1939 Atlantic hurricane season

1939 Atlantic hurricane season
Tracking map of five tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean, concentrated near the United States.
Season summary map
First system formed June 12, 1939
Last system dissipated November 6, 1939
Strongest storm1 Five – 140 mph (220 km/h)
Total depressions 10
Total storms 6
Hurricanes 3
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 1
Total fatalities 5
Total damage Unknown
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941

The 1939 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 12, 1939, and lasted until November 7, 1939. These dates mark the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The 1939 season had below normal activity, with only six tropical storms, of which two became hurricanes and one became a major hurricane, equivalent to Category 3 status or higher on the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The first tropical cyclone formed on June 12, and the last dissipated on November 6.

All of the storms affected land to some extent. The first two cyclones of the season made landfall along the coast of the United States, collectively causing only minor damage. Hurricane Five, the strongest of the year, took a northeastern path through the western Atlantic, striking Bermuda on October 16. The fifth and final storm was a minimal hurricane that wrought damage throughout the western Caribbean Sea, most notably in Jamaica and Cuba. The weakest known storm was Tropical Storm Four, with winds of only 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,003 millibars (29.62 inHg).

Timeline

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

Storms

Tropical Storm One

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Weather map, focused on the southeastern United States, depicting the remnant low of Tropical Storm One The track of a storm through the Gulf of Mexico that starts in the western Caribbean and heads north towards the U.S. Gulf Coast
Duration June 12 – June 18
Peak intensity 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 999 mbar (hPa)

The first tropical storm of the season developed in the extreme western Caribbean Sea on June 12.[1][2] Reports of the storm first came from the Mexican Weather Service office in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, and during the afternoon of June 12, vessels just offshore recorded squally conditions and choppy seas.[3] The cyclone moved northward, parallel to the coast of Belize, before moving over the northeastern corner of the Yucatán Peninsula. It continued steadily northward through the Gulf of Mexico, slowly strengthening to a peak of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) on June 14 with a minimum central pressure of 1,000.0 hectopascals (29.53 inHg).[2][3] An area of high pressure to the north caused the storm to execute a counter-clockwise loop. A trough of low pressure turned it back to the north, and the cyclone made landfall near Mobile, Alabama, as a minimal tropical storm on June 16. Turning to the northwest, it quickly weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated on June 17 over Mississippi.[2]

In advance of the system, officials issued storm warnings for coastal areas of Alabama and western Florida, and residents in low-lying areas were advised to seek higher ground.[4] Damage associated with the cyclone was generally minor, and only one life was lost when a boy fell into the swollen waters of a river and drowned.[3]

Hurricane Two

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Map of the eastern Gulf of Mexico featuring a small hurricane to the west of Florida A storm track starts near Puerto Rico and heads northwestward, moves across the state of Florida, and after turning northeastward, it continues into the interior northeast
Duration August 7 – August 19
Peak intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min)  985 mbar (hPa)

On August 7, a tropical storm formed north of the Leeward Islands, likely from a tropical wave.[2] It tracked to the west-northwest, slowly strengthening to a hurricane as it moved through the Bahamas on August 11. Later that day, it met the east coast of Florida, and crossed the state in around 15 hours.[5] After weakening to a tropical storm, it quickly re-strengthened upon emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, and made another landfall near Apalachicola, Florida, on August 13. Over land, the cyclone slowed considerably and quickly deteriorated.[3] By August 14, the storm had weakened to a tropical depression as it drifted through Alabama. The depression turned to the northeast, and remained a tropical depression until it dissipated over New York on August 20.[2] Due to timely reports and warnings, the storm was reportedly forecast with "exceptional accuracy".[3]

In Florida, damage was minor, amounting to uprooted trees, broken windows, moderate crop damage, and downed power lines. A few flimsy structures and small watercraft also sustained damage. Along the Florida Panhandle, the storm's winds impacted power, telephone, and telegraph lines, and inflicted $2,000 worth of damage to a dock warehouse. A man in Cedar Key, Florida, drowned after rough surf overturned his rowboat,[3] and at least two other people suffered minor storm-related injuries.[6] Torrential rain fell in Alabama as a result of the storm's slow forward movement, leading to severe flooding. Further inland, the storm spawned a tornado in North Carolina which caused one death. As the depression continued heading inland, it dropped heavy precipitation throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, exceeding 14 inches (36 cm) in Tuckerton, New Jersey,[3] and 18 inches (460 mm) in Manahawkin, New Jersey.[7]

Tropical Storm Three

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration August 15 – August 19
Peak intensity 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min)  <1000 mbar (hPa)

An operationally unnoticed tropical storm developed on August 15. At its peak, sustained winds were 65 mph (100 km/h) and the minimum pressure of 1,000 mbar (30 inHg). By August 19, the storm dissipated.

Tropical Storm Four

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Map of the northern Gulf Coast with a tropical storm near the coast of Louisiana, moving inland The track of a storm starts in the southern Gulf of Mexico, and heads uneventfully northward towards land
Duration September 23 – September 27
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  <1004 mbar (hPa)

An area of disturbed weather over Central America organized into a tropical storm in the Bay of Campeche on September 23. Uneventfully, it moved generally north-northeastward through the Gulf of Mexico and its winds strengthened to a peak of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). The storm made landfall on south-central Louisiana on September 26, and dissipated later that day. The Weather Bureau office in New Orleans posted numerous advisories, although the effects from the storm were minimal.[3]

Hurricane Five

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
The track of a hurricane stretching from near Puerto Rico northeastward through the western Atlantic, ending near Newfoundland
Duration October 12 – October 17
Peak intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 941 mbar (hPa)

On the afternoon of October 9, reports from the Leeward Islands of low pressures and unsettled weather indicated that a storm was forming in the vicinity.[2] The disturbance strengthened into a tropical storm on October 12 to the northeast of Puerto Rico. The quickly escalating storm tracked northwestward before turning towards the northeast, away from a high pressure area building in from the west.[3] Early on October 15, the storm attained hurricane intensity and continued to mature until October 16, when it reached its peak at a strength corresponding to Category 4 status on the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[2] That same day it passed just east of Bermuda. It weakened as it accelerated to the northeast, and became extratropical near Newfoundland a couple of days later.[2][3]

Numerous ships encountered the hurricane along its course. On the President Harding, en route to New York, one crew member drowned due to the rough conditions and 73 crew and passengers suffered injury, of various severity, requiring a call for emergency medical supplies.[3] The ship itself sustained a bit of damage. As the storm passed near the island of Bermuda, it generated strong winds—gusting to 131 miles per hour (211 km/h)—and heavy precipitation.[8] Damage was fairly significant; the winds uprooted trees, shattered windows, and disrupted public utilities.[9]

Hurricane Six

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
The meandering track of a hurricane through the western and northern Caribbean and southern Bahamas
Duration October 28 – November 6
Peak intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 989 mbar (hPa)

On October 29, the fifth and final known tropical cyclone of the season developed in the western Caribbean Sea from a tropical wave. It initially moved northwestward, but turned toward the east shortly thereafter. Drifting due eastward, the storm grew into a minimal hurricane on October 31 while passing over the Cayman Islands. The hurricane's center passed just north of the island of Jamaica later that day as it weakened back into a tropical storm. Eventually, the storm turned abruptly northeastward and crossed the eastern tip of Cuba. By November 3, it had emerged into the Atlantic and entered the southern Bahamas. Beginning to accelerate, the tropical storm passed to the west of Bermuda before becoming extratropical on November 6.[2][3]

At Grand Cayman, winds from the storm reached 92 miles per hour (148 km/h) with a minimum pressure of 990.0 hectopascals (29.23 inHg). According to press reports, the hurricane inflicted considerable damage on the Cayman Islands. In northern Jamaica, property damage was also widespread. The hurricane brought heavy rainfall, high winds, and pounding surf to the island, leaving one dead. Another death was reported in Cuba, where the torrential rains also caused extensive flooding and losses to livestock and crops.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (December 2012). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT) Meta Data, 1936". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. Archived from the original on 2013-01-12. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Atlantic hurricane research division (2009). "Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) "best track" (1851–2008)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Jean Galleen (1939). "North Atlantic Tropical Disturbances of 1939" (PDF). Weather Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Gale Winds Expected Along Florida Coast". The Daily Capital News. June 15, 2009. Retrieved December 6, 2009.
  5. ↑ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (April 2012). "Chronological List of All Continental United States Hurricanes: 1851–2011". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. Archived from the original on 2014-02-10. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Hurricane Passes Over Florida Tip". The Gallup Independent. August 12, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  7. ↑ United States Corp of Engineers (1945). Storm Total Rainfall In The United States. War Department. p. NA 2–3.
  8. ↑ Bermuda Weather Service (2007). "Hurricanes — General Information for Bermuda". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Bermuda Hurricane Rips Up Trees, Halts Utilities". The Chicago Daily Tribune. October 18, 1939. Retrieved November 21, 2014.

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