1933 Outer Banks Hurricane

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Outer Banks Hurricane
Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Wind damage in North Carolina.

Wind damage in North Carolina.
Formed September 8, 1933
Dissipated September 21, 1933
Highest
winds
140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure 957 mbar (hPa; 28.27 inHg)
Fatalities 21-39 direct, 2 missing
Damage $1 million (1933 USD)
$16 million (2006 USD)
Areas
affected
North Carolina, Virginia
Part of the
1933 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1933 Outer Banks Hurricanne was the 13th storm, 6th hurricane and 4th major hurricane of the very active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The hurricane formed on September 8, 1933 where it moved in a similar track to the 1933 Chesapeke-Potomac Hurricane a month earlier. The hurricane reached a peak intensity of 120 mph (193 km/h) and a low barometric pressure of 957 millibars before hitting the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The storm later turned north-eastward and hit Nova Scotia.

Like the Chesapeke-Potomac Hurricane a month earlier, the September Hurricane caused severe damage along the Outer Banks, while the damage in Virginia was minimal. There was considerable damage also in New England. In all the hurricane left 21-39 people dead and over $1 million dollars (1933 USD, $13.5 million 2005 USD) in damage.

Contents

[edit] Storm history

Storm path
Storm path

A tropical storm formed on September 8 , east of the Leeward Islands and was not detected until September 10. By that time the storm was already a category 1 hurricane. The storm then turned on a west-northwest trajectory as it reached category 2 status. The hurricane maintained that status for three days until it reached category 3 status on September 14. The next day, the hurricane reached a peak intensity of 120 mph (193 km/h) and an estimated low pressure of 957 millibars before making landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the 16th as a category 1 storm.[1] [2]

After grazing the Outer Banks, the hurricane paralleled the northeast coast of the United States before making a second landfall in Nova Scotia as a strong tropical storm. The hurricane then became extratropical over Newfoundland. [1]

[edit] Preparations

On September 14, forecasters issued storm warnings from Jacksonville, Florida to Beaufort, North Carolina. Hours later, the warnings were extended to Virginia. As the storm moved closer to land, forecasters predicted that the hurricane would hit North Carolina in 12 hours. Because of this, hurricane and gale warnings were issued from North Carolina to Boston, Massachusetts. [2]

[edit] Impact

In North Carolina, the hurricane produced 68 mph (109 km/h) winds with 76 mph (122 km/h) gusts. The winds caused severe tree and roof damage. Heavy rains brought by the hurricane caused localized flooding. In some places water reached up to 4 feet. The combined wind and flooding caused 21-39 fatalities and $1 million dollars (1933 USD) in damage in North Carolina. In Virginia, winds up to 68 mph (109 km/h) was reported near Norfolk, in Cape Henry, the winds up to 88 mph (142 km/h) were reported. Along the Virginia coast, tides reached 8.3 feet above normal. [3] There were no fatalities due to advanced warnings. [2] In New England the the hurricane brought 54 mph (87 km/h) winds and rainfall of 9.92 inches (252 mm). In Cape Cod, the storm brought 13.27 inches (337 mm) of rain in a 24 hour period. The state of Maine received rainfall of 3.63 inches (92 mm). Damage in Maine was limited to flooding and two people in a small boat were reported missing. [4]

In Nova Scotia, extratropical remnants of the hurricane brought 60-70 mph (97-113 km/h) sustained winds. In Newfoundland, winds of 45-50 mph (72-80 km/h) were reported. The remnants of the hurricane caused no known damage in Atlantic Canada.[1]

[edit] Records

The 1933 Hurricane set a record of being the earliest 13th atlantic storm to form before October (the storm formed on September 8). [5] That record was broken when Hurricane Maria formed on September 1, 2005. [6]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Weather Underground (2006) Weather Underground 1933 ArchiveURL Accessed; July 31, 2006
  2. ^ a b c National Weather Service (1933)1933 MWR ReportMonthly Weather ReviewURL Accessed; July 31, 2006
  3. ^ NOAA (2006) Virginia Hurricane History; URL Accessed; August 1, 2006
  4. ^ Unknown Maines' Hurricane HistoryURL Accessed; July 31, 2006
  5. ^ Unisys Unisys 1933 ArchiveURL Accessed; July 31, 2006
  6. ^ Unisys Unisys 2005 Hurricane ArchiveURL Accessed; July 31, 2006
Tropical cyclones of the 1933 Atlantic hurricane season
13
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS 1 2 3 4 5