1946 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1946 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1946, and lasted until November 15, 1946. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
.
The 1946 season
was fairly quiet, with 6 storms forming, of which 3 became hurricanes. There was only one major hurricane, a hurricane that came up from the Western Caribbean
and made landfall near Tampa
as a Category 2. Damage was relatively minimal and confined to a small area where the eyewall
passed over.
/Louisiana
border on June 16, causing no damage.
on July 6. It turned northeastward, became a hurricane, and became extratropical on July 8. It dissipated on July 10. Some property damage occurred, but no deaths were reported.
, and the system dissipated on September 17.
When the radar image was taken, it was only the third time in history that a hurricane passed close enough to a radar site to reveal its structure. http://replay.web.archive.org/20070311074738/http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/wea01228.htm
on October 5. It moved northeastward, reaching hurricane strength the next day and hitting western Cuba
as a Category 2 on October 7. It rapidly intensified over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico to a 135 mph (220 km/h) Category 4 hurricane, but weakened to a 75 mph (120 km/h) Category 1 hurricane shortly before making landfall near Sarasota
on October 8. After moving inland, it became extratropical over North Carolina
on October 9 and continued southeastward into the western Atlantic
. The hurricane caused a total of $5.2 million in damage (1946 dollars), mostly from damage to the citrus crop. In addition, 5 lives were lost in Cuba
.
on October 31. It moved west-northwestward, and made landfall in southeastern Florida
on November 1. Moderate damage was associated from this tropical storm as heavy flooding disrupted fall planting.
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 form in the Atlantic basin
Atlantic Basin
The Atlantic Basin is the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Basin may also refer to:* Atlantic Basin Iron Works, an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century...
.
The 1946 season
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...
was fairly quiet, with 6 storms forming, of which 3 became hurricanes. There was only one major hurricane, a hurricane that came up from the Western Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and made landfall near Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
as a Category 2. Damage was relatively minimal and confined to a small area where the eyewall
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
passed over.
Tropical Storm One
A minimal tropical storm, first detected on June 13, moved across the northern Gulf of Mexico and hit near the TexasTexas
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...
/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...
border on June 16, causing no damage.
Hurricane Two
A small tropical storm over the western Atlantic made landfall on southern North CarolinaNorth 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...
on July 6. It turned northeastward, became a hurricane, and became extratropical on July 8. It dissipated on July 10. Some property damage occurred, but no deaths were reported.
Tropical Storm Three
On August 25, a tropical storm formed in the Bay of Campeche. It moved quickly westward, hitting near Tampico, Mexico the next day and dissipating.Hurricane Four
The precursor to Hurricane Four was an area of low pressure. It became a tropical storm on September 12 over the Bahamas, and a hurricane the next day while moving northeastward. The hurricane became extratropical on September 15 south of Nova ScotiaNova 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...
, and the system dissipated on September 17.
When the radar image was taken, it was only the third time in history that a hurricane passed close enough to a radar site to reveal its structure. http://replay.web.archive.org/20070311074738/http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/wea01228.htm
Hurricane Five
A tropical storm formed 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 5. It moved northeastward, reaching hurricane strength the next day and hitting 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...
as a Category 2 on October 7. It rapidly intensified over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico to a 135 mph (220 km/h) Category 4 hurricane, but weakened to a 75 mph (120 km/h) Category 1 hurricane shortly before making landfall near Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
on October 8. After moving inland, it became extratropical over 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...
on October 9 and continued southeastward into the western Atlantic
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 hurricane caused a total of $5.2 million in damage (1946 dollars), mostly from damage to the citrus crop. In addition, 5 lives were lost 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...
.
Tropical Storm Six
A tropical wave developed into a tropical storm north of HispaniolaHispaniola
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...
on October 31. It moved west-northwestward, and made landfall in southeastern 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...
on November 1. Moderate damage was associated from this tropical storm as heavy flooding disrupted fall planting.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons