
September 2: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 31N, 58W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 30.1N, 58.9W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 30N, 57W (am) with a pressure of 971mb and at 34N, 56W (pm). Ship
highlights: 60 kt SSE with 1007 mb at 00Z at 28.5N, 55.5W (COA); 45 kt SSE with 1008 mb at 16Z at
32.5N, 54.5W (COA); 35 kt NNE with 1003 mb at 22Z at 35.0N, 58.4W (COA). Station highlights: No
gales or low pressures. “The hurricane recurved to the eastward of Bermuda with center in long
58W. Between 2 and 3am, ships time, on September 3, the S. S. West Lashaway at 35.4N, 54.2W, had
full hurricane winds, ESE, barometer 28.71. Reports indicate that full hurricane intensity was
maintained until the morning of the 5th near 42N, 39W where the S. S. Nike experienced wind WSW,
force 10, barometer 28.32” (MWR).
September 3: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 35.5N, 52W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 winds with 95kt winds at 35.2N, 52.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 36.5N, 53W (am) with a pressure of 972mb and at 38.5N, 50W (pm). Ship
highlights: 35kt NE with a pressure of 1003mb at 36N, 56.2W at 2Z (MWR); 70 kt ESE with 972 mb
around ~0630Z at 35.4N, 54.2W (MWR); 40kt WNW with 988 mb at 35N, 53.5W at 12Z (HWM). Station
highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 4: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 970mb near 38.7N, 46.5W. HURDAT lists this as
a Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 40.9N, 46W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 40N, 46W (am) and at 41.5N, 40.5W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or
low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 5: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 45N, 38W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 1 hurricane with 75kt winds at 44.9N, 37.2W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 42N, 38W (am). Ship highlights: 50kt WSW with a pressure of 959mb at
42N, 39W (MWR); 45 kt SSW with 1007 mb at 18Z at 43.5N, 31.5W (COA). Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
September 6: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 50N, 16W. HURDAT lists this as an
Extratropical storm with 60kt winds at 50N, 16W at 12Z. Ship highlights: 45 kt NNW with 1002 mb
at 06Z at 48.5N, 29.5W (COA); 35 kt W with 989 mb at 11Z at 48.0N, 21.3W (MWR); 35 kt SSE with
988 mb at 12Z at 49.8N, 15.9W (COA); 45 kt W with 988 mb at 17Z at 49.5N, 12.5W (COA); 50kt W
with a pressure of 999mb at 49.5N, 13.5W at 21Z. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
HURDAT originally began this tropical cyclone on 28 August at 06Z as a 65 kt hurricane. Additional
COADS data was obtained between that location and the African coast between 23-27 August. Although
it is possible that a closed circulation was attained shortly after the disturbance moved off the
African coast on 24 August, there is not enough data on the 24th to say that with certainty.
Observations – primarily from Ship #07043388 – indicate that the system had become a tropical storm
by no later than 12Z on the 26th. However, on the 25th, the observations at 12Z are ambiguous as
to whether a closed low had yet formed. Thus an 18Z on the 25th genesis time is estimated. On the
26th at 18Z, the first gale was recorded when a ship measured 35 kt ESE. The tropical depression
is analyzed to have become a tropical storm at 06Z on 26 August. The cyclone moved
west-northwestward. On the 28th, observations place the cyclone in the general vicinity of the
original HURDAT positions with minor track alterations. On the 28th, pressures of 1005 mb were
recorded and a wind of 50 kt was recorded, but on the 29th and 30th there was no data near the
cyclone. On the 28th, the analyzed intensities of the intensifying cyclone are slightly below the
original HURDAT values, but the HURDAT intensities on the 29th and 30th are not changed because
there is no evidence to change HURDAT. The cyclone is analyzed to have become a hurricane at 18Z
on 28 August (12 hours later than originally). By 31 August, data indicates the cyclone was near
23N, 53W but there were only one or two observations in the periphery that day that measured a
1003 mb pressure. Hurricane force winds were recorded on 1 September and the lowest pressure
measured that day was 982 mb (with 60 kt simultaneous winds). A peripheral pressure of 982 mb
indicates a wind speed greater than 70 kt according to the Brown et al. (2006) north of 25N
pressure-wind relationship. No changes are made to the 95 kt intensity in HURDAT. The cyclone
recurved east of 60W near 29N early on the 2nd. The highest wind recorded on the 2nd was 60 kt.
Observations indicate that the outer radius of the cyclone circulation expanded on the 2nd of
September as compared with previous days of the cyclone’s lifetime. On the 3rd around ~0630Z,
a ship recorded hurricane force ESE winds with a 972 mb simultaneous pressure. A peripheral
pressure of 972 mb yields winds of greater than 82 and 80 kt, respectively, according to the north
of 25N Brown et al. (2006) and north of 35N Landsea et al. (2004) pressure-wind relationships.
The 95 kt intensity in HURDAT is still not changed on the 3rd of September. In fact, no changes
are made to the HURDAT intensity from 29 August through 3 September. Early on the 5th, a ship
recorded a pressure of 959 mb with 50 kt WSW winds. A peripheral pressure of 959 mb yields a wind
speed of greater than 91 kt according to the north of 35N pressure-wind relationship. The speed
of the cyclone was about 20 kt, but the cyclone was very large. Also, no hurricane force winds
had been reported since the 3rd at 06Z. A 90 kt intensity is chosen at 00Z on the 5th (up from
80 kt originally) and an 80 kt intensity is chosen at 12Z on the 5th (up from 75 kt originally).
It is possible, however, given the limited observations obtained that this system could have
reached major hurricane intensity. While having the system still tropical at 45N (at 12Z on the
5th) is somewhat unclimatological, inspection of the available observations indicate no E-W
temperature gradient over the inner core of the hurricane while retained a symmetric vortex.
Thus, no changes are made to the timing of extratropical transition (00Z on the 6th). The
intensity at that time is analyzed at 70 kt (up from 65 kt originally). The cyclone accelerated
early on the 6th, and no changes are made to the timing of dissipation (18Z on the 6th). It is
possible that the cyclone might have been absorbed six hours earlier, but there is not enough
evidence to delete 6 hours from HURDAT. However, observations indicate that the cyclone was
definitely absorbed by the time indicated in HURDAT.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 11 (Was #10) – Revised 2012
28685 08/28/1936 M= 3 10 SNBR= 634 NOT NAMED XING=0
28685 08/28/1936 M= 4 11 SNBR= 634 NOT NAMED XING=0
* **
28690 08/28* 0 0 0 0*183 863 40 0*193 885 35 0*197 892 40 0*
28690 08/28*181 862 30 0*187 873 40 0*193 883 35 0*197 893 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** **
28695 08/29*202 903 45 0*208 918 55 0*214 933 65 0*216 946 70 0*
28695 08/29*202 904 30 0*208 916 40 0*214 929 50 0*216 941 60 0*
** *** ** *** ** *** **
28700 08/30*213 956 70 0*209 964 70 0*204 973 65 0*191 970 35 0*
28700 08/30*216 951 70 0*214 960 70 0*210 969 70 0*205 977 45 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ** *** *** **
The 31st is new to HURDAT
28702 08/31*200 985 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28705 HR
Minor track changes and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this tropical cyclone.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships
database, Monthly Weather Review, Mexican station observations and synoptic maps, and Connor (1956).
August 27: HWM indicates an open low near 14N 87W over Central America. No gales or low pressures.
August 28: HWM indicates a low near 18.5N, 91W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt at
19.3N, 88.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 18N, 88W (am)
with a pressure of 1011mb and at 19.5N, 90.5W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Station highlights: 3kt NNE with a pressure of 1005mb at Merida (21N, 89.5W) at 20Z (Mexican). “At
the morning observation of August 28, conditions over the Yucatan Peninsula pointed toward the
formation of a slight depression, with lower barometer, 29.74, at Payo Obispo. At 7pm of that date
the suspicion was strengthened that a tropical disturbance was originating in the vicinity. Pressure
at Merida had fallen to 29.68 inches, which indicated a northwestward movement of the depression”
(MWR). “A disturbance of weak intensity is located over the peninsula of Yucatan and it is likely
that it will intensify over the Gulf of Mexico after exiting by the coast of Campeche” (Mexican).
August 29: HWM indicates a low near 20N, 96.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 65kt
at 21.4N, 93.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 20N, 93W
(am) and at 20.5N, 94W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: a
pressure of 1005mb at Merida at 0Z (MWR); 8 kt E with 1005 mb at 01Z at Merida (Mexican). “On the
morning of the 29th, reports from ship and Mexican coast stations indicated the formation of a
circulatory wind system with center in the Golf of Campeche. The S. S. Ceiba, near 20N, 92W, at 7am
reported the lowest barometer, 29.70, with south wind of force 6. At 7pm EST of the 29th four ships
in the southwestern Gulf, within the region 20-23N, 92-95W, clearly showed the existence of a
moderate depression with center a little north of the 20th parallel and close to the 95th meridian.
Three of the ships, at some distance from the center reported wind forces of 5-6, while the S. S.
Amapala in 19.8N, 94.8W, had a moderate west gale (force 7), pressure 29.53 inches. The extreme
wind reported by the Amapala was a force 8, south, at 8pm local time, of the 29th” (MWR). “The
cyclone over the Gulf of Mexico is located approximately 325 km to the ENE of Veracruz and it is
moving towards the west. It is likely that it will affect the portion of the coast between
Veracruz and Tuxpan, from today to midnight” (Mexican).
August 30: The HWM shows no features of interest in the western Gulf of Mexico. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 1 hurricane with 65kt winds at 20.4N, 97.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 21N, 96W (am) and at 21N, 97W (pm). Ship highlights: 30kt W with
a pressure of 1000mb at 19.8N, 94.8W at 0Z (MWR); 35 kt S at 01Z near 19.8N, 94.8W (MWR); 40kt SE
with a pressure of 1000mb at 21.7N, 97W in the morning (MWR); 60 kt E in the vicinity of 21.7N, 97.0W
within a couple hours of the morning (MWR). Station highlights: 25kt SSW with a pressure of 1004mb
at Veracruz (19.2N, 96.1W) at 3Z (Mexican); 60 kt NE at Tuxpan (20.9N 97.4W) at 12Z (Mexican). “During
the morning of the 30th the disturbance became locally of much increased energy, as indicated by a
report received by mail from the S. S. Cayo Mambi. This ship, in 21.7N, 97W had a barometer reading
of 29.52 inches, accompanied by a southeast gale of force 9. The maximum wind reported by the ship was
from the east, force 11. The disturbance passed inland near Tuxpan on the morning of the 30th” (MWR).
“The disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico is located ESE of Tuxpan, Veracruz. It is likely that it will
be making landfall before noon to the south but close to the mentioned place producing rain in its
path” (Mexican).
August 31: The HWM shows no features of interest in the western Gulf of Mexico or over Mexico. “The
cyclone over the Gulf of Mexico made landfall to the south but close of Tuxpan, Veracruz, yesterday
in the morning, and therefore it is likely that there will be less showers over the eastern portion
of the country and normal shower activity over the western areas” (Mexican).A tropical cyclone formed
early on 28 August in the western Caribbean Sea near 18N, 86W. Weather reports from ships and Central
American stations suggest a trough existed at 12Z on the 27th in the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
Observations from 06Z and 12Z on the 28th indicate that a closed circulation likely already existed
before that time. Therefore, genesis is analyzed to have occurred at 00Z on 28 August (6 hours earlier
than originally) as a 30 kt tropical depression at 18.1N, 86.2W. The cyclone moved west-northwestward
at a moderate speed. There is not enough evidence to lower the 40 kt intensity in HURDAT at 06Z on
the 28th, so there is no change made to the timing of when the system became a tropical storm. The
cyclone is analyzed to have made landfall on 28 August at 08Z on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula at 18.9N,
87.6W as a 40 kt tropical storm. A 1007 mb pressure was recorded at Payo Obispo (Chetumal) as the
center passed to the north-northeast of there. The cyclone was over landfall from the 28th at 08Z
until the 29th at 01Z when it emerged into the Bay of Campeche. The cyclone is analyzed to have
weakened to a 30 kt tropical depression at 18Z on the 28th (down from 40 kt originally), and this
30 kt intensity is held through 00Z on the 29th (down from 45 kt originally) since it was still over
land. Pressures of 1005 mb were recorded at Merida from 20Z on the 28th through 01Z on the 29th, but
no strong winds were reported there. In the Bay of Campeche, the cyclone continued west-northwestward
early on the 29th, and then turned due west late on the 29th. It continued moving westward until it
made its final Mexican landfall around 12Z on 30 August. There are no available observations near the
cyclone on the 29th; thus no gales or low pressures were recorded that day. On the 30th before
landfall, two ships recorded gales and low pressures. The first ship recorded a minimum pressure of
1000 mb at 00Z on the 30th and maximum winds of 35 kt at 01Z. The second ship recorded a minimum
pressure of 1000 mb (simultaneous with 40 kt winds) and maximum winds of 60 kt probably around 12Z
(just before the time of landfall). At 12Z on the 30th – just before the time of landfall – Tuxpan,
Mexico reported NE 60 kt winds (no barometer). Thus landfall is now shown to have occurred at 20.8N,
97.2W at 14Z on 30 August, just south of Tuxpan, consistent with the analyses from Mexico. Due to
the 60 kt observations from a ship and Tuxpan just before the time of landfall, and the lack of any
other important observations near the center, there is no evidence to change the landfall intensity
in HURDAT originally or the peak intensity of 70 kt. Therefore, a 70 kt intensity is analyzed from
00Z on the 30th through 12Z on the 30th including landfall (up from 65 kt originally at 12Z). The
30 kt intensity analyzed at 00Z on the 29th is increased by 10 kt per 6 hr until 00Z on the 30th when
the 70 kt intensity is held until landfall. Therefore, minor downward intensity adjustments of
10-15 kt are implemented on the 29th. After landfall, runs of the Kaplan and DeMaria inland decay
model yield 48 and 35 kt for 18Z on the 30th and 00Z on the 31st. Intensities of 45 and 30 kt are
chosen for those times. Therefore, dissipation is delayed by 6 hours. The southward dive in the
original HURDAT position during the last 6 hours is unrealistic, and observations do not indicate
that this occurred. However, a slight turn to the west-southwest may have occurred. The revised
final position is at 00Z on 31 August as a 30 kt tropical depression.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 12 – Revised 2012
28770 09/07/1936 M= 2 12 SNBR= 636 NOT NAMED XING=0
28775 09/07* 0 0 0 0*208 569 35 0*208 588 35 0*209 603 35 0*
28775 09/07* 0 0 0 0*208 578 35 0*209 593 35 0*210 607 35 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
28780 09/08*212 620 35 0*214 628 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28780 09/08*211 620 35 0*212 632 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** ***
28785 TS
Minor track changes but no changes to the intensity are analyzed for this short-lived tropical cyclone.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database,
and Monthly Weather Review.
September 6: HWM shows no features of interest near the Lesser Antilles. No gales or low pressures.
September 7: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 19.5N, 61W. HURDAT lists this as a
Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 20.8N, 58.8W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “At 7am eastern standard time, September 7, the S. S.
Chesapeake at 20.3N, 58.9W, with wind SW by S, barometer 29.77 (uncorrected) reported that there were
indications of a tropical disturbance forming to the northward. Other observations from the vicinity
at that hour placed the center at about 21N, 59W. Twelve hours later there was a mild cyclonic wind
circulation over the Leeward Islands and the ocean to the northward, with center near 21N, 62W” (MWR).
September 8: HWM analyzes an open trough/low pressure area in the general vicinity of 22N, 64W. HURDAT
last lists this system at 06Z at 21.4N, 62.8W as a 30 kt tropical depression. Ship highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “By the morning of the 8th, the
disturbance, which continued to be of minor intensity, appeared to have advanced toward the
west-northwestward, but later observations failed to reveal any definite wind circulation” (MWR).
On 7 September a couple of ship observations indicate that a closed circulation might have possibly
existed near 21N, 59W. There was only one observation containing a westerly wind component- 15 kt
SW with 1008 mb at 12Z on the 7th. The lowest pressure recorded for the entire lifetime of this system
was 1008 mb, and the highest winds recorded were 20-25 kt. No intensity changes are made. All position
changes made are less than 1 degree. On the 8th, observations indicate some partial cyclonic turning,
but there are no observed west winds. Therefore, no changes are made to the timing of dissipation. It
is possible that this system was not a tropical storm. However, the data coverage is not sufficient to
justify its removal.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 13 – Revised 2012
28790 09/08/1936 M=18 13 SNBR= 637 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
28795 09/08* 0 0 0 0*131 485 40 0*136 491 40 0*142 498 40 0*
28795 09/08* 0 0 0 0*131 485 30 0*136 491 30 0*141 498 35 0*
** ** *** **
28800 09/09*146 504 40 0*150 510 45 0*154 517 45 0*160 525 45 0*
28800 09/09*146 504 35 0*150 510 40 0*154 517 40 0*160 524 40 0*
** ** ** *** **
28805 09/10*166 534 50 0*172 543 55 0*178 552 55 0*183 560 65 0*
28805 09/10*166 531 45 0*172 538 45 0*178 546 50 0*181 555 50 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
28810 09/11*187 568 65 0*193 578 70 0*199 587 75 0*202 591 80 0*
18810 09/11*184 563 55 0*187 572 55 0*190 580 60 0*193 586 60 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28815 09/12*204 593 80 0*208 595 85 0*212 598 85 0*215 601 85 0*
28815 09/12*196 591 65 0*199 594 65 0*202 596 65 0*206 599 65 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28820 09/13*217 604 85 0*223 610 85 0*229 617 85 0*232 620 90 0*
28820 09/13*211 601 70 0*217 603 70 0*224 605 70 0*231 607 75 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28825 09/14*234 623 90 0*236 625 90 0*238 627 95 0*242 631 95 0*
28825 09/14*237 610 75 0*244 615 80 0*250 620 85 0*253 624 90 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28830 09/15*248 636 100 0*255 643 100 0*262 650 100 0*269 657 105 0*
28830 09/15*256 629 90 0*259 634 95 0*262 640 100 0*268 649 105 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28835 09/16*277 665 105 0*282 669 105 0*287 675 105 0*298 688 100 0*
28835 09/16*276 659 105 0*284 669 105 0*291 680 105 0*298 690 100 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
28840 09/17*310 701 100 0*317 712 100 0*324 723 95 0*335 734 95 0*
28840 09/17*307 702 100 0*316 714 100 0*324 725 95 0*332 734 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
28845 09/18*346 745 90 0*352 751 90 0*359 753 85 968*372 750 85 0*
28845 09/18*341 741 90 0*350 745 85 962*359 748 85 965*371 748 80 968*
*** *** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** ** ***
28850 09/19*386 740 85 0*402 721 80 0*417 690 80 0*429 651 75 0*
28850 09/19*383 730 80 969*394 721 75 0E412 690 75 0E422 654 75 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** **** ** **** ***
28855 09/20*439 610 75 0*448 565 70 0*454 523 70 0*455 489 65 0*
28855 09/20E430 614 70 0E436 571 65 0E441 529 65 0E446 496 65 0*
**** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** ** **** ***
28860 09/21*457 460 65 0E458 431 65 0E460 406 60 0E462 388 60 0*
28860 09/21E452 470 65 0E456 440 65 0E460 415 70 0E462 397 70 0*
**** *** *** *** *** ** *** **
28865 09/22E463 373 55 0E467 359 55 0E472 346 50 0E478 337 50 0*
28865 09/22E463 382 65 0E467 361 60 0E472 346 55 0E479 337 55 0*
*** ** *** ** ** *** **
28870 09/23E486 329 45 0E500 315 45 0E513 303 45 0E518 298 40 0*
28870 09/23E488 329 50 0E500 322 50 0E512 314 50 0E518 305 50 0*
*** ** *** ** *** *** ** *** **
28875 09/24E521 292 40 0E524 286 35 0E527 281 35 0E529 277 30 0*
28875 09/24E521 296 50 0E524 290 50 0E526 283 45 0E527 277 45 0*
*** ** *** ** *** *** ** *** **
28880 09/25E530 273 30 0E531 268 30 0E532 262 30 0E537 244 30 0*
28880 09/25E525 271 40 0E523 266 40 0E522 261 40 0E522 256 35 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
28885 HR NC2
28885 HR NC1 VA1
*** ***
U.S. Close approach:
9/18/1936 – 10Z – 35.6N, 74.8W – 75 kt at the coast (85 kt offshore) - 964 mb –
35 nmi RMW – 1016 mb OCI – 325 nmi ROCI – 11 kt speed
Minor track changes and major intensity changes are analyzed for this hurricane that
impacted portions of the North Carolina and Virginia coastlines. Major changes are made
to the timing of when the cyclone attained hurricane strength, and major changes are also
made to the timing of extratropical transition. Evidence for these alterations comes from
the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database, Monthly Weather Review, the
Original Monthly Records from NCDC, North Carolina and Virginia Climatological Data, Ho et
al., Dunn and Miller (1960), Schwerdt et al. (1979), Jarrell et al. (1992), Tannehill,
Harris, Barnes, Cobb, and Roth.
September 7: HWM indicates no significant features were present over the tropical Atlantic.
HURDAT does not list this cyclone on the 7th. No gales or low pressures.
September 8: HWM indicates no significant features were present over the tropical Atlantic.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds at 13.6N, 49.1W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “While the preceding
disturbance was dissipating near the Leeward Islands on the 8th, there were signs of another
disturbance to the eastward with center in the vicinity of 13N, 50W at 7pm, eastern standard
time, of the 8th. At that time the S. S. West Selene was at 13.3N, 52.1W, and a long swell
from the northeast was observed” (MWR).
September 9: HWM indicates no significant features were present over the tropical Atlantic.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 15.4N, 51.7W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The swell became
heavier late on the 9th and on the 10th, with slowly falling barometer, when the vessel was
about 250miles east of the Leeward Islands. The observing officers estimated the distance to
the disturbance to be about 100 miles” (MWR).
September 10: HWM indicates no significant features were present over the tropical Atlantic.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 55kt winds at 17.8N, 55.2W at 12Z. Ship highlights:
35kt NE with a pressure of 1014mb at 20.3N, 52.2W at 0Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures. “Reports from other vessels on the 10th indicated the presence of a
well-developed cyclone centered at approximately 18N, 55W” (MWR).
September 11: HWM indicates no significant features were present over the tropical Atlantic.
HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 75kt winds at 19.9N, 58.7W at 12Z. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 12: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 18.5N, 59W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 21.2N, 59.8W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or
low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 13: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 21N, 62.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 22.9N, 61.7W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 22N, 60W (am) and at 24N, 61W (pm). Ship highlights:
50kt SE with a pressures of 1006mb at 23N, 59.5W at 12Z (COA); 30kt SSW with a pressures of
993mb at 22.5N, 59.5W at 20Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 14: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1000mb near 24.5N, 63.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 23.8N, 62.7W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 26N, 61.5W (am) and at 27N, 62W (pm). Ship highlights: 30kt
WSW with a pressure of 998mb at 24.5N, 62.5W at 8Z (COA); 50kt SSE with a pressure of 1001mb at
25.5N, 61.5W at 20Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 15: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 995mb near 25.5N, 64W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 3 hurricane with 100kt winds at 26.2N, 65W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 28N, 63W (am) and at 28.5N, 66W (pm). Ship highlights:
45kt WSW at 24.5n, 61.5W at 0Z (COA); 20kt S with a pressure of 1003mb at 25.5N, 61.5W at 8Z
(COA); 35 kt SW with 1002 mb at 12Z at 24.7N, 62.5W (HWM). Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures.
September 16: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 29N, 67.5W. HURDAT lists this as
a Category 3 hurricane with 105kt winds at 28.7N, 67.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 29.5N, 68W (am) with a pressure of 968mb and at 30.5N, 70W
(pm). Ship highlights: 60 kt N with 983 mb at 12Z at 29.6N, 68.8W (COA); 65kt SSW with a pressure
of 968mb at 29.4N, 68.7W at 18Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “By the
morning of September 15 the hurricane was wide extent and marked intensity. On the 16th the area
of winds of force 6 and higher (Beaufort scale) was about 1,000 miles in diameter. By that
criterion it was one of the largest tropical cyclones of record” (MWR).
September 17: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 32.5N, 73W. HURDAT lists this as
a Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 32.4N, 72.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 32.5N, 72W (am) and at 34N, 74W (pm). Ship highlights: 50kt SSE with a
pressure of 998mb at 29.7N, 68W at 0Z (COA); 45kt N with a pressure of 985mb at 34.4N, 75.1W at 12Z
(COA). Station highlights: 42 kt N with 999 mb at 23Z at Cape Hatteras, NC (35.2N, 75.7W) (OMR);
47 kt N around ~2330Z at Cape Hatteras (OMR).
September 18: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 36N, 75W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 35.9N, 75.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 36N, 75W (am) with a pressure of 972mb and at 39N, 72W (pm). Ship
highlights: 70 kt NNW with 1004 mb at 02Z at 33.1N, 76.5W (MWR); 70 kt NE before 04Z in the vicinity
of 35.6N, 72.0W (MWR); 50 kt SE with 968 mb at 04Z at 35.6N, 72.0W (MWR); 25kt E with a pressure of
965 mb at 35.2N, 74.4W at 6Z (MWR); 10 kt E with 966 mb at 06Z at 35.2N, 74.4W (COA); 70 kt NE before
10Z in the vicinity of 36.2N, 74.8W (MWR); 40 kt NE with 969 mb at 10Z at 36.2N, 74.8W (MWR); 70 kt
N with 994 mb at 12Z in Chesapeake Bay (MWR); 70 kt NNE with 996 mb at 12Z at 37.3N, 76.1W (COA);
25 kt NW with 972 mb at 12Z at 36.0N, 74.8W (COA); 70 kt N with 990 mb at 15Z at 37.2N, 76.1W (MWR);
70kt SW with a pressure of 977mb at 36.8N, 73.8W at 19Z (MWR). Station highlights: 79 kt NW (max
w/1-min) with 978 mb (min p) around ~0645Z at Hatteras (OMR); ~78 kt at Manteo, NC (35.9N, 75.7W)
(Barnes); 59 kt NW (max w/1-min) with 993 mb (min p) around ~1245Z at Norfolk, VA (36.8N, 76.3W)
(OMR); 987 mb (min p) at Cape Henry (no time) (Virginia Climatological Data). “As the hurricane
center approached Hatteras it began recurving to northward and, after passing a short distance east
of the Virginia Capes on the 18th, it turned northeastward at an increasing progressive rate” (MWR).
“The S. S. El Occidente, in 35.2N, 74.8W, at 5am (ships time) of the 18th had lowest barometer 28.60
inches, and reported light fog during the lull at the center about 6am” (MWR). “At Cape Henry the full
force of the hurricane winds was not recorded; the anemometer cups and spindle were carried away by
the wind at 11:37am (eastern standard time) of the 18th; one cup had previously been blown away. The
wind was estimated at 75 miles an hour” (MWR). “Place: North Carolina coastal region from Hyde County
north to Virginia line. Date: 17-18 September. Value of property destroyed: $60,000. Character of
storm: Tropical storm. Remarks: Loss to buildings, fishing equipment, and roads. Slight damage to
crops” (MWR). Place: Chincoteague, VA. Date: 17-18. Loss of life: 5. Value of property destroyed:
$100,000. Character of Storm: Tropical Storm” (MWR). “Place: Northampton and Accomack Counties, VA.
Date: 17-18. Value of property destroyed: $250,000 [to crops and] $250,000 [to other things].
Character of storm: Tropical storm. Remarks: Oyster bed wrecked, 60,000 chickens lost, and late crops
destroyed” (MWR). “Place: Cape Charles, VA. Date: 17-18. Value of property destroyed: $25,000” (MWR).
“Place: Norfolk, VA. Loss of life: 2. Value of property destroyed: $500,000 [to crops and] $500,000
[to other things]. Remarks: In Norfolk area damage to business, residential, and marine property due
to high wind and high tide” (MWR). “Place: Eastern Shore. Date: 18. Loss of life: 7. Value of
property destroyed and remarks: $100,000 property damage in Ocean City, MD. $50,000 damage to rural
property and livestock. $30,000 loss to fishing fleets. $11,900 loss to transmition lines. $83,000
loss to crops” (MWR). “[Closest approach] 36.1N, 75.4W; 966 mb [ob or cp?] at 35.2N, 74.6W; 90 kt
(estimated) 1-min max wind [on coast?] (Schwerdt et al.). “Cat 2 NC” (Jarrell et. al).
September 19: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 990mb near 41.5N, 67W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 1 hurricane with 80kt winds at 41.7N, 69W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 41.5N, 69W (am) and at 44N, 61W (pm). Ship highlights: 5 kt SE with 970 mb
at 00Z at 38.4N, 72.5W (MWR); 70kt SE with a pressure of 970mb at 39.2N, 71.8W at 7Z (MWR); 70 kt SSW
with 993 mb at 16Z at 40.6N, 66.3W (MWR). Station highlights: 1002 mb (min p) at 0440Z and 44 kt N
(max w/1-min) around ~0530Z at New York, NY (40.7N, 74W) (OMR); 1003 mb (min p) at 08Z and 40 kt NW
(max w/1-min) around ~1030Z at Providence, RI (41.8N, 71.4W) (OMR); 37 kt N (max w/1-min) around ~1030Z
at Boston, MA (42.4N, 71.1W) (OMR); 991 mb (min p) at 10Z and 47 kt N (max w/1-min) at 1240Z at
Nantucket, MA (41.3N, 70.1W) (MWR, OMR). “Moving northeastward from the Virginia Capes, the hurricane
center continued at sea, but gales were felt along the coast. At Nantucket the lower barometer reading
was 29.27 inches at about 5am of the 19th with maximum velocity 45 miles (extreme 58) at 7:40am, EST”
(MWR). “Place: Long Island, NY (east portion). Date: 18-19. Character of storm: Tropical storm.
Remarks: Many boats damaged” (MWR). “Place: Block Island, RI. Date: 18-19. Time: 7 pm – 3 am. Value
of property destroyed: $4,700. Character of storm: Tropical Storm. Remarks: Loss mostly to marine
equipment” (MWR).
September 20: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 990mb near 44N, 52.5W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 45.4N, 52.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones
showed the center at about 45.5N, 53.5W (am) with a pressure of 996mb and at 46N, 47.5W (pm). Ship
highlights: 50 kt WSW around ~09Z in the vicinity of 42.3N, 56.5W (MWR); 30kt SSW with a pressure of
987mb at 45.5N, 48.5W at 19Z (COA); 50 kt NW after 19Z in the vicinity of 42.5N, 50.4W (MWR); 45kt
NNW with a pressure of 990mb at 45.4N, 48.4W at 23Z (COA); 10 kt SSW with 986 mb at 23Z at 45.3N,
48.4W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 21: HWM indicates a low of at most 995mb near 44N, 42.5W. HURDAT lists this as an extratropical
storm with 60kt winds at 46N, 40.6W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at
about 41N, 46W (am) with a pressure of 990mb and at 39N, 46W (pm). Ship highlights: 60 kt NNW around or
after 00Z in the vicinity of 45.3N, 48.4W (MWR); 45kt S with a pressure of 994mb at 43.5N, 45.5W at 00Z
(COA); 30kt SW with a pressure of 989mb at 45.5N, 42.1W at 12Z (COA); 70 kt NW after 16Z in the vicinity
of 45.5N, 42.9W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 22: HWM indicates a low of at most 995mb near 46.5N, 35W. HURDAT lists this as an extratropical
storm with 50kt winds at 47.2N, 34.6W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at
about 46.5N, 35W (am) with a pressure of 999mb and at 48N, 33W (pm). Ship highlights: 10kt NW with a
pressure of 989mb at 45.5N, 38.5W at 0Z (COA); 50kt NE at 52.5N, 40.5W at 11Z (COA); 50 kt N around ~17Z
in the vicinity of 52.2N, 41.1W (MWR). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 23: HWM indicates a low of at most 995mb near 51N, 30W, HURDAT lists this as an extratropical
storm with 45kt winds at 51.3N, 30.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at
about 52N, 31W (am) with a pressure of 995mb and at 53N, 29.9W (pm). Ship highlights: 35kt with a pressure
of 1001mb at 49.5N, 38.5W at 7Z (COA); 35 kt WNW with 1006 mb at 12Z at 47.9N, 36.2W (COA); 10kt W with a
pressure of 991mb at 53.3N, 33.8W at 18Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 24: HWM indicates a low of at most 995mb near 52N, 30W. HURDAT lists this as an extratropical
storm with 35kt winds at 52.7N, 28.1W at 12Z . The MWR Tracks of Centers of Cyclones showed the center at
about 54N, 26W (am) with a pressure of 999mb. Ship highlights: 45kt WNW with a pressure of 1006mb at 47.5N,
33.5W at 6Z (COA); 20kt NNW with a pressure of 992mb at 52N, 36W at 12Z (HWM). Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
September 25: HWM indicates a low of at most 1005mb near 50N, 25W. HURDAT lists this as an extratropical
storm with 30kt winds at 53.2N, 26.2W at 12Z. Ship highlights: 35kt NW with a pressure of 997mb at 53.8N,
32W at 0Z (COA); 5kt WSW with a pressure of 992mb at 49.6N, 20.9W at 7Z (COA); 35 kt NE at 12Z at 55.0N,
30.0W (HWM). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 26: HWM indicates a frontal boundary extending east-west along 50N from the eastern Atlantic
to Europe. No gales or low pressures.
No changes are made to the timing or position of the genesis of this tropical cyclone, which is shown on
8 September at 06Z. Data was obtained between that location and the African coast between 2-7 September,
but no closed circulation could be found prior to the 8th. On the 8th and 9th, there are no observations
that provide evidence to confirm or deny that a closed circulation existed on those days. Therefore, this
portion of the track is maintained in HURDAT. The observation that was closest to the center on those two
days is plotted on HWM on the 9th at 12Z – 10 kt N with 1011 mb about 100 nmi WSW of the analyzed center
position. On the 10th, observations of west winds south of the center confirmed the presence of a closed
tropical cyclone. The first gales were also observed on the 10th – two observations of 35 kt – both
located approximately 200 nmi NE of the center. On the 11th and 12th, as the cyclone slowed down while
moving WNW to NW, there were enough observations in the periphery to have a reasonably accurate track
analysis, but there were no observations close enough to the center to measure any gales or low pressures.
