1919 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1919 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1919. The first of the tropical storms
formed on July 2, while the last system dissipated on November 15. The season was a below average season. Five tropical cyclones formed and only two became a hurricane. Three of the season's cyclone
s made landfall. The most damaging storm of the season was the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane
, which killed hundreds along its path from the Florida Straits into southern Texas.
moved northward and struck Pensacola, Florida
several days later, causing US$25,000 (1919 USD
) in damage.
as a Category 4
. The storm passed over main Gulf of Mexico
shipping routes as a strong Category 4 before making landfall just south of Corpus Christi, Texas
as a Category 3 hurricane
. Damage totaled US$22 million (1919 dollars). The death toll in Texas was officially 286, but the overall death toll of at least 600 was due to ships lost at sea during the cyclone
.
. It intensified to a hurricane, and it rapidly strengthened to a peak intensity of 100 mph (155 km/h) on September 3. A ship reported a pressure of 977 mbar (28.86 inHg) away from the center. The cyclone weakened and transitioned to an extratropical system
on September 4.
. It caused only minimum damage to land.
in mid-November.
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...
formed on July 2, while the last system dissipated on November 15. The season was a below average season. Five tropical cyclones formed and only two became a hurricane. Three of the season's cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
s made landfall. The most damaging storm of the season was the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane
1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
The Florida Keys Hurricane or Atlantic Gulf Hurricane of 1919 was an intense Atlantic hurricane, killing 772 people as it moved through the Florida Keys and Texas. The second tropical cyclone of the 1919 hurricane season, it moved in the proximity of the eastern Greater Antilles and Bahamas...
, which killed hundreds along its path from the Florida Straits into southern Texas.
Tropical Storm One
The first storm of the season formed in the southeast Gulf of Mexico. This tropical stormTropical cyclone scales
Tropical systems are officially ranked on one of several tropical cyclone scales according to their maximum sustained winds and in what oceanic basin they are located...
moved northward and struck Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
several days later, causing US$25,000 (1919 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damage.
Hurricane Two
The most notable storm of the season, however, was the Florida Keys hurricane. The storm passed south of Key WestKey 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 4
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...
. The storm passed over main Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
shipping routes as a strong Category 4 before making landfall just south of Corpus Christi, Texas
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...
as a Category 3 hurricane
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...
. Damage totaled US$22 million (1919 dollars). The death toll in Texas was officially 286, but the overall death toll of at least 600 was due to ships lost at sea during the cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
.
Hurricane Three
On September 2, a tropical depression strengthened to a tropical storm in the western Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It intensified to a hurricane, and it rapidly strengthened to a peak intensity of 100 mph (155 km/h) on September 3. A ship reported a pressure of 977 mbar (28.86 inHg) away from the center. The cyclone weakened and transitioned to an extratropical system
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...
on September 4.
Tropical Storm Four
On October 1, a minimal tropical storm formed offshore the northwest Bahamas, which then moved west-northwest and made landfall on GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. It caused only minimum damage to land.
Tropical Storm Five
A late season tropical storm approached hurricane intensity and remained south of BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in mid-November.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons