1933 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1933 Atlantic hurricane season was the second most active Atlantic hurricane season
on record, with 21 storms forming during that year in the northwest Atlantic Ocean
. The season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1933, and was surpassed in total number of tropical cyclone
s by the 2005 season
, which broke the record with its 28 storms. The 1933 season saw tropical activity as early as May, and a tropical cyclone was active for all but 13 days from June 28 to October 7. Tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring
were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. Compensating for the lack of comprehensive observation, one hurricane researcher estimates the season produced 24 tropical cyclones.
Ten of the season's 21 storms attained hurricane status. Five of those were major hurricanes, with sustained winds of over 111 mph (179 km/h); the strongest reached peak winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) near the Bahamas in early October. The season produced several deadly storms, with eight storms killing more than 20 people. All but one of the 21 known storms affected land at some point during their lifetimes.
. Nineteen of the season's storms made landfall
as tropical cyclones, and another struck land as an extratropical storm. Eight tropical storms, including six hurricanes, hit the United States during the season, including the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
, which the U.S. Weather Bureau
describes as one of the most severe in history along the Mid-Atlantic States
. Seven tropical storms, including four hurricanes, hit Mexico
, two of which caused severe damage in the Tampico
area.
The season was continuously active, with a record-setting total of seven storms forming during the month of August alone. This record was later tied by the 1995 season
and ultimately broken by the 2004 season
with its eight August storms. At the time, many storms received the distinction of being the earliest nth storm to form, such as the earliest fifth tropical storm to form in a season. Though most of the records were broken in later years, the 1933 season retains the record for the earliest formation of a season's 18th storm by 27 hours. Also of note was that 1933 appears to be the only Atlantic hurricane season to have two hurricanes make landfall in the United States in a 24 hour period. Hurricane Twelve struck Jupiter, Florida
a little after midnight on September 3 (05Z September 4) and Hurricane Eleven struck South Padre Island, Texas
a little before 1am on September 5, a period of not quite 25 hours.
During the season, the U.S. Weather Bureau issued storm and hurricane warnings for eight storms, including coastal portions of Texas
, as well as from Florida
to Massachusetts
, forcing the evacuations of thousands of people. The deadliest storm of the season was a hurricane that struck Tampico
, Mexico
, killing over 184 residents. The costliest hurricane was the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
, which caused US$ ($ USD) from North Carolina
to New Jersey
. The hurricane produced rainfall that resulted in severe crop damage in Maryland
.
Timeline of tropical activity in 1933 Atlantic hurricane season
, prior to the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. It moved quickly towards the northwest and attained a peak intensity of 45 mph (70 km/h) on May 16. The storm turned to the west, then curved southwest, while moving around the Yucatan Peninsula
just offshore. The tropical storm turned to the south, weakened to a tropical depression, and made landfall on northern Tabasco
. It dissipated on May 19.
. It strengthened as it moved west-northwestward, and it became a hurricane later that day. Continuing to the west-northwest, the hurricane brushed southern Tobago
and made landfall on northeastern Venezuela
on June 28, becoming the earliest known tropical cyclone to affect the area. The system weakened to a tropical storm over land but re-attained hurricane status on July 1 while in the western Caribbean Sea
. The hurricane curved to the northwest and moved over western Cuba
on July 3. It turned to the west in the Gulf of Mexico
and reached a peak intensity of 105 mph (170 km/h) on July 5, making it a Category 2
hurricane. The hurricane turned to the west-southwest due to a building high pressure area
to its north then weakened. It made landfall on the coast of Tamaulipas
and weakened to tropical storm status. The system finally dissipated over land on July 7.
On southern Tobago, the hurricane caused severe damage, amounting to around US$ (1933 USD, $ USD). 13 people were killed on the island, and another 1,000 were left homeless. In northeastern Venezuela, the hurricane destroyed many houses, businesses, and boats, and strong winds downed power lines; many people were killed in the area. In Cuba, the storm killed 22 people, while damage amounted to US$ (1933 USD, $ USD). The hurricane caused severe damage and several deaths in northeastern Mexico
. In all, the hurricane killed 35 people.
and Hispaniola
as a weak storm. The system curved slightly to the west-northwest and brushed the northern coast of Jamaica
before turning slightly westward and hitting the Mexican state
of Quintana Roo
. As it crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
the cyclone weakened, and after crossing the Bay of Campeche
the storm dissipated over coastal Veracruz
.
While passing near Jamaica, the storm dropped heavy rainfall, including 9 inches (230 mm) in Kingston
which led to flooding and washouts. The rainfall also damaged several bridges and roads and resulting in delays in train schedules. Mudslides and overflowing rivers flooded several towns with knee-deep waters. Moderate winds downed several banana trees across the island.
, in Texas
on July 23 as a 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm. The system turned to the northeast, and became extratropical to the east of Dallas, Texas
. The extratropical system moved slowly through northern Louisiana
, turned to the northeast, and dissipated over northeastern Arkansas
near Memphis, Tennessee
.
Prior to the arrival of the storm, numerous coastal residents boarded up their houses and businesses and voluntarily evacuated further inland. Upon making landfall, the storm produced high tides. In eastern Texas and western Louisiana, the system dropped very heavy precipitation
, which in places reached accumulations exceeding 20 inches (500 mm). The highest storm total occurred in Logansport, Louisiana
, which reported 21.3 inches (541 mm) in a 4-day period. In Louisiana, the flooding severely damaged crops and forced about 250 families near Shreveport
to evacuate their flooded homes. The torrential rainfall also resulted in overflowing rivers; numerous highways, roads, and railroads were either impassable or closed, with some locations experiencing water depths of up to 20 feet (6.1 m).
Total damage reached nearly US$ (1933 USD, $ USD).
, it tracked west-northwestward, passing near St. Thomas
with winds of up to 60 mph (95 km/h). The storm strengthened and attained hurricane status the next day north of Puerto Rico
, and it continued its west-northwest movement. After moving through the northern Bahamas, the hurricane struck near Fort Pierce, Florida
, with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h).
The hurricane crossed the state and weakened to minimal tropical storm intensity. It turned to the west-southwest and re-strengthened to a hurricane on August 4 off the coast of Texas
. It weakened again to tropical storm status and made its final landfall near Brownsville, Texas
, on August 5 as a strong tropical storm. The system rapidly dissipated over northern Mexico
.
