1934 Central America Hurricane
Encyclopedia
The 1934 Central America Hurricane is among the deadliest hurricanes on record. Although a weak hurricane, it killed 1,000-3,000 people, mainly from landslides in Central America
, and spawned eight tornadoes when it made landfall in Louisiana
.
on June 4, a typical site of formation for June Atlantic tropical cyclones. It moved slowly to the west-southwest, and made landfall in Belize
(then known as British Honduras) on June 5. The storm maintained tropical storm strength over land while still moving slowly as it executed a counter-clockwise loop over Guatemala
, El Salvador
, and Honduras
. On the 8th, the storm again reached the Caribbean Sea
, and briefly reached minimal hurricane strength off the coast of Belize
on June 8. It paralleled the coastline before making landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula
on the 9th.
Over the next two days the storm tracked to the west-northwest before executing a second loop in the Gulf of Mexico
on June 12. On the 15th it turned to the northeast, causing a hurricane warning to be issued along the Louisiana
coast. The small hurricane made landfall on June 16 near Morgan City, Louisiana
with winds of 75 mph, and quickly weakened over land. The storm accelerated to the northeast through the Ohio Valley before becoming extratropical near Virginia
on June 19. The extratropical storm continued through the Mid-Atlantic
states and New England
before dissipating over northeastern Quebec
.
, though other parts of Central America
were affected as well. The town of Ocotepeque
in Honduras was devastated by the floods and landslides, with one report estimating rain totals up to 25 inches. The town's church was the only building left standing after the floods; about 500 people were killed. In all, Honduras received a catastrophic blow from this storm, with death toll estimates between 1,000 and 3,000 people.
The storm killed six people in Louisiana
. Two children were killed when they were swept off their makeshift raft in the heavy seas, a man died in an automobile accident near New Iberia, Louisiana
, another person drowned when he tried to swim in Bayou Plauqemine, and one other died in the storm. Between 75 and 150 homes were destroyed; 1,500 others remained uninhabitable. In all there was $2.605 million (1934 US dollars, $37.2 million in 2005 USD) in damage.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and spawned eight tornadoes when it made landfall in 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...
.
Meteorological history
The storm formed in the Gulf of HondurasGulf 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....
on June 4, a typical site of formation for June Atlantic tropical cyclones. It moved slowly to the west-southwest, and made landfall in 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...
(then known as British Honduras) on June 5. The storm maintained tropical storm strength over land while still moving slowly as it executed a counter-clockwise loop over 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...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, and 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 the 8th, the storm again reached the 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....
, and briefly reached minimal hurricane strength off the coast 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 June 8. It paralleled the coastline before making landfall on 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 the 9th.
Over the next two days the storm tracked to the west-northwest before executing a second loop 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...
on June 12. On the 15th it turned to the northeast, causing a hurricane warning to be issued along the 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...
coast. The small hurricane made landfall on June 16 near Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City is a city in St. Martin and St. Mary parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census....
with winds of 75 mph, and quickly weakened over land. The storm accelerated to the northeast through the Ohio Valley before becoming extratropical near 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...
on June 19. The extratropical storm continued through the Mid-Atlantic
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...
states and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
before dissipating over northeastern 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....
.
Impact
The storm's slow movement over and near Belize, Honduras, and other Central American countries likely contributed to deadly flooding and mudslides that resulted in the storm's high death toll. The worst-hit area from the storm was HondurasHonduras
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...
, though other parts of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
were affected as well. The town of Ocotepeque
Ocotepeque
Ocotepeque is a town and municipality in the Honduran department of Ocotepeque.Located 15 miles from the Honduran–Salvadoran border as well as the Honduran–Guatemalan border, Ocotepeque is one of the first municipalities encountered when traveling between the countries...
in Honduras was devastated by the floods and landslides, with one report estimating rain totals up to 25 inches. The town's church was the only building left standing after the floods; about 500 people were killed. In all, Honduras received a catastrophic blow from this storm, with death toll estimates between 1,000 and 3,000 people.
The storm killed six people in 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...
. Two children were killed when they were swept off their makeshift raft in the heavy seas, a man died in an automobile accident near New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
, another person drowned when he tried to swim in Bayou Plauqemine, and one other died in the storm. Between 75 and 150 homes were destroyed; 1,500 others remained uninhabitable. In all there was $2.605 million (1934 US dollars, $37.2 million in 2005 USD) in damage.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
