 Radar imagery of the hurricane over Florida at 05:00 UTC on September 16 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 12, 1945 |
| Extratropical | September 18, 1945 |
| Dissipated | September 20, 1945 |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) |
| Highest gusts | 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 949mbar (hPa); 28.02 inHg (estimated) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 26 total |
| Damage | $60 million (1945USD) |
| Areas affected | |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1945 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The1945 Homestead hurricane, known informally asKappler's hurricane, was the most intensetropical cyclone tostrike the U.S. state ofFlorida since1935. The ninthtropical storm, third hurricane, and thirdmajor hurricane of theseason, it developedeast-northeast of theLeeward Islands on September 12. Moving briskly west-northwestward, the storm became a major hurricane on September 13. The system moved over theTurks and Caicos Islands the following day and thenAndros on September 15. Later that day, the storm peaked as a Category 4 hurricane on the modern-daySaffir–Simpson scale with winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). Late on September 15, the hurricane made landfall onKey Largo and then in southernDade County, Florida.
Thereafter, the hurricane began to weaken while moving across Florida, falling to Category 1 intensity only several hours after landfall late on September 15. Eventually, it curved north-northeastward and approached the east coast of Florida again. Late on September 16, the storm emerged into the Atlantic nearSt. Augustine and weakened to a tropical storm early on the following day. The cyclone made another landfall near theGeorgia-South Carolina state line later on September 17. The system continued to weaken and transitioned into anextratropical cyclone near the border ofNorth Carolina andVirginia early on September 18.
The storm caused significant damage and 22 deaths in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas. In Florida, the hardest hit area wasDade County. Most of the city ofHomestead was destroyed, while at theNaval Air Station Richmond, a fire ignited during the storm burned down three hangars worth $3 million (1945 USD) each. Throughout the state, the strong winds destroyed 1,632 residences and damaged 5,372 other homes. Four people died, including the fire chief of the Richmond station. Inthe Carolinas, the storm produced heavy rainfall, causing flash flooding, particularly along theCape Fear River in North Carolina. Overall, the hurricane resulted in 26 fatalities and about $60 million in damage.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionThe hurricane was first observed on September 12 about 235 miles (380 km) east-northeast ofBarbuda in theLesser Antilles. Around that time, the winds were estimated at 75 mph (120 km/h), and later that day, theHurricane Hunters recorded peripheral winds of 54 mph (87 km/h). The storm quickly earned the monikerKappler's hurricane, after the Hurricane Hunters' lead aerial forecaster, Lieutenant Bernard J. Kappler, who first noted the storm.[1] Moving quickly to the west-northwest, the hurricane quickly intensified while passing north of Puerto Rico, reaching the equivalent of a modern-daymajor hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) on September 13. The strength was based on another Hurricane Hunters mission reporting flight-level winds of 120 mph (190 km/h). After passing north of Hispaniola, the hurricane turned towardThe Bahamas, approaching or passing overGrand Turk Island at 05:30 UTC on September 14. A station on the island observed a brief lull, along with a minimumbarometric pressure of 28.83 inHg (976 mb), during the passage,[2] and nearbyClarence Town reported winds of 105 mph (169 km/h).[3] Gusts of 140 to 150 mph (230 to 240 km/h) were estimated to have impacted Grand Turk and Long islands.[4] While moving through the Bahamas, the hurricane turned more to the northwest. Though quite intense, it was a smaller-than-average storm; it continued intensifying en route to southeastern Florida.[5] At 13:00 UTC on September 15 reconnaissance aircraft entered the eye of the storm and registered a minimum central pressure of 28.29 inHg (958 mb).[6]
At 19:30 UTC the hurricane madelandfall onKey Largo, and about a half hour later struck the Florida mainland.[7] Theeye of the cyclone passed very close toHomestead Air Reserve Base about an hour after landfall, where a centralbarometric pressure of 28.09 inHg (951 mb) was recorded, along with a nearly hour-long period of calm conditions.[3] The observation suggested a landfall pressure of 949 mbar (28.0 inHg), and based on the storm's small size, sustained winds of about 130 mph (215 km/h), equivalent to aCategory 4 on the current Saffir–Simpson scale. This estimate was substantiated by a gust of 138 mph (222 km/h) atCarysfort Reef Light, on the weaker side of the storm.[5] The hurricane weakened over Florida while curving to the north and north-northeast, although the proximity to water and the passage over theEverglades limited substantial weakening. Hurricane-force winds spread across much of Florida until the storm emerged into the western Atlantic nearPonte Vedra Beach early on September 17. At around 06:00 UTC, the hurricane weakened to tropical storm status. About 11 hours later, it made another landfall onDaufuskie Island, near the border betweenGeorgia andSouth Carolina, with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h).[5] After continuing through the southeast United States, the storm becameextratropical near the border ofNorth Carolina andVirginia midday on September 18. Although it initially maintained tropical storm-force winds, the former hurricane weakened below gale-force on September 19 while it was nearPhiladelphia. The storm continued rapidly to the northeast, moving through New England and along the coast of Maine before turning more to the east. Late on September 19, the storm moved acrossNova Scotia, passing southeast ofNewfoundland the next day. It was last observed late on September 20 dissipating to the east of Newfoundland.[5]
Althoughhurricane warnings were initially issued for the Leeward Islands, the cyclone passed north of the Lesser Antilles.[5] In advance of the storm, aircraft were evacuated from the Naval Air Station inMiami, Florida, where hundreds of airplanes left vulnerable locations.[8][9] Residents were advised to heed advisories in Florida, the Bahamas, and northernCuba.[10] On September 15, hurricane-force winds were expected to affect areas fromFort Lauderdale, Florida, through theFlorida Keys, and hurricane warnings were accordingly released for this region. Storm warnings also extended north toMelbourne andTampa.[9] Military personnel sought shelter atHialeah Race Track, while residents boarded homes and evacuated from coastal areas to public structures.[9] Boats were utilized to transport people from barrier islands, and small watercraft were secured along theMiami River.[9] However,Grady Norton, the head of theUnited States Weather Bureau, stated before the storm that Miami would "miss the worst of it".[11] TheAmerican Red Cross reported that 25,000 people sought shelter within their services during the storm.[11] Local officials fromCape Hatteras, North Carolina, toBrunswick, Georgia, ordered evacuations for coastal locations.[12]
In the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 people were killed.[13] The hurricane demolished three-quarters of the structures on Grand Turk Island and caused at least some damage to the remainder. A number of sturdy structures that survived the1926 and1928 hurricanes collapsed; century-old trees were laid low and in some cases carried aloft.[2] Some reports indicated that the storm was worse than that in 1926.[14] The cyclone also produced heavy damage onAcklins,Crooked Island,Long Cay, andLong Island, though damages were not reported inNassau. Numerous homes on the southern tip ofAndros were flattened as well.[4] Peak gusts were estimated near 40 mph (64 km/h) in Nassau. After the storm,The Daily Gleaner, inKingston, Jamaica, initiated a fund to offer aid for residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands.[2]
InSouth Florida, peak gusts were estimated near 150 mph (240 km/h) at the Army Air Base in Homestead. The strong winds destroyed 1,632 residences across the state, while 5,372 homes received damages. Four deaths were confirmed statewide.[13]
The storm was described as the most significant to impactGreater Miami since the 1926 Miami hurricane, but its worst impacts were confined to a comparatively narrower area and were not as severe overall.[15] In Miami, gusts reached 107 mph (172 km/h), and damages were minimal, mostly snapped power lines, compared to communities in southern Dade County.[13] Damages to the Miami area was estimated at $40 million.[11] Blown-off roofs were strewn across a floodedCollins Avenue during the storm, and several watercraft were stranded near Mary Street.[16] An additional fire also destroyed a furniture factory and a tile manufacturing plant in the northwestern portion of downtown Miami.[17] One death was reported in the area, the fire chief of Richmond's fire department, and 26 required hospitalization. Another death was recorded after aschooner ran aground in present-dayBal Harbour, Florida, killing its chief engineer.[11]