While moving over Saint Christopher
, the storm killed six people. Heavy rain was reported throughout the Virgin Islands
. The hurricane caused the drowning of one person in the Bahamas, and moderate winds produced severe structural damage to the buildings in the archipelago
.
In Florida, the National Weather Bureau issued storm warnings between Miami
to Titusville
, while Governor David Sholtz
issued a mandatory evacuation for 4,200 residents in vulnerable areas around Lake Okeechobee
. Damage in Florida was minimal, limited to minor crops, roofs, and signs. In southern Texas
, the hurricane produced moderate damage of $500,000 (1933 USD, $ USD), including disrupted telephone and telegraph lines.
The hurricane produced high tides along the coast of Texas, covering parts of South Padre Island
, and heavy rains in northern Mexico caused heavy damage.
on August 12. It quickly passed through the Lesser Antilles
and slowly strengthened to reach a maximum strength of 60 mph (95 km/h) on August 15. After passing just south of Jamaica
, the storm turned to the northwest and crossed over both the Isle of Youth
and western Cuba
on August 18. It curved northward, made landfall on the Florida Panhandle
, and dissipated on August 20 over southwestern Georgia
.
The storm produced heavy rainfall in eastern Jamaica, including a record 24-hour total of 12.2 inches (309.9 mm) in the Corporate Area, and Dallas Castle received 20.2 inches (513.1 mm) in 24 hours. This flooded and damaged properties and water systems in Kingston
and Saint Andrew
, leading to a water famine until the water mains were fixed. Damage totaled to over $2.5 million (1933 USD, $ USD), and 70 people were reported killed due to the flooding. Damage was minimal in both Cuba and Florida.
. The system moved quickly to the west-northwest, followed by a turn to the west. It remained a minimal tropical storm for most of its lifetime, never gained significant intensity, and dissipated on August 21 to the east of Honduras
.
On Trinidad
, rainfall from Tropical Storms Six and Seven—the heaviest in nine years—caused rivers to overflow and flooded parts of the island. Several boats were damaged or driven ashore from rough seas. The two storms caused damage to fields, highways, and houses, and caused the loss of crops such as cocoa and banana
s. In all, Storms Six and Seven caused $3 million (1933 USD, $ USD) in damage and 13 deaths on Trinidad.
on August 17. This system would become one of the most destructive hurricanes of the season. The storm moved towards the northwest and quickly attained hurricane status late that same day. The hurricane continued to strengthen, and on August 21, it passed about 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Bermuda
as a Category 2 hurricane
. St. George's
avoided a direct hit but reported wind speeds of up to 64 mph (103 km/h). On August 22, the hurricane turned west-northwest and reached its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. However, it weakened quickly afterwards. On August 23, the storm made landfall on the Outer Banks
of North Carolina
as a Category 2 hurricane and continued to quickly weaken as it moved inland, away from its energy source. The storm turned to the north, then to the northeast, passing through Virginia
, Maryland
, and Pennsylvania
before weakening to a tropical depression over New York
. The system continued accelerating to the northeast and dissipated over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
on August 26.
The hurricane caused damage ranging from moderate to severe in the corridor between North Carolina and New Jersey, due to high tide
s and strong winds. In the state of Maryland, the storm's effects resulted in severe crop damage, and many boats and piers were damaged or destroyed due to high tides and storm surge
. The hurricane produced heavy rainfall along its path, with a peak of 13.28 inches (337.3 mm) in York, Pennsylvania
. Overall, the hurricane caused $27 million in damage (1933 USD, $ USD). and 31 deaths.
centered about 340 miles (550 km) northeast of Antigua
. It moved northwestward for three days, slowly strengthening as it moved over the open ocean. The storm turned to the northeast and reached peak sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) a short distance to the west of Bermuda
. It began weakening shortly thereafter, and on August 30 the storm became extratropical to the southeast of Newfoundland. It continued to the northeast and was last observed on August 31 over the north-central Atlantic Ocean. It did not cause significant effects on land.
. It initially moved to the northwest. The cyclone remained a minimal tropical storm for most of its lifetime. On August 29, the storm turned to the west-southwest and made landfall near Tampico, Mexico, dissipating shortly thereafter. The tropical storm caused heavy rains near the coast, although winds were minor. Due to uncertainty as to its course, tropical storm warnings were issued for portions of the southern Texas
coastline.
. It tracked westward then turned to the west-northwest, strengthening as it passed to the north of the islands. On August 30, the storm attained hurricane status as it approached the Turks & Caicos Islands
, continued to the west-northwest through the southern Bahamas and paralleled the northern coast of Cuba
. From there, the system intensified to a Category 2
hurricane to the north of Havana
on September 1. It then entered the Gulf of Mexico
and intensified into a major hurricane (defined as Category 3 or greater) on September 2. It continued westward and reached a peak intensity of 125 mph (200 km/h) on September 3 for a period of about 41 hours. The hurricane maintained intensity as it approached the Texas
coastline on September 4, and it made landfall just north of Brownsville
early on September 5. The system rapidly weakened as it moved through southern Texas and northeastern Mexico and dissipated within 24 hours of making landfall.
Officials warned citizens along the Texas coastline to remain away from inaccessible places. Because it was predicted to strike on the Labor Day
weekend, an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 residents were feared to be in unreachable locations and potentially at risk. Corpus Christi
officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents in low-lying areas, declared martial law
, and set up shelters for the potentially affected citizens. Many businesses closed for what would otherwise have been a busy weekend.
In the Turks & Caicos islands, the hurricane produced winds of up to 56 mph (90 km/h) and a pressure of 996 mbar (29.40 inHg). The system produced 94 mph (154 km/h) winds and carried a pressure reading of 979 mbar (28.91 inHg) in Havana
. Throughout Cuba, the hurricane caused damage of $11 million (1933 USD, $ USD) and killed 70 people. In Key West
, the storm produced a 42 mph (68 km/h) winds and minor damage. Brownsville suffered 40 deaths and 500 injuries. In Corpus Christi, the storm damaged boats, created cuts in islands along the coast, and destroyed the causeway
connecting Padre Island
to the mainland. Damage in Texas totaled $16.9 million (1933 USD, $ USD). Throughout its lifespan, the hurricane killed 179 people. Many businessmen who expected more severe damage were angry with the meteorologist in charge of the Corpus Christi station, although the National Weather Bureau confirmed that the preparations had been needed and had saved lives.
. The storm rapidly intensified as it moved quickly to the west-northwest, attaining hurricane status later that day, and major hurricane strength on September 1, while located to the north of Puerto Rico
. It continued west-northwestward and attained its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 km/h), on September 2. The hurricane, then at Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
, moved through the northern Bahamas at peak intensity and weakened slightly before making landfall on Jupiter, Florida
, with winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) on September 4. The system weakened rapidly over Florida
to tropical storm status, and after turning to the north, decelerated. The weakening storm slowly moved through Georgia
before dissipating near the Georgia/South Carolina
border on September 7.
On Eleuthera Island, the Category 4 hurricane blew away the roofs of buildings, wrecked wharves, and lost boats. Hurricane warnings were issued for the eastern Florida coastline, and 3,000 people were evacuated around Lake Okeechobee
to safer areas. In southeastern Florida, the strong winds broke many glass windows and downed trees and power lines; severe house damage was reported near the landfall location. The hurricane's powerful winds also severely damaged crops, including 4 million boxes of citrus
fruit across the state. In total, Florida suffered $2 million (1933 USD, $ USD) in damage and two deaths.
organized into a tropical storm. It moved north-northeastward, and after a turn to the northwest, the system intensified to hurricane strength on September 10. It steadily intensified and reached a peak strength of 120 mph (195 km/h) on September 15. It slowed as it turned to the north, striking southeastern North Carolina
just west of Cape Hatteras as a Category 3 hurricane. After moving through the Outer Banks
, the system accelerated to the northeast and became extratropical on September 18 about halfway between Cape Cod
and the southern tip of Nova Scotia
. The extratropical storm passed over Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador
before dissipating near Greenland
on September 21.
Strong winds from the hurricane downed trees and power lines in southeastern North Carolina, causing damage to many houses. The hurricane produced a storm surge that flooded coastal streets with 3 to 4 feet (0.9–1.2 m) of water. In all, the hurricane caused at least 21 deaths, primarily due to drowning in high waters. Damage totaled to around $4.5 million (1933 USD, $ USD).
off the coast of Guatemala
. It moved slowly northward and strengthened, becoming a hurricane on September 12 just east of Belize
. On the next day, the hurricane made landfall on the Mexican
state of Quintana Roo
, and the system weakened to a tropical storm as it moved northwestward across the Yucatán Peninsula
. On September 14 it again regained hurricane status over the Bay of Campeche
. The hurricane struck Tampico
on September 15 and then dissipated. The 960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg) pressure reading is the lowest recorded in any storm that did not become a Category 2 hurricane.
The storm caused severe damage in Tampico and further inland, leaving several thousand homeless. According to The New York Times, at least 67 people were killed. Tuxpan
, south of Tampico, also suffered heavy damage with many houses and office buildings destroyed. Total property losses were estimated at several million dollars.
, the 15th tropical storm was first observed on September 16 to the east of the southern Leeward Islands
. The cyclone tracked to the west-northwest through the islands, slowly strengthening to hurricane strength on September 20 near Jamaica
. Continuing west-northwestward, the hurricane reached Category 2 status and made landfall 40 miles (65 km) south of Cozumel Island on September 22. The hurricane weakened slightly over the Yucatán Peninsula
then re-strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico to reach a peak intensity of 110 mph (175 km/h) on September 24. Only a week after Hurricane Fourteen had hit there, the storm made landfall near Tampico
. It dissipated on September 25 over Mexico.
Near Jamaica, the hurricane caused rough seas, although damage, if any, is unknown. While moving across the Yucatán Peninsula, the storm produced heavy rainfall and strong winds. In Cozumel
, the winds destroyed a 300-foot (91 m) pier and several buildings. Rough seas sunk several ships, and one person drowned. The rainfall caused several rivers to overflow, causing flooding and damage to roads and railroads in the state of Veracruz
. Many people in low-lying areas around Tampico evacuated for the storm.
Reports indicate much of the city of Tampico was destroyed, and the total number of deaths and injuries amounted to over 5,000. Most of the deaths occurred from flood waters, which were 10 to 15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) deep and covered the entire city; many bodies were washed out to sea, and were never recovered. The flooding washed out road
s and railroads, delaying relief efforts into the devastated area. Water and food supplies in and around Tampico were damaged or contaminated, resulting in a threat of famine or disease that further aggravated the situation. Torrential rains caused more flooding, and the powerful winds damaged or destroyed nearly every building in the city and left many homeless. The strong winds downed numerous power lines, leaving the entire city in blackout, and destroyed two large water towers. There were at least 10 cases of looting; all of the perpetrators were executed. Damage in and around Tampico totaled to over $10 million (1933 USD, $ USD). and the storm killed over 184 people.
The thousands of victims took refuge in churches, theatres, and public buildings. Immediately after the storm, the Mexican military placed the city under martial law
. Military and federal authorities dispatched trains with food, water, and medicine, and planes bearing engineers and doctors. Mexican president Abelardo L. Rodríguez
rallied citizens to aid the affected people in the storm area. The local chamber of deputies allowed $140,000 (1933 USD, $ USD) in funds for the storm victims.
. This sixteenth storm moved quickly westward and passed between St. Kitts and St. Martin
later that night. On September 28, the cyclone passed to the south of Puerto Rico
and reached its peak intensity of 45 mph (70 km/h). It continued quickly westward and hit the southern tip of the Dominican Republic
on September 29. Later that night, it hit Jacmel
in southwestern Haiti
as a minimal tropical storm. The system turned abruptly to the northeast and weakened to a tropical depression. It then hit northwestern Haiti near Gonaïves
on September 30. The circulation center dissipated shortly thereafter. Its remnants moved to the northwest and dissipated on October 4.
. It tracked to the north-northwest and passed near Cabo Gracias a Dios
early on September 29. The storm turned to the west into the Gulf of Honduras
, and on September 30, it made landfall on east-central Belize
. Shortly thereafter, the system dissipated.
developed into a tropical storm on the first day of the month. It moved northward and steadily intensified, becoming a hurricane on October 3 just west of Jamaica
. The hurricane turned to the north-northwest and hit the Cuba
n province of La Habana with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) on October 4. The hurricane passed over Havana
and turned to the northeast and strengthened, becoming a major hurricane as it moved through the Florida Keys
. The hurricane reached a peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h) while passing through the Bahamas on October 6, becoming the strongest recorded storm of the season—just 6 mph (10 km/h) below the threshold for the modern maximum of Category 5
. The hurricane weakened as it accelerated to the northeast, and it became extratropical on October 8 to the south of Nova Scotia
. It paralleled the Nova Scotia coast, turned to the east-southeast, and lost its tropical characteristics on October 9 over the open north Atlantic Ocean
.
