1943 Atlantic Hurricane Season Reanalysis
Storm #1 - Revised 2013
31850 07/25/1943 M= 5 1 SNBR= 703 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
31850 07/25/1943 M= 6 1 SNBR= 703 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=2
*
31855 07/25* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*280 877 50 0*
31855 07/25* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*280 877 35 0*
**
31860 07/26*281 893 65 0*281 902 70 0*282 911 70 0*285 920 70 0*
31860 07/26*281 889 45 0*281 901 50 0*282 911 60 0*284 920 70 0*
*** ** *** ** ** ***
31865 07/27*288 929 75 0*290 936 75 0*293 941 75 0*295 947 75 0*
31865 07/27*286 927 80 0*289 934 90 0*292 940 90 0*295 946 90 967*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** ***
31870 07/28*298 952 55 0*300 957 50 0*304 962 40 0*306 967 40 0*
31870 07/28*297 951 75 975*299 956 50 0*302 960 40 0*305 964 40 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
31875 07/29*310 970 35 0*315 973 25 0*320 974 25 0*325 974 15 0*
31875 07/29*309 968 35 0*314 971 30 0*320 974 30 0*325 977 25 0*
*** *** *** *** ** ** *** **
(The 30th is new to HURDAT.)
31877 07/30*330 980 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
31880 HRCTX2
U.S. Continental Hurricanes:
----------------------------
#/Date Time Lat Lon Max Saffir RMW Central States
Wind Simpson Pressure Affected
1-7/27/1943 1800Z 29.5N 94.6W 90kt 2 15nm 967mb CTX2
Minor alterations to the track, but major adjustments made to the intensity of Storm 1 as shown in
McAdie et al. (2009). Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series,
microfilm maps at NHC, the COADS ships database, the Monthly Weather Review, the Original Monthly
Record, Connor (1956), Dunn and Miller (1960), Schwerdt et al. (1979), Ho et al. (1987), and Fincher and
Read (1997).
July 23: HWM indicates no features of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. No gales or low pressures.
July 24: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1015mb near 28N, 89W. A dissipating stationary frontal
boundary is indicated a couple hundred nm north of the low. The microfilm map shows a low of at most
1014 mb centered over southern Mississippi with an east-west extending front through the low. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
July 25: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm near 27.6N, 88.5W. A dissipating stationary frontal boundary is
indicated a few hundred nm northwest of the low. The microfilm map shows no significant features in
the area. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "A
partial circulation aloft had been noticed over the extreme southeastern portion of the United States
and the eastern Gulf of Mexico as early as July 23, but no disturbed surface conditions were observed
until the early afternoon of July 25, when wind shifts from southeast to northeast at Burrwood, New
Orleans, and Biloxi indicated a disturbance south of Burrwood. Within a few hours heavy seas were
reported on Mississippi Sound. The highest wind reported while the storm was moving westward south
of the Delta was Beaufort force 7 (32-38 mph), recorded at Burrwood" (MWR).
July 26: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 28N, 92W. HURDAT
lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 28.2N, 91.1W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows
showed a center at 28N, 90.5W (am) and at 28N, 93W (pm). The microfilm map shows a closed low of at
most 1011 mb near 29N 91W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures. "The 26th was cloudy with middle and lower clouds moving from the northeast. During
the late afternoon the low dark bank of clouds of the storm began appearing in the east" (OMR). "The
sea presented some evidence of a storm swell on the 26th with a count of 8 swells per minute at noon
which lowered to 6 1/2 per minute by 6pm. Although rough, the surf at Galveston never attained the
mountainous size usually associated with tropical storms as the wind was mostly off shore" (OMR).
July 27: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 29N, 94.5W. HURDAT lists
this as a Category 1 hurricane with 75kt winds at 29.3N, 94.1W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed
a center at 29.5N, 94W (am) with a pressure of 1004mb and 29.8N, 96W (pm). The microfilm map shows
a closed low of at most 1002 mb near 29N 94W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station
highlights: 980mb (minimum pressure) at 1845Z and 58 kt NW (maximum 1 min wind) at ~18Z at
Galveston City office (OMR); 73kt at Houston Airport (29.8N, 95.7W) no time given (MWR); 64kt WNW
with 988mb (maximum 1 min wind and minimum pressure) at Galveston Airport office (29.3N, 94.8W) at
1845Z (OMR); 48kt W with a pressure of 982mb at Hitchcock (29.3N, 95W) at 21Z (MAR); 69kt WNW at
Hitchcock no time given (MAR); 975 mb central pressure at Ellington Field (29.6N 95.2W), no time given
(Ho). "The hurricane that passed inland over the Bolivar Peninsula, on the upper Texas coast during the
early afternoon of July 27, was the most severe storm experienced in the Galveston Bay area since the
hurricane of August 16-18, 1915. It was a storm of rather small area but unfortunately passed over the
most densely populated and highly developed portion of the Texas coast" (MWR). "Flights through the
earlier storm were made from the Instructor's School at Bryan Field, TX. On the first flight Col. Joseph P.
Duckworth was accompanied by Second Lt. Ralph M. O'Hair, navigator, and on the second trip by First
Lt. William H. Jones-Burdick, a pilot weather officer. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a plane
has been intentionally flown through the center of a hurricane. The flights were made at altitudes
between 4,000 and 9,000 feet. The following bird's-eye view description of the "eye" of a hurricane is
quoted from Colonel Duckworth's report: 'As we broke into the "eye" of the storm we were, of course,
contact, and could see the sun and the ground. Apparently the "eye" was like a leaning cone as
observation of the ground had showed a considerable ground wind.' At another point in his report,
describing flight conditions, he said: 'On the whole, neither flight through the hurricane was as
uncomfortable as a good, rough thunderstorm. Rain had been encountered in thunderstorms which was
heavier than the rain in the hurricane, to say nothing of much more severe drafts and choppy and
bumpy air' " (MWR). "[At 1746] now flying in "eye" of storm. Ground clearly visible, sun shining through
upper clouds to the west. Circling to establish position. Surface wind South. (This point was first thought
to be Red Bluff on Galveston Bay south of the town of LaPorte, but a check flight in clear weather three
days later established the position of the clear space 8 miles northeast, west across the bay from Double
Bayou)" (Jones). "Between the hour of 1400 and 1900 two experimental trips were made (without
landing, of course) in an AT-6 airplane, around and through the center of the hurricane. The observer on
the first trip was 2nd Lt. Ralph M. O'Hair, navigator, and on the second trip 1st Lt. Wm. H. Jones-Burdick, a
pilot-weather officer. Both trips were made at differing altitudes between 4000ft and 9000ft"
(Duckworth). "On the first trip the hurricane was centered north of Galveston and both the Galveston
and Houston radio ranges were operating. These two ranges were checked over in turn and upon
reaching Galveston a northward course was flown through the "eye" of the storm. On the second trip
the "eye" was found to be slightly west-northwest of its former position and this trip was made to the
east of Houston over Galveston to 30 miles east of Galveston range and back west-northwest through
the "eye" of the storm. No difficulties were encountered on either trip" (Duckworth). "A broadcast was
sent out locating the center over Galveston Bay about ten miles southwest of the little settlement of
Double Bayou" (Duckworth). "Rain began at 12:15 am CST, on the 27th and was continuous until 4:45pm
CST on the 28th with a total of 13.16 inches recorded" (OMR). "The lowlands along Bolivar Peninsula and
around High Island were flooded to a depth of several feet, however, and several hundred head of cattle
are reported lost in that region. The lowest barometer reading at the Galveston City Office was 28.95
inches at 12:45pm CST, on the 27th and at the same time the airport, five miles farther from the storm
center to the southwest, recorded a low of 29.17 inches, and 15 minutes later the Pan American
Refinery at Texas City, nearer the storm center recorded 29.09inches. These are all correct sea level
readings. The maximum wind for 5 minutes at the Galveston City Office was 63 mph from the northwest
at 10:35am CST but 63mph from the west was also recorded a short time later. The extreme velocity for
one mile was 68, and peak gusts undoubtedly reached 80 to 90mph" (OMR). "Reports received later
from outlying sections indicate that the calm of the storm center was experienced as it crossed the coast
over Bolivar Peninsula from Rollover to within about 2 miles of Port Bolivar, a highway distance of about
16 miles. Since the storm crossed the coast at an angle the diameter of the storm center was probably
about 12 miles. The center probably crossed the coast between noon and 1pm CST. After crossing
Galveston Bay the calm was experienced from a short distance north of Seabrook to north of La Porte.
At Shoreacres (Houston Yacht Club), south of La Porte, a lull was experienced from 3:55pm to 5:40pm
CST with practically a complete calm for over one hour of that time" (OMR). "During the next 2 days the
disturbance increased rapidly in intensity and moving west-northwestward to the Texas coast passed
inland over the Galveston Bay region, between noon and 1:00pm (CST) July 27, as a small intense storm
accompanied by full hurricane winds" (MWR). "The calm center of the storm was felt over almost the
entire length of the Bolivar Peninsula and reports say its passage required about an hour. Since, at this
point, the storm was moving 12- 14 mph the calm center or "eye" was about 12 to 14 miles across as it
passed inland" (MWR). "Since the storm crossed the coast at an angle the diameter of the storm center
was probably about 12 miles. The center probably crossed the coast between noon and 1pm CST"
(OMR). "On July 27th, a tropical disturbance of hurricane intensity over a small area near the center
moved inland on the Texas Coast, across Bolivar Peninsular and Trinity Bay. The storm passed over
Houston shortly before midnight of the 27th and continued on toward Navasota, losing its intensity
rapidly. The bulk of the property damage occurred in Galveston and Harris counties, although
considerable damage occurred in some areas of Jefferson, Chambers, and Brazoria counties. The highest
wind velocity reported from the several Weather Bureau Offices was 63 miles per hour from the
northwest at Galveston, although gust velocities exceeding 100 miles per hour were reported form
several bayshore and adjacent localities. The lowest barometric pressure (reduced to sea-level) was
28.95 inches at Galveston City Office. The loss of eighteen lives was attributed directly to the storm.
Property loss in the entire area was conservatively estimated to be in excess of $15,000,000. Crops in
areas where the full force of the storm was felt suffered considerable immediate damage from high
winds and later damage from excessive rains accompanying the storm" (CD). "1943, Jul, TX, 2N 969 mb''
(Jarrell et al.). ''Jul 27 1943, Center crossed coast near Galveston, Estimated Lowest - 968 mb,
Movement - WNW 9 mph" (Connor). "Tropical Cyclones in Texas, 1943, July 27, Galveston, Minimal, 19
killed, damage $16,500,000" ("Minimal" - Winds 64 to 87 kt, pressure 983 to 996 mb - Dunn and Miller).
"July 27th - 80 kt max sustained 1 min equivalent at landfall, 1014 mb environmental pressure"
(Schwerdt et al.). "July 27th - 975 mb observed central pressure at Ellington Field, TX, 16 nm RMW, 8 kt
forward speed, Landfall 29.5N 94.6W" (Ho et al.)
July 28: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 30N, 96.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical
Storm with 40kt winds at 30.4N, 96.2W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 31N, 96.5W
(am) with a pressure of 1001mb and at 32N, 97W (pm). The microfilm map shows a closed low of at
most 999 mb over eastern Texas. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 70kt NW
with a pressure of 985mb at Houston at 0130Z (OMR); 48kt WNW at Hitchcock at 00Z (MAR); A pressure
of 980mb at Houston at 0235Z (OMR). "Damage in Galveston storm warning district was confined mostly
to Galveston and Chambers counties and the portion of Harris County in the vicinity of La Porte,
Shoreacres and Seabrook. Very few buildings escaped some damage and many were unroofed or blown
off foundations, and quite a number were totally destroyed. Many large trees were uprooted as a
consequence of rain softening the soil, and others suffered loss of branches and defoliation. Shrubbery
and other vegetation were badly whipped by wind" (OMR). A paper on "The 1943 'Surprise' Hurricane"
by Fincher and Read was presented at the 1997 National Hurricane Conference. It reviews many of the
details of the hurricane and its impacts in Texas, including the first aircraft flight into a hurricane.
July 29: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 32N, 97.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical
Depression with 25kt winds at 32N, 97.4W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 32N,
97.5W (am - last position) with a pressure of 1005mb. The microfilm map shows a low of at most 1002
mb over central Texas. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 10kt WSW with a
pressure of 1005mb at Waco (31.6N, 97.2W) at 12Z (HWM). "Wind damage [in Port Arthur] was light,
only about $25,000. Water damage was at least $200,000 and probably considerably more. Hundreds of
homes, 2,000 to 3,000 automobiles, and many industrials, and businesses were flooded when drainage
facilities failed to discharge the water as fast as it drained into the lower sections of the city and
surrounding area. One death resulted from the storm. A man attempting to save his chickens either
fainted and was drowned or came in contact with a live wire in the waist deep water, probably the
latter" (OMR). "Damage in connection with this hurricane has been estimated at $10,000,000 in the
Galveston area, $6,250,000 in the Houston area, and $300,000 in the Port Arthur area, a total of
$16,550,000. A large amount of the damage was caused by wind-driven rain. Nineteen persons lost their
lives in the storm. The U.S. Engineer's dredge Galveston, dragging two anchors, struck the north jetty off
the entrance to Galveston Bay and went down in 40 feet of water with the loss of 11 members of the
crew. The tug Titan foundered at sea en route from Corpus Christi to Port Neches with the loss of 3 lives.
Two deaths were reported in Houston, and 1 each in 3 cities of Galveston, La Porte, and Port Arthur"
(MWR).
July 30: HWM depicts a stationary front extending from Kansas eastward. No gales or low pressures.
While there are some indications that a broad low pressure area was present by July 24th, a well-defined
low did not develop until late on the 25th based upon the available observations. Thus genesis for this
cyclone is unchanged at 18Z on the 25th. Minor position changes were made for all days of this system's
existence. The cyclone is begun as a minimal 35 kt tropical storm instead of a 50kt tropical storm as
previously noted on HURDAT. The intensity was also lowered significantly on the 26th, going from 65 to
45kt at 00 UTC and from 70 to 50kt at 06 UTC, based upon observations that the system had not yet
reached hurricane intensity. Transition to a hurricane likely occurred around 18Z on the 26th, 18 hours
later than originally indicated.
The hurricane made landfall around 18Z on the 27th near 29.5N 94.6W on the Bolivar Peninsula, TX.
Peak observed 1 min winds were 73 kt at the Houston Airport. Both Galveston (City Office) and Houston
recorded 980 mb pressure minima, but both were peripheral pressure measurements. A 975 mb was
reported for Ellington Field, which did experience the eye around 00Z on the 28th. Using the Ho et al.
(1987) inland pressure decay model, this suggests 967 mb central pressure at landfall. This is very close
to the value previously estimated by Connor (1956 - 968 mb) and Jarrell et al. (1992 - 969 mb). 967mb
gives 88kts from the Brown et al. north of 25N pressure-wind relationship and 92kt from the intensifying
subset of north of 25N pressure-wind relationship. The hurricane had at landfall a radius of outer closed
isobar of a near average 250 nm (1013 mb outer closed isobar), but an RMW of about 15 nm. This is
smaller (25 nm) than climatology for this landfall latitude and central pressure (Vickery et al. 2000).
However, the cyclone was also fairly slow moving (7 kt) at landfall. Hence, 90kt was chosen as the
landfall intensity which makes the system a Category 2 hurricane at landfall rather than a 75kt hurricane
as previously noted in HURDAT. (However, the landfall characterization - "CTX2" - of a Category 2 for
the northern Texas coast remains unchanged.) Runs of the Kaplan and DeMaria inland decay wind
model (1995) suggests winds of 58 kt at 00Z on the 28th, 44 kt at 06Z, 35 kt at 12Z, and 31 kt at 18Z.
Peak observed winds within two hours of the synoptic times were 70 kt at 00Z, 43 kt at 06Z, less than 35
kt at 12Z, and 35 kt at 18Z. Given the higher winds observed at 00Z and 18Z compared with the model,
winds are selected to be slightly higher than the model for HURDAT: 75 kt at 00Z (originally 55 kt), 50 kt
at 06Z (unchanged), 40 kt at 12Z (unchanged), and 40 kt at 18Z (unchanged). Minimal changes to track
and intensity were made after landfall. Given how vigorous the circulation of the cyclone remained at
12Z on the 29th, it is unlikely that the system dissipated within 12 hours as shown in HURDAT originally.
However, there is no indication of the system still being present at 12Z on the 30th. Thus the dissipation
is now analyzed to have occurred after 00Z on the 30th, six hours later than originally indicated.
This hurricane represents an historic milestone, as it was the first to ever be flown with the intent - and
success - to fly into the eye of the storm. This prompted the routine aircraft reconnaissance in support
of hurricane analysis and forecasting by the U.S. Weather Bureau.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm 2 - Revised 2013
31885 08/13/1943 M= 7 2 SNBR= 704 NOT NAMED XING=0
31890 08/13* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*171 605 35 0*175 617 35 0*
31890 08/13* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*171 605 35 0*175 615 35 0*
***
31895 08/14*180 629 40 0*187 643 40 0*194 656 40 0*201 669 45 0*
31895 08/14*180 625 40 0*185 645 40 0*192 656 40 0*200 669 45 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
31900 08/15*209 681 45 0*218 693 45 0*228 704 45 0*237 710 45 0*
31900 08/15*209 683 45 0*219 697 45 0*230 710 45 0*240 717 45 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
31905 08/16*245 713 50 0*252 716 50 0*258 719 50 0*266 723 50 0*
31905 08/16*248 720 50 0*255 721 50 0*262 722 50 0*270 723 50 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
31910 08/17*275 728 50 0*286 736 50 0*296 744 50 0*303 750 50 0*
31910 08/17*279 728 50 0*288 736 50 0*296 744 50 0*303 750 50 0*
*** ***
31915 08/18*310 754 50 0*318 754 45 0*327 748 45 0*338 737 40 0*
31920 08/19*348 725 40 0*358 713 40 0*367 700 35 0*383 679 30 0*
31920 08/19*348 725 40 0*358 713 40 0E367 700 35 0E383 679 30 0*
* *
31925 TS
Minor track changes, but no intensity alterations are made to that shown originally in McAdie et al.
(2009). Additionally, it is now indicated that a short-lived extratropical cyclone stage occurred just
before dissipation of the system, originally indicated to remain a tropical cyclone. Evidence for these
alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, NHC microfilm maps, the COADS ship
database, and the Monthly Weather Review.
August 12: HWM and microfilm maps indicate no features of interest near the Lesser Antilles. No gales
or low pressures.
August 13: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 16N, 61W. Microfilm map indicates a
closed low of at most 1012 mb near 15N 61W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at
17.1N, 60.5W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures. "A disturbance of moderate intensity was first detected on August 13, near 17N and 60W"
(MWR).
August 14: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 19.5N, 65.5W. Microfilm map indicates
a closed low of at most 1008 mb near 20.5N 65.5W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical storm with 40kt
winds at 19.4N, 65.6W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures.
August 15: HWM indicates a low near 22.5N, 72W. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds
at 22.8N, 70.4W at 12Z. Microfilm map indicates a closed low of at most 1008 mb near 23N 71W. The
MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 23N, 70.5W (am) with a pressure of 1005mb and at 24N, 72W
(pm). Ship highlights: 35 kt NW at 23Z at 24.0N 71.4W (micro). Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures.
August 16: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 25.5N, 73W.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 50kt winds at 25.8N, 71.9W at 12Z. Microfilm map indicates a
closed low of at most 1005 mb near 27.5N 72.5W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 27N,
72.5W (am) with a pressure of 1005mb and at 28N, 73W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low
pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. Aircraft highlight: 26N 72.2W center fix with
maximum estimated surface winds of 35 kt. "From Col. Harrison, USAAF (Recd by phone 7:15 pm)
Tropical disturbance at 1825Z located 26N Long. 72 deg 10' West. Wind on northwest circumference at
surface N-40 mph; at 8 thousand feet 325 deg - 37 mph. This is a personal airplane observation.
(signed) Col Carlwark 9th Reg. Control Officer" (micro).
August 17: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm near 28.7N, 75.5W. A dissipating warm front is analyzed
between 35N-40N and 65W-73W, while a cold front extends from New England southwestward along
the mid-Atlantic coast to the Carolinas. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 50kt winds at 29.6N,
74.4W at 12Z. Microfilm map indicates at closed low of at most 1005 mb near 30N 74W. The MWR
Tracks of lows showed a center at 29.5N, 73W (am) with a pressure of 1005mb and at 31N, 74W (pm).
Ship highlights: 50kt S with a pressure of 1007mb at 34.5N, 71.5W at 17Z (COA); 35 kt S with a pressure
of 1007 mb at 35.5N 71.5W at 21Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. Aircraft
highlights: 45 kt SW at 29N 76W at 17Z (micro). "Moving northwestward until the 17th, it then turned
north and northeastward, passing about 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras. From this point it decreased
rapidly in intensity and lost its intensity near 41N and 61W. It did not develop winds of hurricane force"
(MWR). "-From GSF- Left Banana River 1030 EWT [1430Z]. flew to 27 deg 50'N and 76 West arriving
1230 EWT [1630Z]. Sctd to broken cloud en route. Ceiling at 27 deg 50' and 76 1000 feet, winds SW 26
knots. Turned north along 76 West and encountered CB with rain and ceiling near 1100 feet.
