1940 Atlantic hurricane season
1940 Atlantic hurricane season
| First storm formed |
May 19, 1940 |
| Last storm dissipated |
October 26, 1940 |
| Strongest storm |
#5 – 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| Total storms |
8 |
| Hurricanes |
4 |
| Total fatalities |
101 |
| Total damage |
$4.7 million (1940 USD) |
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942 |
The 1940 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1940, and lasted until October 31, 1940.[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. Two flooding storms impacted the southern and eastern United States during August in relatively quick succession.
Storms
Tropical Storm One
| Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
May 19 – May 27 |
| Intensity |
60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), Unknown |
A tropical storm formed and existed entirely during the month of May; an unusual occurrence. It caused no damage or deaths. The time of year, formation and track were very similar to Tropical Depression One in 2009.[2]
Hurricane Two
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 2 – August 10 |
| Intensity |
80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), 972 mbar (hPa) |
At the southern end of a weather front, a frontal wave developed into a tropical storm on August 2 off the coast of Florida. It moved westward, and hit Florida early the next day. The storm continued westward, crossing the Gulf of Mexico while slowly strengthening to an 80 mph (130 km/h) hurricane. The hurricane hit near the Texas/Louisiana border on August 8, and dissipated three days later over Missouri. Prolific rainfall and flooding occurred over Acadiana due to this system, which is one of the wettest on record for the state of Louisiana. Six casualties and $6 million in damage from flooding can be attributed to this hurricane.[3]
Hurricane Three
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 5 – August 14 |
| Intensity |
90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min), 975 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical storm was first observed on August 5, north of the Lesser Antilles. It tracked generally to the northwest, and became a hurricane on August 8. After reaching a peak of 90 mph (140 km/h) winds, the hurricane weakened to a minimal hurricane until hitting near the Georgia/South Carolina border on August 11. It moved slowly northwestward, and became extratropical on August 14 over Kentucky. It drifted eastward, and dropped heavy rain and flooding. The hurricane caused around 100 deaths, 80 from the mountainous flooding, and $3 million in damage at the coastal area of Georgia and South Carolina. Damage estimates are not available from the extratropical remnant.
Hurricane Four
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 30 – September 3 |
| Intensity |
80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), 978 mbar (hPa) |
Discovered as a strengthening tropical storm in late August, Storm Four headed northwest toward the East Coast of the United States. The storm strengthened rather rapidly, its winds increasing to hurricane force and the pressure falling to 978 hectopascals (28.9 inHg) on the same day it was discovered. Brushing North Carolina's Outer Banks, the hurricane turned to the north-northeast, maintaining intensity. After passing offshore of Cape Cod and approaching the Bay of Fundy, the storm winds finally weakened below hurricane force. Storm Four made landfall along the coast of New Brunswick on September 3 as it became extratropical.
Hurricane Five
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 10 – September 18 |
| Intensity |
100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), Unknown |
The strongest storm of the 1940 season formed in the tropical Atlantic a several hundred miles northeast of the Leeward Islands on September 10. The storm passed north of the eastern Greater Antilles on a west-northwestward track, steadily strengthening, becoming a hurricane north of Hispaniola. The hurricane continued to strengthen as it turned north-northeast. Upon reaching Category 2 strength, the storm did not strengthen further. Maintaining heading and intensity for the next two days, cooler water finally weakened the storm on September 15. However, Storm Five maintained hurricane intensity and struck southern Nova Scotia with 75 mph (121 km/h) winds. Continuing northeast as a tropical storm, it eventually became extratropical over Newfoundland. No damage or human fatalities were reported.
Tropical Storm Six
| Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 19 – September 24 |
| Intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min), Unknown |
A tropical storm formed just east of Bluefields, Nicaragua on September 19. It moved northwestward, hitting the country shortly thereafter and reaching the Gulf of Honduras on September 20. Early the next day, the storm made landfall on modern-day Belize, and after crossing the Yucatan Peninsula it moved across the Gulf of Mexico the northwest. As it neared the Texan coast, it slowed and turned to the east, paralleling the Texas and Louisiana coastlines before making landfall on September 24 over southern Louisiana. It dissipated the next day, after causing heavy flooding, amounting to 7 inches (180 mm) in some locations throughout its path.
Tropical Storm Seven
| Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 20 – October 23 |
| Intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), Unknown |
Forming from a late-October disturbance in the southwest Caribbean Sea, Storm Seven never attained winds higher than 50 mph (80 km/h). It moved north and then curved west, impacting Nicaragua as a weak system on October 23. Despite its low intensity, Storm Seven caused considerable damage from freshwater flooding.
Tropical Storm Eight
| Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 24 – October 26 |
| Intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min), Unknown |
Another weak tropical storm formed near the Turks and Caicos islands on October 24. The storm's winds peaked at 45 mph (72 km/h) as it curved northeast out to sea, dissipating a couple days later.
See also
References
External links
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Tropical cyclones of the 1940 Atlantic hurricane season
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