1909 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1909 Atlantic hurricane season was an average Atlantic hurricane season
, officially starting on June 1, 1909, and ending on November 30, 1909, dates which conventionally delimit the period of each year when tropical cyclones
tend to form in the Atlantic basin. The season produced eleven tropical cyclones, of which all eleven became tropical storms; six became hurricanes, and four of those strengthened into major hurricanes. The seasons first storm developed on June 15, shortly after the official start of the hurricane season, and the last storm dissipated on November 14, shortly before the official end of the hurricane season. The most notable storm during the season formed in late August, while east of the Lesser Antilles
. Moving west to west-northwestward, the storm quickly gained hurricane status, and traversed much of the Greater Antilles
before strengthening into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
and crossing the Yucatan Peninsula
. Briefly weakening after its interaction with land, it strengthened into a Category 3 once again, and made landfall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas on August 27 before rapidly dissipating the following day.
The 1909 was very deadly and destructive, featuring 4,614 fatalities, and $75 million (1909 USD), mostly due to the sixth and eighth hurricanes of the season. In mid-July, the fourth storm of the season hit Freeport, Texas
as a Category 3 hurricane, killing 41 people, and causing $2 million in damage. In mid-September, the eighth storm of the season made landfall
near Grand Isle, Louisiana
as a Category 3 hurricane, killing at least 350 people and causing $10 million in damage. The storms storm surge
is responsible for destroying thousands of homes, as it penetrated 2 mi (11,587.2 km/h) inland. In late August, the tenth storm of the season developed, and tracked across Cuba
, the Bahamas, and Key West, Florida
as a Category 2/3 hurricane. At least $2 million in damage was caused, and 27 deaths were recorded. Lastly, the final storm of the season struck eastern Jamaica
and Hispaniola
as a hurricane before transitioning into an Extratropical cyclone
northeast of the Bahamas. The storm killed 30 people, and caused $7 million in damage.
coastline on June 15. Tracking due north, the depression intensified into a tropical storm within 12 hours. Operationally, this system was not classified as a tropical storm as there was uncertainty of tropical storm-force winds being measured. Maintaining a slow, northward movement, the system attained peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). On June 18, it gradually turned towards the west, leading to the storm making landfall
near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua the following morning. Once overland, the storm weakened, first to a tropical depression before dissipating near the Nicaragua-Honduras
border during the evening of June 19. Due to the weak nature of the system, little information was recorded on it. Throughout its existence, ships in the region suggested a minimum pressure of 1009 mbar (hPa; 29.80 inHg).
. Its origins are unknown and the first indications of the system were as a tropical storm. After tracking northwest towards Louisiana for about a day. The system sharply changed dirction and took a direct path towards the south Texas coastline. By June 29, it was estimated that the storm intensified into a minimal hurricane, attaining winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). However, operational analysis on the storm in 1999 indicated that it was only a tropical storm. Shortly before the hurricane made landfall near Brownsville, Texas
, it attained its peak intensity as a modern-day Category 2 cyclone with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). A barometric pressure of 972 mbar (hPa; 28.70 inHg) was recorded as the storm moved inland. By June 30, the system weakened to a tropical storm and crossed into northern Mexico; the cyclone dissipated several hours later.
Upon making landfall, the hurricane brought a storm surge
exceeding 5 ft (1.5 m), inundating low-lying coastal areas such as Padre Island. Winds up to 48 mph (77.2 km/h) were recorded as far north as Corpus Christi
; however, no known winds were measured where the system made landfall. During a 24 hour-span, 10 in (254 mm) of rain fell in Mercedes, Texas
. These heavy rains resulted in substantial flooding along the Rio Grande River over the following week. Near Brownsville, a town in Mexico was mostly flooded after the river broke its banks on July 4. Floods persisted in the country through July 10, leaving behind substantial damage. Though no loss of life took place, total losses from the hurricane reached $1.3 million, almost all of which was attributed to destroyed railroads in Mexico.
making heavy rain across the south. Tropical Storm Three curved over South Carolina and turned over the Atlantic Ocean dissipated on July 4.
