 Weather map on September 26, showing the hurricane near peak intensity as it approaches landfall inPuerto Rico | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 25, 1932 (1932-09-25) |
| Dissipated | October 2, 1932 (1932-10-02) |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 943mbar (hPa); 27.85 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 272 |
| Damage | >$35.8 million (1932USD) |
| Areas affected | Virgin Islands,Puerto Rico,Dominican Republic |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1932 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The1932 San Ciprián hurricane[a] was one of the strongesttropical cyclones in thehistory of Puerto Rico. The center of the storm traversed the island on an east-to-west path in late September 1932, killing 272 people and inflicting at least $35 million in damage.[b] Winds inSan Juan, Puerto Rico, were estimated to have reached at least 120 mph (190 km/h), causing extensive destruction. The storm's origins can be traced back to at least September 25, 1932, when it was atropical storm east of theWindward Islands. Moving west as a compact tropical cyclone, itrapidly intensified as it moved across theVirgin Islands the following day before ultimately makinglandfall on September 27 inCeiba, Puerto Rico, at a peak intensity equivalent to that of aCategory 4 hurricane on the modernSaffir–Simpson scale. The hurricane diminished for the remainder of its duration, leaving Puerto Rico and brushing the southern coast ofHispaniola. The cyclone passed nearJamaica on September 29 and moved ashoreBritish Honduras on October 1 as a tropical storm, dissipating the next day over southeasternMexico.
The hurricane brought strong winds to parts of the Virgin Islands. InSaint Thomas, wires and trees were blown down and homes were damaged. Ships also sank in the Saint Thomas harbor, as well as atTortola. Property losses on Saint Thomas were estimated to have exceeded $200,000 and 15 people were killed. Most of the damage caused by the San Ciprián hurricane occurred in Puerto Rico, particularly along the island's northern half. The powerful winds caused the destruction of numerous buildings. Over 40,000 homes were destroyed throughout the U.S. territory, contributing to a $15.6 million property damage toll and rendering 25,000 families homeless. Heavy losses were wrought upon crops, particularly to citrus and coffee. The hurricane killed 257 people in Puerto Rico and injured another 4,820. Economic losses stemming from the devastation were equivalent to 20 percent of Puerto Rico'sgross income.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionThe presence of unusuallyhigh air pressures throughout the Atlantic and eastern North America caused the 1932 San Ciprián hurricane to take an atypical path directed towards the west and west-southwest over its duration.[6] Details about the hurricane'sgenesis are unclear due to a lack of contemporaneous weather observations. In 2012, theAtlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) investigated the storm's history,[c] determining that the hurricane's progenitor had developed into atropical storm withsustained winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) by 06:00 UTC on September 25, 1932.[8] At that point, the storm was amid a period of intensification and centered approximately 340 mi (550 km) east ofAntigua. Its winds increased as it moved west, reachinghurricane-force by 12:00 UTC on September 25.[10] Early the next day, the hurricane passed near Antigua andSaint Barthelemy, and later betweenSaint Thomas andSaint Croix, tracking west-northwest at roughly 10 mph (16 km/h).[6] Around 13:00 UTC on September 26, the center of the storm passed nearSaba with winds of 140 mph (230 km/h);[d] the steeppressure gradient measured on that island was indicative of a small andrapidly intensifying hurricane.[8]
At around 04:00 UTC on September 27, the compact hurricane madelandfall onPuerto Rico nearEnsenada Honda in the municipality ofCeiba. Upon moving ashore, the hurricane had sustained winds estimated at 145 mph (233 km/h)[d] and a minimum central pressure of 943 mbar (hPa; 27.85 inHg), equivalent to aCategory 4 hurricane on the modernSaffir–Simpson scale. The region of hurricane-force winds was likely no larger than 23 mi (37 km) in diameter upon landfall, with aradius of maximum winds likely smaller than 12 mi (19 km). The storm's center tracked over Puerto Rico for seven hours on an east-to-west course before emerging into theCaribbean Sea offAguadilla.[8] Land interaction with Puerto Rico caused the storm's maximum winds to decrease to 105 mph (169 km/h);[d] the hurricane maintained this strength until it struck the southern ends of theDominican Republic andHaiti on September 28.[6][8][10] This second landfall weakened the system significantly, reducing the winds to 45 mph (72 km/h).[d][8] The storm took a slightly south of west heading for the rest of its duration, passing nearJamaica on September 29.[10] According to the AOML, the storm might have weakened to atropical depression between September 29–30 while traversing the western Caribbean.[8] The tropical storm reorganized slightly upon making its final landfall south ofBelize City inBritish Honduras at around 18:00 UTC on October 1 with winds of 45 mph (72 km/h).[d] It progressed west-southwest into southeasternMexico, weakening before dissipating on October 2.[8]
The hurricane's small size was evidenced by wind observations at Saint Thomas and Saint Croix, which are located roughly 45 mi (72 km) apart. Despite the center of the hurricane passing between the islands, neither island experienced hurricane-force winds, their speeds only reaching 60 mph (97 km/h).[8][6] TheUnited States Weather Bureau characterized the damage on Saint Barthélemy,Saint John, Saint Thomas, andTortola as "moderate".[6] Legislative elections in the Virgin Islands were postponed due to the inclement conditions. Two passenger-filledsloops in Tortola were lost.[13] Estimated winds of 60–90 mph (97–145 km/h) swept across Saint Barthelemy.[6] Radio antennas were blown down by the winds in Saba.[6] The firing of warning guns on Saint Thomas 90 minutes before the storm's arrival allowed the island's populace to seek shelter. Many houses were damaged and wires and trees were blown down on the island. Small ships capsized in the Saint Thomas harbor. Fifteen people were killed and total property losses on the island were estimated to exceed $200,000.[14][15] The destruction of huts and crops rendered hundreds of people destitute. The Red Cross and the Saint Thomas government allocated $6,000 total to relief efforts.[16]
The Weather Bureau office inSan Juan was first made aware of the storm's presence on September 26, following a report of the passage of a "moderate disturbance" near Antigua.[6] Its first storm bulletin was issued that evening after the center of the storm passed between Saint Thomas and Saint Croix, noting the rapidity of the storm's movement and its small size.[6][17] This and subsequent bulletins were disseminated in Puerto Rico by theterritorial government, theU.S. Navy, and local radio stationWKAQ. The San Juan Weather Bureau office lauded these bodies in their report on the storm published in theMonthly Weather Review, writing that "the loss of life and property damaged were materially reduced" due to their efforts.[6] There were 18 hours of advance warning for San Juan before the hurricane struck.[18] The bureau continued to issue advisories concerning the storm twice daily through October 1.[6]
At the beginning of the1932 Atlantic hurricane season, theGovernor of Puerto Rico,James R. Beverly, directed mayors in the territory to organize municipal emergency committees, requiring each to hoist hurricaneflag signals at the cathedrals and city halls of every town whenever a hurricane warning was in effect. Mayors and police forces in Puerto were advised by the Weather Bureau's first statements on the storm to begin safeguarding lives and property. A meeting was held on the afternoon of September 26 between the governor, heads of executive departments, the manager of the Puerto Rican chapter of theAmerican Red Cross, and other prominent citizens to formulate plans of actions for possible emergencies arising from the hurricane's passage; these included the mobilization of crews to repair communications infrastructure and police-assisted evacuation of vulnerable people into the sturdiest buildings.[4] The American Red Cross in the continental U.S. also prepared to send aid to Puerto Rico when necessary.[19]
Forty-ninemunicipalities of Puerto Rico were affected by the storm to varying degrees, with devastation wrought across the northern half of the territory.[4] The hurricane's effects killed 257 people;[4] most of these fatalities were due to the collapse of buildings, with wind-blown debris and drownings also responsible for some deaths.[6] Over 4,820 others were injured.[4] Though people took shelter in buildings thought to be safe, only well-built masonry and concrete structures withstood the storm in the hardest-hit areas. Concrete buildings made of concrete with awater-to-cement ratio and improperly or poorly anchored roofs were destroyed, killing many. Homes with corrugated iron sheet roofs attached using smooth or twisted nails, common in San Juan, were unroofed.[6] In total, 45,554 houses were razed and another 47,876 were partially destroyed.[4] The severity of the damage was equivalent to that of an F3 tornado on theFujita scale.[8] Writing to theUnited States Secretary of War in 1933, Beverly described the damage was more severe than the1928 San Felipe hurricane for the areas affected.[4] Nearly 500,000 animals were also killed, including cows, goats, horses, pigs, and poultry.[4]
The steamshipsJean andAcacia took refuge at Ensenada Honda, where the hurricane made landfall. Both ships weregrounded by the storm but were refloated after unloading cargo. Several pier buildings at thePort of San Juan sustained heavy damage. The three-mastedschoonerGaviota was wrecked in the harbor. Thebridge andship's boats of another vessel in the harbor were blown away.[6] Many smaller ships along the waterfront were driven aground.[20] Telephone and telegraph lines betweenSan Juan and the eastern parts of Puerto Rico were disrupted on the night of September 26. The worst of the storm reached San Juan shortly after midnight on the morning of September 27 and lasted for about three hours;[4] hurricane-force winds lasted for six hours.[18] Winds of at least 120 mph (190 km/h) occurred in San Juan, though the localmeasurement tower measured a peak wind of 66 mph (106 km/h) before it was toppled by the storm.[6] In San Juan,Hato Rey, andRío Piedras, hundreds of homes were blown away and trees were uprooted.[4] Reports indicated that all homes collapsed inFajardo andToa Alta. Many small towns outside of the San Juan area were left in similar circumstances.[21] All communication and electric poles and wires were knocked down.[4] WKAQ'sradio towers lay toppled and contorted by the wind.[20] The carnage littered streets with debris.[4]
Rainfall totals in Puerto Rico were lower overall than in other hurricanes of similar strength. The maximum total of 16.70 in (424 mm) was measured inMaricao.[6] Damage to both property and crops amounted to $35.6 million, with $15.6 million inflicted upon property and $20 million inflicted upon crops. The Puerto Rican Department of Commerce that the damage parlayed into $31.2 million in economic losses for agriculture.[4] The maincitrus-producing regions of Puerto Rico were located within the swath of the heaviest damage; its losses accounted for the largest proportion of crop losses. Though the main coffee tree plantations did not experience the storm's strongest winds, they were heavily damaged by fallen banana trees; banana trees had been planted to provide temporary shading for the new coffee crop following the 1928 San Felipe hurricane but were susceptible to moderate winds. The toll inflicted on citrus and coffee trees delayed their harvests by several years. The hurricane rendered other crops a total loss, though to an extent recoverable within agrowing season.[6] Approximately $2.4 million worth of agricultural plantations and structures constructed using recovery funds from the 1928 hurricane were destroyed.[22] Forests along theSierra de Luquillo were defoliated and exhibited high tree mortality after being lashed by the heavy rains and strong winds.[23] East of the Puerto Rican mainland,Culebra andVieques also sustained heavy damage.[6]
Workers from the Puerto Rican Department of the Interior, assisted by prisoners and volunteers, quickly cleared roads of debris once the storm passed.National Guard and Red Cross personnel were promptly dispatched into the affected areas to aid recovery efforts; medical and food supplies were distributed in the larger impacted municipalities within 24 hours of the storm's passage.[4] Some of the relief efforts were also managed by the Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief Commission that was formed in response to the 1928 hurricane.[22] For the 1932 storm, a Hurricane Relief and Rehabilitation Commission was formed on September 27 in cooperation with the Red Cross, split into an executive committee and two subcommittees. One subcommittee was tasked with enforcingprice controls while the other was tasked with raising relief funds for immediate purchases of materials and to supplement the Red Cross's efforts; nearly $75,000 was collected by this second committee. The funds augmented an emergency fund established by the Puerto Rican government in April 1932; $165,000 in relief was sourced from this fund, including a $50,000 loan to the Fruit Growers Cooperative Credit Association for the recovery of the citrus crop and acquisition of fertilizer. Food and shelter relief was administered by the Red Cross. Additional supplies were made available to these committees by the American military stationed in Puerto Rico. Two reconnaissance flights were arranged on September 27 and 28 to better determine the extent and severity of the damage across northern Puerto Rico. Teachers were enlisted by the Department of Education to appraise the total property damage while crop damage was tallied by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. The Red Cross reported that 76,925 families were in "actual distress" due to the hurricane.[4] The destruction of homes rendered 25,000 families homeless.[24] Total economic losses from the storm were equivalent to 20 percent of Puerto Rico'sgross income.[25]
In theDominican Republic, the hurricane's approach triggered fears of a second disaster as that country was still recovering from the destruction byanother hurricane two years earlier. The concern prompted residents to close businesses and evacuate; some took to nearby churches for shelter.[26] The 1932 storm produced 90 mph (140 km/h) winds inSan Pedro de Macorís and 50 mph (80 km/h) winds inSanto Domingo.[6] Agricultural sectors of Santo Domingo sustained "considerable damage".[27] Hurricane warning flags were raised in Jamaica on September 29. Storeowners secured their vulnerable storefronts and awnings while ships at harbor were moved to shelter.[28] The storm ultimately passed south of Jamaica with little consequence.[29] Signal flags warning of the storm's approach were first hoisted in the British Honduras on October 1, leading to the closure of businesses and the commencement of storm preparations.[30] However, the storm moved over the British Honduras with little force, causing no damage.[31]
{{cite book}}:|journal= ignored (help)Tropical cyclones of the1932 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