The storm's most adverse impacts occurred in a 40-mile-wide (64 km) swath across southern Dade County, principally affecting the communities ofGoulds,Redlands,South Miami,Perrine,Kendall,Princeton,Richmond, Homestead, andFlorida City.[18] Homestead was mostly flooded underwater, with the first floor of city hall and the fire department completely flooded and nearly all its residences damaged. The historical Horde Hardware building collapsed while a local church was flattened by the winds.[11] Unofficially winds at Homestead Army Air Corps Base reached 145 mph (233 km/h), virtually destroying the airbase. Numerous structures were flattened, including the base exchange, the nurses' dormitory, and enlisted housing facilities. Building 741, the so-called "Big Hangar", was unroofed. The fire station and base laundry were deemed irreparable. The few aircraft left intact were reportedly "tossed about like leaves."[19] AtCutler Ridge a 13.7-foot-high (4.2 m)storm tide was reported.[20] TheFlorida East Coast Railway station at Goulds collapsed. Crop losses at Homestead were estimated to be $4 million and most of its avocado harvest was destroyed.[11] Dozens of felledAustralian pines impeded traffic near Florida City.[21]
Nearly 200 people were injured at theNaval Air Station (NAS) Richmond, when a fire ignited during the storm, affecting three large hangars worth $3 million each and destroying 150 automobiles, 366 airplanes, and 25 blimps;[17] losses at the base were greater than at any other single point in Florida as a result of the storm, owing mostly to the destruction of the hangars.[13] At the NAS Richmond, an anemometer unofficially registered sustained winds of 170 mph (270 km/h) for a couple of minutes, along with a peak gust of 196 mph (315 km/h); these values were not officially accepted as reliable. Based on structural damage peak gusts at the base were believed to have exceeded 161 mph (259 km/h), equivalent to low-endCategory 5 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale.[22] Steel-framed doors at the NAS incurred structural deformation, which engineers deemed to be consistent with sustained winds of 125–130 mph (201–209 km/h)—an estimate later incorporated into areanalysis of the storm.[5][3]
In theFlorida Keys, hundreds of residences were damaged.[citation needed] On theOverseas Highway a number of boats were grounded and utility poles downed.[21] An elevatedweather station at Carysfort Reef observed sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h), suggestingsustained winds of 117 mph (188 km/h) atstandard elevation relative to sea level.[5][nb 1]
Minor reports of damage was reported in Central and Northern Florida, with St. Augustine reporting a 70-mile-per-hour (110 km/h) wind gust.[12] InCharleston, South Carolina, strong winds caused high waves, but the storm arrived at low tide and produced modest damage.[24] An estimatedF2 tornado wrecked alogging camp atGourdin, leaving mattresses in treetops, killing one person, injuring a few others, and causing $100,000 in losses.[25] Rainfall peaked at 8.0 inches (200 mm) atBelton.[26] InAiken, heavy precipitation caused damage to unpaved streets.[27] Inland, the system produced heavy rainfall overNorth Carolina,[28] peaking at 14.8 inches (380 mm) inRockingham, North Carolina, in the period covering September 13–18.[26]Laurinburg reported total rainfall of 11.2 inches (280 mm).[29]
This rain led to saturated grounds, allowing new water to spill into streams. Many crop fields and dwellings were flooded near theCape Fear River as levels rose to record heights. The towns ofMoncure,Fayetteville, andElizabethtown exceeded flood stage levels. Broken dams inRichmond County produced significantflash floods. Few deaths were reported, but economic losses were extensive.[28] InHopewell, New Jersey, the remnants of the system produced winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), though major damage was not reported.[30]
In the aftermath of the storm, more than 1,000 Red Cross workers were activated in response to the cyclone.[31] A force of 400 Germanprisoners of war and 200 Bahamian laborers participated in the cleanup process.[11]
Land-based radar atOrlando, Florida, detected the eye of the storm at 05:00 UTC on September 16.[32] 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.[33] In1992 Homestead and its vicinity would once again be severely affected by a tropical cyclone,Hurricane Andrew. A home, sited in Homestead, that was erected in the same year as the 1945 hurricane later registered the lowest pressure associated with Andrew to be measured on land in South Florida.[34][35] During landfall the 1945 storm was comparable to Andrew track-, size-, and damage-wise.[36]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Tropical cyclones of the1945 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