in Mid-July. The storm attained tropical storm strength south of Jamaica
, and reached hurricane strength near the western tip of Cuba
. It ultimately hit near Freeport, Texas
on July 21 as a Category 3 hurricane; with a 10-foot (3 m) storm surge, this was the first test of Galveston's seawall since its construction after the 1900 Galveston hurricane that killed over 8,000 people. Damage came to $2 million (1909 dollars) and 41 people died.
and weakened to a tropical depression hours later. Continuing westward, the system moved back over water on August 9, over the Bay of Campeche
. Within hours of doing so, it re-attained tropical storm status as its forward motion quickly increased. During the afternoon of August 10, the storm made its final landfall near Tampico, Mexico before rapidly dissipating over the mountainouse terrain of Mexico later that day.
Although the storm impacted several islands in the Caribbean, only Haiti reported damage during the hurricane's passage. In contrast to this, northeastern Mexico received catastrophic flooding from the storm, especially in the city of Monterrey
. Throughout Mexico, reports indicated that 4,000 people were killed by the hurricane, making it the tenth deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. Monetary losses were also estimated to have exceeded $50 million (1909 USD; $ USD).
on September 15 and hurricane intensity the following day. By September 18, the hurricane had attained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) as it moved over the western tip of Cuba. After briefly weakening due to its interaction with land, the storm re-intensified over the Gulf of Mexico, attaining winds of 120 mph (185 km/h), becoming the third major hurricane of the season. Maintaining this strength, the storm eventually made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana
on September 21. Rapid weakening took place as it quickly moved northward, dissipating the following day over Missouri
.
In the United States, the hurricane killed at least 350 people and wrought $10 million in damage. Thousands of homes were destroyed by the cyclone's powerful storm surge
which penetrated 2 mi (3.2 km) inland. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama sustained the most severe damage, especially from strong winds which covered a large area. Outside of the United States, an estimated $1 million in damaged was left by the hurricane in western Cuba.
and hit near Naples, Florida
as a Tropical Depression on September 25. The system moved over Florida, strengthened to a 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm. By September 29, the storm had dissipated.
on October 6 and became a hurricane over the Northwest Caribbean Sea. It became a major hurricane on October 9, and hit western Cuba on the 11th. The storm moved through the Florida Keys
as a Category 3 hurricane, and dissipated north of Bermuda on October 13. Damage neared a million dollars in the Key West area and 12 railroad workers drowned.
In Cuba, five people were killed in Havana
and damage was estimated at $1 million.
In Jamaica, torrential rains from the storm wrought widespread damage, leaving 30 people dead and $7 million in damage behind. Nearby Haiti suffered more severe losses from the storm, with 166 people confirmed to have died and hundreds other presumed dead. Widespread flooding and landslides destroyed entire villages and ruined transportation.
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
, officially starting on June 1, 1909, and ending on November 30, 1909, dates which conventionally delimit the period of each year when tropical cyclones
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
tend to form in the Atlantic basin. The season produced eleven tropical cyclones, of which all eleven became tropical storms; six became hurricanes, and four of those strengthened into major hurricanes. The seasons first storm developed on June 15, shortly after the official start of the hurricane season, and the last storm dissipated on November 14, shortly before the official end of the hurricane season. The most notable storm during the season formed in late August, while east of the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. Moving west to west-northwestward, the storm quickly gained hurricane status, and traversed much of the Greater Antilles
Greater Antilles
The Greater Antilles are one of three island groups in the Caribbean. Comprising Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles constitute almost 90% of the land mass of the entire West Indies.-Greater Antilles in context :The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as...
before strengthening into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
and crossing the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
. Briefly weakening after its interaction with land, it strengthened into a Category 3 once again, and made landfall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas on August 27 before rapidly dissipating the following day.
The 1909 was very deadly and destructive, featuring 4,614 fatalities, and $75 million (1909 USD), mostly due to the sixth and eighth hurricanes of the season. In mid-July, the fourth storm of the season hit Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
as a Category 3 hurricane, killing 41 people, and causing $2 million in damage. In mid-September, the eighth storm of the season made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
near Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to...
as a Category 3 hurricane, killing at least 350 people and causing $10 million in damage. The storms storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
is responsible for destroying thousands of homes, as it penetrated 2 mi (11,587.2 km/h) inland. In late August, the tenth storm of the season developed, and tracked across Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, the Bahamas, and Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
as a Category 2/3 hurricane. At least $2 million in damage was caused, and 27 deaths were recorded. Lastly, the final storm of the season struck eastern Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
as a hurricane before transitioning into an Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
northeast of the Bahamas. The storm killed 30 people, and caused $7 million in damage.
Tropical Storm One
The first tropical cyclone of the season was first identified as a tropical depression near the southeastern NicaraguaNicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
coastline on June 15. Tracking due north, the depression intensified into a tropical storm within 12 hours. Operationally, this system was not classified as a tropical storm as there was uncertainty of tropical storm-force winds being measured. Maintaining a slow, northward movement, the system attained peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). On June 18, it gradually turned towards the west, leading to the storm making landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua the following morning. Once overland, the storm weakened, first to a tropical depression before dissipating near the Nicaragua-Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
border during the evening of June 19. Due to the weak nature of the system, little information was recorded on it. Throughout its existence, ships in the region suggested a minimum pressure of 1009 mbar (hPa; 29.80 inHg).
Hurricane Two
In late June, the season's second tropical cyclone developed near the Florida KeysFlorida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
. Its origins are unknown and the first indications of the system were as a tropical storm. After tracking northwest towards Louisiana for about a day. The system sharply changed dirction and took a direct path towards the south Texas coastline. By June 29, it was estimated that the storm intensified into a minimal hurricane, attaining winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). However, operational analysis on the storm in 1999 indicated that it was only a tropical storm. Shortly before the hurricane made landfall near Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
, it attained its peak intensity as a modern-day Category 2 cyclone with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). A barometric pressure of 972 mbar (hPa; 28.70 inHg) was recorded as the storm moved inland. By June 30, the system weakened to a tropical storm and crossed into northern Mexico; the cyclone dissipated several hours later.
Upon making landfall, the hurricane brought a storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
exceeding 5 ft (1.5 m), inundating low-lying coastal areas such as Padre Island. Winds up to 48 mph (77.2 km/h) were recorded as far north as Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
; however, no known winds were measured where the system made landfall. During a 24 hour-span, 10 in (254 mm) of rain fell in Mercedes, Texas
Mercedes, Texas
Mercedes is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,570 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.-Geography:Mercedes is located at ....
. These heavy rains resulted in substantial flooding along the Rio Grande River over the following week. Near Brownsville, a town in Mexico was mostly flooded after the river broke its banks on July 4. Floods persisted in the country through July 10, leaving behind substantial damage. Though no loss of life took place, total losses from the hurricane reached $1.3 million, almost all of which was attributed to destroyed railroads in Mexico.
Tropical Storm Three
On June 26, Tropical Storm Three formed north of Haiti. Tropical Storm Three gave much needed rain to Cuba. On July 1, Tropical Storm Three made landfall with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds near Miami, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
making heavy rain across the south. Tropical Storm Three curved over South Carolina and turned over the Atlantic Ocean dissipated on July 4.
Hurricane Four
Activity continued through July, when a tropical depression formed over the southern Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
in Mid-July. The storm attained tropical storm strength south of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, and reached hurricane strength near the western tip of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It ultimately hit near Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
on July 21 as a Category 3 hurricane; with a 10-foot (3 m) storm surge, this was the first test of Galveston's seawall since its construction after the 1900 Galveston hurricane that killed over 8,000 people. Damage came to $2 million (1909 dollars) and 41 people died.
Tropical Storm Five
On August 6, a new tropical depression was identified between Jamaica and Honduras. Tracking northwestward, the system gradually intensified, attaining tropical storm status near the Cayman Islands later that day. On August 7, the storm turned towards the west and reached its peak intensity just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a pressure of 1004 mbar (hPa; 29.65 inHg). Hours later, the cyclone made landfall near CancunCancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
and weakened to a tropical depression hours later. Continuing westward, the system moved back over water on August 9, over the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
. Within hours of doing so, it re-attained tropical storm status as its forward motion quickly increased. During the afternoon of August 10, the storm made its final landfall near Tampico, Mexico before rapidly dissipating over the mountainouse terrain of Mexico later that day.
