1927 Nova Scotia Hurricane

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1927 Nova Scotia Hurricane

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)

Formed

August 19, 1927

Dissipated

August 26, 1927

Highest
winds

120 mph (195 km/h) (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

950 mbar (hpa)

Damage

$1.1+ million (1927 USD)
$11.5+ million (2005 USD)

Fatalities

184 direct

Areas
affected

New England, Atlantic Canada

Part of the
1927 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1927 Nova Scotia Hurricane (also known as the 1927 Great August Gale or the Great Gale of August 24) was a powerful category 3 hurricane that struck the Canadian Providence of Nova Scotia in mid August of 1927. The first major hurricane of the 1927 Atlantic hurricane season, the storm struck Atlantic Canada as a powerful extratropical storm with winds at 100 mph (161 km/h) where it caused severe damage and left 184 fatalities (mostly at sea). ^[1]

1 Storm history
2 Preparations
3 Impact
- 3.1 New England
- 3.2 Atlantic Canada
4 External links
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Storm history

A possible Cape Verde type hurricane, the storm was detected on August 21, 300 miles east of the Leeward Islands (it had already reached hurricane status on August 19)^[2]^[3] Warmer waters in the Atlantic Ocean allowed the hurricane to rapidly reach Category 3 status on August 22 and a ship reported a barometric pressure of 28.06 inches (950 millibars). The hurricane moved northwestward at a speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) before recurving on August 23. With the center 100 miles (161 km) east of North Carolina, the hurricane moved northeast where it bypassed Nantucket by 100 miles (161 km). The hurricane then made landfall in Nova Scotia on August 24 as a strong extratropical storm with 100 mph (161 km/h) winds. Later the extratropical remnants of the hurricane were tracked as far north as Iceland. ^[4]^[3]

[edit] Preparations

Shipping ahead of the hurricane received repeated warnings broadcasted by both the U.S. and Canadian weather officials. Small craft warnings and a hurricane warning for New York City were also issued.^[3]

[edit] Impact

Because the fast forward speed of the hurricane, the damage was minimal in New England. However, the hurricane was devastating in Atlantic Canada as the storm caused tremendous damage and 184 deaths (mostly at sea). The hurricanes impact was the worst for Atlantic Canada in over a half a century.

[edit] New England

Rainfall from the hurricane caused moderate flooding in New England. Most of the flooding occurred in central Massachusetts. In Maine, dense fog was reported and rainfall up to 2 inches (50.8 mm) fell across the state. The rainfall caused isolated street flooding. In Eastport, Maine a weather station reported a low pressure of 29.04 inches (983 millibars). There were no fatalities and damage in Maine was minimal. ^[4]

[edit] Atlantic Canada

Nova Scotia received heavy rainfall up to 4 inches (102 mm) and gale force winds. In the Annapolis Valley, the rainfall fell so quickly that drainage ditches and small creeks overflowed. The flooding washed out 20-25 percent for the rail lines across Nova Scotia, disrupting rail service. Flooding also damaged numerous roads and swept away bridges making traveling difficult. Crop damage from the hurricane was severe as the storm destroyed 50 percent of the fruit, vegetable and hay harvest. Crop damage from the storm amounted up to $1 million dollars (1927 USD). Other parts of Nova Scotia received similar damage. In Lakeville, flooding washed away a 25 ft bridge and fallen trees and other storm debris littered the streets and roads. The Cornwallis River, overflowed its banks causing serious flash flooding. Tree and bridge damage were also reported throughout Nova Scotia. ^[5]

The town hardest hit by the hurricane was Harbourville and areas near Bay Shore. There the hurricane completely destroyed a gravel road which has been recently built before the storms impact. Another road connecting to a hotel was also severely damaged. Heavy rainfall brought by the hurricane caused landslides and flooding along Harbourville Mountian which washed out numerous roads. Near Harrington’s Crossing, a small creek overflowed its banks, stalling numerous automobiles. ^[5]

Offshore, seventy five fishing boats of the Lunenburg fishing fleet were reported missing in the Grand Banks.^[5] Of the seventy five, four vessels were reported as total losses. ^[6] The Joyce Smith and Clayton Walters were the first two fishing vessels to fall victim to the hurricane. The Joyce Smith was carrying 22 men (mostly from Newfoundland) and it and the Walters were fishing off the coast of Sable Island at the time of the hurricane. The last sighting of the two fishing boats was from the crew of the Marshall Frank 27 miles off Sable Island. Newspaper reports suggested that both fishing boats did not survive the storm and all 43 crewmen perished at sea. ^[7]

The Mahala, another fishing boat was also listed among the ships missing after the hurricane. A search in the area where the ship was reported missing turned up nothing and it was assumed that the ship sank along with its eighteen fishermen. ^[8]

The fourth fishing boat to reported missing was the Una Corkum which was carrying a crew of 21 crew men and 1800 quintals of fish. In all the loss from all four vessels totaled up to 80 and monetary losses from all four ships totaled over $100,000 dollars (1927 USD) ^[9] Four more fishing boats also sank during the hurricane, taking 33 lives. ^[10]

In addition to the Canadian fishing boats, on U.S. fishing vessel, the Columbia carrying 22 crew men (mostly from Nova Scotia) sank during the storm off the coast of Sable Island. There were no survivors. ^[11]