Encountered severe thunderstorms between 28 and 29 North at 1300 EWT [1700Z] with SWerly winds
estimated at velocity 50 mph. Everything to eastward bad. Plane then returned to Banana River"
(micro).
August 18: HWM indicates a closed low with at most 1010mb near 32.5N, 75W with a warm front
extending east-northeast of the low and a cold front extending west-southwest of the low. Micofilm
map indicates a closed low of at most 1005 mb near 33N 74.5W with a frontal boundary northwest of
the low. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 32.7N, 74.8W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks
of lows showed a center at 32N, 74.5W (am) with a pressure of 1005mb and at 34N, 73W (pm). Ship
highlights: 40kt SSW at 36.5N, 67.5W at 00Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 19: HWM indicates a close low of at most 1010mb near 37N, 65W with a stationary front
extending east-northeast of the low and a cold front extending west-southwest of the low. HURDAT lists
this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 36.7N, 70W at 12Z. Microfilm map indicates a closed low of
at most 1008 mb near 36N 70W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 35.5N, 70W (am) with a
pressure of 1008mb and at 36N, 69W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
August 20: HWM indicates a stationary front and a warm front intersecting near 38N 65W. The MWR
Tracks of lows showed a center at 36.5N, 67W (am) with a pressure of 1008mb and at 36.5N, 65W (pm).
(The last position shown in the MWR Tracks of Lows was 21st (a.m.) near 37N 62W with 1009 mb
pressure). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
No alterations were made to the genesis or intensity of this tropical storm, due to lack of observations
near the system's center for most of its lifetime. Small alterations of the position were made from late
on the 13th to early on the 17th. Confirmation of its status as a tropical storm was obtained from one
ship late on the 15th, as well as from the aircraft reconnaissance on the 16th and 17th. A substantial
northeastward adjustment of the track was considered from late on the 17th through the 18th to take
into account the high wind measurements on the 17th. However, it is likely that either these were due
to the strong (for August) baroclinic system over the U.S. east coast or that the values were erroneous.
Finally, a short-lived extratropical cyclone stage was added on the 19th as the system very likely would
have reached and joined with a pre-existing frontal boundary.
This tropical cyclone was the very first to be flow by aircraft reconnaissance and reported back to the
hurricane forecasters at the Weather Bureau during real-time operations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm 3 - Revised 2013
31930 08/19/1943 M= 9 3 SNBR= 705 NOT NAMED XING=0
31935 08/19* 0 0 0 0*135 555 50 0*141 562 55 0*146 566 60 0*
31935 08/19* 0 0 0 0*135 555 50 0*141 562 55 0*146 569 60 0*
***
31940 08/20*151 570 65 0*156 575 70 0*161 580 70 0*167 587 75 0*
31940 08/20*151 575 65 0*156 581 70 0*162 587 70 0*169 593 75 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
31945 08/21*174 594 80 0*180 599 85 0*186 604 85 0*195 611 90 0*
31945 08/21*176 600 80 0*183 608 85 0*190 615 85 0*198 622 90 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
31950 08/22*204 618 90 0*210 622 95 0*216 627 95 0*226 634 100 0*
31950 08/22*207 628 90 0*216 634 95 0*225 640 95 0*235 645 100 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
31955 08/23*236 641 105 0*243 647 105 0*250 652 110 0*258 658 115 0*
31955 08/23*245 650 105 0*255 655 105 0*265 660 110 0*274 664 115 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
31960 08/24*268 663 115 0*283 668 120 0*300 673 120 0*317 675 120 0*
31960 08/24*282 667 115 0*290 670 120 0*300 673 120 0*313 675 120 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
31965 08/25*334 674 120 0*347 671 110 0*360 665 100 0*378 652 90 0*
31965 08/25*328 676 120 0*343 676 110 0*360 672 100 0*378 657 90 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
31970 08/26*397 626 75 0*418 577 65 0E439 530 60 0E456 503 55 0*
31970 08/26E397 626 75 0E418 577 65 0E439 530 60 0E456 503 55 0*
* *
31975 08/27E474 475 50 0E497 448 45 0E520 420 45 0* 0 0 0 0*
31980 HR
Minor changes to the track, but no changes to the intensity of this Atlantic hurricane, as originally in
McAdie et al. (2009). Evidence for these alterations comes from Historical Weather Map series, the
COADS ship database, NHC microfilm data, the Climatological Data for West Indies and Caribbean
Section, and the Monthly Weather Review.
August 17: HWM indicates a low near 11.5N, 52W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station
highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 18: HWM indicates a closed low with at most 1010mb near 13N, 57W. Ship highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 19: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with at most 1010mb near 14N, 58W. HURDAT lists this as a
Tropical Storm with 55kt winds at 14.1N, 56.2W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1011
mb near 12.5N 59.5W. Ship highlights: 50 kt ENE at 14.1N 55.0W (time unknown - micro). Station
highlights: No gales or low pressures. "A tropical disturbance of moderate intensity was first observed
on the 19th, some distance east of the Windward Islands, moving northwestward during the next two
days without seriously affecting the eastern Caribbean Islands, except for squalls and heavy rains in the
Windward and Leeward Islands. This storm developed into hurricane intensity and covered a large
area" (West Indies and Caribbean Climatological Data).
August 20: HWM indicates a low with at most 1010mb near 15.5N, 60W. HURDAT lists this as a Category
1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 16.1N, 58W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1008 mb
near 15N 59W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Aircraft highlights: 16.7N 58.8W with 55 kt estimated maximum surface winds at 14Z (micro). "This
large and intense hurricane was first observed on August 20 in the area east of the Lesser Antilles.
Moving in a parabolic course, it passed some distance west of Bermuda, joined with a storm that had
moved off Labrador at about 51N and 42W, intensified, and moved rapidly northeastward across the
Atlantic and north of Scotland" (MWR). "Navy plane obs. 1000 EWT [1400Z] 16 deg 40' N 58 deg 50' W
wind est. 60 mph frequent squalls large area" (micro).
August 21: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1010mb near 18.5N, 62W. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 18.6N, 60.4W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at
most 1002 mb near 20N 61.5W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Aircraft highlights: estimated maximum surface winds 50 kt at 12Z (micro). "50 knots
(Navy plane) sea heavy" (micro).
August 22: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 24N, 64W. The
MWR Tracks of lows first position was 22nd (p.m.) near 23N 63W. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2
hurricane with 95kt winds at 21.6N, 62.7W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1005 mb
at 23N 64.5W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 23: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 27N, 67W. HURDAT
lists this as a Category 3 hurricane with 110kt winds at 25N, 65.2W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed
low of at most 1005 mb near 25N 65W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 25N, 64W (am)
with a pressure of 999mb and at 26.5N, 66W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station
highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 24: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 30N, 68W. HURDAT lists
this as a Category 4 hurricane with 120kt winds at 30N, 67.3W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low
of at most 999 mb near 30N 67W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 28N, 67W (am) with a
pressure of 999mb and at 33N, 65.5W (pm). Ship highlights: 35kt SE with a pressure of 1013mb at 32.5N,
64.5W at 16Z (COA). Station highlights: 45 kt SSE with 1002 mb at 21Z and 70 kt at 2230Z at Bermuda
(32.4N, 64.7W - micro). "Winds of Beaufort force 12 (over 75mph) reported at Bermuda, August 24,
while the storm center was estimated to be 100-150 miles west of that island, indicate the large area of
hurricane winds that accompanied the storm. At 12 noon August 24, Bermuda reported a barometer
reading of 1002mb" (MWR).
August 25: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 36N, 67W with a cold
frontal boundary 300 nm north of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category 3 hurricane at 36N,
66.5W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 996 mb near 36N 67W. The MWR Tracks of
lows showed a center at 34N, 65W (am) with a pressure of 999mb and at 38N, 63W (am). Ship
highlights: 35kt SE with a pressure of 1013mb at 32.5N, 63.5W at 00Z (COA). Station highlights: 50 kt S
and 1004 mb at Bermuda at 0030Z (Micro).
August 26: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 990mb near 43.5N, 53.5W with a
cold front extending southwest of the cyclone and a warm front extending northeast of the cyclone.
HURDAT lists this as an Extratropical Storm at 43.9N, 53W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at
most 993 mb near 44N 53W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 40.5N, 58W (am) with a
pressure of 999mb and at 44N, 48W (pm - last position). Ship highlights: 50kt NW at 46.5N, 48.5W at
23Z (COA); 30kt ENE with a pressure of 987mb at 45.5N, 50.5W at 15Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales
or low pressures.
August 27: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 995mb near 52N, 42W with a cold
front extending south and a warm front extending east of the cyclone. A secondary baroclinic low of at
most 1005 mb was located northeast of the cyclone near 58N 32W. HURDAT lists this as an
Extratropical Storm with 45kt winds at 52N, 42W at 12Z. Ship highlights: 15kt NE with a pressure of
987mb at 53.5N, 42.5W at 11Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 28: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of 995mb near 55.5N, 28W with an occluded
front extending east of the low. An intersection of a warm front and a cold front is analyzed to be at
48N 35W. Ship highlights: 25kt WSW with a pressure of 996mb at 52.5N, 32.5W at 22Z (COA). Station
highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 29: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of 1000mb at 54N, 18W with a warm front
extending east and a cold front extending south of the cyclone. A second baroclinic low of at most 1000
mb is analyzed northeast of the cyclone at 59W 13W. Ship highlights: 30kt N with a pressure of 995mb
at 54.5N, 27.5W at 10Z (COA); 30kt WNW with a pressure of 1000mb at 54.5N, 25.5W at 14Z (COA).
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 30: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 995mb near 58N, 5E with frontal
boundaries extending southeast of the low. Ship highlights: 15kt NW with a pressure of 998mb at 59.5N,
3.5W at 12Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
August 31: HWM indicates a closed low of at most 1005mb near 56N, 18E with a dissipating occluded
front extending southeast of the cyclone. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
Genesis is retained at 06 UTC on August 19th as a 50kt tropical storm just east of the Lesser Antilles.
Historical Weather Maps indicated a closed low on the 18th, but the lack of observations near the low on
that date did not allow for revisions of the original genesis date. The position of the cyclone is
unchanged at genesis with minor track changes were introduced from late on the 19th through late on
the 25th. The most significant alterations were late on the 21st to early on the 24th, where the position
was shifted about a degree northwest. The adjustments on the 21st and 22nd are based upon Lesser
Antilles observations, while those on the 23rd and 24th were made to keep it consistent with the speed
and movement of the track on the days preceding and subsequent. No changes were made to any of
the intensities for this system, due to the lack of inner core observations. Thus while measurements in
Bermuda demonstrated that the cyclone was of hurricane intensity, it could not be confirmed that this
system was a major hurricane. HURDAT had the storm transitioning into an extratropical storm on
August 26th at 12 UTC. However, after considering the Historical Weather Maps, microfilm maps and the
few COADS observations, the map of August 26 clearly showed the system had likely already
transitioned into an extratropical storm. The storm already had a 30 F temperature difference between
its northern and southern extents, though no observations were available near the center and thus the
inner core structure is uncertain. It was then determined that the transition into extratropical storm
began at 00 UTC on August 26th, twelve hours earlier than originally.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm #4 - Revised 2013
31985 09/01/1943 M=10 4 SNBR= 706 NOT NAMED XING=0
31990 09/01* 0 0 0 0*235 584 60 0*253 599 70 0*264 609 75 0*
31990 09/01* 0 0 0 0*245 595 60 0*253 599 70 0*264 609 75 0*
*** ***
31995 09/02*276 616 80 0*288 620 80 0*300 622 85 0*306 622 85 0*
31995 09/02*276 616 80 0*288 620 80 0*300 622 85 0*306 624 85 0*
***
32000 09/03*310 622 90 0*314 621 95 0*318 619 95 0*321 616 100 0*
32000 09/03*310 624 90 0*314 628 95 0*318 628 95 0*322 625 100 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
32005 09/04*323 613 100 0*325 609 105 0*327 606 105 0*329 604 105 0*
32005 09/04*324 619 100 0*325 612 105 0*327 608 105 0*329 606 105 0*
*** *** *** *** ***
32010 09/05*332 603 100 0*335 602 95 0*339 601 95 0*343 601 95 0*
32010 09/05*332 609 100 0*335 613 95 0*337 616 95 0*339 619 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32015 09/06*348 603 95 0*350 605 95 0*353 608 95 0*356 614 95 0*
32015 09/06*342 622 95 0*344 624 95 0*347 626 95 0*349 628 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32020 09/07*359 620 95 0*361 626 95 0*364 632 95 0*368 636 90 0*
32020 09/07*351 630 95 0*354 631 95 0*357 632 95 0*361 633 90 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32025 09/08*372 639 90 0*377 641 90 0*382 643 85 0*388 646 80 0*
32025 09/08*365 633 90 0*369 632 90 0*375 631 85 0*386 630 80 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32030 09/09*401 645 75 0*422 633 70 0*442 620 60 0*470 592 55 0*
32030 09/09*401 625 75 0*422 617 70 0*445 608 60 0*468 575 55 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32035 09/10E495 555 45 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32035 09/10E495 540 45 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
***
32040 HR
Major track changes, but no alterations to the intensity of storm 4 as originally seen in McAdie et al.
(2009). Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ships
database, the NHC microfilm synoptic maps, and the Monthly Weather Review.
August 31: HWM indicates a low with a pressure of at most 1015mb near 18N, 60W. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 1: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 25N, 61W. A
dissipating cold front is analyzed a few hundred nm northwest of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 1 hurricane with 70kt winds at 25.3N, 59.9W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates no features of interest
southeast of Bermuda. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures.
September 2: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 27N, 62W.
HURDAT lists this as a Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 30N, 62.2W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a
closed low of at most 1011 mb near 31N 63W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 29N, 61W
(am) with a pressure of 1000mb. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales
or low pressures. "No previous charted history is available for the fully developed hurricane that
appeared southeast of Bermuda on September 2" (MWR).
September 3: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 32N, 62W. A
stationary front is analyzed a few hundred nm north of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2
hurricane with 95kt winds at 31.8N, 61.9W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1002 mb
near 32N 63W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 29N, 61W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb.
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 40 kt NNE and 1006 mb at 09Z, 40 kt NNE
and 1008 mb at 15Z, 40 kt N and 1006 mb at 18Z at Bermuda (micro). "On the 3rd it passed about 125-
150miles east of Bermuda and then began to curve slowly northeastward. At his point its progress was
retarded for several days by a strong high pressure area, after which its course was changed to
northwestward, then north, and later to northeastward as it moved into Newfoundland on September
9" (MWR).
September 4: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 32.5N, 61.5W. A
stationary front is analyzed a few hundred nm north of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category 3
hurricane with 105kt winds at 32.7N, 60.6W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 996 mb
at32.5N 61.5W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 35N, 59W (am) with a pressure of
1000mb. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 40 kt N and 1008 mb at 00Z, 40 kt
NNW and 1009 mb at 06Z, 40 kt N and 1010 mb at 09Z at Bermuda (micro).
September 5: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 33.5N, 61W. A
stationary front is analyzed a few hundred nm north of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2
hurricane with 95kt winds at 33.9N, 60.1W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1011 mb
near 33N 60W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 35N, 59W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb.
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 6: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 35.5N, 62.5W. A
warm front is analyzed a few hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2
hurricane with 95kt winds at 35.3N, 60.8W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a close low of at most 1011 mb
near 35N 59W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 35N, 59W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb.
Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 7: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 35.5N, 63W. A
dissipating warm front is analyzed a few hundred nm north of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a
Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 36.4N, 63.2W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at
most 1002 mb near 36N 63W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 38N, 61W (am) with a
pressure of 1000mb. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 45 kt SW and 1010
mb at 06Z at Bermuda (micro).
September 8: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 34.5N, 62W. A
stationary front is analyzed a few hundred nm northwest of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category
2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 38.2N, 64.3W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a close low of at most 1002 mb
near 37N 63W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 38N, 61W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb.
Ship highlights: 55kt SSE with a pressure of 1006mb at 38.5N, 61.5W at 00Z (COA); 35kt E with a
pressure of 999mb at 38.5N, 61.5W at 00Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 9: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 995mb near 44.5N, 61W. A
dissipating cold front is analyzed a couple hundred nm west of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a
Tropical Storm with 60kt winds at 44.2N, 62W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 999
mb near 45N 61W. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 45N, 60W (am - last position) with a
pressure of 1000mb. Ship highlights: 15kt W with a pressure of 999mb at 43.5N, 61.5W at 12Z (COA);
50kt SSE with a pressure of 1008mb at 46.5N, 56.5W at 12Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures.
September 10: A complex low with centers near 63N 62W of at most 995 mb and near 60N 54W of at
most 995 mb has an occluded front extending south-southeast of the low. Ship highlights: 45kt SW with
a pressure of 1000mb at 48.5N, 54.5W at 00Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
No changes are made to the timing of genesis of this cyclone at 06 UTC on the 1st of September, as there
virtually no observations available. Significant track changes were introduced throughout the lifetime of
the cyclone (except the 2nd to the 4th and the 7th) and major alterations were included on the 9th. The
initial 6 hr motion of the storm was a 22 kt which then immediately slowed to 14 kt in the next 6 hr. The
initial position is adjusted for a realistic initial motion. The revised track of this storm began with a
north-northwestward motion and on the 4th bent back to the northeast. On the 5th the storm curved
again slowly back towards the northwest and then continued its northward motion on the 8th until its
dissipation. The winds at Bermuda are NE on the 3rd and 4th, N on the 5th, W on the 6th, and SW on
the 7th. The pressure there was a minimum of 1006 mb on the 3rd (09Z) with 1011 mb on the 4th, 5th,
6th and 7th. The cyclone then was clearly closest to Bermuda on the 3rd and likely about the same
distance on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th as it slowly moved toward the northwest. Beginning late on the
8th, the storm continued on a north-northeastward track, about two degrees east of the original
HURDAT track at 00 UTC on the 9th - the only major position change. (It is noted that the HWM
incorrectly plotted a 35 kt E (40 mph) ship three degrees too far south on the 8th.) No changes were
made to the intensity at any time. Peak winds of 105 kt on the 4th from 06 UTC - 18 UTC as shown in
HURDATA were maintained, but due to lack of inner core observations were not confirmed. A 999 mb
peripheral ship pressure on the 8th suggests winds of at least 55 kt from the Landsea et al. north of 35N
pressure-wind relationship. However, given the large distance (over 150 nm) from the center of the
cyclone, this observation cannot be used to adjust the intensity, so the 90 kt in HURDAT is unaltered.
The system became extratropical around 00 UTC on the 10th and dissipated shortly thereafter as it was
likely absorbed by a larger baroclinic low. Extratropical transition and dissipation are unchanged from
that shown in HURDAT originally.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm 5 - Revised 2013
32045 09/13/1943 M= 5 5 SNBR= 707 NOT NAMED XING=0
32050 09/13* 0 0 0 0*282 739 40 0*294 736 40 0*301 736 45 0*
32050 09/13*260 778 30 0*268 778 35 0*280 775 40 0*295 765 45 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ***
32055 09/14*311 738 45 0*325 739 45 0*341 738 45 0*360 734 45 0*
32055 09/14*310 755 45 0*325 745 45 0*341 735 45 0*355 725 45 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32060 09/15*378 724 45 0*391 709 45 0E405 689 40 0E422 665 40 0*
32060 09/15*368 715 45 0*383 705 45 0E400 692 40 0E418 670 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32065 09/16E440 641 40 0E455 621 35 0E471 601 35 0E490 573 35 0*
32065 09/16E435 648 40 0E452 625 40 0E471 601 40 0E490 573 35 0*
*** *** *** *** ** **
32070 09/17E512 538 35 0E540 490 35 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32075 TS
Major alterations to the track, but only minor changes to the intensity for storm #5 from that originally
shown in McAdie et al. (2009). Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map
series, the COADS ship database, NHC microfilm maps, New England and North Carolina Climatological
Data, and the Monthly Weather Review.
September 12: Ship highlights: HWM analyzes a warm front intersecting a dissipating cold front near
31N 77W with both extending NE-SW. No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures.
September 13: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 29N, 76W with
a warm front extending northeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds
at 29.4N, 73.6W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1011 mb at 28N77W and an open
low at 32N71W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
"A disturbance developing in the northern end of a trough of low pressure at about latitude 30N,
longitude 72W was accompanied by gale winds as it moved northward and northeastward" (MWR).
September 14: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 32.5N, 71.5W
with a warm front analyzed extending east-northeast of the low. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm
with 45kt winds at 34.1N, 73.8W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1008 mb near 35N
72W with frontal boundaries extending southeast and south-southwest of the center. The MWR Tracks
of lows showed a center at 35N, 70.5W (am) with a pressure of 1010mb and at 36N, 70.5W (pm). Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. Aircraft highlights:
35 kt ENE at 37.2N 72.7W at 18Z, 35 kt E at 39.5N 73.5W at 19Z (micro). "It passed about 150 miles east
of Cape Hatteras on the 14th, skirted Nova Scotia, and reached Newfoundland on September 16" (MWR).
"A storm of considerable force from off the southeastern shores of the country advanced toward New
England during the early hours of the 14th, and veered somewhat toward the northeastward near
Nantucket, accompanied by the heaviest shore rainfall of the month" (New England).
September 15: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 40N, 68W with
a warm front extending east of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as an Extratropical Storm with 40kt winds
at 40.5N, 68.9W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at most 1002 mb at 40N 69W with frontal
boundaries extending east and south of the center. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 40N,
69W (am) with a pressure of 1001mb and at 44.5N, 64W (pm). Ship highlights: 35kt ESE at 41.9N, 66.3W
at 12Z (HWM); 35kt E at 42.5N, 66.5W at 12Z (COA); 35kt N with a pressure of 1013mb at 40.5N, 71.5W
at 13Z (COA); 35kt SE at 42.5N, 64.5W at 16Z (COA). Station highlights: 37 kt (5 min) NE at Nantucket (no
time - New England). "Lowest barometer readings developed on the 15th, and Nantucket reported a
maximum wind velocity of 43 miles per hour for 5 minutes on the 15th. Extraordinarily high tides
accompanied this storm from Cape Cod northeastward" (New England).
September 16: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 46N, 60W with a
cold front extending south and a warm front extending southeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as an
Extratropical Storm with 35kt winds at 47.1N, 60.1W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center
at 47N, 58W (am - last position) with a pressure of 998mb. Ship highlights: 40 kt SE with 1012 mb at 06Z
at 43N 57W (micro); 35kt SE with a pressure of 1014mb at 48.5N, 54.5W at 12Z (COA); 35kt ESE with a
pressure of 1008mb at 48.5N, 54.5W at 16Z (COA). Station highlights: 40 kt S with 1001 mb at 06Z and
10kt SW with 998mb at Sydney, Nova Scotia (46N, 60W) at 12Z (micro, HWM).
September 17: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 990mb near 67N, 65W. A
secondary trough of low pressure was analyzed to have intersecting frontal boundaries near 63N 45W.
Ship highlights: 35kt SSW with a pressure of 1005mb at 48.5N, 54.5W at 00Z (COA). Station highlights:
No gales or low pressures.
Genesis timing is indicated to be six hours earlier than what is recorded in HURDAT, because of
observations of a well-defined center over the northern Bahamas at 00Z on the 13th. Major changes
were made to the positions on the 13th with significant changes also introduced on the 14th and 15th.
The track was moved three to four degrees to the west-southwest on the 13th due to available ship and
coastal observations and continuity with the newly introduced position at 00Z on the 13th. The cyclone
is begun as a 30 kt tropical depression at 00Z on the 13th and brought up to a 35 kt tropical storm at 06Z
(originally 40 kt at genesis at this time) and then no further changes were made to the intensity while
the system was a tropical storm. No alterations were made to the track late on the 16th and on the 17th.
Aircraft observations helped to confirm that tropical storm intensity was achieved by the 14th. It is
noted that fontal boundaries were depicted on every day of the cyclones existence in HWM and from
the 14th at 12Z onward in the microfilm maps. There was a cool airmass over the eastern United States
which extended at least some distance over the western Atlantic Ocean on the 13th to the 15th.
However, observations near the cyclone suggested that the system maintained a warm core until early
on the 15th. Thus it is not certain that the system was fully tropical in character, but without further
information the system is retained as a tropical cyclone as originally shown in HRUDAT. The storm
became extratropical on September 15th at 12 UTC and dissipated on the 15th after 06 UTC, unchanged
from that originally described in HURDAT. (The cyclone did have numerous gale force measurements
on the 15th and 16th, after the extratropical transition.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm #6 - Revised 2013
32080 09/15/1943 M= 6 6 SNBR= 708 NOT NAMED XING=1
32080 09/15/1943 M= 6 6 SNBR= 708 NOT NAMED XING=0
*
32085 09/15* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*238 939 60 0*
32085 09/15* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*238 939 40 0*
**
32090 09/16*246 940 65 0*255 942 70 0*265 945 75 0*270 947 80 0*
32090 09/16*250 943 45 0*262 947 55 0*270 950 65 0*276 953 75 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
32095 09/17*273 950 80 0*273 954 85 0*269 957 85 0*266 957 85 0*
32095 09/17*278 954 80 0*277 954 85 0*274 953 85 0*269 951 85 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32100 09/18*264 953 80 0*267 948 75 0*272 944 75 0*274 942 70 0*
32100 09/18*266 948 80 0*267 945 75 0*271 941 75 0*275 938 70 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32105 09/19*277 939 60 0*280 937 60 0*284 934 50 0*289 931 40 0*
32105 09/19*279 935 60 0*283 930 60 0*287 925 50 0*291 921 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32110 09/20*294 928 35 0*301 924 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32110 09/20*294 920 35 0*295 920 25 0*295 920 25 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** *** *** *** *** **
32115 HR
Minor changes to the track and major changes to the intensity of storm 6 in the Gulf of Mexico from
that originally shown in McAdie et al. (2009). Changes were also made to the dissipation of the storm,
originally at 06 UTC on September 20, now suggested to have dissipated 6 hours later without making
landfall in Louisiana. Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps series, the
COADS ship database, the Monthly Weather Review, NHC microfilm maps, the Louisiana and Texas
Climatological Data, the Original Monthly Records, Conner (1956), and Dunn and Miller (1960).
September 14: HWM indicates a trough over southeastern Mexico. The first HURDAT entry is at 18 UTC
on the 15th at 23.8N 93.9W as a 60 kt tropical storm. Microfilm indicates no features of interest. No
gales or low pressures. "From September 12th through the 14th winds aloft showed a partial circulation
off the Gulf Coast of Mexico" (MWR).
September 15: HWM indicates a low near 25N, 95.5W. The first HURDAT entry is at 18 UTC at 23.8N
93.9W as a 60 kt tropical storm. Microfilm indicates a broad trough over the southwestern Gulf of
Mexico. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. " By
the 15th this circulation was evident in surface observation" (MWR). "At Galveston sea swells decreased
from a rate of 8 per minute, during the late afternoon of the 15th, to 6 per minute at 6pm (CST) on the
16th" (MWR).
September 16: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 26.6N, 94.8W.
An approaching cold front was located a few hundred nm north of the cyclone. Microfilm indicates a
closed low of at most 1006 mb near 27N 95W. HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 75kt
winds at 26.5N, 94.5W at 12Z. Storm indicated in Tracks of Lows to be in NW Gulf with no specific
location. Ship highlights: 35 kt E at 29.0N 93.7W at 18Z (micro). Station highlights: 46kt E (1 min) at Port
Arthur (29.9N, 93.9W) at 22Z (OMR); 40 kt NE and 1010 mb at 2020Z at Freeport (micro); 40 kt NE and
1010 mb at 2015Z at San Luis (micro); 33 kt NE at Galveston (peak for the month, no time) (Texas); 30 kt
NE at Houston (peak for the month, no time) (Texas). "During the night of September 16th a high-
pressure area, centered over the northern Plains States, blocked the north-northwestward progress of
the storm and forced it into a loop which was completed during the 17th. Evidence suggests that this
storm was of a violent nature and extended over a wide area during September 16-17" (MWR). "The
lowest barometer reading along the coast was 1010.5mb observed on September 16, at Freeport, TX"
(MWR). "A hurricane of considerable intensity approached the Texas coast about 150 miles south of
Galveston on September 16th" (Texas).
September 17: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 26.4N, 94.5W.
A dissipating cold front was located just north of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category 2
hurricane with 85kt winds at 26.9N, 95.7W at 12Z. Storm indicated in Tracks of Lows to be in NW Gulf
with no specific location. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 54kt NE at
Freeport (29N, 95.4W) no time given (MWR), 43 kt NE with 1011 mb at Freeport at 0130Z (OMR); 43 kt
(1 min) at Port Arthur at 14Z (OMR). "At this period of its existence the disturbance was at its height and
while still approximately 80 miles from the coast caused a wind of 62mph and a tide of 4.5 feet at
Freeport, TX. Galveston about 120miles distant from the center reported a wind of 38mph, and Port
Arthur about 180miles removed experienced winds ranging as high as 47mph" (MWR). "During the 16th
and 17th, the storm described a complete loop, passing within 100 miles of Freeport, and returned to its
original position south of Galveston late on the 17th" (Texas).
September 18: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 26.5N, 94W. A
warm front was located a couple hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Category
1 hurricane with 75kt winds at 27.2N, 94.4W at 12Z. Storm indicated in Tracks of Lows to be in NW Gulf
with no specific location. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 35 kt N with 1012
mb at 0915Z at San Luis (micro); 32 kt ENE (peak for the month, no time) at Lake Charles (Louisiana).
"The storm decreased rapidly in intensity during September 18-19, and no winds in line with those that
caused damage 2 days earlier were reported as the storm moved inland over the southwestern
Louisiana coast" (MWR).
September 19: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 26.5N, 93.5W. A
warm front was located a couple hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical
Storm with 50kt winds at 28.4N, 93.4W at 12Z. Storm indicated in Tracks of Lows to be in NW Gulf with
no specific location. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low
pressures. "Heavy rains that accompanied the storm were responsible for most of the damage. At
Raceland Prairie, about 2 miles south of Raceland, a combination of heavy rain and backwater inundated
an area of approximately 6 square miles to a depth of 3-5 feet, and water in Bayou False rose to within
several inches of the top of the retaining levee. Although flood conditions required that numerous
families be evacuated to higher ground no loss of life has been reported. In Jefferson County damage to
property has been estimated at $15,000 and to crops $175,000. About 5 percent of the rice crop in this
county was lost as a result of the storm. In the Galveston-Freeport area damage, mostly to buildings,
amounted to about $5,000" (MWR). "A tropical disturbance that had dissipated practically all of its
wind force by the time it reached the Cameron-Vermillion Parish coast line on the 19th, in its north-
northeastward course, brought some of the heaviest rainfall of record to the extreme southern parishes
during the 5-day period from the 16th to the 20th" (Louisiana). "Due to persistent high pressure and cool
air to the northward, the storm lost force and was deflected toward the Louisiana coast, where it passed
inland with greatly diminished intensity late on the 19th. Tides were moderately high along the Texas
coast and gale winds, ranging upward to a gust velocity of 63 miles per hour at Freeport, were reported
from Upper Coastal Stations. Property losses, principally in the Port Arthur area, amounted to about
$30,000; crops, mostly ride, were damaged to the extent of about $194,000 in the extreme eastern
portion of the State. The largest loss, however, was due to suspension of business, a loss impossible to
calculate" (Texas).
September 20: HWM indicates an open low near 26.5N, 93.5W. A warm front was located a few
hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. Storm indicated in Tracks of Lows to be in NW Gulf with no
specific location. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Timing and location of genesis for storm 6 is unchanged at 18 UTC on September 15. Minor position
changes were introduced on the 16th through the 20th, with the most significant change late on the 19th.
A counterclockwise loop is still indicated to have occurred on the 17th and 18th, with closest approach to
Freeport, Texas around 00Z on the 17th (compared with 06Z on the 17th farther from the city in HURDAT
originally) consistent with their peak observations. The intensity at genesis time was lowered from 60kt
to 40kt because there were not any observations to show it instantaneously became a strong tropical
storm as originally described in HURDAT. Given the lack of inner core data on the 17th during the time
of peak intensity of 85 kt, this value is unchanged in HURDAT. Transition to a hurricane is estimated to
have occurred around 12 UTC on the 16th, 12 hours later than originally shown in HURDAT. No specific
confirmation of hurricane intensity was obtained, though the 54 kt NE wind at Freeport on the 17th likely
outside of the inner core of the cyclone is suggestive that hurricane intensity was achieved. A front
along the Gulf coast on September 18 brought cool, dry air with it that may have contributed to the
weakening of the storm. It also may have started extratropical transition on this day, but observations
are not sufficient to indicate an extratropical stage at any point in its lifetime. HURDAT had this storm
dissipating inland over the coast of Louisiana on the 20th after 06 UTC after making landfall as a minimal
tropical storm. The Original Monthly Records were obtained for Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, LA as
well as for Port Arthur, TX, as these were the closest stations to where the system is supposed to have
made landfall. The data are ambiguous as to whether a very weak system made landfall on the 19th.
The data are somewhat more clear that the system was offshore over the Gulf of Mexico around 06 and
12Z on the 20th - again very weak - based on the wind speeds and directions from the coastal stations. In
addition to this, the MWR Track of Lows had a similar dissipation at the coast and Conner (1956) and
Dunn and Miller (1960) both mentioned that the storm had remained offshore. All these observations
indicated storm 6 dissipated after 12 UTC on the 20th and never made it inland. One additional six hour
period (12 UTC on the 20th) is added to HURDAT based upon observations of the curvature and speed of
the winds in Louisiana and eastern Texas, suggesting that a weak closed low still existed offshore. There
was no trace of the cyclone in the Historical Weather Maps on the 21st.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm #7 - Revised 2013
32120 09/28/1943 M= 4 7 SNBR= 709 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
32120 09/28/1943 M= 5 7 SNBR= 709 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
*
32125 09/28* 0 0 0 0*290 658 35 0*300 663 35 0*315 670 40 0*
32125 09/28* 0 0 0 0*290 658 35 0*300 663 35 0*315 667 40 0*
***
32130 09/29*327 677 40 0*338 685 45 0*346 693 45 0*352 701 50 0*
32130 09/29*327 671 40 0*338 675 45 0*346 682 45 0*352 692 50 0*
*** *** *** ***
32135 09/30*357 709 50 0*361 717 50 0*364 724 50 0*367 737 45 0*
32135 09/30*357 704 50 0*361 717 50 0*365 730 55 0*370 745 55 0*
*** *** *** ** *** *** **
32140 10/01*378 750 35 0*388 757 30 0*398 763 25 0* 0 0 0 0*
32140 10/01*377 757 55 997*385 766 45 0*395 768 35 0*405 770 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
(The 2nd is new to HURDAT)
32142 10/02*415 772 25 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32145 TS
U.S. Continental Tropical Storms:
---------------------------------
#/Date Time Lat Lon Max State
Wind Landfall
7-10/1/1943 0000Z 37.4N 75.6W 55kt VA
Minor track changes and major alterations to the intensity of storm 7, as originally shown in McAdie et
al. (2009). Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship
database, Climatological Data, the Original Monthly Records, NHC microfilm maps, and the Monthly
Weather Review.
September 27: HWM shows a NE-SW oriented stationary frontal boundary near Bermuda. Microfilm
indicates an open low near 30N 65W with a frontal boundary extending NE-SW through the low. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 28: HWM indicates an open low near 28.5N, 65.5W with a NNE-SSW oriented frontal
boundary extending through it. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 35kt winds at 30N, 66.3W at
12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 32N, 69W (am) with a pressure of 1011mb. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "Place where first
reported: Near Bermuda. Coast lines crossed: Maryland and Virginia. Intensity: Not of hurricane
intensity. Remarks: Estimated damage Norfolk-Cape Charles area, property $5,000, crops $15,000"
(MWR). "Forming as a weak wave southwest of Bermuda on the 28th, this storm developed gale winds as
it moved northwestward and passed inland over the coasts of Maryland and Virginia during the
afternoon and evening of September 30" (MWR).
September 29: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm near 34.8N, 68.5W with a warm frontal boundary
extending northeast from the center. HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 34.6N,
69.3W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates an open low near 30N 68W. Microfilm indicates a low of at most
1011 mb near 34N 68W with frontal boundaries extending east and south-southwest of the center. The
MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 32N, 69W (am) with a pressure of 1011mb. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "No damaging storms occurred
during October except a storm of tropical origin which began on the night of September 29th and ended
on October 1st. Gales and heavy downpours of rain caused considerable damage to crops in the Norfolk
and Cape Charles areas, and high tides with the rain caused flooding of some streets in the downtown
portion of Norfolk. One small ship and several small boats were sunk. Property damage was estimated
to be $5,000 and crop damage about $15,000" (CD).
September 30: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 34N, 74W. A
warm frontal boundary is analyzed to be a couple hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists
this as a Tropical Storm with 50kt winds at 36.4N, 72.4W at 12Z. Microfilm indicates a closed low of at
most 1008 mb near 36N 73W with frontal boundaries extending east and south of the center. The MWR
Tracks of lows showed a center at 36N, 73W (am) with a pressure of 1001mb and at 37N, 75W (pm).
Ship highlights: 40kt N with a pressure of 1004mb at 37.5N, 75.5W at 17Z (COA); 35kt NE with a pressure
of 1004mb at 38.5N, 70.5W at 01Z (COA); 45kt NW at 36.5N, 74.5W at 17Z (COA). Station highlights:
52kt E (5 min) and 61 kt E (1 min) at 23Z at Atlantic City (39.4N, 74.4W) (OMR); 48kt NW (5 min) and 56
kt NW (1 min) at Cape Henry at 20Z (36.9N, 76W) (OMR). "On the night of September 30th gale winds did
great damage along the Eastern Shore in the vicinity of Cape Charles. One ship was lost and several
small boats were sunk at their moorings. One death was attributed to the storm" (CD). "In the early
afternoon, Cape Henry, Va., reported a maximum wind velocity of 56mph (extreme 66) from a
northwesterly direction. The lowest pressure recorded at that station, 1003.1 mb (29.62 inches) was
registered about 8pm. Wind gusts of approximately 60mph were experienced during the afternoon at
Norfolk Airport" (MWR).
October 1: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1010mb at 39N, 77W. A warm frontal
boundary is analyzed to be a couple hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as a
Tropical Storm with 25kt winds at 39.8N, 76.3W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at
38N, 76.5W (am) with a pressure of 1008mb and at 41N, 76W (pm - last position). Ship highlights: 50kt
SE with a pressure of 1006mb at 38.5N, 73.5W at 01Z (COA); 5kt N with a pressure of 997mb at 37.5N,
76.5W at 01Z (COA). Station highlights: 1003mb at 01Z and 40 kt NW (5 min) at 00Z at Cape Henry
(36.9N, 76W) (OMR); 49 kt NE (5 min) at 00Z at Atlantic City (OMR). "In the Norfolk and Cape Charles
areas gales and heavy downpours of rain caused considerable damage to crops, and high tides with the
rain caused flooding of some streets in the downtown portion of Norfolk. One small ship and several
small boats were sunk. Property damage was estimated at $5,000 and crop damage at about $15,000"
(MWR).
October 2: HWM analyzes a cold frontal boundary extending from New England down to the
southeastern United States. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or
low pressures.
No changes were made to the genesis position or location of this system at 06 UTC on the 28th of
September. Minor changes were made to the track of the storm for all days of its existence, based upon
ship and station observations. The most significant alterations to position were made at 06 and 12 UTC
on the 29th to the east of the original HURDAT. No changes were made to the intensity on the 28th
through 06 UTC on the 30th.
Landfall is estimated to have occurred in Virginia around 00 UTC on the 1st of October near 37.7N
75.7W. A ship on October 1st near the time of landfall near or in Chesapeake Bay (the positions of the
ship were rounded to the nearest 0.5 degree latitude/longitude) had a pressure of 997mb with only 5kt
winds. A 997 mb central pressure suggests maximum winds of 53kt from Landsea et al. north of 35N
pressure-wind relationship. Highest observed 1 min winds were 61 kt E in Atlantic City and 56 kt NW at
Cape Henry. The Atlantic City anemometer is 52 m above the ground, while Cape Henry's is 16 m.
These winds then adjust to 10 m values of 54 kt and 55 kt, respectively, for Atlantic City and Cape Henry.
Landfall intensity is estimated to be 55 kt. This is a major increase from the 35 kt originally shown in
HURDAT at the 00 UTC 1st slot. 55 kt is also the peak intensity for the cyclone, which is an increase from
the 50 kt originally shown in HURDAT. The system dissipated after 00 UTC on October 2nd, 12 hours later
than originally shown HURDAT. It is of note that this system was associated with a non-negligible
temperature gradient across the system on the synoptic scale as well as rather substantial pre-existing
cold air advection along the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, as seen in the twelve hourly analyses conducted. On
the other hand, the cyclone came ashore with a sizable inner core increase in dewpoint and the inner
core temperature gradient was small. It is possible that the cyclone never obtained true tropical cyclone
(or even subtropical cyclone) characteristics. Given the ambiguity involved in this hybrid type system
and the observational capabilities available at the time, the cyclone will remain as a tropical storm in
HURDAT.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm #8 - Revised 2013
32150 10/01/1943 M= 4 8 SNBR= 710 NOT NAMED XING=0
32150 10/01/1943 M= 3 8 SNBR= 710 NOT NAMED XING=0
*
32155 10/01* 0 0 0 0*263 583 60 0*278 608 60 0*288 622 60 0*
32155 10/01* 0 0 0 0*240 607 60 0*260 620 60 0*280 634 60 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32160 10/02*303 636 60 0*323 649 60 0*343 659 55 0*364 660 55 0*
32160 10/02*300 650 55 0*320 666 50 0*343 675 45 0*370 675 45 0*
*** *** ** *** *** ** *** ** *** *** **
32165 10/03*384 649 50 0*402 632 45 0*418 609 45 0E432 582 40 0*
32165 10/03*400 660 45 0E435 630 45 0E480 590 45 0E530 555 40 0*
*** *** ** **** *** **** *** *** ***
(The 4th is removed from HURDAT.)
