From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1948 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1948, and lasted until November 30, 1948. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
The 1948 season was about average in terms of cyclone formation but above average in terms of more powerful cyclones developing, with 9 tropical storms, 6 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes forming during the year. Some significant storms include a hurricane that hit western Cuba as a category 4 and later clipped the southeast coast of Florida, the northern Bahamas, and Bermuda as a category 2 storm. Another hurricane hit southwest Florida as a category 2 and a category 1 storm hit Louisiana. Tropical storms also hit Haiti, causing about 80 deaths, and the Florida Panhandle.
[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm One
On May 22, a broad area of low pressure south of Hispaniola organized enough to be classified a tropical storm. It moved across the island later that day, causing 80 deaths from drownings. It continued northward, reaching a peak of 50 mph winds before dissipating on May 28 over the northwest Atlantic.
[edit] Tropical Storm Two
An area of disturbed weather over the northern Gulf of Mexico developed into a tropical depression on July 7. It moved northeastward, hitting the Florida Panhandle on July 9. The storm dissipated on July 11 over Tennessee, after causing minor damage from flooding.
[edit] Hurricane Three
The third storm of the season formed over the open Atlantic northeast of Antigua in late August and moved directly northwest, strengthening steadily, eventually reaching major hurricane status. It began weakening as it approached the US coast. As it weakened, it turned sharply northeast and accelerated, passing southeast of the North Carolina Outer Banks. The storm kicked up heavy surf and prompted some evacuations on the low-lying islands. The storm, however, did no damage. It became extratropical as it passed well southeast of Cape Cod.
[edit] Tropical Storm Four
A tropical storm moved through the Lesser Antilles on September 1, bringing heavy but beneficial rains to the islands.
[edit] Hurricane Five
On September 1, a tropical storm formed in the western Gulf of Mexico. It moved northeastward, strengthening to a hurricane on September 3 before hitting southeast Louisiana on September 4. It weakened as it moved north-northeastward, and dissipated on September 7. The hurricane caused $900,000 in damage (1948 dollars).
[edit] Hurricane Six
Storm Six was a Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed from a tropical wave off Africa on September 3 and rapidly strengthened into a hurricane. It moved steadily west-northwest across the Atlantic, gradually strengthening. The storm became a major hurricane while northeast of the Windward Islands. It began to make a broad curve to the north over a three-day period. During that period, the storm continued to strengthen, peaking at Category 4 strength with winds of 135 mph (220 km/h). Shortly after, the hurricane passed almost directly over Bermuda, bringing 100+ mph (160 km/h) winds to the island. Damage was heavy but no figures currently exist. No people are known to have died. The hurricane continued north and curved gently to the northeast, passing south of Cape Race, Newfoundland before becoming extratropical.
[edit] Hurricane Seven
Radar image of the hurricane near
Key West
A tropical wave in the northwestern Caribbean Sea developed into a tropical storm on September 18. It moved northwestward, hitting Cuba south of Havana on September 20. It strengthened to a major hurricane the next day, hit the Florida Keys, and made landfall near Everglades City, Florida on September 21. It weakened over Florida, and turned northeast, becoming extratropical on September 24. The hurricane was responsible for $12 million in damage (1948 dollars) and 3 deaths in Florida and 10 deaths and "several million dollars" in damage in Cuba.
[edit] Hurricane Eight
A tropical storm formed in the Western Caribbean Sea on October 3. It turned northward, hitting western Cuba on October 5 as a major hurricane, an area just hit by a hurricane 2 weeks before. It continued northeastward, reaching a peak of 135 mph (220 km/h) winds before hitting the Florida Keys and southwest Florida on October 5 and early on October 6. Weakening over land, the hurricane passed just south of Bermuda, weakened to a tropical storm, looped northward, and dissipated on October 16. The hurricane caused $11 million in damage (1948 dollars) and 11 casualties.
[edit] Hurricane Nine
The final storm of the season formed in early November over the open ocean southwest of Bermuda and made a curve to the north while slowly strengthening. The storm peaked with 80 mph winds before the center began to fall apart. The weakening storm passed by the Outer Banks with minimal effects before degenrating into a squall line off the Virginia coast early on November 11.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