In Cuba
, people boarded up numerous buildings, and emergency workers assisted authorities in spreading the word about the impending storm; residents in vulnerable areas evacuated to shelters on higher ground. The hurricane's powerful winds destroyed several houses in Camagüey
, and heavy rainfall overflowed numerous rivers in low-lying districts. The winds damaged and disrupted telephone and telegraph lines and injured a few people in Havana
. Despite government orders for police to kill any looters, large-scale looting occurred in Havana after the storm. Two looters were shot to death, and a third was injured. Two civilians were also wounded by snipers who fired to disperse thieves.
Residents in southeast Florida
boarded up for the storm while the National Weather Bureau issued storm warnings for portions of the coastline. The hurricane produced strong winds and rain in the Florida Keys
and extreme southern Florida, but damage was minimal. In northwest Miami
, the hurricane spawned a tornado that damaged three houses and injured two. Damage in the Bahamas is unknown.
on October 25. It moved to the east-northeast then curved to the northwest while slowly intensifying. On October 29, it strengthened into a hurricane near Jamaica
and reached peak winds of 105 mph (170 km/h) before striking the western portion of the island. The hurricane turned to the northeast and weakened. It made landfall on southeastern Cuba
as a strong tropical storm on October 31. The weakening storm changed its course to the north-northwest, as it drifted through Cuba and the Bahamas. On November 4 the storm turned once more to the northeast, accelerated, and became extratropical on November 7 near Bermuda
.
While drifting over western Jamaica
, the hurricane dropped heavy precipitation and produced strong winds, which severely damaged the banana crop. The rainfall caused mudslides, downed trees, and disrupted road and rail traffic and telegraph services. The hurricane destroyed or severely damaged hundreds of homes, leaving hundreds to thousands homeless. Twenty-three people were killed in Jamaica. The storm dropped heavy rainfall in Cuba, as well, though damage there is unknown.
of 993 mbar (29.32 inHg) was recorded within the storm, and on October 28 the storm reached a peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h). On October 29, the storm became extratropical
and turned north to hit Nova Scotia
. Wedged between two high pressure systems
, it continued northward until dissipating over extreme eastern portions of Quebec
on October 30.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia
, the storm's moderately powerful winds downed telephone and telegraph wires and uproofed several buildings. Heavy seas caused by the storm damaged or destroyed many boats, and rainfall flooded highways across the province.
. It moved slowly westward, never strengthening beyond a minimal tropical storm in its short lifetime. On November 16, it struck the southeastern coast of Nicaragua
, and it dissipated soon after on November 17.
for each storm in the season. Broadly speaking, the ACE is a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the duration of its lifetime; thus, hurricanes that lasted a long time (such as Thirteen and Eighteen) have higher ACEs. The ACE rating is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 35 kn (42.6 mph; 68.6 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
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...
on record, with 21 storms forming during that year in the northwest Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic 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...
. The season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1933, and was surpassed in total number of tropical cyclone
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...
s by the 2005 season
2005 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering numerous records. The impact of the season was widespread and ruinous with an estimated 3,913 deaths and record damage of about $159.2 billion...
, which broke the record with its 28 storms. The 1933 season saw tropical activity as early as May, and a tropical cyclone was active for all but 13 days from June 28 to October 7. Tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. Compensating for the lack of comprehensive observation, one hurricane researcher estimates the season produced 24 tropical cyclones.
Ten of the season's 21 storms attained hurricane status. Five of those were major hurricanes, with sustained winds of over 111 mph (179 km/h); the strongest reached peak winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) near the Bahamas in early October. The season produced several deadly storms, with eight storms killing more than 20 people. All but one of the 21 known storms affected land at some point during their lifetimes.
Season summary
The 1933 season was the most active of its time, surpassing the previous record-holder of 19 storms in 18871887 Atlantic hurricane season
Another May storm formed south of Jamaica on May 17, way outside of the season and moved generally northward. It crossed Cuba on the 19th as a tropical storm, and moved out to sea. Two peaked at twice, once on May 18 and May 20. Two dissipated on the 21st in the Atlantic Ocean...
. Nineteen of the season's storms 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...
as tropical cyclones, and another struck land as an extratropical storm. Eight tropical storms, including six hurricanes, hit the United States during the season, including the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
1933 Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
The 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane was the eighth storm and third hurricane of the very active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The August storm formed in the central Atlantic, where it moved west-northwest...
, which the U.S. Weather Bureau
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
describes as one of the most severe in history along the Mid-Atlantic States
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
. Seven tropical storms, including four hurricanes, hit Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, two of which caused severe damage in the Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
area.
The season was continuously active, with a record-setting total of seven storms forming during the month of August alone. This record was later tied by the 1995 season
1995 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1995 Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. It officially began on June 1, 1995, and lasted until November 30, 1995. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the north Atlantic ocean...
and ultimately broken by the 2004 season
2004 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
with its eight August storms. At the time, many storms received the distinction of being the earliest nth storm to form, such as the earliest fifth tropical storm to form in a season. Though most of the records were broken in later years, the 1933 season retains the record for the earliest formation of a season's 18th storm by 27 hours. Also of note was that 1933 appears to be the only Atlantic hurricane season to have two hurricanes make landfall in the United States in a 24 hour period. Hurricane Twelve struck Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
a little after midnight on September 3 (05Z September 4) and Hurricane Eleven struck South Padre Island, Texas
South Padre Island, Texas
South Padre Island is a town in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area. It may be included as part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas. The population was 2,816 at the...
a little before 1am on September 5, a period of not quite 25 hours.
During the season, the U.S. Weather Bureau issued storm and hurricane warnings for eight storms, including coastal portions of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, as well as from Florida
Florida
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...
to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, forcing the evacuations of thousands of people. The deadliest storm of the season was a hurricane that struck Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, killing over 184 residents. The costliest hurricane was the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
1933 Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
The 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane was the eighth storm and third hurricane of the very active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The August storm formed in the central Atlantic, where it moved west-northwest...
, which caused US$ ($ USD) from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The hurricane produced rainfall that resulted in severe crop damage in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Storms
Timeline of tropical activity in 1933 Atlantic hurricane season
Tropical Storm One
The first storm of the season formed on May 14 in the western 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....
, prior to the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. It moved quickly towards the northwest and attained a peak intensity of 45 mph (70 km/h) on May 16. The storm turned to the west, then curved southwest, while moving around 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...
just offshore. The tropical storm turned to the south, weakened to a tropical depression, and made landfall on northern Tabasco
Tabasco
Tabasco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa....
. It dissipated on May 19.
Hurricane Two
The hurricane season officially began on June 1, but there was little detectable activity during most of June. That tranquility came to an end on June 27, when a tropical storm was first observed just off the coast of northern GuyanaGuyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. It strengthened as it moved west-northwestward, and it became a hurricane later that day. Continuing to the west-northwest, the hurricane brushed southern Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
and made landfall on northeastern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on June 28, becoming the earliest known tropical cyclone to affect the area. The system weakened to a tropical storm over land but re-attained hurricane status on July 1 while in the western Caribbean Sea
Caribbean 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....
. The hurricane curved to the northwest and moved over western 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...
on July 3. It turned to the west in the 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...
and reached a peak intensity of 105 mph (170 km/h) on July 5, making it a Category 2
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...
hurricane. The hurricane turned to the west-southwest due to a building high pressure area
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
to its north then weakened. It made landfall on the coast of Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
and weakened to tropical storm status. The system finally dissipated over land on July 7.
On southern Tobago, the hurricane caused severe damage, amounting to around US$ (1933 USD, $ USD). 13 people were killed on the island, and another 1,000 were left homeless. In northeastern Venezuela, the hurricane destroyed many houses, businesses, and boats, and strong winds downed power lines; many people were killed in the area. In Cuba, the storm killed 22 people, while damage amounted to US$ (1933 USD, $ USD). The hurricane caused severe damage and several deaths in northeastern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In all, the hurricane killed 35 people.
Tropical Storm Three
The third tropical storm of the season was first observed on July 14 near St. Kitts. It moved quickly westward and passed just south of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
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 weak storm. The system curved slightly to the west-northwest and brushed the northern coast 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...
before turning slightly westward and hitting the Mexican state
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
. As it crossed the Yucatán 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...
the cyclone weakened, and after crossing 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...
the storm dissipated over coastal Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
.
While passing near Jamaica, the storm dropped heavy rainfall, including 9 inches (230 mm) in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
which led to flooding and washouts. The rainfall also damaged several bridges and roads and resulting in delays in train schedules. Mudslides and overflowing rivers flooded several towns with knee-deep waters. Moderate winds downed several banana trees across the island.
Tropical Storm Four
On July 21, another tropical storm formed, this time, in the central Gulf of Mexico to the northwest of the Yucatán Peninsula. It moved quickly to the northwest, and made landfall near Matagorda BayMatagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay is a large estuary bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately northeast of Corpus Christi, southeast of San Antonio, southwest of Houston, and southeast of Austin. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Peninsula and...
, in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on July 23 as a 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm. The system turned to the northeast, and became extratropical to the east of Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. The extratropical system moved slowly through northern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, turned to the northeast, and dissipated over northeastern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
near Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
Prior to the arrival of the storm, numerous coastal residents boarded up their houses and businesses and voluntarily evacuated further inland. Upon making landfall, the storm produced high tides. In eastern Texas and western Louisiana, the system dropped very heavy precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
, which in places reached accumulations exceeding 20 inches (500 mm). The highest storm total occurred in Logansport, Louisiana
Logansport, Louisiana
Logansport is a town in western DeSoto Parish adjacent to the Sabine River in western Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,630 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, which reported 21.3 inches (541 mm) in a 4-day period. In Louisiana, the flooding severely damaged crops and forced about 250 families near Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
to evacuate their flooded homes. The torrential rainfall also resulted in overflowing rivers; numerous highways, roads, and railroads were either impassable or closed, with some locations experiencing water depths of up to 20 feet (6.1 m).
Total damage reached nearly US$ (1933 USD, $ USD).
Hurricane Five
On July 25, two days after the remnants of Tropical Storm 4 dissipated, another tropical storm was detected. Located to the southeast of AntiguaAntigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, it tracked west-northwestward, passing near St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
with winds of up to 60 mph (95 km/h). The storm strengthened and attained hurricane status the next day north of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, and it continued its west-northwest movement. After moving through the northern Bahamas, the hurricane struck near Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
, with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h).
The hurricane crossed the state and weakened to minimal tropical storm intensity. It turned to the west-southwest and re-strengthened to a hurricane on August 4 off the coast of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It weakened again to tropical storm status and made its final 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...
, on August 5 as a strong tropical storm. The system rapidly dissipated over northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
While moving over Saint Christopher
Saint Christopher
.Saint Christopher is a saint venerated by Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, listed as a martyr killed in the reign of the 3rd century Roman Emperor Decius or alternatively under the Roman Emperor Maximinus II Dacian...
, the storm killed six people. Heavy rain was reported throughout the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
. The hurricane caused the drowning of one person in the Bahamas, and moderate winds produced severe structural damage to the buildings in the archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
.
In Florida, the National Weather Bureau issued storm warnings between Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
to Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
, while Governor David Sholtz
David Sholtz
David Sholtz was the 26th Governor of Florida.-Early life and education:Sholtz was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York, and after graduating from Yale, where he was a member of the Acacia Fraternity, in 1914 he went on and earned a law degree from Stetson University Law School...
issued a mandatory evacuation for 4,200 residents in vulnerable areas around Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
. Damage in Florida was minimal, limited to minor crops, roofs, and signs. In southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, the hurricane produced moderate damage of $500,000 (1933 USD, $ USD), including disrupted telephone and telegraph lines.
The hurricane produced high tides along the coast of Texas, covering parts of South Padre Island
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in Cameron County and is a popular vacation destination because the resort city South Padre Island is located on the island. The island itself is considered to have been settled by Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who had a...
, and heavy rains in northern Mexico caused heavy damage.
Tropical Storm Six
The sixth tropical storm of the season was first observed near BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
on August 12. It quickly passed through 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...
and slowly strengthened to reach a maximum strength of 60 mph (95 km/h) on August 15. After passing just 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...
, the storm turned to the northwest and crossed over both the Isle of Youth
Isle 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 western 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...
on August 18. It curved northward, made landfall on the Florida Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
, and dissipated on August 20 over southwestern Georgia
Georgia (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...
.