32170 10/04E445 551 35 0E455 534 35 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32175 TS
Major track changes but minor alterations to the intensity, as originally shown in McAdie et al. (2009).
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ships
database, and the Monthly Weather Review.
September 28: HWM indicates an open low near 11.5N, 52.5W. Ship highlights: No gales or low
pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "Winds of gale force probably developed at sea"
(MWR).
September 29: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 14N, 52W. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
September 30: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 19N, 54W. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 1: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 25.5N, 59.5W.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 60tk winds at 27.8N, 60.8W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows
showed a center at 29.5N, 62W (am) with a pressure of 999mb and at 31.5N, 64W (pm). Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "This disturbance was first
noticed some distance southeast of Bermuda, and after passing slightly west of that island on October 1-
2, curved to the northeastward and lost its identity in the North Atlantic near 45N and 55W. At 7:30pm
(EST) on October 1, Bermuda reported a wind of force 7 (32-38mph)" (MWR).
October 2: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 34N, 67W. HURDAT
lists this as a Tropical Storm with 55kt winds at 34.3N, 65.9W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a
center at 35N, 65W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb and at 37N, 64W (pm). Ship highlights: No gales or
low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 3: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 47.5N, 58.5W.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 45kt winds at 41.8N, 60.9W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows
showed a center at 39.5N, 58W (am - last position) with a pressure of 1002mb. Ship highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Genesis for this storm is unchanged at 06Z on October 1st, though the rather sparsely spaced
observations suggest that a closed low east of the Lesser Antilles may have been present a day or two
earlier. The positions were altered significantly throughout the whole lifetime of the cyclone, with
major shifts on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th of October. In particular on the 3rd, the track was shifted considerably
towards the north-northeast. The Historical Weather Maps provided notable station and ship
observations that clearly demonstrated the storm was located just off the coast of Nova Scotia instead
of over the ocean, nearly 400 nm away. HURDAT begins the system as a 60 kt tropical storm, which
certainly would not be reflecting its true genesis intensity (which would have been weaker and earlier in
time). 60 kt is its peak intensity, which is unaltered due to lack of inner core observations on the 1st.
Indeed, there were no observations confirming that the system was a tropical storm, due to the very
sparse nature of ship measurements available. The 12Z October 3rd analysis indicates that the cyclone
had become embedded within a frontal boundary and was extratropical before making landfall in
Canada. (While the HWM map for the 3rd suggests that the cyclone was still in the warm sector south of
the frontal boundary, the reanalyzed position is northwest of the HWM cyclone position placing the
center essentially along the front.) The time for extratropical transition is now estimated to be around
06Z on the 3rd, 12 hours earlier than what was described in HURDAT. Dissipation is indicated after 18
UTC on the 3rd, twelve hours earlier than HURDAT, as the system was absorbed within the frontal
boundary.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm #9 - Revised 2013
32180 10/11/1943 M= 8 9 SNBR= 711 NOT NAMED XING=1
32180 10/11/1943 M= 7 9 SNBR= 711 NOT NAMED XING=0
* *
32185 10/11* 0 0 0 0*136 599 45 0*137 606 50 0*138 613 50 0*
32185 10/11* 0 0 0 0*127 605 45 0*127 610 50 0*128 615 50 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32190 10/12*138 622 55 0*138 633 60 0*138 643 65 0*138 650 70 0*
32190 10/12*128 620 55 0*129 625 60 0*130 630 65 0*132 635 70 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32195 10/13*139 657 70 0*141 669 75 0*147 676 75 0*152 679 75 0*
32195 10/13*134 640 70 0*136 645 75 0*140 650 75 0*145 655 75 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32200 10/14*158 680 75 0*166 681 80 0*175 682 80 0*181 682 80 0*
32200 10/14*151 660 75 0*157 665 80 0*165 670 80 0*175 675 80 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32205 10/15*190 683 80 0*205 684 85 0*220 685 85 0*235 686 90 0*
32205 10/15*187 680 80 0*200 684 85 0*215 685 85 0*231 685 90 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32210 10/16*250 687 90 0*267 688 95 0*287 689 95 0*310 690 95 0*
32210 10/16*248 684 90 0*266 682 95 0*287 680 95 0*310 678 95 0*
*** *** *** *** *** ***
32215 10/17*336 688 60 0*370 684 45 0E405 680 40 0E446 665 35 0*
32215 10/17*336 675 60 0*370 670 45 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
*** ***
(The 18th is removed from HURDAT.)
32220 10/18E480 670 35 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32225 HR
Major track and intensity changes from that originally shown in HURDAT in McAdie et al. (2009).
Evidence for these alterations comes from the Historical Weather Maps series, the COADS ship
database, and the Monthly Weather Review, the Climatological Data for West Indies and Caribbean
Section, Perez (1971), and Boose et al. (2004).
October 10: HWM indicates an open low near 13N 62W. Ship highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 11: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 12.5N, 61.5W.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 50kt winds at 13.7N, 60.6W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Station highlights: 35-45 kt at ~15Z at St. Lucia (West Indies and Caribbean
Climatological Data). "A moderate disturbance that moved westward through the Windward Islands
near Santa Lucia on the 11th, turned northward near longitude 68W, passed through Mona Passage,
accompanied by hurricane winds, and continued on an almost straight northerly course to the Atlantic
coast, where it passed inland near Maine-New Brunswick border with greatly decreased intensity. No
gale winds were reported along the Maine coast" (MWR). "Place where first reported: East of Lesser
Antilles. Maximum wind velocity reported: Beaufort force 8 (39-46 mph) from south at Bermuda on Oct.
16 at 730pm EST. Intensity: Full hurricane. Remarks: No ship losses or damage reported" (MWR). "...a
tropical disturbance...first appeared in the vicinity of St. Lucia, on October 11th, passing a short distance
to the south of that island before noon, with highest winds on St. Lucia, 40 to 50 miles per hour" (West
Indies and Caribbean Climatological Data).
October 12: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1010mb near 12.9N, 64.6W.
HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 65kt winds at 13.8N, 64.3W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 13: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 14N, 67W.
HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 75kt winds at 14.7N, 67.6W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "the center of the disturbance
apparently moved true west during the next 30 hours, becoming almost stationary on the 13th in
approximately latitude 15N, longitude 68W. The disturbance began recurvature on the 13th" (West
Indies and Caribbean Climatological Data).
October 14: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 16.4N, 67W.
HURDAT lists this as a Category 1 hurricane with 80kt winds at 17.5N, 68.2W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 1002mb at San Juan (18.5N, 66W) on Oct.15 at 00Z (Perez).
"Hurricane of small size and intensity. First tropical cyclone covered by aircraft reconnaissance from the
San Juan Hurricane Forecast area...Western Puerto Rico recorded 60mph winds, high seas, and flooding
the night of Oct. 14th. Houses were unroofed at Cabo Rojo, Maygues, Aguadilla. Heavy rains after the
passage of hurricane produced floods at Salinas, Ponce, Caguas, Bayamon. The coffee crop in central
and western parts of Puerto Rico, that was ready for harvest, suffered great losses. No deaths in Puerto
Rico, and no damages in eastern Puerto Rico. San Juan obs: Oct. 14th, 8pm: 1002mb (lowest barometer),
wind S 12kt; maximum wind SE 23kt at 9:30am, rainfall 3.69". Rainfall readings Oct. 14-15: Yauco, 7.20",
Coamo, 9.78", Aguirre, 10.53", Cidra, 11.16", Adjuntas, 11.27", Guayabal, 15.43", Toro Negro, 17.60".
(Perez). "1943 Oct. 14. S. Calixto II, F1 maximum damage (50-68 kt sustained winds)" (Boose et al).
"...with accelerated movement, move northward, passing through the middle of Mona Passage during
the afternoon of the 14th into the Atlantic, east of the Bahamas" (West Indies and Caribbean
Climatological Data).
October 15: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 995mb near 22N, 67.5W. HURDAT
lists this as a Category 2 hurricane with 85kt winds at 22N, 68.5W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows
showed a center at 21N, 66W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb and at 25N, 66W (pm). Ship highlights: No
gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 16: HWM indicates a Hurricane with a pressure of at most 995mb near 29N, 69.5W. HURDAT
lists this as a Category 2 hurricane with 95kt winds at 28.7N, 68.9W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows
showed a center at 30.5N, 67W (am) with a pressure of 1000mb and at 34N, 67W (pm). Ship highlights:
No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures. "Bermuda reported a wind of
force 8 (39-46mph) as the storm passed about 150 miles west of that island on October 16" (MWR).
October 17: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 995mb near 41N, 67W with a
dissipating cold front just west of the cyclone. HURDAT lists this as an Extratropical Storm with 40kt
winds at 40.5N, 68W at 12Z. The MWR Tracks of lows showed a center at 41N, 68W with a pressure of
1000mb and at 47N, 67W (pm - last position). Ship highlights: 10kt SW with a pressure of 1000mb at
43.5N, 70.5W at 17Z (COA); 45kt SW with a pressure of 1004mb at 41.5N, 71.5W at 21Z (COA). Station
highlights: 35kt S at Bermuda (32.4N, 64.7W) at 0030Z (MWR).
October 18: HWM indicates a large extratropical low near 52N 82W with an occluded front extending
east of the cyclone. Ship highlights: 15kt NW with a pressure of 1002mb at 42.5N, 71.5W at 01Z (COA).
Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Time of genesis was maintained at 06 UTC on October 11th. Position changes were introduced for all
days in HURDAT with major alterations made on the 13th and the 14th. HURDAT showed an unrealistic
storm track moving initially westward in a straight line and then making a sharp northerly turn on the
13th. Utilizing available ship and land stations around the Lesser Antilles, the track was then changed to
have a slower and more diagonal movement. Intensity of 50 kt listed in HURDAT on the 11th while
passing south of St. Lucia is consistent with observations from that island, so no alterations made to the
maximum winds on that date. Observations are too sparse on the 12th through the 14th to reliably
assess the intensity, thus no intensity changes are made on those dates either. While making a close by-
pass west of Puerto Rico around 00 UTC on the 15th, the intensity is listed in HURDAT of 80 kt originally.
