User:Mitchazenia/1933 Brownsville Hurricane
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| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Formed | August 28, 1933 | |
| Dissipated | September 5, 1933 | |
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 949 mbar (hPa) (28.03 inHg)[1] |
|
| Damage | $28 million (1933 USD) $38 million (2005 USD) |
|
| Fatalities | At least 179 [2] | |
| Areas affected |
Cuba, Turks & Caicos Islands and Texas | |
| Part of the 1933 Atlantic hurricane season |
||
1933 Brownsville Hurricane was the eleventh storm and fourth hurricane of the 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm affected Cuba as a Category 2 storm and then the Mexico/Texas as a major hurricane killing 179 people.
Contents |
[edit] Storm History
On the morning of August 28 a tropical storm was first seen to the east of the northern Lesser Antilles. It tracked westward, then west-northwestward, passing to the north of the islands as a strengthening tropical storm. On August 30 the storm attained hurricane status as it approached the Turks & Caicos Islands. The hurricane continued to the west-northwest through the southern Bahamas, and paralleled the northern coast of Cuba.
On September 1 the system intensified to a Category 2 hurricane to the north of Havana, and after entering the Gulf of Mexico the storm intensified further to attain major hurricane status on September 2 which is a Category 3 hurricane or stronger. While continuing westward, the hurricane reached a peak intensity of 125 mph and 949 mbar on September 3, and retained that intensity for about 24 hours. At the time, the hurricane was the strongest storm of the season.
On September 4, the hurricane weakened as it approached the Texas coastline, and made landfall just north of Brownsville in [3] early on September 5 as a 120 mph Category 3 storm. The system rapidly weakened as it moved through southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, and dissipated within 24 hours of making landfall over the mainland, over the borderline of Mexico and Texas. The final advisory was released when the system was a minimal tropical storm status of 40 mph winds.[4] [5]
[edit] Preparations
Officials warned citizens along the Texas coastline to remain away from inaccessible places. Because it was predicted to strike on Labor Day weekend, it is estimated that between 6,000 to 10,000 people would have been in unreachable locations, all of whom were potentially at risk.[4]
Corpus Christi officials declared a mandatory evacuation for residents in low-lying areas. Officials also declared Martial law, and set up shelters for the potentially effected citizens. Many businesses also closed during a typically busy Labor Day weekend. Tourists fled the areas fearing the worst. [6]
[edit] Impact
[edit] Texas
The hurricane caused $1.75 million alone in damage in Brownsville, killed 40 people and injured 500 from a storm surge of 13 ft.[7]Many weak buildings were destoyed, most of them at Harlingen, Texas. [8] Padre Island experienced winds gusting up to 80 mph. In Corpus Christi, the storm caused moderate damage, including damaging boats, destroying the causeway from Padre Island to the mainland, and creating cuts in islands along the coast. Corpus Christi flooded with 2' to 3' of rain in the business district. Island was abandoned for ranching on the south half after this storm.[6] Throughout Texas, damage totaled to $17 million (1933 USD).[9] The storm poured 15 inches of rain total in the town of Mercedes in Hidalgo County. [10]
[edit] Other Areas
In the Turks & Caicos islands, the hurricane produced winds of up to 56 mph and a pressure of 996 mbar. The hurricane caused 94 mph winds and a pressure reading of 979 mbar in Havana, Cuba. Throughout Cuba, the hurricane caused great damage[4] amounting to $11 million (1933 USD), and 70 deaths.[11] In Key West, Florida the storm produced a 42 mph wind report and minor damage.[4]
[edit] Aftermath
Many businessmen who expected more severe damage were angry with the meteorologist in charge of the Corpus Christi station, though the National Weather Bureau assured the preparations were needed and saved lives. 90 percent of the citrus crop was destroyed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In McAllen, Texas, a suspension bridge to Mexico collapsed into the Rio Grande River.
Corpus Christi had only moderate damage. Boats suffered damage as did the piers in the area. The business district had 3' of water, and the causeway connecting Padre Island with the mainland was destroyed. Cuts up to a mile wide were made in the island as waters escaped to the Gulf. [12] Damage from the hurricane totaled out to $38 million dollars (2005 USD), with almost 200 people dead and over 500 injured.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.wxresearch.org/family/thurlist.htm
- ^ NHC Deadliest Hurricanes
- ^ http://www.floodsafety.com/texas/USGSdemo/1950to1925.htm- Accessed September 8, 2006
- ^ a b c d Charles L. Mitchell (1933). 1933 Monthly Weather Review. U.S. Weather Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
- ^ Unisys Corporation (2006). 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
- ^ a b c Corpus Christi National Weather Service (2000). Hurricane #11, 1933. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
- ^ http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/brownsville.htm
- ^ http://www.wxresearch.com/thurlist.htm
- ^ David Roth (2000). Texas Hurricane History. National Weather Service. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
- ^ http://www.floodsafety.com/texas/USGSdemo/1950to1925.htm
- ^ Pielke, Rubiera, Landsea, Fernandez, & Klien (2003). Hurricane Vulnerability in Latin America & The Caribbean. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- ^ http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/history/mc_hist.htm -accessed September 8, 2006