The storm produced heavy rainfall in eastern Jamaica, including a record 24-hour total of 12.2 inches (309.9 mm) in the Corporate Area, and Dallas Castle received 20.2 inches (513.1 mm) in 24 hours. This flooded and damaged properties and water systems in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
and Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica
Saint Andrew is a parish, situated in the southeast of Jamaica in the county of Surrey. It lies north, west and east of Kingston, and stretches into the Blue Mountains and at the 2001 census had the highest population of all the parishes in Jamaica. The Right Excellent George William Gordon Saint...
, leading to a water famine until the water mains were fixed. Damage totaled to over $2.5 million (1933 USD, $ USD), and 70 people were reported killed due to the flooding. Damage was minimal in both Cuba and Florida.
Tropical Storm Seven
On August 16, the seventh tropical storm of the year was first sighted to the east of the Windward IslandsWindward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
. The system moved quickly to the west-northwest, followed by a turn to the west. It remained a minimal tropical storm for most of its lifetime, never gained significant intensity, and dissipated on August 21 to the east of 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...
.
On Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, rainfall from Tropical Storms Six and Seven—the heaviest in nine years—caused rivers to overflow and flooded parts of the island. Several boats were damaged or driven ashore from rough seas. The two storms caused damage to fields, highways, and houses, and caused the loss of crops such as cocoa and banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s. In all, Storms Six and Seven caused $3 million (1933 USD, $ USD) in damage and 13 deaths on Trinidad.
Hurricane Eight
A ship first reported the season's eighth tropical storm about 900 miles (1,448.4 km) east of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
on August 17. This system would become one of the most destructive hurricanes of the season. The storm moved towards the northwest and quickly attained hurricane status late that same day. The hurricane continued to strengthen, and on August 21, it passed about 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Bermuda
Bermuda
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...
as a Category 2 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...
. St. George's
St. George's, Bermuda
St. George's , located on the island and within the parish of the same names, was the first permanent settlement on the islands of Bermuda, and is often described as the third successful English settlement in the Americas, after St. John's, Newfoundland, and Jamestown, Virginia. However, St...
avoided a direct hit but reported wind speeds of up to 64 mph (103 km/h). On August 22, the hurricane turned west-northwest and reached its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the modern-day 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...
. However, it weakened quickly afterwards. On August 23, the storm made landfall on the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
as a Category 2 hurricane and continued to quickly weaken as it moved inland, away from its energy source. The storm turned to the north, then to the northeast, passing through Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
before weakening to a tropical depression over New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The system continued accelerating to the northeast and dissipated over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
on August 26.
The hurricane caused damage ranging from moderate to severe in the corridor between North Carolina and New Jersey, due to high tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
s and strong winds. In the state of Maryland, the storm's effects resulted in severe crop damage, and many boats and piers were damaged or destroyed due to high tides and 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...
. The hurricane produced heavy rainfall along its path, with a peak of 13.28 inches (337.3 mm) in York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
. Overall, the hurricane caused $27 million in damage (1933 USD, $ USD). and 31 deaths.
Tropical Storm Nine
A day after Hurricane 8 made landfall on the United States, another tropical storm was observed on the Atlantic basinAtlantic 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...
centered about 340 miles (550 km) northeast of Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
. It moved northwestward for three days, slowly strengthening as it moved over the open ocean. The storm turned to the northeast and reached peak sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) a short distance to the west of Bermuda
Bermuda
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...
. It began weakening shortly thereafter, and on August 30 the storm became extratropical to the southeast of Newfoundland. It continued to the northeast and was last observed on August 31 over the north-central Atlantic Ocean. It did not cause significant effects on land.
Tropical Storm Ten
At approximately the same time on August 26 as the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane was dissipating, another area of disturbed weather organized into the season's tenth tropical storm in the Bay of CampecheBay 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...
. It initially moved to the northwest. The cyclone remained a minimal tropical storm for most of its lifetime. On August 29, the storm turned to the west-southwest and made landfall near Tampico, Mexico, dissipating shortly thereafter. The tropical storm caused heavy rains near the coast, although winds were minor. Due to uncertainty as to its course, tropical storm warnings were issued for portions of the southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
coastline.
Hurricane Eleven
On August 28, the seventh tropical storm of the month was seen to the east of the northern 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...
. It tracked westward then turned to the west-northwest, strengthening as it passed to the north of the islands. On August 30, the storm attained hurricane status as it approached the Turks & Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
, continued to the west-northwest through the southern Bahamas and paralleled the northern coast 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...
. From there, the system intensified to a Category 2
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...
hurricane to the north of 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...
on September 1. It then entered the 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...
and intensified into a major hurricane (defined as Category 3 or greater) on September 2. It continued westward and reached a peak intensity of 125 mph (200 km/h) on September 3 for a period of about 41 hours. The hurricane maintained intensity as it approached the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
coastline on September 4, and it made landfall just north of Brownsville
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...
early on September 5. The system rapidly weakened as it moved through southern Texas and northeastern Mexico and dissipated within 24 hours of making landfall.
Officials warned citizens along the Texas coastline to remain away from inaccessible places. Because it was predicted to strike on the Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend, an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 residents were feared to be in unreachable locations and potentially at risk. 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...
officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents in low-lying areas, declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
, and set up shelters for the potentially affected citizens. Many businesses closed for what would otherwise have been a busy weekend.
In the Turks & Caicos islands, the hurricane produced winds of up to 56 mph (90 km/h) and a pressure of 996 mbar (29.40 inHg). The system produced 94 mph (154 km/h) winds and carried a pressure reading of 979 mbar (28.91 inHg) 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...
. Throughout Cuba, the hurricane caused damage of $11 million (1933 USD, $ USD) and killed 70 people. In Key West
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...
, the storm produced a 42 mph (68 km/h) winds and minor damage. Brownsville suffered 40 deaths and 500 injuries. In Corpus Christi, the storm damaged boats, created cuts in islands along the coast, and destroyed the causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
connecting Padre Island
Padre Island
Padre Island is part of the U.S. state of Texas. The island is located on Texas' southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is famous for its white sandy beaches at the south end...
to the mainland. Damage in Texas totaled $16.9 million (1933 USD, $ USD). Throughout its lifespan, the hurricane killed 179 people. Many businessmen who expected more severe damage were angry with the meteorologist in charge of the Corpus Christi station, although the National Weather Bureau confirmed that the preparations had been needed and had saved lives.
