 Surface weather analysis of the hurricane over western Cuba on September 25 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 20, 1917 (1917-09-20) |
| Dissipated | September 30, 1917 (1917-09-30) |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 150 mph (240 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 928mbar (hPa); 27.40 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | ≥44 total |
| Damage | $2.17 million (1917USD) |
| Areas affected | Antilles (particularlyJamaica andCuba),Southeastern United States (especiallyFlorida) |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1917 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The1917 Nueva Gerona hurricane[1] was the most intensetropical cyclone to strike theFlorida Panhandle untilHurricane Opal in1995. The eighth tropical cyclone and fourth tropical storm of theseason, this system was identified as a tropical storm east of theLesser Antilles on September 20. After crossing the Lesser Antilles, the system entered theCaribbean Sea and achieved hurricane intensity on September 21. After becoming aCategory 2 hurricane, the stormstruck the northern coast ofJamaica on September 23. Early on September 25, the cyclone reached Category 4 status and attainedmaximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) soon thereafter. Later that day, the hurricane madelandfall in easternPinar del Río Province,Cuba. The system entered theGulf of Mexico shortly thereafter and weakened slightly. Recurving to the northeast, the hurricane briefly threatenedLouisiana before turning towardFlorida. Early on September 29, the hurricane made landfall nearFort Walton Beach, Florida, with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Once over land, the cyclone rapidly weakened and transitioned into anextratropical cyclone before dissipating on September 30.
Some islands in the Lesser Antilles experienced strong winds and heavy rainfall, includingDominica,Guadeloupe, andSaint Lucia. In Jamaica, the hurricane caused significant damage tobanana andcoconut plantations. Communications from Holland Bay were disrupted when the station was demolished. The greatest damages were reported from the northern half of the island. Nine deaths occurred in the city ofPort Antonio. InNueva Gerona, Cuba, strong winds destroyed well-constructed buildings and all but 10 homes. TheIsla de la Juventud overall experienced about $2 million (1917 USD) in damage and there were at least 20 fatalities. Orchards and crops were destroyed on the Pinar del Río Province. In Louisiana andMississippi, impact was generally limited to damaged crops and timber stands. Ten deaths from drowning were reported in Louisiana. Farther east inMobile, Alabama, portions of roofs, trees, and other debris littered streets. Communications were severed inPensacola, Florida. Several small watercraft washed ashore, and numerous wharves, docks, and boat storages suffered impact. Total damages were estimated near $170,000 in Pensacola area. Five deaths were reported in Florida, all of them inCrestview. The storm and its remnants also produced rainfall in Georgia,North Carolina, andSouth Carolina.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionAn opentrough oflow pressure, possibly atropical wave,[2] developed into a tropical storm about 160 miles (260 km) east-northeast ofBarbados at 00:00 UTC on September 20. Steadily intensifying, the storm moved west-northwestward and crossed the Lesser Antilles between the islands ofSaint Lucia andMartinique several hours later. Upon entering theCaribbean Sea on September 21, the system intensified quicker, becoming aCategory 1 hurricane on the modern-daySaffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale later that day. While passing south of theTiburon Peninsula on the following day, the storm strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. Later on September 23, the hurricane struck the northern coast of Jamaica, before re-emerging into the Caribbean Sea. Around 06:00 UTC on September 24, it intensified into a Category 3 hurricane while moving northwestward. Around that time, it struckCayman Brac. Early on September 25, the storm achieved Category 4 status.[3]
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At 12:00 UTC on September 25, the hurricane attained its minimum barometric pressure of 928 mbar (27.4 inHg), an estimate made by Ramón Perez of the Instituto de Meteorología de la República de Cuba. Using a pressure-wind relationship, researchers at theNational Hurricane Center estimated peakmaximum sustained winds at 150 mph (240 km/h).[2] Shortly after peak intensity, the cyclone brushedIsla de la Juventud. By 18:00 UTC on September 25, the hurricane madelandfall at the same intensity in the eastern part ofPinar del Río Province inCuba. The system entered theGulf of Mexico later on September 25. The storm fell toCategory 3 intensity early on September 27. It briefly tracked generally northward and approached southeastern Louisiana before re-curving northeastward late the next day. At 02:00 UTC on September 29, the hurricane made landfall nearFort Walton Beach, Florida, with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Once over land, the system rapidly weakened to a tropical storm within 12 hours. Early on September 30, it transitioned into anextratropical cyclone overGeorgia after merging with afrontal system. About six hours later, the remnants of the hurricane dissipated.[3]
The minimum atmospheric pressure of 928 mbar (27.4 inHg) established the cyclone as the third most intense landfalling Cuban hurricane. Deeper pressures of 921 and 915 mbar (27.2 and 27.0 inHg) were measured in the1924 and1932 hurricanes, respectively.[4] The cyclone (949 mbar, 28.0 inHg) was also the most intense tropical cyclone in theFlorida Panhandle untilHurricane Opal (942 mbar, 27.8 inHg). At the time, it was tied with an1882 storm, which also had a central pressure of 949 mbar (28.0 inHg) at landfall in northwest Florida.[5]
On September 21, the United StatesWeather Bureau issued advisories because of strong swells in theLeeward Islands, indicating the presence of a tropical disturbance.[6]
The system produced heavyprecipitation and strong winds in the eastern Caribbean islands.[2] In Jamaica, the hurricane caused significant damages tobanana andcoconut plantations. Communications from Holland Bay were disrupted when the station was demolished.[7] The greatest damages were reported from the northern half of the island.[6] AtPort Antonio, the custom house was destroyed, while a hotel was severely damaged. Nine deaths occurred in the city.[8] InNueva Gerona, Cuba, severe winds destroyed well constructed buildings, devastating the town.[6] Only ten homes remained standing.[9] At a large plantation, every building but the house was destroyed. Nearly all of the chickens on the property were killed during the storm.[10] ThroughoutIsla de la Juventud, damage reached approximately $2 million. The island's food supply was also ruined.[9] Offshore, a number of ships capsized or went missing, resulting in "many" deaths.[11] There were at least 20 fatalities on the island,[12] while other accounts state that there were hundreds killed.[13] Orchards and crops were destroyed on the Pinar del Río Province.[6] A relief committed issued an appeal for aid to then-Cuban presidentMario García Menocal and Americans.[9] At the Burnside Hotel, among few buildings were demolished, a soup kitchen was opened to feed storm victims.[10]
On September 23,northeast storm warnings were issued for theFlorida coast fromWest Palm Beach toBoca Grande.[6] On September 25, the Weather Bureau advised marine traffic to remain alert in the Gulf of Mexico, noting that the intensity of the storm was unknown.[14] Later, hurricane warnings were issued fromApalachicola, Florida, toMobile, Alabama, on September 25. Warnings were also released fromPascagoula, Mississippi, toNew Orleans, Louisiana, on September 26. The warnings were briefly discontinued because of track uncertainties, but they were re-issued when the cyclone began to curve northeast. On September 27 and September 28, scheduled vessel trips were cancelled in New Orleans, Louisiana. Marine traffic resumed after the storm passed east of the city. The storm struck the Gulf Coast later than anticipated because of slow forward motion.[6]
In Louisiana,rain bands produced 6.40 in (163 mm) of rain inBurrwood.[6] The Louisville and Nashville Railroad sent trains on alternate routes because of eroded tracks near Lake Catherine. The effects of the cyclone also damaged crops and timber stands inLouisiana andMississippi.[15] Thestorm surge associated with the hurricane moved several structures from their foundations inBuras, Louisiana.[6] There, the storm was blamed for the death of an 8-year-old boy.[2] Nine additional fatalities occurred nearHouma after the fishing barkWanna was wrecked.[16] InBiloxi, warnings prevented considerable loss of shrimp boats.[15] Street cars and other traffic were practically suspended inGulfport.[17]
In Alabama, more than 5 in (130 mm) of rain was measured inMontgomery,[15] prompting flood advisories for the lowerAlabama River watershed.[6] At Camp Sheridan, aUnited States ArmyWorld War I training camp, the streets were inundated with at least a few inches of water.[16] InMobile, trees and telephone and telegraph wires were downed,[15][17] cutting off communications. Roofs were detached and the galleries of houses were torn away. Police stopped the streets cars were operating and shut off the electricity.[17] No boats from the area were lost, and waterfront damage was negligible.[15]
The hurricane severed communication fromPensacola, Florida, though reports eventually indicated that the wireless radio plant was not destroyed.[15] Several small watercraft washed ashore, including theUSS Quincy, and numerous wharves, docks, and boat storages received damage.[6] Total damages reached about $170,000 in the vicinity of Pensacola.[6] Near the city, a portion of theLouisville and Nashville Railroad was 8 ft (2.4 m) underwater, while several of their bridges washed away.[16] AtValparaiso, tides reached 7.5 ft (2.3 m) above normal.[18] Significant destruction of timber occurred inOkaloosa andSanta Rosa counties, and crops, structures, and livestock were affected.[6] Strong winds occurred along the southwest coast of Florida, and a wind gust of 44 mph (71 km/h) was reported inJacksonville.[6] A total of five people were killed inCrestview.[6]
The storm and its remnants also produced rainfall inGeorgia,North Carolina, andSouth Carolina.[19]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
florida's hurricane history.
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