The closest ship to the analyzed center location on the 11th was a ship about 115 nmi SSW of the center
at 12Z. The ship reported 10 kt WSW with 1010 mb. On the 12th at 20Z, a ship located about 50 nmi NW of
the interpolated analyzed center position recorded 25 kt NE with 1009 mb. South-southeastward track
adjustments of 1 degree were made from 12Z on the 11th – 18Z on the 12th based on the data. Since none
of the 6 observations within 115 nmi from the analyzed center position between 9 – 12 September were gales
or low pressures (including the observation 50 nmi from center on the 12th), minor downward intensity
adjustments are implemented from 06Z on 8 September through 12Z on 11 September, and some major downward
intensity adjustments are implemented between 18Z on the 11th and 18Z on the 12th. The cyclone is begun
as a 30 kt tropical depression at 06-12Z on the 8th (down from 40 kt originally). The cyclone is analyzed
to have attained tropical storm intensity by 18Z on the 8th (12 hours later than originally). The cyclone
is analyzed to have become a hurricane at 00Z on the 12th (30 hours later than originally – a major change).
A major downward intensity adjustment of 20 kt is implemented at 18Z on the 11th and again from 06Z – 18Z
on the 12th. The highest wind recorded on the 13th was 50 kt and the lowest pressure recorded that day was
993 mb. A peripheral pressure of 993 mb (with 30 kt) yields a wind speed of greater than 59 kt according
to the Brown et al. (2006) southern pressure-wind relationship. A 70 kt intensity is chosen for 00-12Z on
the 13th (down from 85 kt originally), and a 75 kt intensity is chosen for 18Z (down from 90 kt originally).
Eastward track adjustments of 1.3 degrees are implemented from 12Z on the 13th – 00Z on the 14th.
Northeastward track adjustments exceeding 1 degree were implemented on the remainder of 14 September. On
the 14th and 15th, the cyclone resumed more of a northwestward course and was located about halfway between
the Virgin Islands and Bermuda. The cyclone continued on that course until it neared the Outer Banks of
North Carolina on the 17th and 18th. During the 14-15th, the highest observed wind was 50 kt, and the
lowest pressure measured was 998 mb. Ships on the 14th were closer to the center than on the 15th, and
the data possibly indicates a slightly faster rate of strengthening around the afternoon of the 14th.
By the 16th at 12Z, the cyclone was located near 29.1N, 68.0W. At 12Z on the 16th, one ship measured 983 mb
with 60 kt (~50 nmi from the analyzed center) and another ship reported hurricane force. At 18Z that day,
a ship reported 968 mb with 65 kt (~30 nmi from the analyzed center). This peripheral pressure of 968 mb
yields a wind speed greater than 87 kt according to the north of 25N pressure-wind relationship. Since
there is no evidence that any of the aforementioned observations were obtained inside the RMW which would
provide an accurate central pressure measurement, the peak intensity of 105 kt shown in HURDAT from 18Z on
the 15th through 12Z on the 16th is maintained. However, the cyclone is analyzed to have first attained
major hurricane intensity at 12Z on the 15th (12 hours later than originally). At 18Z on the 16th (the
time of the 968 mb peripheral pressure), the 100 kt intensity in HURDAT is unchanged. On the 17th, no
intensity changes are made to HURDAT with only miniscule track alterations. The highest wind measured
on the 17th was 50 kt and lowest pressure recorded was 985 mb.
Numerous observations of hurricane force from ships and some from land were recorded on the 18th as the
hurricane recurved just east of the North Carolina Outer Banks. At 04Z, a ship recorded 50 kt with 968 mb,
and at 06Z, one ship recorded 25 kt with 965 mb while another observation of 10 kt with 966 mb was
reported. The latter two observations are both analyzed to be inside the RMW. A central pressure of
962 mb is added into HURDAT at 06Z on the 18th from this data, and this value agrees with Cobb. This
value yields wind speeds of 93 and 88 kt according to the north of 25N and north of 35N pressure-wind
relationships, respectively. Given the very large size of the cyclone, 85 kt is analyzed to be the
intensity in HURDAT at 06Z on the 18th (down from 90 kt originally). At 0645Z, Cape Hatteras, NC
recorded its maximum wind and minimum pressure simultaneously. The maximum wind at Cape Hatteras
after converting to a 10m 1-min wind was 75 kt NW and the minimum pressure recorded at the same time
was 978 mb. According to the revised track, the closest approach to Cape Hatteras was about 45 nmi,
and the RMW provided by Ho et al. is about 35 nmi. At 10Z, a ship recorded a pressure of 969 mb with
40 kt winds, and at 12Z another ship recorded 972 mb with 25 kt winds. Both of these observations
are analyzed to have occurred inside the RMW. A central pressure of 965 mb is added to HURDAT at 12Z
based on this data, which agrees with Cobb, and this value yields 90 and 86 kt, respectively, according
to the Brown et al. (2006) north of 25N and Landsea et al. (2004) north of 35N pressure-wind relationships.
Based on the revised track, the hurricane made its closest approach to the United States coastline at
10Z on 18 September with a central pressure is estimated to be 964 mb. A central pressure of 964 mb
yields 91 and 87 kt, respectively, according to the Brown et al. (2006) north of 25N and Landsea et al.
(2004) north of 35N pressure-wind relationships. The ~35 nmi RMW from Ho et al. is larger than the
climatological value of 29 nmi for this latitude and central pressure. The analyzed OCI and ROCI are
1016 mb and 325 nmi, respectively, and the speed of the cyclone was about 11 kt. The 85 kt intensity
in HURDAT at 12Z is not changed, and the estimated intensity at the closest approach at 10Z is 85 kt.
According to the revised track, the closest approach of the storm to any part of North Carolina was
about 30 nmi. Assuming a symmetric RMW, then the RMW of the hurricane would have touched land around
10Z on the coast near 35.6N, 75.5W. A run of the Schwerdt et al. (1979) parametric wind model yields
72 kt for the highest wind experienced on the North Carolina coast when the RMW was touching the coast.
This model also yields 66 kt at Cape Hatteras when the cyclone made its closest approach to that
location (~45 nmi); however, the maximum wind actually experienced at Cape Hatteras was 75 kt.
Therefore, the 72 kt obtained farther up the North Carolina coast was too low, implying that the
Schwedt model may somewhat underestimates the peak sustained wind along the North Carolina coast.
However, given that North Carolina was on the likely weak side of the hurricane, it is possible that
Cape Hatteras measured near the peak winds to occur along the U.S. coast. Thus 75 kt is thus chosen
to have impacted the coast of North Carolina, and a Category 1 impact for North Carolina is assessed
(down from Category 2 originally). The hurricane was moving due northward along 74.8W on the 18th
from 10Z-18Z between 35.6N-37.1N. The farthest west point that the hurricane attained may have been
around 36.5N, 74.9W at 15Z. Two ships located in southern Chesapeake Bay reported hurricane force
winds. The highest wind recorded at Norfolk after reducing to 10m 1-min was 54 kt NW observed
simultaneously with the minimum pressure of 993 mb at 1245Z on the 18th. MWR states that maximum
winds at Cape Henry, VA were estimated near 65 kt. The closest approach of the center of this
hurricane to the Virginia coastline is analyzed to have occurred at 15Z on the 18th with the hurricane
located near 36.6N, 74.9W. This means the center was about 45 nmi from the Virginia coastline at
closest approach. A run of the parametric wind model from Schwerdt et al. (1979) yields 65 kt for
winds on the coast of Virginia at the hurricane’s closest approach to Virginia. The intensity of the
hurricane at this time is analyzed at 85 kt. Thus this system is analyzed to have caused Category 1
impacts in Virigina as well (“VA1”). At 19Z on the 18th, a ship in the Atlantic located ESE of the
center reported 977 mb with hurricane force, and at 00Z on the 19th, another ship reported 970 mb
with 5 kt. Central pressures of 968 and 969 mb are added to HURDAT at 18Z on the 18th and 00Z on the
19th, respectively. These suggest intensities of 84 and 83 kt, respectively. Again due to the large
size of the hurricane, analyzed intensities at both times are 80 kt (down slightly from 85 kt in the
original HURDAT). At 18Z on the 18th, the hurricane, which had been moving due north, abruptly
turned east-northeastward and accelerated. On the 19th at 07Z, a ship recorded 970 mb with hurricane
force, which means the central pressure had dropped again to probably around 963 mb or lower. Since
the hurricane is analyzed to have become extratropical at 12Z on the 19th (42 hours earlier than
originally – a major change), the intensity is decreased to 75 kt at 06 and 12Z on the 19th for this
very large cyclone undergoing extratropical transition. After converting to 10m 1-min winds, the
following maximum wind values were recorded at coastal stations: 36 kt at New York City at 0530Z on
the 19th; 34 kt at Providence, RI at 1030Z, and 44 kt at Nantucket, MA at 1240Z. The cyclone became
extratropical at 12Z on the 19th. The cyclone is analyzed to have produced a tropical storm impact
in the following states: Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
and perhaps even Connecticut received winds of tropical storm force; however, tropical storm impacts
are not analyzed for these states as the cyclone was extratropical by the time it produced those
winds. Based on available data, southwestward track adjustments exceeding 1 degree are implemented
from 06Z on the 20th through 00Z on the 21st. Ships reported hurricane force winds at 16Z on the
19th and again after 16Z on the 21st. In between those times, no hurricane force winds were
recorded, but 60 kt was observed around 00Z on the 21st with numerous reports of 50 kt from the
19th - 21st. On the 20th, the observational coverage was decent. A 5 kt downward intensity
adjustment is implemented from 00Z-12Z on the 20th. The cyclone is analyzed to have a 65 kt
intensity from 06Z on the 20th – 06Z on the 21st. Due to the hurricane force observation later on
the 21st, a 70 kt intensity is analyzed at 12-18Z on the 21st (up from 60 kt originally). On
the 22nd, the cyclone decelerated dramatically and only moved a few hundred miles from the 22nd
to the 25th. Minor upward intensity adjustments ranging from 5 to 15 kt are implemented at all
times from 12Z on the 21st through 18Z on the 25th because ship observations indicated that the
intensity was higher than listed in HURDAT originally. No changes are made to the timing of
dissipation of this cyclone. The final position at 18Z on the 25th is as a 35 kt extratropical
cyclone. After that, the low had become extremely large, broad, weak and elongated, and it no
longer contained a closed circulation.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 14 – Revised 2012
28890 09/10/1936 M= 5 14 SNBR= 638 NOT NAMED XING=1
28890 09/09/1936 M= 6 14 SNBR= 638 NOT NAMED XING=1
** *
The 9th is new to HURDAT
28892 09/09* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*190 940 25 0*190 941 25 0*
28895 09/10* 0 0 0 0*190 932 35 0*190 939 35 0*189 943 35 0*
28895 09/10*190 942 25 0*190 943 30 0*190 944 30 0*190 945 30 0*
*** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
28900 09/11*190 946 35 0*192 947 35 0*196 947 35 0*201 946 40 0*
28900 09/11*191 946 35 0*193 947 35 0*196 947 35 0*201 946 40 0*
*** ***
28905 09/12*208 944 40 0*215 944 40 0*224 946 40 0*234 951 40 0*
28905 09/12*207 945 40 0*215 945 40 0*224 946 45 1001*234 951 45 0*
*** *** *** ** **** **
28910 09/13*243 958 40 0*253 966 40 0*262 974 35 0*269 980 30 0*
28910 09/13*244 958 45 0*253 966 45 0*262 974 45 998*269 981 35 0*
*** ** ** ** *** *** **
28915 09/14*273 986 25 0*277 992 25 0*281 997 20 0*2861007 15 0*
28915 09/14*275 987 30 0*280 993 30 0*284 999 30 0*2881006 25 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** ******* **
28920 TS
U.S. impact: 9/13/1936 – 10Z – 25.9N, 97.1W – 45 kt (Center of cyclone made landfall on
Mexican coast with 45 kt intensity about 5 nmi south of the U.S. border).
Minor track changes and minor intensity changes are analyzed for this tropical storm that
made landfall near the Mexico/Texas border. Evidence for these alterations comes from the
Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS ships database, Monthly Weather Review, Texas
Climatological Data, Mexican synoptic maps, Dunn and Miller (1960), Connor (1956) and Ellis.