Hurricane Twelve
The eighth tropical storm in August, and the seventh to form in 30 days, was first observed on August 31, 225 miles (360 km) north-northeast of the island of AntiguaAntigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
. The storm rapidly intensified as it moved quickly to the west-northwest, attaining hurricane status later that day, and major hurricane strength on September 1, while located to the north of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. It continued west-northwestward and attained its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 km/h), on September 2. The hurricane, then at Category 4 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...
, moved through the northern Bahamas at peak intensity and weakened slightly before making landfall on Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
, with winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) on September 4. The system weakened rapidly over Florida
Florida
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...
to tropical storm status, and after turning to the north, decelerated. The weakening storm slowly moved through Georgia
Georgia (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...
before dissipating near the Georgia/South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
border on September 7.
On Eleuthera Island, the Category 4 hurricane blew away the roofs of buildings, wrecked wharves, and lost boats. Hurricane warnings were issued for the eastern Florida coastline, and 3,000 people were evacuated around Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
to safer areas. In southeastern Florida, the strong winds broke many glass windows and downed trees and power lines; severe house damage was reported near the landfall location. The hurricane's powerful winds also severely damaged crops, including 4 million boxes of citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
fruit across the state. In total, Florida suffered $2 million (1933 USD, $ USD) in damage and two deaths.
Hurricane Thirteen
On September 8, an area of disturbed weather to the east of the 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...
organized into a tropical storm. It moved north-northeastward, and after a turn to the northwest, the system intensified to hurricane strength on September 10. It steadily intensified and reached a peak strength of 120 mph (195 km/h) on September 15. It slowed as it turned to the north, striking southeastern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
just west of Cape Hatteras as a Category 3 hurricane. After moving through the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
, the system accelerated to the northeast and became extratropical on September 18 about halfway between Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
and the southern tip of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. The extratropical storm passed over Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
before dissipating near Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
on September 21.
Strong winds from the hurricane downed trees and power lines in southeastern North Carolina, causing damage to many houses. The hurricane produced a storm surge that flooded coastal streets with 3 to 4 feet (0.9–1.2 m) of water. In all, the hurricane caused at least 21 deaths, primarily due to drowning in high waters. Damage totaled to around $4.5 million (1933 USD, $ USD).
Hurricane Fourteen
On September 10, as Hurricane Thirteen was intensifying over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, another area of disturbed weather developed into a tropical storm over the western 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....
off the coast of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It moved slowly northward and strengthened, becoming a hurricane on September 12 just east of Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
. On the next day, the hurricane made landfall on the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
state of Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
, and the system weakened to a tropical storm as it moved northwestward across the Yucatán 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...
. On September 14 it again regained hurricane status 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...
. The hurricane struck Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
on September 15 and then dissipated. The 960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg) pressure reading is the lowest recorded in any storm that did not become a Category 2 hurricane.
The storm caused severe damage in Tampico and further inland, leaving several thousand homeless. According to The New York Times, at least 67 people were killed. Tuxpan
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
, south of Tampico, also suffered heavy damage with many houses and office buildings destroyed. Total property losses were estimated at several million dollars.
Hurricane Fifteen
On the other side of the 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....
, the 15th tropical storm was first observed on September 16 to the east of the southern Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
. The cyclone tracked to the west-northwest through the islands, slowly strengthening to hurricane strength on September 20 near 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...
. Continuing west-northwestward, the hurricane reached Category 2 status and made landfall 40 miles (65 km) south of Cozumel Island on September 22. The hurricane weakened slightly over the Yucatán 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...
then re-strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico to reach a peak intensity of 110 mph (175 km/h) on September 24. Only a week after Hurricane Fourteen had hit there, the storm made landfall near Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
. It dissipated on September 25 over Mexico.
Near Jamaica, the hurricane caused rough seas, although damage, if any, is unknown. While moving across the Yucatán Peninsula, the storm produced heavy rainfall and strong winds. In Cozumel
Cozumel
Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo...
, the winds destroyed a 300-foot (91 m) pier and several buildings. Rough seas sunk several ships, and one person drowned. The rainfall caused several rivers to overflow, causing flooding and damage to roads and railroads in the state of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. Many people in low-lying areas around Tampico evacuated for the storm.
Reports indicate much of the city of Tampico was destroyed, and the total number of deaths and injuries amounted to over 5,000. Most of the deaths occurred from flood waters, which were 10 to 15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) deep and covered the entire city; many bodies were washed out to sea, and were never recovered. The flooding washed out road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s and railroads, delaying relief efforts into the devastated area. Water and food supplies in and around Tampico were damaged or contaminated, resulting in a threat of famine or disease that further aggravated the situation. Torrential rains caused more flooding, and the powerful winds damaged or destroyed nearly every building in the city and left many homeless. The strong winds downed numerous power lines, leaving the entire city in blackout, and destroyed two large water towers. There were at least 10 cases of looting; all of the perpetrators were executed. Damage in and around Tampico totaled to over $10 million (1933 USD, $ USD). and the storm killed over 184 people.
The thousands of victims took refuge in churches, theatres, and public buildings. Immediately after the storm, the Mexican military placed the city under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. Military and federal authorities dispatched trains with food, water, and medicine, and planes bearing engineers and doctors. Mexican president Abelardo L. Rodríguez
Abelardo L. Rodríguez
Abelardo Rodríguez Luján, commonly known as Abelardo L. Rodríguez was the interim president of Mexico from 1932–1934, completing the term of Pascual Ortiz after his resignation.-Early life:...
rallied citizens to aid the affected people in the storm area. The local chamber of deputies allowed $140,000 (1933 USD, $ USD) in funds for the storm victims.
Tropical Storm Sixteen
On September 27, a small tropical storm was seen about 290 miles (460 km) east of Saint KittsSaint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
. This sixteenth storm moved quickly westward and passed between St. Kitts and St. Martin
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
later that night. On September 28, the cyclone passed to the south of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and reached its peak intensity of 45 mph (70 km/h). It continued quickly westward and hit the southern tip of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on September 29. Later that night, it hit Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
in southwestern Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as a minimal tropical storm. The system turned abruptly to the northeast and weakened to a tropical depression. It then hit northwestern Haiti near Gonaïves
Gonaïves
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 104,825 people . The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city"...
on September 30. The circulation center dissipated shortly thereafter. Its remnants moved to the northwest and dissipated on October 4.