This is consistent with the impacts mentioned in Perez (1971) and the assessment by Boose et al. (2004)
of Category 1 conditions to have affected the western coast of the island. Thus no changes are made to
the intensities on the 15th as well. (According to the Perez (1971) report, this was the first tropical
cyclone covered by aircraft reconnaissance within the San Juan Hurricane Forecast area, though no
details were available on what the aircraft observed.) After moving into the Atlantic, HURDAT originally
showed the system peaking at 95 kt on the 16th. While such an intensification while quickly accelerating
to the north is not typical, there are not observations available to adjust HURDAT's intensities. Thus no
changes are made to the maximum winds for the remainder of the cyclone's lifetime on the 16th and
17th as well. Changes were also made to the dissipation of the system, originally becoming extratropical
on October 17th at 12 UTC and dissipating after October 18th at 00 UTC. It is noted that the HWM
analysis at this time indicated the cyclone was east of Massachusetts (and a frontal boundary).
However, a 25 kt south wind at Nantucket on the 17th at 12 UTC strongly suggests that the cyclone likely
no longer had a closed circulation any longer. Thus dissipation is now shown after 06 UTC on the 17th,
with no extratropical transition, as the system remained in the warm sector of a large extratropical
cyclone until dissipation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Storm #10 - Revised 2013
32230 10/20/1943 M= 4 10 SNBR= 712 NOT NAMED XING=0 L
32230 10/20/1943 M= 7 10 SNBR= 712 NOT NAMED XING=0 L
*
32235 10/20* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*155 803 35 0*
32235 10/20* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*160 810 25 0*162 814 30 0*
*** *** ** *** *** **
32240 10/21*160 809 35 0*164 816 40 0*167 824 40 0*171 835 40 0*
32240 10/21*164 819 35 0*166 824 40 0*167 830 40 0*167 837 40 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32245 10/22*173 848 40 0*173 863 40 0*168 878 40 0*161 888 35 0*
32245 10/22*168 846 40 0*169 856 40 0*170 865 40 0*172 871 35 0*
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
32250 10/23*153 890 35 0*150 905 30 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0*
32250 10/23*175 876 35 0*178 878 35 0*180 880 35 0*180 882 35 0*
*** *** *** *** ** *** *** ** *** *** **
(The 24th to the 26th are new to HURDAT.)
32252 10/24*179 883 35 0*177 880 35 0*175 875 35 0*174 870 35 0*
32253 10/25*173 864 35 0*173 857 35 0*173 850 35 0*175 843 35 0*
32254 10/26*177 836 35 0E180 828 35 0E182 820 35 0E183 810 30 0*
32255 TS
Major changes to the track, but minor alterations to the intensity of storm 10, originally shown in
McAdie et al. (2009). A major change was made to the dissipation of the storm, originally dissipating in
Belize on October 23 at 06 UTC, now suggested to have made a loop near the Belize coast and dissipated
after 18 UTC on the 26th south of Cuba. Another major alteration is indicating an extratropical phase on
the 26th. Evidence for these alterations comes from Historical Weather Map series, the COADS ship
database, and the Monthly Weather Review.
October 18: HWM indicates an open low near 17N 81W with a cold front just north of the low. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 19: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 16.5N, 81W with a
dissipating stationary front a couple hundred nm northeast of the cyclone. Ship highlights: No gales or
low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 20: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 15.5N, 81W. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 21: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 16.5N, 83W.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds at 16.7N, 82.4W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Station highlights: 30kt NE with a pressure of 1004mb at Swan Islands (17.4N, 84W) at
12Z (HWM). "During October 21 and 22 a tropical disturbance, of moderate gale force, moved through
the western Caribbean south of Swan Island into the Gulf of Honduras, and dissipated near the east
coast of Guatemala" (MWR).
October 22: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1000mb near 18N, 86W.
HURDAT lists this as a Tropical Storm with 40kt winds at 16.8N, 87.8W at 12Z. Ship highlights: No gales
or low pressures. Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
October 23: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 16.8N, 88W. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 10kt N with a pressure of 1005mb at Corozal
(18.5N, 88.3W) at 12Z (HWM).
October 24: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 18N, 86W. Ship
highlights: No gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 10kt NW with a pressure of 1004mb at Belize
City (17.5N, 88.3W) at 12Z (HWM).
October 25: HWM indicates a Tropical Storm with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 19N, 84W. A cold
front is approaching the system a few hundred nm northwest of the cyclone. Ship highlights: a pressure
of 1004mb at 26.5N, 80.5W at 17Z (COA). Station highlights: 15kt SE with a pressure of 1004mb at Swan
Islands (17.4N, 84W) at 12Z (HWM). "Three additional tropical disturbances developed during October,
one in the Gulf of Mexico on the 1st-2nd, and two in the western Caribbean region on the 25th. They were
apparently of slight intensity and are not included in the table or chart of tracks" (MWR). "Three
additional tropical disturbances developed during October ...two in the western Caribbean region on the
25th. They were apparently of slight intensity and are not included in the table or chart of tracks"
(MWR).
October 26: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 20N, 80W with a cold
front extending southwest and a stationary front extending north-northeast of the cyclone. Ship
highlights: no gales or low pressures. Station highlights: 10kt NNE with a pressure of 1004mb at Grand
Cayman (19.3N 81.5W) at 12Z (HWM).
October 27: HWM indicates a closed low with a pressure of at most 1005mb near 27N, 75W with a
frontal boundary extending north-south through the low. Ship highlights: 15kt WNW with a pressure of
1003mb at 28.5N, 80.5W at 01Z (COA). Station highlights: No gales or low pressures.
Genesis was begun at 12 UTC on October 20, 6 hours earlier than originally described in HURDAT,
because there are enough station observations to indicate a closed circulation. Moderate position
changes are made on the 20th to the 22nd and major changes on the 23rd. The original track in HURDAT
had the storm moving into Belize on October 22 and dissipating on October 23. However, the Historical
Weather Maps and numerous ship observations clearly confirm that the storm actually made landfall in
Belize briefly, made a minimal cyclonic loop and went back over the Caribbean. Swan Island recorded 30
kt ENE with 1004 mb pressure at 12 UTC on the 21st. This suggests maximum winds of at least 39 kt
from the Brown et al. south of 25N pressure-wind relationship. 40 kt is retained in HURDAT, due to the
low environmental pressures. The tropical storm made landfall around 12 UTC on the 23rd near the
Belize/Mexico border near 18.0N 88.0W. Observations on the 24th indicate that the cyclone was back
over the northwestern Caribbean and it maintained a closed circulation. Belize City recorded NW 10 kt
wind with 1004 mb pressure at 12 UTC on the 24th. Swan Island measured SE 15 kt with 1004 mb
pressure at 12 UTC on the 25th. Intensity is estimated to be 35 kt on both days, which was maintained
until just before the storm's dissipation. The storm continued an east-northeast track through October
26. Around 06 UTC on the 26th, a frontal boundary reached the cyclone and it is then that the system is
estimated to have become extratropical. The storm was completely dissipated after 18 UTC on October
26th, as the cyclone became absorbed within the frontal boundary. While the extratropical transition is
rather unclimatological in latitude, the available data is supportive that the low observed on the October
26th HWM along the frontal boundary is indeed the former tropical cyclone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Notes:
1. June 5-7: Historical Weather Maps indicated a closed low with a pressure of at most 1010mb formed
off the northwestern coast of Colombia, near 13N, 78W on June 5th. The low slowly moved towards the
west for the next two days. It remained off the coast of Nicaragua and dissipated on June 7th. A 30kt
peak was found in COADS. No gales were found in the Historical Weather Maps, Monthly Weather
Review or COADS.
DAY LAT LONG STATUS
June 5 13N 78W Low
June 6 12N 81W Low
June 7 12.5N 81W Low
2. June 23-27: Historical Weather Maps indicated a closed low with a pressure of at most 1015mb just
off the southeast coast of Florida, near 27N, 79W on June 23rd. The low - likely a tropical depression -
drifted slowly northward for the next couple of days. It went inland near the Florida/Georgia border late
on the 26th/early on 27th and dissipated near 32N, 85W on June 28th. The Florida Climatological Data
reported that Jacksonville had its lowest pressure for the month (1013 mb on the 27th) and peak 5 min
winds (18 kt S on the 28th), but described no impacts nor other note of the system. The Georgia
Climatological Data reported that Savannah had its lowest pressure for the month (1011 mb on the 27th)
and peak 5 min wind (27 kt E on the 27th), but again described no impacts nor other note of the system.
(Note that while the central pressure of this system is rather high, so are the surrounding environmental
pressures, especially to the east of the system.) A peak of 25kt was found in COADS. No gales were
found in Historical Weather Maps, Monthly Weather Review or COADS. Thus with no indication of
tropical storm intensity, the system is not added into HURDAT.
DAY LAT LONG STATUS
June 23 27N 79W Tropical Depression
June 24 28N 78W Tropical Depression
June 25 29N 80W Tropical Depression
June 26 30N 81W Tropical Depression
June 27 31N 83W Tropical Depression
3. September 1-2: The NHC microfilm maps indicated a weak low moved westward across the Central
Caribbean on the 1st and 2nd of September. The Historical Weather Maps and COADS ship database
were obtained. However, these additional data and analyses do not support that a tropical cyclone
occurred on these dates. Instead, a tropical wave is analyzed for both dates and thus this system is not
added into HURDAT.
DAY LAT LONG STATUS
September 1 ----- 65W Tropical Wave
September 2 ----- 73W Tropical Wave
4. September 19-20: The NHC microfilm maps indicated that a weak low moved across southeastern
Mexico and Central America from southwest to northeast late on the 19th and 20th of September. The
Historical Weather Maps and COADS ship database were obtained. However, these additional data and
analyses do not support that a tropical cyclone occurred on these dates. Instead, a weak trough is
analyzed for both dates and thus this system is not added into HURDAT.
DAY LAT LONG STATUS
September 19 ----- 92W Trough
September 20 ----- 88W Trough
5. October 1-5: Historical Weather Maps indicated that a low formed in the Caribbean, south of the
eastern tip of Cuba on October 1st. The low moved north on the 2nd with a pressure of at most 1005mb
and moved slowly towards the northeast the next two days. It was then picked up by a front crossing
Florida on the 5th. No gales were found in Historical Weather Maps, Monthly Weather Review. A peak
wind of 25kt was found in COADS.
DAY LAT LONG STATUS
October 1 20N 85W Low
October 2 25N 83W Low
October 3 27N 81W Low
October 4 28N 78W Low
October 5 25N 80W? Front