September 9: HWM indicates no significant features were present over the tropical Atlantic.
HURDAT does not list this cyclone on the 9th. No gales or low pressures. “A disturbance is
noticed both in the southernportion of the Gulf of Mexico and in the Pacific between Cabo
Corrientes andBaja California” (Mexican).
September 10: HWM indicates a circulation with a center near 19.5N, 95W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 19N, 93.9W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low
pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The tropical cyclone over the
Gulf ofCalifornia appears to be moving over the state of Sonora, decreasing inintensity
and will dissipate in the next 24 hours” (Mexican).
September 11: HWM indicates a circulation with a center near 19.5N, 94.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 19.6N, 94.7W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 20N, 92W (am) with a pressure of 1008mb and at 21.5N,
93W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures. “Of only moderate intensity, this disturbance was first located by radio reports
from the S. S. Tuxpan in 22N, 93W, at 1pm, EST , on the 11th, with ESE, force 7, barometer
29.80, and indications that a tropical storm had formed” (MWR). “The prevalent bad weather
over the southernregion of the Gulf of Mexico has increased and strong thunderstorms are
possible affecting the small boats in the Veracruz coast between Roca Partida and Punta
Delgada” (Mexican).
September 12: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 21N, 95W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds at 22.4N, 94.6W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 23N, 94W (am) with a pressure of 1001mb and at 25N, 95W
(pm). Ship highlights: 15kt E with a pressure of 1002mb at 22.5N, 94.5W at 12Z (HWM). Station
highlights: No gales or low pressures. “The weather conditions remain unstable acrossthe
southern region of the Gulf of Mexico likely causing strong thunderstormsacross the coasts
of Veracruz and Tamaulipas” (Mexican).
September 13: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 26N, 97.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 26.2N, 97.4W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 26N, 97W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb and at 27N, 98W
(pm). Ship highlights: 35kt SE around ~08Z in the vicinity of 26N, 95W (MWR). Station
highlights: 30 kt E at Brazos Santiago Pass (26.1N, 97.2W – MWR); 24 kt W (max w) at 1248Z
and 1000 mb (min p – no time) at Brownsville (MWR, Texas Climatological Data); 30 kt (max w)
at 1730Z at Corpus Christi (MWR); 20 kt NW and 1001 mb at Matamoros, Mexico (Mexican). “The
S. S. Nemaha, at 26N, 95W, reported that the highest wind experienced was southeast, force 8,
with lowest barometer 29.77 at 3am EST, September 13” (MWR). “Lower TX – minor (<74 mph)”
(Dunn and Miller). “A tropical disturbance of slight intensity passed inland over the Texas
coast a short distance south of Corpus Christi on September 13th. At Corpus Christi the
maximum wind was 35 miles per hour from the east at 10:30 a. m. and the lowest barometer
reading was 29.69 inches at 4 p. m. No damage was reported (Texas Climatological Data).
“The cyclone in the Gulf of Mexico is makinglandfall to the north of Brownsville, Texas”
(Mexican).
September 14: HWM indicates no significant features were present near the Texas-Mexico border.
HURDAT lists this as a storm with 20kt winds at 28.1N, 99.7W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers
of Cyclones showed the center at about 28N, 100W (am) with a pressure of 1006mb. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 25 kt SE with 1010 mb at 12Z at San Antonio (HWM);
10 kt NW with 1006 mb at 12Z at Del Rio (HWM). “The cyclone in the Gulf of Mexico, almost
dissipated, is located over the interior of the state of Texas, to the east ofthe city of
Del Río” (Mexican).
September 15: HWM indicates no significant features were present near the Texas-Mexico
border. No gales or low pressures.
A tropical cyclone is estimated to have formed in the Bay of Campeche, based on the Mexican
observations and one ship likely indicating a closed low, at 12Z on 9 September (18 hours
earlier than originally). It is unclear as to the originating disturbance that lead to the
development of this cyclone. HURDAT’s original first point was at 06Z on the 10th as a 35 kt
tropical storm at 19.0N, 93.2W. The analyzed position at that time is 19.0N, 94.3W, indicating
that the cyclone was drifting westward at 1 kt. The highest observed wind on the 9th and 10th
was 15 kt and the lowest pressure was 1010 mb. A 30 kt intensity is analyzed from 06Z-18Z on
the 10th (down from 35 kt originally). On the 11th, pressures in the area were falling and
winds were beginning to increase. The first 20 kt wind was at 01Z on the 11th, and the first
30 kt wind was at 18Z on the 11th. The depression is analyzed to have strengthened to a
tropical storm at 00Z on 11 September (18 hours later than originally). Aside from the track
changes analyzed at 06Z-12Z on the 10th, the largest track change made for the remainder of the
cyclone’s lifetime was only 0.3 degrees. On 12 September at 12Z, with the cyclone located near
22.4N, 94.8W, a ship measured a 1002 mb pressure with simultaneous 15 kt winds, and this
observation occurred 8 nmi from the analyzed center and thus may have been in the RMW. A
1001 mb central pressure is added to HURDAT at 12Z on the 12th, and this value equals 45 kt
according to the Brown et al. southern pressure-wind relationship. A 45 kt intensity is chosen
for 12Z on the 12th (up from 40 kt originally). At 08Z on the 13th, as the cyclone was
approaching the coastline near the Texas/Mexico border, a ship recorded a 35 kt gale. The
lowest pressure reported by this ship was 1008 mb (with 30 kt winds).
The cyclone made landfall at 10Z on 13 September at 25.9N, 97.1W (on the Mexican coast about
5 nmi south of its border with Texas). The cyclone was moving between NW and NNW at the time,
and the data indicates that it passed in between Brazos Santiago Pass and Brownsville. Brazos
Santiago Pass, located about 25 nmi east of Brownsville, recorded 30 kt E winds (likely near the
time of landfall). Brownsville recorded a minimum pressure of 1000 mb at 12Z and maximum winds
of 24 kt W at 1248Z. The positions at the points before and after landfall are unaltered.
Based on the Brownsville data, a central pressure of 998 mb is added to HURDAT at 12Z. Assuming
a normal filling rate over land, it is estimated that the landfall central pressure at 10Z on
13 September may have been around 996 mb. Using this assumption, a 996 mb central pressure
equals 54 and 50 kt, respectively, according to the Brown et al. (2006) southern and north of
25N pressure-wind relationships. The forward speed of the cyclone was 11 kt. Given the slow
forward speed, a 45 kt intensity is chosen for 06Z on the 13th (up from 40 kt originally) and
landfall. This 45 kt intensity is the analyzed peak intensity attained by the cyclone. The
original peak intensity was 40 kt from 18Z on the 11th through 06Z on the 13th. The 45 kt winds
are analyzed to have impacted Texas since the RMW likely occurred over the Texas/Mexico border
at landfall. At 1730Z on the 13th, 30 kt winds occurred at Corpus Christi. The analyzed
intensities at 12 and 18Z on the 13th are 45 and 35 kt, respectively (up from 35 and 30 kt
originally). On 14 September at 12Z, observations from San Antonio and Del Rio, Texas indicate
the circulation was still closed. The analyzed intensity at 12Z on the 14th is 30 kt. The
cyclone is analyzed to have weakened to a tropical depression at 00Z on the 14th (6 hr later
than originally). No changes are made to the timing of dissipation with the last point
remaining at 18Z 14 September; however, the intensity at the last point is increased to
25 kt (up from 15 kt originally).
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 15 – Revised 2012
28925 09/19/1936 M= 7 15 SNBR= 639 NOT NAMED XING=0
28925 09/18/1936 M= 8 15 SNBR= 639 NOT NAMED XING=0
** *
The 18th is new to HURDAT
29827 09/18* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*190 597 30 0*
28930 09/19* 0 0 0 0*203 630 40 0*207 638 45 0*212 645 45 0*
28930 09/19*195 610 35 0*200 622 40 0*205 634 45 0*211 645 45 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** ***
28935 09/20*219 654 50 0*230 667 60 0*239 678 65 0*245 685 70 0*
28935 09/20*218 656 50 0*225 667 60 0*233 678 65 0*241 685 70 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
28940 09/21*251 693 75 0*257 700 80 0*263 708 85 0*271 712 90 0*
28940 09/21*249 691 75 0*257 695 80 0*265 699 85 0*270 703 90 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
28945 09/22*278 711 90 0*283 707 90 0*287 702 95 0*292 696 95 0*
28945 09/22*275 707 90 0*279 707 90 0*283 702 90 0*290 697 90 0*
*** *** *** *** ** *** *** **
28950 09/23*298 691 95 0*305 687 95 0*316 684 95 0*330 684 95 0*
28950 09/23*297 691 90 0*304 687 85 0*311 684 85 0*324 684 80 0*
*** ** *** ** *** ** *** **
28955 09/24*348 684 90 0*367 685 85 0*386 686 80 0*405 681 75 0*
28955 09/24*343 685 80 0*363 688 75 0*382 690 75 983*402 680 70 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** *** **
28960 09/25E423 669 75 0E445 650 70 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
28960 09/25E422 660 65 0E445 638 60 0E483 598 55 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** ** *** ** **** *** **
28965 HR
Minor track changes and minor intensity changes are made to this tropical cyclone.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the
COADS ships database, and Monthly Weather Review.
September 18: HWM does not show any features of interest on this day. HURDAT does
not yet list this system. No gales or low pressures.
September 19: HWM indicates a circulation with a center near 20N, 61W. HURDAT lists
this as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 20.7N, 63.8W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “Reports from
the Leeward Islands and vessels to the northward gave some evidence of cyclone formation
at about 21N, 63.5W at 7am of September 19” (MWR).
September 20: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 23N, 67.5W. HURDAT lists
this as a Category 1 hurricane with 65kt winds at 23.9N, 67.8W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of
Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 24.5N, 68W (am) with a pressure of 1013mb
and at 24.8N, 69W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures. “Somewhat more definite cyclonic circulation was apparently
centered at about 24N, 67.5W, at 7am of the 20th, with northwestward movement” (MWR).
September 21: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 26.5N, 70.5W. HURDAT lists
this as a Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 26.3N, 70.8W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of
Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 25.5N, 70W (am) with a pressure of 1008mb
and at 26N, 70.5W (pm). Ship highlights: 45kt WNW with a pressure of 1008mb at 26.7N, 70.6W
at 12Z (COA); 50 kt WNW with 1008 mb at 12Z at 26.0N, 69.5W (HWM); 35 kt W with 1010 mb at
12Z at 26.8N, 70.3W (HWM). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “During the 21st,
very rapid development took place with recurve to the north-northeastward” (MWR).
September 22: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 27.5N, 70.5W. HURDAT lists
this as a Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 28.7N, 70.2W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of
Centers of Cyclones showed the center at about 27N, 70.5W (am) with a pressure of 980mb and
at 29.5N, 69.5W (pm). Ship highlights: 50 kt W with 1000 mb at 01Z at 27.2N, 71.0W (MWR);
45 kt SSW at 06Z at 27.5N, 70.5W (COA); 45 kt SSE with 997 mb at 12Z at 27.5N, 70.0W (COA);
70kt SSW with a pressures of 977mb at 28.9n, 69.8W at 17Z (MWR). Station highlights: No
gales or low pressures. “As a fully developed hurricane of small diameter, it was centered
close to 29N, 70W at noon on the 22nd . The S. S. Saramacca passed through the center of the
disturbance on the 22nd at 28.9N, 69.8W with lowest barometer 28.86 at noon, ships time, and
wind SSW, [force] 12” (MWR).
September 23: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1000mb near 30N, 68.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 31.6N, 68.4W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 32N, 68.5W (am) and at 35N, 68W (pm). Ship highlights:
35kt with a pressure of 1010mb at 29.5N, 66W at 12Z (HWM). Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures. “Near the point of recurve the hurricane moved slowly but its progressive
speed increased on the 23rd” (MWR).
September 24: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 985mb near 38N, 69.5W. HURDAT lists this
as a Category 1 hurricane with 80kt winds at 38.6N, 68.6W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of Centers of
Cyclones showed the center at about 38N, 68W (am) with a pressure of 987mb and at 43N, 65W (pm).
Ship highlights: 25 kt WNW with 986 mb at 12Z at 37.6N, 69.8W (HWM); 45kt N with a pressure of
992mb at 41.5N, 67.5W at 21Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. “By 7pm of
the 24th it was approaching Nova Scotia. During the night it merged with another disturbance
approaching from the westward” (MWR).
September 25: HWM analyzes a closed low of at most 995 mb centered near 49N, 59.5W. A cold
front is plotted extending from 44N, 64W southwestward to 30N, 80W. HURDAT lists a final
position at 06Z at 44.5N, 65.0W as a 70 kt extratropical cyclone. The MWR tracks of centers
of cyclones shows a 12Z position near 49N, 60.5W with a 996 mb pressure. Ship highlights:
50 kt SE with 996 mb at 00Z at 42.5N, 63.6W (MWR); 45 kt SSW at 00Z at 41.6N, 64.6W (COA);
35 kt WSW with 1002 mb at 08Z at 43.5N, 63.5W (MWR). Station highlights: 30 kt SSW with
999 mb at 12Z at 48.3N, 57.0W (HWM).
September 26: HWM analyses a frontal boundary east of Canada extending from 42N 52W to
southwest of 35N 60W. No gales or low pressures.
A tropical cyclone is estimated to have formed on 18 September at 18Z (12 hours earlier than
originally) near 19.0N, 59.7W. A WNW wind at Dominica at 12Z on the 18th combined with other
data on the 19th is evidence that a closed circulation existed on the 18th. The cyclone is
begun as a 30 kt tropical depression at 18Z on the 18th (the highest wind on the 18th within
a few hundred nmi of the system was 25 kt). On the 19th, wind shifts at the northern Leeward
and Virgin Islands indicate the passage of the cyclone well to the north. Observations
indicate that the cyclone steadily strengthened as it moved northwestward. The cyclone recurved
around 00Z on the 22nd near 27.5N, 70.7W. All track changes implemented from the 19th – 22nd
are less than 1 degree changes. For intensity, no gales or low pressures were observed until
21 September at 12Z when 50 kt was recorded with a 1008 mb pressure. Despite this, HURDAT
lists this system originally as having become a hurricane on the 20th at 12Z and reaching
85 kt by the 21st at 12Z. Given that there was abundant data coverage between 100-200 nmi
from the center but no observations very close to the center on the 19th and 20th, there is
no sufficient justification for revising the intensity downward. The cyclone is analyzed to
have become a 35 kt tropical storm at 00Z on the 19th (6 hr earlier than originally). No
intensity alterations are made from 06Z on the 19th through the 21st. At 01Z on the 22nd,
when the cyclone was at its recurvature point, a ship measured 50 kt with 1000 mb. At 17Z
on the 22nd, with the system located near 29.0N, 69.7W, the peak observation for the entire
lifetime of the cyclone occurred. A ship recorded a minimum pressure of 977 mb and recorded
hurricane force winds. There is some potential conflicting information, however. First,
the text says “28.86 inches” (977 mb), while the tables says “28.94 inches” (980 mb). Not
knowing which is correct, we will go with the deeper value. MWR text states that the ship
passed through the center. It also states, along with the MWR gale chart, that hurricane
force winds were blowing at the time of the minimum pressure. (It may be the MWR sometimes
uses “center” to refer to the inner core area of a hurricane, not just the eye.) A
peripheral pressure of 977 mb yields a wind speed of at least 76 kt according to the Brown
et al. north of 25N pressure-wind relationship. The cyclone was moving a little slower than
normal; however, the size the of the cyclone appears smaller than average. A 90 kt intensity
is analyzed at 18Z on the 22nd (down from 95 kt originally). The cyclone is analyzed to have
first attained hurricane intensity at 06Z on the 21st (18 hours later than originally). A
90 kt intensity is the revised peak intensity of the cyclone from 12Z on the 22nd through
00Z on the 23rd (original peak intensity was 95 kt from 12Z on the 22nd through 18Z on the
23rd). Late on the 23rd, the cyclone greatly accelerated and was located near 38.2N, 69.0W
by 12Z on the 24th. Therefore, the cyclone moved mainly due north since the 22nd. After
12Z on the 24th, the cyclone turned northeastward but maintained its fast forward velocity.
The largest track change made from the 22nd – 24th was only six-tenths of a degree. On the
23rd, although there are about 10 observations less than 200 nmi from the center of the
cyclone, the highest wind recorded was 35 kt observed simultaneously with 1010 mb (the lowest
pressure measured for the day). The cyclone is analyzed to have begun weakening on the 23rd.
At 18Z on the 23rd, the analyzed intensity is 80 kt (down from 95 kt originally). On the 24th
at 12Z, a 986 mb pressure was recorded with winds of about 25 kt. Since this observation is
very near the analyzed position, it is believed that this observation occurred inside the RMW.
A 983 mb central pressure is added to HURDAT at 12Z on the 24th. This value yields 70 kt
according to the Landsea et al. (2004) north of 35N pressure-wind relationship. Since the
cyclone was moving fast and was still rather small in size, a 75 kt intensity is chosen for
12Z on the 24th (down from 80 kt originally). At 21Z on the 24th, ships recorded winds of
40-45 kt with simultaneous 992 mb pressures. No changes are made to the timing that the
cyclone became extratropical (00Z on the 25th). The position at 00Z on the 25th is near
42.2N, 66.0W with an analyzed intensity of 65 kt (down from 75 kt originally). A ship at
00Z on the 25th recorded 50 kt with 996 mb (simultaneous observation). The revised track
shows that the cyclone passed inland after becoming extratropical about 06Z on the 25th
very near Halifax, Nova Scotia. No 06Z observation is available from Halifax. The
analyzed intensity at 06Z on the 25th is 60 kt (down from 70 kt originally). HURDAT
originally listed a final position at 06Z on the 25th, but observations at 12Z indicate that
the cyclone accelerated and was still closed, and the revised HURDAT is extended by 6 hours.
The analyzed final position at 12Z on the 25th is 48.3N, 59.8W as a 55 kt extratropical cyclone.
*******************************************************************************
1936 Storm 16 – Revised 2012
28970 10/09/1936 M= 3 16 SNBR= 640 NOT NAMED XING=0 L
28970 10/09/1936 M= 3 16 SNBR= 640 NOT NAMED XING=0
*
28975 10/09* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*193 913 35 0*
28975 10/09* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*203 913 35 0*
***
28980 10/10*196 915 35 0*197 916 35 0*198 919 35 0*192 928 35 0*
28980 10/10*202 915 35 0*200 917 35 0*198 919 35 0*192 923 35 0*
*** *** *** ***
28985 10/11*182 928 35 0*174 928 30 0*167 928 25 0*162 927 20 0*
28985 10/11*183 927 35 0*175 928 30 0*167 928 25 0*160 927 25 0*
*** *** *** *** **
28990 TS
Minor track alterations and minor intensity changes are implemented with this system.
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps Series, the COADS
ships database, Monthly Weather Review, and the Mexican synoptic maps.
October 9: HWM analyzes a cold front extending from 30N, 88W to 24N, 91W, and HWM also
analyzes a spot low near 14.5N, 85.5W. HURDAT first lists this system at 18Z as a 35 kt
tropical storm at 19.3N, 91.3W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures. “Heavy rains were reported on the morning of October 9 at Payo
Obispo and Cozumel Island. The 8pm map of October 9 showed a definite circulation over the Gulf
of Campeche and the pressure at Merida had fallen to 29.70 inches, representing a 24-hour pressure
fall of 0.08 inch, while pressure had risen slightly on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
The reports at hand indicated that the disturbance was just forming and was probably central near
Campeche” (MWR). “The pressures remain low over Yucatan and in the Pacific without a defined
disturbance center” (Mexican).
October 10: HWM analyzes a stationary front extending from 30N, 87W to 22N, 92W, and HWM also
analyzes a spot low near 15.5N, 90.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at
19.8N, 91.9W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 1006 mb at
01Z at Merida, Mexico (MWR); 1005 mb at 12Z at both Merida and Progreso (HWM); 25 kt WNW with
1009 mb at 12Z at Coatzacoalcos, Mexico (HWM). “Observations from the vicinity of the disturbance
are inadequate to determine the exact course of the center; it appears to have moved
south-southwestward across the Bay of Campeche and inland a short distance east of Frontera on
October 10” (MWR). “The disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico, until now of moderate intensity,
is located about 175 to 200 km to the northeast of Puerto Mexico moving to the west or
west-northwest. Dangerous shipping situation for the coast of Veracruz” (Mexican).
October 11: HWM analyzes a stationary front extending from 27N, 84W to 23N, 89W to 20N, 91W,
and HWM also analyzes a spot low near 14.5N, 90.5W. HURDAT lists this as a tropical depression
with 25kt winds at 16.7N, 92.8W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station
highlights: 10 kt W with 1006 mb at Tapachula (HWM). “The cyclone over the Gulf of Mexico
apparently dissipated near Campeche” (Mexican).
No changes are made to the genesis of this cyclone. No changes are made to the 35 kt intensity
at genesis, which occurred at 18Z on 9 October. The position at genesis is moved a degree to the
north of the original position, and this track change constitutes the largest track change made
for the entire lifetime of the system. A 1006 mb pressure at Merida, Mexico at 00Z on the 10th
was 2.7 mb lower at that station than 24 hours earlier, which is one of the important pieces of
evidence of the existence of this tropical cyclone. On the 10th at 12Z, the original HURDAT
position and intensity are not changed. A ship observation of 1014 mb with a 15 kt SW wind at
19.7N, 90.7W might be out of place or a bad observation (of either the wind or the pressure).
If that is the case, then there is not definite evidence that a closed circulation existed.
However, since there are not many observations on the Mexican coast at stations between Frontera
and Merida, there is no evidence that a closed circulation did not exist, so the system is not
removed from HURDAT. Although there were no observed gales for the entire lifetime of the system,
the pressure falls at Merida and other observations are enough to keep this system in HURDAT.
The cyclone, which had started out moving southwestward, began to curve toward a southward motion.
The cyclone is analyzed to have made landfall on 10 October at 22Z as a 35 kt tropical storm at
18.6N, 92.6W (near or just east of Frontera, Mexico). The cyclone apparently accelerated due
southward because there was a large 24 hour pressure fall at Tapachula on the Pacific coast from
the 10th to the 11th. Because of this, the original HURDAT track appears reasonable; there is no
evidence to counteract the original HURDAT track. The only intensity change made for the entire
lifetime of the system is to raise the intensity from 20 to 25 kt at the final point in HURDAT-
18Z on the 11th. No changes are made to the timing of dissipation, and the revised position at
the final point. It should be noted that the evidence for retaining this system as a tropical
storm is somewhat slim, but the observations are not sufficient to demonstrate that it should
be removed.
*******************************************************************************
1936 #17 – Addition in 2012:
28970 12/02/1936 M=15 17 SNBR= 641 NOT NAMED XING=0 L
28975 12/02* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0E270 270 40 0E280 275 40 0*
28975 12/03E288 280 40 0E295 285 40 0E300 290 40 0E304 294 40 0*
28975 12/04E307 297 40 0E308 301 40 0E310 305 40 0E313 311 40 0*
28975 12/05*317 320 40 0*322 331 40 0*326 341 45 0*330 350 45 0*
28975 12/06*333 357 50 0*336 361 50 0*339 364 55 0*338 370 55 0*
28975 12/07*333 380 55 0*322 397 55 0E310 420 50 0E297 440 50 0*
28975 12/08E284 458 50 0E271 475 50 0E260 490 50 0E252 500 50 0*
28975 12/09E244 505 45 0E237 508 45 0E230 510 40 0E223 513 40 0*
28975 12/10E216 517 40 0E209 521 40 0E205 525 35 0E207 528 35 0*
28975 12/11E210 531 35 0E213 535 35 0E217 540 35 0E220 550 35 0*
28975 12/12E223 560 35 0E226 570 35 0E230 580 35 0E237 590 35 0*
28975 12/13E245 600 35 0E254 610 35 0E262 620 35 0E269 628 35 0*
28975 12/14E276 634 35 0E283 637 35 0E290 635 35 0E299 628 40 0*
28975 12/15E310 615 40 0E323 600 45 0E340 580 50 0E363 550 50 0*
28975 12/16E400 510 50 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
This is a new tropical storm added into HURDAT based upon observations from the Historical
Weather Maps, COADS, and Monthly Weather Review.
November 28: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1015 mb near 29N 26W with a dissipating cold
front extending east-northeast from the periphery of the low. Ship highlight: 35 kt NE
and 1019 mb at 12Z at 35.7N 33.2W (COADS, HWM).
November 29: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 25N 36W. Ship highlights:
35 kt NE with 1017 mb at 10Z at 31.4N 42.4W (COADS); 35 kt NE with 1016 mb at 12Z at
31.6N 41.8W (COADS, HWM).
November 30: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 23N 36W. No gales or low pressures.
December 1: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 20N 40W. No gales or low pressures.
December 2: HWM analyzed an open low near 24N 30W. Ship highlights: 35 kt ESE with 1014 mb
at 09Z at 30.5N 18.5W (COADS); 35 kt ESE at 12Z at 30.3N 18.8W (COADS); 35 kt ESE with 1012 mb
at 21Z at 29.5N 19.5W (COADS).
December 3: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 27N 27W with a cold front approaching
from the northwest. No gales or low pressures.
December 4: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 29N 29W with a dissipating cold front
to its north. Ship highlights: 35 kt E with 1015 mb at 12Z at 36.3N 25.9W (COADS); 35 kt ENE
with 1007 mb at 18Z at 35.5N 30.5W (COADS). “A disturbed condition, which appeared over the
eastern Atlantic near the twenty-fifth meridian at about 30N, on December 4, pursued an unusual
course and attained considerable force on the 7th in the mid-Atlantic” (MWR).
December 5: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1005 mb near 29N 32W. Ship highlights: 30 kt W
with 1000 mb at 18Z at 32.5N 35.5W (COADS); 35 kt NNE with 1005 mb at 18Z at 34.5N 35.5W (COADS);
35 kt ENE with 1008 mb at 22Z at 34.5N 34.5W (COADS). “A fairly well developed cyclonic wind
circulation existed at 7 a. m. of the 5th” (MWR).
December 6: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 32N 37W with a cold front approaching from
the northwest. Ship highlights: 50 kt SSW with 996 mb at 18Z at 33.0N 34.0W (MWR); 30 kt W with
1003 mb at 02Z at 31.5N 36.5W (COADS); 35 kt ENE with 1014 mb at 12Z at 37.0N 33.2W (COADS).
“Reports do not clearly show its movement from the 6th to the 7th (dotted portion of track [in chart
XI]), and the center shown by observations on chart X may have been a fresh development…Progressing
in a northwesterly direction during the next 24 hours, this disturbance was centered near 33N and
35 1/2W at 7 a. m. (e. s. t.) of December 6. On the morning of that day, it appeared to be moving
into a LOW trough which extended to the north-northwestward toward Julianehaab, Greenland; but due
to the southwesterly trend of high pressure, which had overspread the northern portion of the
Atlantic Ocean, its course was directed more to the westward” (MWR).
December 7: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1000 mb near 30N 47W with a stationary front just
northwest of the cyclone’s center. Ship highlights: 40 kt NNW with 1004 mb at 1142Z at 32.7N
49.4W (MWR); 45 kt N with 1013 mb at 12Z at 37.2N 48.2W (COADS); 30 kt SE with 1001 mb at 12Z at
33.5N 46.3W (COADS). “High winds accompanied by rain were also experienced on the 7th by vessels
near the center of the disturbance at latitude 32N and 47W (chart X)” (MWR).
December 8: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1000 mb near 26N 50W. Ship highlights: 50 kt NNE with
1008 mb at 12Z at 26.0N 56.0W (MWR); 10 kt ENE with 1002 mb at 06Z at 23.4N 44.0W (COADS); 50 kt N
with 1015 mb at 20Z at 25.5N 58.5W (COADS). “The disturbance was then moving south-southwestward” (MWR).
December 9: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1005 mb near 22N 50W. Ship highlights: 50 kt N with
1016 mb at 00Z at 25.5N 57.5W (COADS); 35 kt NE at 12Z at 25.5N 52.8W (COADS); 30 kt N with 1000 mb
at 15Z at 22.5N 51.5W (COADS). “Its subsequent course to the south-southwestward carried it to low
latitudes (apparently south of the twentieth parallel) on the 9th, after which it recurved and moved
northwestward before dissipating on the 12th. Pressure attending this disturbance was unusually low
for the latitude and season; and the interruption of the trade winds over a considerable area was
noted in many vessel weather reports. During this time the Atlantic anticyclone was well developed,
but lay north and east of its usual position…During the period of recurve on December 9 and thereafter
until the disturbance dissipated on the 12th near 25N 53W, ships’ reports do not indicate that there
were any winds of gale force” (MWR).
December 10: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1005 mb near 21N 52W. Ship highlights: 35 kt ENE with
1017 mb at 08Z at 29.5N 53.5W (COADS); 35 kt ENE at 11Z at 30.5N 52.5W (COADS); 20 kt ESE with
1000 mb at 07Z at 24.5N 49.5W (COADS).
December 11: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1005 mb near 22N 55W. No gales or low pressures.
December 12: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 20N 59W. No gales or low pressures.
December 13: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 26N 62W with a cold front approaching
from the northwest. Ship highlights: 35 kt SW with 1002 mb at 00Z at 26.5N 59.5W (COADS).
December 14: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 29N 64W with a cold front reaching the
northwest portion of the cyclone. No gales or low pressures.
December 15: HWM analyzed a low of at most 1010 mb near 34N 62W with a warm front extending northeast
and a warm front south from the cyclone. Ship highlights: 45 kt SW with 1013 mb at 12Z at 31.7N 55.5W
(COADS); 35 kt S with 1020 mb at 12Z at 29.3N 55.2W (COADS, HWM).
December 16: HWM analyzed a low of at most 980 mb near 50N 36W with a warm front extending southeast
and a cold front extending south from the cyclone.
HWM and COADS indicate that a low existed from 2 - 16 December, and it traveled over a large portion of
the Atlantic Ocean during its lifetime. There were some indications that a broad low was present as
early as 28-29 November, but this feature could not be analyzed on the 30th of November and 1st of
December due either to lack of observations or that the system was simply not present on those dates.
Genesis is begun at 12Z on the 2nd of December, as a cyclone was continuousl present from that time
onward. While initially the low did not possess strong frontal features; however, the low was a large
occluded cyclone and thus is categorized as extratropical. The initial motion of the system was toward
the west-northwest as it gradually acquired more tropical characteristics. There were 3 gales of 35 kt
observed in association with the cyclone on the 2nd, and all are estimated to have occurred 400-500 nmi
from the center of the low. On the 4th of December, 4 gales of 35 kt were observed from 2 separate
ships between 12Z – 22Z. The last 2 of these were observed simultaneously with pressures of 1007 and
1008 mb between 150-225 nmi from the analyzed position in an area of large synoptic pressure gradient.
On the 5th and 6th, the low was smaller than on the previous days and it is analyzed that the system
became a tropical cyclone around 00Z on the 5th. (It is likely, if satellite imagery were present in
1936, that this system would have been classified as a subtropical storm. The first formal useage of
the subtropical cyclone was begun in 1968.) The low continued moving west-northwestward at a slower
rate of speed, and late on the 5th, when located near 33N, 35W, 2 gales of 35 kt from the same ship were
recorded at 18Z and 22Z about 125-150 nmi from the center. The first of those gales was observed
simultaneously with a 1005 mb pressure. A separate ship somewhat closer to the center recorded winds
of 30 kt with 1000 mb at 18Z. 1000 mb peripheral pressure suggests an intensity of at least 44 kt from
the Brown et al north of 25N pressure-wind relationship. Given the slow forward speed at this time, an
intensity of 45 kt is analyzed for 18Z on the 5th. At 18Z on the 6th, a ship reported 50 kt winds
simultaneously with 996 mb pressure. This pressure suggests maximum winds of at least 50 kt from north
of 25N pressure-wind relationship and an intensity of 55 kt is analyzed. This is also the peak intensity
of the cyclone. A cold front, which had been approaching from the west, collided with the low on
7 December around 12Z and the system is judged to have again become extratropical at that time. On the
8th, the cyclone again occluded and moved southwestward until the 19th, reacing 20N - a latitude quite
far south for cyclones in December. On the 8th through the 9th, several gales were observed but the
were all 200-400 nm from the center – consistent with the system being an occluded low that is gradually
spinning down. The cyclone moved west-northwestward from the 10th to the 13th. The highest winds
observed in association with the cyclone on the 11th and 12th were 30 kt. On 14 December, the low was
turned north-northwestward due to the effects of a new approaching cold front from the west. Ship
observations do indicate that the cyclone reintensified some late on the 14th and 15th through
baroclinic processes. The low recurved on the 14th and 15th and rapidly accelerated toward the
northeast. The cyclone became absorbed into a larger, more powerful extratropical low to the
north-northeast after 00Z on the 16th.
*******************************************************************************
1936 additional notes:
1) The May MWR tracks of lows, HWM, and COADS indicate that a broad elongated trough/frontal zone
was located in the west-central Atlantic on 8 May. By 9 May, a closed low had formed, and although
the temperature gradient across the low had weakened, the asymmetric wind structure indicates that the
low still possessed frontal characteristics on the 9th and 10th. By the 11th, the fronts dissipated,
but the low had weakened by then, and the highest wind observed from the 11th onward was only 20 kt.
There was one gale of 35 kt on the 10th about 10 degrees longitude east of the center; other than that,
no gales or low pressures were observed for the entire lifetime of this low. The data also indicates
that this system likely was never a tropical or subtropical cyclone. Thus, this system is not added
to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
May 8 32N 63W Elongated frontal zone
May 9 33N 66W Extratropical
May 10 33N 68W Extratropical
May 11 31N 69W Weak low
May 12 27N 68W Weak low/trough
May 13 Dissipated
2) MWR P. 185, ships in the MWR May gale table, HWM, and COADS indicate that a tropical cyclone formed
late on 20 May east of 23N, 71W, which is the position on the 21st. On the 21st at 00Z, 30 kt ESE was
observed from a ship at 23.0N, 67.3W, while 40 kt NNE with 1010 mb was observed at 25.4N, 74.0W. The
00Z position on the 21st was likely near 22N, 70W. The 40 kt ob, which occurred at 00Z ob the 21st, is
the peak ob for the entire lifetime of this system but occurred about 290 nmi from the analyzed position
in a region of high synoptic pressure gradient. A few more gales of 35 kt were observed on the 22nd,
but all were located to the north in the high synoptic pressure gradient region. Available observations
suggest that the cyclone may have made landfall in Cuba on the 22nd. After that, the track of the
system becomes somewhat less certain. On the 23rd and 24th, the best tool for continuing to follow this
system is looking at 24-hour pressure changes at stations and ships in similar locations. On the 25th
and the 26th, a circulation is detectable over the western Gulf of Mexico (on the 25th) and inland in
Texas (on the 26th). It is not certain that the system located near 23N, 71W on the 21st is the same
low at the circulation inland in Texas on the 26th, but the analysis indicates it is likely the same
system. During the lifetime of this system, observations confirm a closed circulation exists on the
21st and again on the 26th, but observation south of a possible center are lacking on most of the days
in between. Since the gales mostly occurred to the north in the high pressure gradient region between
the cyclone and a high over the mid-Atlantic region of the US, this system is not added to HURDAT at
this time. If the 40 kt ship on the 21st would have been a little closer to the center, this would
have been enough evidence to add this into HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
May 21 23N 71W Tropical depression
May 22 22N 78W Tropical depression
May 23 21N 84W Tropical depression
May 24 22N 92W Tropical depression
May 25 24N 95W Tropical depression
May 26 30N 98W Tropical depression
3) HWM, COADS, and MWR indicate that a cyclone occurred in early June in the north-central Atlantic
Ocean. While the system occluded, there is not enough evidence to conclude that the system became
a tropical cyclone.
June 2: HWM shows a closed low of at most 1010mb near 40.5N, 44.5W. Ship highlights: 35 kt SSW at 00Z
at 35.5N, 41.5W (COA); 35 kt S with 1004 mb at 06Z at 37.4N, 42.4W (COA); 50kt NE with a pressure
of 1003mb at 42.7N, 42.6W at 20Z (MWR).
June 3: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 39.5N, 41.5W. Ship highlights:
50kt ENE at 41.3N, 42.3W at 6Z (COA).
June 4: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 39N, 41W. Ship highlights: 35kt N with a
pressure of 1013mb at 40.7N, 44W at 12Z (COA); 35 kt NNE with 1007 mb at 14Z at 39.4N, 42.4W (COA).
June 5: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1015mb near 36N, 44.5W.
June 6: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1015mb near 37N, 46.5W.
An elongated, baroclinic low pressure system, which had occluded, was moving slowly eastward in the
central Atlantic on the 2nd. The system is begun as a 35 kt extratropical cyclone at 00Z on 2 June
at 40.0N, 43.0W. Temperatures on the 2nd and were rather cool and the structure was extratropical.
At 20Z on the 2nd, a ship recorded a wind of 50 kt, and another 50 kt wind was recorded at 06Z on the
3rd. A 50 kt intensity is analyzed for 18Z on the 2nd, and a peak intensity (during the extratropical
stage) of 55 kt is analyzed from 00-06Z on the 3rd. The cyclone moved little on the 2nd and the 3rd.
On the 3rd, there was still a front extending southward from the cyclone, but the front was weakening,
and temperatures on the 3rd around the cyclone were warming and were becoming more isothermal. By the
4th, the wind structure was much more symmetric and the fronts were gone. A few gales of 35 kt were
the highest winds recorded on the 4th. Although there was still a slight temperature gradient from
north to south across this symmetric low, the system began to have some tropical characteristics around
18Z on 3 June at 40.3N, 41.9W with a 50 kt intensity. On the 4th, the cyclone moved very slowly
southward, and on the 5th, the cyclone moved slowly southwestward. The system steadily weakened from
50 kt early on the 4th to 35 kt by 18Z on the 5th, and the analyzed position at 18Z on the 5th is
37.3N, 43.5W. The cyclone is analyzed to have weakened to 30 kt at 12Z on the 6th and dissipated after
18Z on the 6th with a final position of 37.0N, 46.2W.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Jun 2 40N 42W Extratropical Low
Jun 3 40N 42W Extratropical Low
Jun 4 39N 42W Occluded Low/Tropical Cyclone?
Jun 5 38N 43W Occluded Low/Tropical Cyclone?
Jun 6 37N 46W Occluded Low/Tropical Cyclone?
4) The June MWR tracks of lows and COADS indicate that a weak low moved northward and then recurved
northeastward in the western Atlantic from 6-8 June. No gales were recorded, and the highest wind
observed was 25 kt. One low pressure of 1005 mb was observed at 12Z on the 6th. Although this system
could have been a tropical depression, this system is not added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Jun 6 29N 70W Possible tropical depression/weak low
Jun 7 34N 68W Possible tropical depression/weak low
Jun 8 37N 65W Possible tropical depression/weak low
5) MWR and COADS indicate that a tropical wave which moved through the Greater Antilles on 23-25 June
caused more than 12 deaths along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic on 24 June. MWR states
that on June “24th vessels and airplanes south of the Dominican Republic reported squally conditions,
but no cyclonic development was detected. The chief of Meteorological Service at Santo Domingo
reports that squalls were accompanied by heavy sea swells that caused the death of 12 fishermen in
small boats. A few lives were also lost at San Pedro de Macoris [Dominican Republic] as a result of
heavy seas. The British freighter Baron Ogilvy went aground at the mouth of the Nizao River and was
a total loss” (MWR). The COADS data reveals 3 observations of 35 kt gales with this system (from 2
ships) between June 23 at 16Z – June 24 at 12Z. There is only one observation with a westerly
component- 5 kt SSW with 1015 mb at 16Z on the 23rd at 13.5N, 62.5W. This observation is likely too
far south of be considered part of the system and is not good enough for evidence of a closed
circulation. Since evidence of a closed circulation does not exist, this system is not added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Jun 23 Tropical wave along 64W
Jun 24 Tropical wave along 69W
Jun 25 Tropical wave along 74W
6) MWR and Connor indicates that a tropical low traveled through the Bay of Campeche for over 36 hours
moving west-northwest and moving inland over Mexico. HWM did not indicate a closed low, but showed very
low pressures to 1006 mb from a ship in the Bay of Campeche on the 12th, and the same reading from
Tampico, Mexico on the 13th. All sources including COADS contained no gales and agree that the lowest
pressure was 1006 mb. They do not agree, however, that this was a closed low. Thus, this system will
not be added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
July 11 Open trough?
July 12 21N, 94W Tropical depression?
July 13 22N, 98W Tropical depression?
7) A medium-sized, isolated extratropical low intensified in the northeastern Atlantic on 19-20 September.
There were numerous gales of 35-45 kt observed and low pressures as well. It is meandered moving little
from the 19th – 22nd, temperatures gradually warmed into the lower 70s around the low as winds began to
decrease and the system began to weaken on the 21st. Even though there were still some gales observed
after temperatures began to modify, this system never possessed the structure of a tropical cyclone and
appears to have been extratropical throughout its lifetime. Thus, this system is not added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Sep 18 46N 37W Extratropical
Sep 19 37N 27W Extratropical
Sep 20 35N 30W Extratropical
Sep 21 36N 29W Extratropical
Sep 22 38N 25W Extratropical
Sep 23 Absorbed
8) HWM and MWR indicate that a low, not necessarily closed at any point before the 29th, broke off of a
weak, eastward moving cold front on the 26th in the Atlantic waters east of Florida. The low slowly moved
westward across the central Florida peninsula then turned north moving over the panhandle of Florida.
After that, it accelerated northeastward emerging back into the Atlantic waters after passing over
Delaware, clipping Nantucket Island, and passing through the Canadian Maritimes. It became extratropical
on the 29th, about the time of landfall on the Florida panhandle, when the next front came along, and an
occluded front formed with the low embedded in the front. There were no gales with this system and the
lowest pressure before becoming extratropical was 1006 mb at Apalachicola, FL early on the 29th (MWR).
Prior to that, Tarpon Springs, FL recorded winds of 30 kt in association with this cyclone (MWR).
Thus, this system will not be added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Sep 25 Front
Sep 26 Open low (still attached to front)
Sep 27 28N 78W Tropical depression
Sep 28 28N 83W Tropical depression
Sep 29 30N 85W Extratropical
Sep 30 34N 83W Extratropical
Oct 1 40N 73W Extratropical
9) An elongated low in the northeastern Atlantic associated with a frontal system moved southward on
12 October and became less elongated. It moved southwestward to 25N, 43W by 14 October and was no longer
frontal. On the 12th, it was definitely a closed low, but also definitely contained an extratropical
structure. Gales of 35 kt were observed on the north side on the 12th and 13th and on the northwest
sides on the 14th associated with a strong synoptic pressure gradient. By the time the system became
less frontal on the 14th, it was an occluded low, and by the 15th, it become very elongated once again.
This system never attained the structure of a tropical cyclone, and thus it is not added to HURDAT.
Sources utilized for this suspect were HWM, COADS, and the MWR October table of gales.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Oct 12 32N 33W Extratropical
Oct 13 29N 33W Extratropical
Oct 14 25N 43W Broad low/trough
Oct 15 26N 46W Broad low/trough
10) HWM and MWR suggest that a tropical wave east of Florida became a tropical depression for a period
of 12 to 24 hours late on the 23rd and early on the 24th before becoming extratropical and being
carried off to the northeast by a front. There were no gales associated with this system, and the
lowest observed pressure was 1011 mb on the 24th. Thus, this system will not be added to HURDAT.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Oct 22 Open wave
Oct 23 Open wave
Oct 24 32N 74W Tropical depression
Oct 25 36N 65W Extratropical
11) HWM, COADS, and MWR indicate that a cyclone occurred from 6-9 November, 1936 over the central Atlantic.
November 6: HWM does not analyze any features of interest on this day. HURDAT did not previously list
this system. Ship highlights: 35 kt ESE with 1016 mb at 12Z at 23.1N, 48.8W (COA, HWM); 35 kt ESE with
1011 mb at 15Z at 21.5N, 48.5W (COA); 35 kt ESE with 1009 mb at 19Z at 21.5N, 48.5W (COA); 35 kt ENE
with 1007 mb at 23Z at 22.5N, 47.5W (COA).
November 7: HWM does not analyze any features of interest on this day. Ship highlights: no gales or
low pressures.
November 8 HWM analyzes an open trough with greatest isobaric curvature near 22N, 61W. Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
November 9: HWM analyzes an open trough with greatest isobaric curvature near 25N, 63W. Ship highlights:
35 kt N with 1010 mb at 00Z at 22.4N, 64.5W (COA).
A ship, which moved from near 22.5N, 49.5W at 11Z on the 6th to near 18.5N, 44.5W at 23Z on the 7th
reported wind speed, direction, and pressure every 4 hours for that 36-hour period. The ship’s pressure
fell 7 mb in 12 hours, and four gales - all of 35 kt - were recorded from this ship between 11Z-23Z on
6 November. The lowest pressure recorded by this ship was 1007 mb (simultaneous with 35 kt winds at 23Z
on the 6th). The wind shifted, and then 10 kt southwesterlies eventually became 10 kt westerlies well
after the ship passed near the disturbance. The pressure rose 7 mb in a 20-hour period when the ship
continued to move farther away from the system. Data from this ship suggests that a tropical storm may
have formed. Although data near the center is lacking on the 7th and 8th, observations in the periphery
are numerous enough to keep monitor the position of the system. The cyclone moved rather quickly
west-northwestward. At 00Z on 9 November, a ship recorded 35 kt N with 1010 mb at 22.4N, 64.5W. A
short time series of the ship that produced the observation at 00Z on the 9th reveals that the system
may still have possessed a closed circulation. Observations at 12Z on the 9th indicate that the wind
structure was beginning to become less organized and the cyclone was weakening. Dissipation occurred
after the 10th, as no further trace of the system was present after that date.
DAY LAT LON STATUS
Nov 6 20N 45W Open Wave/Low?
Nov 7 21N 51W Open Wave/Low?
Nov 8 22N 61W Open Wave/Low?
Nov 9 24N 65W Open Wave/Low?