Tropical Storm Seventeen
The seventeenth tropical storm of the season developed on September 28 from an area of disturbed weather to the east of Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. It tracked to the north-northwest and passed near Cabo Gracias a Dios
Cabo Gracias a Dios
Cabo Gracias a Dios is a cape located in the middle of the east coast of Central America, within what is variously called the Mosquito Coast and La Mosquitia...
early on September 29. The storm turned to the west into the Gulf of Honduras
Gulf of Honduras
The Gulf or Bay of Honduras is a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea, indenting the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. From north to south, it runs for approximately 200 km from Dangriga, Belize, to La Ceiba, Honduras....
, and on September 30, it made landfall on east-central Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
. Shortly thereafter, the system dissipated.
Hurricane Eighteen
As the calendar turned to October, a persistent area of disturbed weather about 85 miles (135 km) north of Colón, PanamaColón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
developed into a tropical storm on the first day of the month. It moved northward and steadily intensified, becoming a hurricane on October 3 just west 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...
. The hurricane turned to the north-northwest and hit the 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...
n province of La Habana with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) on October 4. The hurricane passed over 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 turned to the northeast and strengthened, becoming a major hurricane as it 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...
. The hurricane reached a peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h) while passing through the Bahamas on October 6, becoming the strongest recorded storm of the season—just 6 mph (10 km/h) below the threshold for the modern maximum of Category 5
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 hurricane weakened as it accelerated to the northeast, and it became extratropical on October 8 to the south of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. It paralleled the Nova Scotia coast, turned to the east-southeast, and lost its tropical characteristics on October 9 over the open north Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic 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...
.
In 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...
, people boarded up numerous buildings, and emergency workers assisted authorities in spreading the word about the impending storm; residents in vulnerable areas evacuated to shelters on higher ground. The hurricane's powerful winds destroyed several houses in Camagüey
Camagüey
Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
, and heavy rainfall overflowed numerous rivers in low-lying districts. The winds damaged and disrupted telephone and telegraph lines and injured a few people 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...
. Despite government orders for police to kill any looters, large-scale looting occurred in Havana after the storm. Two looters were shot to death, and a third was injured. Two civilians were also wounded by snipers who fired to disperse thieves.
Residents in southeast Florida
Florida
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...
boarded up for the storm while the National Weather Bureau issued storm warnings for portions of the coastline. The hurricane produced strong winds and rain in 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...
and extreme southern Florida, but damage was minimal. In northwest Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, the hurricane spawned a tornado that damaged three houses and injured two. Damage in the Bahamas is unknown.
Hurricane Nineteen
After a two-week period of inactivity, a tropical storm was detected in the western 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 25. It moved to the east-northeast then curved to the northwest while slowly intensifying. On October 29, it strengthened into a hurricane near 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 peak winds of 105 mph (170 km/h) before striking the western portion of the island. The hurricane turned to the northeast and weakened. It made landfall on southeastern 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...
as a strong tropical storm on October 31. The weakening storm changed its course to the north-northwest, as it drifted through Cuba and the Bahamas. On November 4 the storm turned once more to the northeast, accelerated, and became extratropical on November 7 near Bermuda
Bermuda
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...
.
While drifting over western 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...
, the hurricane dropped heavy precipitation and produced strong winds, which severely damaged the banana crop. The rainfall caused mudslides, downed trees, and disrupted road and rail traffic and telegraph services. The hurricane destroyed or severely damaged hundreds of homes, leaving hundreds to thousands homeless. Twenty-three people were killed in Jamaica. The storm dropped heavy rainfall in Cuba, as well, though damage there is unknown.
Tropical Storm Twenty
Almost simultaneous to Hurricane 19, a tropical storm developed a short distance east of the central Bahamas on October 26. It moved north-northeastward, then northeastward, steadily strengthening along its path. On October 27, a barometric pressureAtmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
of 993 mbar (29.32 inHg) was recorded within the storm, and on October 28 the storm reached a peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h). On October 29, the storm became extratropical
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...
and turned north to hit Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Wedged between two high pressure systems
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
, it continued northward until dissipating over extreme eastern portions of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
on October 30.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, the storm's moderately powerful winds downed telephone and telegraph wires and uproofed several buildings. Heavy seas caused by the storm damaged or destroyed many boats, and rainfall flooded highways across the province.
Tropical Storm Twenty-One
After another calm period, the final tropical storm of the season was first observed on November 15 in the southwestern 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....
. It moved slowly westward, never strengthening beyond a minimal tropical storm in its short lifetime. On November 16, it struck the southeastern coast of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
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...
, and it dissipated soon after on November 17.
Accumulated Cyclone Energy Rating (ACE)
The table below shows the ACEAccumulated cyclone energy
Accumulated cyclone energy is a measure used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to express the activity of individual tropical cyclones and entire tropical cyclone seasons, particularly the North Atlantic hurricane season. It uses an approximation of the energy used by a...
for each storm in the season. Broadly speaking, the ACE is a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the duration of its lifetime; thus, hurricanes that lasted a long time (such as Thirteen and Eighteen) have higher ACEs. The ACE rating is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 35 kn (42.6 mph; 68.6 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
| ACE (104 kt²) – Storm | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.37 | Thirteen | 2 | 22.42 | Eighteen | 3 | 21.96 | Eleven |
| 4 | 20.80 | Two | 5 | 20.46 | Twelve | 6 | 18.47 | Eight 1933 Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane The 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane was the eighth storm and third hurricane of the very active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The August storm formed in the central Atlantic, where it moved west-northwest... |
| 7 | 17.91 | Five | 8 | 17.29 | Fifteen | 9 | 12.75 | Nineteen |
| 10 | 7.08 | Fourteen | 11 | 6.04 | Six | 12 | 3.76 | Three |
| 13 | 3.72 | Nine | 14 | 2.76 | One | 15 | 2.41 | Twenty |
| 16 | 1.83 | Seven | 17 | 1.73 | Sixteen | 18 | 1.65 | Four |
| 19 | 1.47 | Ten | 20 | 1.22 | Seventeen | 21 | .857 | Twenty-one |
| Total=212.967 (213) | ||||||||
Seasonal effects
This is a table of the storms in 1933 and their landfall(s), if any.See also
- 1925-1949 Pacific hurricane seasons1925-1949 Pacific hurricane seasonsThe 1925–1949 Pacific hurricane seasons all began during late spring in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the central Pacific. They ended in late fall.Before the satellite age started in the 1960s, data on east Pacific hurricanes is extremely unreliable...
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
External links
- 1933 Monthly Weather Review from the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological LaboratoryAtlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological LaboratoryThe Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory , a federal research laboratory, is part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research , located in Miami, Florida...
(AOML)