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The 1926 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1926, and lasted until November 30, 1926. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
The 1926 season was relatively average in activity, but was very eventful. The season produced 11 tropical storms, of which 6 became major hurricanes. Notable storms include the Nassau Hurricane, the Miami Hurricane, and the Havana-Bermuda Hurricane.
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane One
- Main article: Nassau Hurricane of 1926
The first storm of the season was a Category 4 hurricane that formed near the Lesser Antilles on July 22 and crossed through the Bahamas on July 26. It weakened as it headed northwestward, brushing the east-central Florida coast as a Category 2, and made landfall near Cocoa Beach, Florida on July 27. It continued across the United States, and became extratropical on August 1 and later dissipated on August 2. The storm caused heavy damage in the Bahamas, as well as heavy rainfall over the southeastern United States. Over 287 people were killed. The storm's lowest recorded pressure was 975 mbar.
[edit] Hurricane Two
The second storm of 1926 formed over the open Atlantic in the latter part of July and intensified as it moved north-northwest. It eventually reached Category 3 strength and passed near Bermuda and continued north, eventually striking Nova Scotia as an extratropical cyclone.
[edit] Hurricane Three
The third hurricane of the season formed in the northwestern Caribbean on August 22 near the Cayman Islands and moved northwest through the Yucatan Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm then turned due north and strengthened into a hurricane. It struck Louisiana as a Category 2 on August 26. It caused $3-4 million in crop damage, with 25 fatalties reported.
[edit] Hurricane Four
A Cape Verde-type hurricane reached Category 4 strength over the open Atlantic Ocean in September. It turned to the northeast, looped, and became extratropical on September 21. A slow moving hurricane, it stayed alive for a very long time, lasting 22 days, from September 2 to September 24.
[edit] Hurricane Five
On September 10 a tropical storm developed over the open Atlantic northeast of the Lesser Antilles. It headed north-northwestward and strengthened, peaking with winds of 100 mph. It turned slowly southeastward and weakened, dissipating on September 15.
[edit] Hurricane Six
- Main article: 1926 Miami hurricane
The most notable storm of the season was the Great Miami Hurricane. It struck Miami directly as a Category 4 hurricane on September 16. The storm surge tore through the city, gutting homes and businesses. Lines of people were washed away. The calm of the eye proved fatal for many who thought the storm was over, for the second half of the storm was worse than the first. 265-350 people were killed, mostly in Florida. Several dozen were killed when the hurricane skimmed the Gulf coasts of the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Mississippi. It is estimated that if the storm would have hit in 2005 it would have caused over $140-157 billion in damage, due to increased population, buildup and property values in the affected area.[1]
[edit] Tropical Storm Seven
A tropical storm was first seen on September 11 in the Caribbean Sea. It curved northeastward, crossed Cuba, turned slowly to the southwest, and grazed the Florida Keys, where it dissipated on September 17.
[edit] Hurricane Eight
The eighth storm of the season formed in the eastern Atlantic on September 21. It moved to the northeast and strengthened. It peaked as a Category 3 hurricane and made a counter-clockwise loop through the Azores Islands as a Category 2. After the loop, it moved south-southeast and weakened, dissipating on October 1.
[edit] Tropical Storm Nine
A weak tropical storm formed in the western Caribbean on October 3 and moved westward. While north of Honduras on October 5, the storm suddenly lost organization and moved sharply southeast, corner-cutting eastern Honduras. The storm dissipated a short time later.
[edit] Hurricane Ten
On October 14 a tropical storm developed in the southwest Caribbean Sea. It moved northward, becoming a major hurricane on the 20th before crossing Cuba and southeast Florida. It headed northeastward, and strengthened into a Category 4 before hitting Bermuda on October 22. It became extratropical on the 23rd.
The hurricanes impact caused severe damage in Cuba and 650 deaths. The hurricane then passed directly over Bermuda where it sank two British warships drowning 88 sailors. Overall the hurricane left 738 people dead and over $100 million dollars (1926 USD) in damage.[1]
[edit] Tropical Storm Eleven
The final storm of the season formed in the Caribbean Sea on November 12. It tracked to the northwest, then curved to the northeast, hitting Cuba on the 16th before dissipating.
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