Hurricane Six
Originating from a tropical storm east of the Leeward Islands on August 20, the storm tracked west-northwest, entering the Caribbean Sea as a minimal hurricane the next day. After striking Hispaniola on August 23, the hurricane made another landfall in eastern Cuba before reentering the Caribbean. Once back over open water, the storm intensified into a Category 3 hurricane and moved across the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. By August 26, the storm had emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a weakened, but regrouping system. It attained its peak winds of 120 mph (185 km/h) that evening. Maintaining this intensity, the system made landfall in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas late on August 27 and rapidly dissipated the following afternoon.Although the storm impacted several islands in the Caribbean, only Haiti reported damage during the hurricane's passage. In contrast to this, northeastern Mexico received catastrophic flooding from the storm, especially in the city of Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
. Throughout Mexico, reports indicated that 4,000 people were killed by the hurricane, making it the tenth deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. Monetary losses were also estimated to have exceeded $50 million (1909 USD; $ USD).
Tropical Storm Seven
The 7th storm formed over the Bahamas on August 28, hit near Miami as a Tropical Storm, and went out to sea.Hurricane Eight
During early September, a tropical disturbance over the western Atlantic began to strengthen as it moved towards the Lesser Antilles. By September 13, the system had become sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression. Moving west-northwestward, the depression attained tropical storm status near JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
on September 15 and hurricane intensity the following day. By September 18, the hurricane had attained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) as it moved over the western tip of Cuba. After briefly weakening due to its interaction with land, the storm re-intensified over the Gulf of Mexico, attaining winds of 120 mph (185 km/h), becoming the third major hurricane of the season. Maintaining this strength, the storm eventually made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to...
on September 21. Rapid weakening took place as it quickly moved northward, dissipating the following day over Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
In the United States, the hurricane killed at least 350 people and wrought $10 million in damage. Thousands of homes were destroyed by the cyclone's powerful storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
which penetrated 2 mi (3.2 km) inland. The states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama sustained the most severe damage, especially from strong winds which covered a large area. Outside of the United States, an estimated $1 million in damaged was left by the hurricane in western Cuba.
Tropical Storm Nine
The ninth system formed north of the Isle of YouthIsle of Youth
Isla de la Juventud is the second-largest Cuban island and the seventh-largest island in the West Indies . The island has an area and is 100 km south of the island of Cuba, across the Gulf of Batabanó...
and hit near Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
as a Tropical Depression on September 25. The system moved over Florida, strengthened to a 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm. By September 29, the storm had dissipated.
Hurricane Ten
The tenth storm formed in the Southwest Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
on October 6 and became a hurricane over the Northwest Caribbean Sea. It became a major hurricane on October 9, and hit western Cuba on the 11th. The storm moved through the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
as a Category 3 hurricane, and dissipated north of Bermuda on October 13. Damage neared a million dollars in the Key West area and 12 railroad workers drowned.
In Cuba, five people were killed in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and damage was estimated at $1 million.
Hurricane Eleven
The final storm of the season formed from a large weather system over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 8. Tracking northwestward, the system gradually intensified. On November 11, the storm brushed the eastern tip of Jamaica before attaining hurricane-status several hours later. During the afternoon of November 12, the hurricane made landfall in northeastern Haiti with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) before entering the Atlantic Ocean. Once in the Atlantic, the storm further intensified to attain peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) on November 13 as it accelerated eastward. The system rapidly transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the following day before being absorbed by a frontal system northeast of the Lesser Antilles.In Jamaica, torrential rains from the storm wrought widespread damage, leaving 30 people dead and $7 million in damage behind. Nearby Haiti suffered more severe losses from the storm, with 166 people confirmed to have died and hundreds other presumed dead. Widespread flooding and landslides destroyed entire villages and ruined transportation.
Season effects
This is a table of the storms in 1909 and their landfall(s), if any. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but are still storm-related. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical or a wave or low.See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons