The1933 Florida–Mexico hurricane was the first of five Atlantic hurricanes to affect the United States during the very active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season.[a] The fifth tropical cyclone of the year, it formed east of theLesser Antilles on July 24, rapidly strengthening as it moved west-northwest. It passed over or nearAntigua,Saba, andSaint Thomas, reaching hurricane status on July 26. In the northeasternCaribbean it produced heavy rains and killed at least six people. Over the next three days, it moved north of the Caribbean, paralleling theLucayan Archipelago. As it crossed the Bahamas, the storm drowned at least one person and caused extensive damage. On July 29, a strongridge nudged it westward, presaginglandfall nearHobe Sound, Florida, a day later. One of two hurricanes to hit theTreasure Coast in 1933, the compact storm unraveled inland, reaching the easternGulf of Mexico nearCharlotte Harbor as a tropical storm. A minimal hurricane, it caused little wind damage in Florida, but generated heavy rains and localizedfloods.
Once over water, the storm shifted its course to the west-southwest and gradually regained intensity, its path bringing it to the mouth of theRio Grande in early August. On August 4 the storm restrengthened into a hurricane, just a day before striking nearPlaya Lauro Villar—a site in northernTamaulipas, Mexico—with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), equal to a high-endCategory 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale; it was the first of two hurricanes in 1933 to impact nearbySouth Texas. Hitting close to theMexico–United States border, its winds damaged buildings and crops in both nations, with heavy losses tocitrus production in theRio Grande Valley. While only one person died in the United States, the storm dropped much rain over northern Mexico, engendering catastrophic floods that claimed at least 31 lives, with the worst-hit areas being in and near the city ofMonterrey. While monetary losses in Mexico were unclear, the storm did at least $3,000,000 in damages in the United States, measured in contemporary U.S. dollars.[b]
Theorigins of the storm were from a tropical depression that was located on July 24 about 430 mi (690 km) east ofSaint Lucia in theWindward Islands. This was based onanalysis of ship reports and evidence of a closedlow-pressure area, as conducted by theHurricane Research Division in 2012. The depression formed at the same time asanother tropical system developed over 450 mi (725 km) east ofBermuda.[2] Upon formation, it moved generally west-northwest, toward the eastern Caribbean, becoming atropical storm on July 25.[3] At 16:00 UTC the vesselDaytonian first recordedgale-force winds—45 mph (72 km/h), orBeaufort Force 9. Around that time, the storm made landfall on the island of Antigua with winds of 60–70 mph (95–110 km/h).[4][2] Abarometer on Saba measured 983 mb (29.02 inHg),[5] implyingmaximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h); based on this, the storm is estimated to have acquired hurricane status on July 26.[2] The storm traversed theUnited States Virgin Islands, missingPuerto Rico to its northeast, and on July 27 passed a short distance to the north ofGrand Turk Island, gradually bending northwest as it followed the arc of the eastern Bahamas. On July 28 the cyclone struckCat Island with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), and the next day made another landfall on theAbaco Islands with the same winds. A robustsubtropical ridge then caused it to veer westward, toward the east coast of Florida.[6][3] On July 30, the shipEl Almirante became the only vessel to detect hurricane winds in the storm.[4][7]
The storm made its only landfall in the United States onJupiter Island, Florida, betweenPort Salerno and Hobe Sound, around 16:00 UTC.[1][8] A ship nearby measured 992 mb (29.3 inHg) and winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), consistent with a landfall value of 988 mb (29.2 inHg); from this reanalysis derived winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), due to a tight pressure gradient and small storm size.[2] After landfall, the storm weakened to a tropical storm and moved slowly westward across the south-central peninsula, crossing the northern end ofLake Okeechobee early on July 31. It then passed slightly north ofPunta Gorda, exiting the state betweenVenice andEnglewood with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).[3] Once in the Gulf of Mexico, it encountered few ships, complicating efforts to discern its location and intensity. On August 1, it began a persistent west-southwest motion that continued for the rest of its lifecycle. A few ships on August 1–3 noted modest gales of 40 mph (64 km/h) and minimum pressures of 1,004 mb (29.65 inHg), confirming a weaker cyclone than earlier. Based on the latter, reanalysis inferred that the storm began gradually restrengthening on August 2, reaching 65 mph (100 km/h) at the time of the reading. On August 4 the storm reclaimed hurricane status, unbeknown toforecasters at the time, who lacked ample marine observations.[9][2] Angling westward, it reached a secondary peak of 90 mph (150 km/h), and around 01:00 UTC on August 5, itseye made landfall near Playa Lauro Villar, Tamaulipas, just south of the Rio Grande,[3] as verified by anemometers inBrownsville, Texas. Based on these, scientists determined theradius of maximum wind to be 30 mi (50 km). Brownsville also documented pressures of 981 to 982 mb (28.98 to 29 inHg), attesting a central value of 975 mb (28.79 inHg).[2][5] Now hooking west-southwest, the storm quickly weakened due to high terrain and vanished over easternmostNuevo León by 18:00 UTC.[3]
OnSaint Croix officials fortified public property, and theBoy Scouts of America advised people to leave insecure buildings.[10] Residents acrossPuerto Rico boarded up windows and bolted roofs in anticipation of damaging winds.[11] GovernorRobert Hayes Gore placed theHurricane Relief Organization andRed Cross on standby.[12] As the storm neared Florida, theUnited States Weather Bureau—now the National Weather Service—postedstorm warnings betweenMiami andTitusville. Officials later extended these to the west coast fromPunta Rassa toTarpon Springs.[9] Floridians secured watercraft and covered windows, while others left beachfronts for safety. Other denizens took few precautions, expecting the storm to remain weak. The Weather Bureau radioed the position and movement of the storm, allowing citizens to receive timely warnings.Palm Beach County prison guards relocated 36 convicts to aFort Lauderdale jail, where wardens also accepted 30 pet raccoons and many dogs.[13] Due to high water levels, Florida governorDavid Sholtz empowered local authorities to evacuate over 5,000 residents, most of whom were black farmworkers, from low-lying areas around Lake Okeechobee. Evacuations took place in the communities ofBelle Glade,Pahokee,Canal Point,Okeechobee, andClewiston. Most of the evacuees left by train, anticipating washouts on the trackbeds. Several railway companies waived passenger fees and readied trains at strategic points. Relief groups and local mayors distributed milk, biscuits, and coffee to refugees.[14][15] Forecasters also urged beachgoers to avoid high tides,[16] issuing storm warnings for part of the Texas coast, including the cities of Brownsville andFreeport.[9][17] The Weather Bureau notified people early enough to allow mass evacuations; most dwellers and campers vacated the barrier islands, while the majority ofPort Isabel's 500 residents fled, of whom a remnant sheltered in a sturdy brick store on the highest land available.[18]
Throughout its path from the Caribbean, to Florida, and finally into Texas and Mexico, the hurricane claimed 39 lives. 31 deaths occurred in Mexico, six inSaint Kitts, and one each in the Bahamas and Texas.[19] Total losses from the storm in the United States reached about $3 million, inclusive of Florida and Texas,[20][21] though figures for the latter state varied from $500,000 to $2 million, according to various sources.[22][23] Prolific rains accounted for most of these losses.[24] In September amuch stronger cyclone buffeted the same area of Florida as the July storm, with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) doing extensive damage that overshadowed the earlier cyclone.[25]
Surface weather analysis of the cyclone over the Lesser Antilles on July 25
As it passed over the Lesser Antilles, the storm caused at least six deaths on the island of Saint Kitts—then known as Saint Christopher Island[26]—and theVirgin Islands reported hurricane velocities,[27] but without damage. The barometer dipped to 1,005 mb (29.69 inHg) as the storm bypassed the islands to the south.[26] Antigua also experienced gales and a pressure of 1,002 mb (29.59 inHg).[2] AtChristiansted, Saint Croix, surf swept well inland, capsizing a boat and tossing another off its davits. Crops and farm fencing on the island sustained some damage as well, though overall effects were limited. Coincidentally, the storm arrived the day afterHurricane Supplication Day, a local tradition marking the opening of hurricane season on the fourth Monday in July.[28][10] As the storm bypassed Saint Thomas, the island clocked northeast winds of 60 mph (97 km/h),[9] but no damage occurred aside from some washouts. Rough seas attended the storm as well.[29] AtSan Juan, Puerto Rico, the storm only spawned heavy showers.[30]
In the Lucayan Archipelago hurricane-force winds and turbulent seas resulted in locally severe damage. Winds visually estimated at 85 mph (137 km/h) battered Grand Turk Island, badly damaging the salt industry. In the Bahamas, winds peaked at 84 mph (135 km/h) on the Abaco Islands, but caused only minimal damage there. Other reports indicated more severe damage elsewhere in the islands, including across the Turks and Caicos Islands, and one death from drowning. The hurricane's waves dragged out to sea the American schoonerAdams, anchored off Grand Turk.[31][2]
As the storm struck Florida, its narrow wind field affected 60 mi (95 km) of coast, with the worst effects concentrated betweenStuart andFort Pierce. These and neighboring communities felt peak velocities of 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 km/h).[c] Hobe Sound intercepted the eye passage, during which "hardly a needle in pine trees" stirred. A minimum pressure of 1,004 mb (29.66 inHg) occurred in Stuart andJupiter—unusually high for a hurricane, a quirk meteorologists ascribed to the trajectory and speed of the storm. On Lake Okeechobee winds topped out at 40 to 50 mph (64 to 80 km/h), progressively diminishing inland and near the west coast. Weather Bureau offices inTampa and other Gulf cities observed winds of no more than 39 mph (63 km/h). Areas well to the south and north of the landfall site, such asBroward County, saw virtually no impact. Heavy rains followed the path of the storm, peaking at 15.7 in (400 mm) inWest Palm Beach. Arain gauge at thePalm Beach Post office counted 12.01 in (305 mm) on July 30–31, setting a 24-hour record at that location—3.19 in (81 mm) higher than the week of the1928 Okeechobee hurricane. This established a monthly record as well, the total being 23.28 in (591 mm) for July, and over 15.25 in (387 mm) fell in a few days. Other sites reporting downpours includedIndiantown, which collected 12.02 in (305 mm), and a water transport lock, which received 15.6 in (400 mm). Rain gauges elsewhere overflowed or blew away, making undercounts likely; storm total estimates reached 20 in (510 mm).[33][2]
Rainfall totals from the hurricane across Florida and parts of Texas
Copious rains drenched Palm Beach,Martin, andSt. Lucie counties, withflash floods—the worst since ahurricane in 1924—engulfing roads, farms, bridges, and railroads. Wind-driven rainwater seeped through crevices and gaps, soaking building interiors. The rains also filled several boats, causing them to sink. Floodwaters encircled Jupiter, disrupting vehicle traffic, and lay2+1⁄2 ft (0.76 m) deep onDixie Highway. Floods also hit Little Dixie, acolored town in Stuart, leaving 25 families homeless, and deluged a 70-foot (21 m) section of trackbed on theFlorida East Coast Railway inSalerno, halting a few passenger trains for three hours. Rising waters stranded a pair ofFlorida Motor Lines buses, one of which slid into a ditch, but other buses relieved the passengers. Water volumes overwhelmed drainage systems, clogging sewers. A golf course flooded, spurring young onlookers to erect makeshift rafts. In the Palm Beaches water overtopped street curbs, swamped lawns, formed potholes, and isolated motorists. The aftermath of the storm caused funds to be expedited toward bridge repairs on theLoxahatchee River. Water levels in theKissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee climbed, the latter rising 18 in (460 mm) in a day, but no flooding occurred.[34]
Wind gusts disrupted communications with small settlements, Stuart being unreachable for many hours. Buildings suffered slight wind damage, with losses mostly confined to fruit crops and vegetation. At Stuart winds downed telegraph poles, signs, and tree limbs, but leveled just one structure. At St. Lucie Estates a hangar collapsed, crushing a private airplane, and a garage toppled atJensen. At Fort Pierce the storm uprooted no trees, but mangled shrubs, roofs, awnings, and power lines citywide. Denizens had taken precautions, however, so workers quickly revived utilities. Farther south, atPalm Beach, loose branches temporarily severed electricity, but foliage in the resort town went unscathed, aside from a broken coconut palm. Little wind damage ensued in the interior and along the Gulf coast, partly due to the storm mostly hitting sparsely settled areas. InSt. Petersburg, citizens enjoyed a refreshing northeast breeze that removed dead palm fronds, uprooted scattered plants, and sent waves splashing over seawalls. High seas eroded three portions ofState Road A1A and undermined a 100-foot (30 m) seawall segment, causing its collapse. Sand drifts litteredFederal Highway, slowing traffic. Seaward winds depressed tides inTampa Bay, where tidal fluctuations prevented three ships from departing. The storm stripped fruit trees including avocado, mango, and citrus, with losses to citrus production averaging 10–20% in theIndian River region. Exposed grapefruit incurred 25% losses in St. Lucie County, and unripe oranges covered the ground.[35]
Surface weather map of the hurricane nearing landfall in northern Mexico on August 4
In Mexico, the storm produced torrential rains that resulted in severe flooding, particularly in riparian areas along and near theSanta Catarina River inMonterrey, where at least 31 people died as floods made more than a quarter of the city inaccessible.[36] The collapse of a bridge isolated theColonia Independencia.[37] Raging waters destroyed 300 homes in one section alone, forcing occupants to flee, and the number of homeless reached the "thousands."[36][38] GovernorLázaro Cárdenas and Mayor Calles called upon all city and state facilities for relief efforts. Many people required evacuation by boat in what were described as "thrilling rescues."[37] The effects of the storm prostrated electrical and communications lines as well as trees in the city.[37] Nearer to the coast, strong winds severely damaged the famed Teatro Reforma, a theater dating to theSecond Mexican Empire, inMatamoros, Tamaulipas, where many homes were destroyed.[18] The storm was the first of four Atlantic hurricanes to hit Mexico in 1933, the most in a year as of 2024.[39]
As the hurricane affected Brownsville, strong winds—estimated at 80 to 90 mph (130 to 140 km/h)[40]—rent apart tree limbs, tore off roofs, and cracked plate glass windows. Debris covered streets in nearby Port Isabel, where waterfront fishing huts were wrecked. High seas also destroyed many structures onSouth Padre Island and partly submergedPadre andBrazos islands.[18][41] High tides eroded 500 ft (150 m) of highway on Brazos.[40] Almost no building in Port Isabel went unscathed,[18] with poorly built structures flattened;[40] among the worst hit were at a development company. Early reports confirmed that airborne glass from the local courthouse mildly injured a man in Brownsville.[18] The storm also disrupted communications between the Texas mainland and the barrier islands, where high tides stranded 25–30 campers and a detachment ofcavalry fromFort Brown.[18] Two hangars in Brownsville collapsed from the winds as well.[23] A smokestack at a canning facility inLa Feria collapsed under the strain of high winds.[40] Water levels along theRio Grande rose by 14 ft (4.3 m), though the river ultimately fell short of flood stage and spared surrounding areas of damage.[42] The storm ruined between 8–10% of the citrus crop in theRio Grande Valley, and caused at least one death in Texas.[43][44] Localized losses to the citrus crop reached 25% and upwards of 50% of the cotton crop was blown away in the lower valley region.[40] Total crop damage reached $2 million.[22]
^ Written at San Juan, Puerto Rico."Storm Nears Puerto Rico".The Brownsville Herald. Vol. 42, no. 20. Brownsville, Texas. Associated Press. July 26, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedDecember 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Written at San Juan, Puerto Rico."Hurricane Moves Toward [Puerto] Rico".Delaware County Daily Times. Vol. 57, no. 17653. Chester, Pennsylvania. United Press. July 25, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedDecember 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
"Fort Myers Prepares for Tropical Blow".Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 71. Associated Press. July 31, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Fort Lauderdale, Florida."Jail at Broward is overcrowded".Miami News. Vol. 38, no. 227. Miami. Associated Press. July 31, 1933. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Written at Belle Glade, Florida."Evergladers Give Experiences During Week-End 'Storm Trip'". Special.Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 173. West Palm Beach, Florida (published August 2, 1933). August 1, 1933. p. 3. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^abcdef Written at Brownsville, Texas."Texas Coastal Towns Lashed by Hurricane".St. Petersburg Times. Vol. 51, no. 58. St. Petersburg, Florida (published August 5, 1933). Associated Press. August 4, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedNovember 29, 2015 – via Google News Archive.
Written at Monterrey, Mexico."11 Drown in Flood".St. Petersburg Times. Vol. 51, no. 62. St. Petersburg, Florida (published August 9, 1933). Associated Press. August 8, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedNovember 29, 2015 – viaGoogle News Archive.
^ Written at San Juan, Puerto Rico."West Indies storm north of San Juan".Miami News. Vol. 38, no. 222. Miami. Associated Press. July 26, 1933. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Nassau, Bahamas."No Loss of Life".St. Petersburg Times. Vol. 51, no. 52. St. Petersburg, Florida (published July 30, 1933). Associated Press. July 29, 1933. p. 2. RetrievedDecember 20, 2015 – via Google News Archive.
Written at Turks Island."Damage Done by Storm in Bahamas".Denton Record-Chronicle. Vol. 32, no. 299. Denton, Texas. Associated Press. July 28, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedDecember 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Grand Turk Island."Storm Hits Bahamas".The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. July 28, 1933. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Miami."84-mile wind reported from Great Abaco Island".The Atlanta Journal. Vol. 51, no. 157. Atlanta (published July 30, 1933). Associated Press. July 29, 1933. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Tampa, Florida."Storm Travels West Out over Gulf of Mexico".St. Petersburg Times. Vol. 51, no. 54. St. Petersburg, Florida (published August 1, 1933). Associated Press. July 31, 1933. RetrievedNovember 29, 2015 – via Google News Archive.
Written at Tampa, Florida."Disturbance Passes into Gulf with Wind Velocity Diminished".Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 172. West Palm Beach, Florida (published August 1, 1933). Associated Press. July 31, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Tampa, Florida."Disturbance Passes into Gulf with Wind Velocity Diminished".Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 172. West Palm Beach, Florida (published August 1, 1933). Associated Press. July 31, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Jupiter, Florida."Jupiter Virtually Marooned With Water Flooding Highway".Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 172. West Palm Beach, Florida (published August 1, 1933). July 31, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Tampa, Florida."Storm Travels West Out over Gulf of Mexico".St. Petersburg Times. Vol. 51, no. 54. St. Petersburg, Florida (published August 1, 1933). Associated Press. July 31, 1933. RetrievedNovember 29, 2015 – via Google News Archive.
Written at Fort Pierce, Florida."Citrus Is Damaged in Fort Pierce Area". Special.Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 172. West Palm Beach, Florida (published August 1, 1933). July 31, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Written at Fort Pierce, Florida."Citrus Is Damaged in Fort Pierce Area". Special.Palm Beach Post. Vol. 25, no. 172. West Palm Beach, Florida (published August 1, 1933). July 31, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedAugust 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^abc"Mexico Flood Drowns Seven".The Salt Lake Tribune. Mexico City, Mexico. Associated Press. August 6, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedDecember 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Written at Monterrey, Mexico."11 Drown in Flood".St. Petersburg Times. Vol. 51, no. 62. St. Petersburg, Florida (published August 9, 1933). Associated Press. August 8, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedNovember 29, 2015 – via Google News Archive.
^"Fear Of Floods On Rio Grande Is Believed Past".The Bonham Daily Favorite. Vol. 41, no. 31. Brownsville, Texas. Associated Press. August 7, 1933. p. 1. RetrievedDecember 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
Norquest, C. E., ed. (August 1933). Written atHouston, Texas."General Summary". Texas section.Climatological Data.38 (8). Washington, D.C.: United States Weather Bureau:57–64.
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Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
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