.JPG) Surface weather analysis of Hurricane Dog on September 4 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 30, 1950 |
| Extratropical | September 11, 1950 |
| Dissipated | September 18, 1950 |
| 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 | 31 |
| Damage | $3 million (1950USD) |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles,Puerto Rico,East Coast of the United States,Bermuda,Atlantic Canada,Northern Ireland,Scotland |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the1950 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Dog was the most intensehurricane in the1950 Atlantic hurricane season. Prior toreanalysis by theHurricane Research Division in 2014, it was considered one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, equivalent toCategory 5 status on the modernSaffir-Simpson scale, with winds of 185miles per hour (298 km/h). The fourth named storm of the season, Dog developed on August 30 to the east ofAntigua; after passing through the northernLesser Antilles, it turned to the north and intensified into aCategory 4 hurricane. Dog reached its peak intensity with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) over the open Atlantic, and after weakening it passed within 200 miles (320 km) ofCape Cod, Massachusetts. The storm becameextratropical on September 12.
Hurricane Dog caused extensive damage to theLeeward Islands, and was considered the most severe hurricane on record inAntigua. Many buildings were destroyed or severely damaged on the island, with thousands left homeless just weeks afterHurricane Baker caused serious damage there. In the United States, the hurricane caused moderate coastal damage, including damage to several boats, and resulted in 11 offshore drownings. Strong winds caused widespread power outages across southeasternNew England. Twelve people were missing and assumed dead offshoreNova Scotia. Damage across its path totaled about $3 million (1950 USD$, 26.8 million 2009 USD).
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionThe exact origins of Hurricane Dog are obscure, due to sparse ship and land observations over the eastern Atlantic Ocean; the storm may have originated from aneasterly wave on August 24 near theCape Verde islands, but there are no observations to support such development.[1] Ships first encountered the storm on August 30, when theSS Sibrodin reportedgale-force winds and anarea of low pressure about 320 miles (510 km) east-southeast ofAntigua. The storm is first documented as a hurricane with winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) late on August 30.[2] Withhigh pressures to its northeast, the storm tracked west-northwestward andrapidly intensified: on August 31 it attained major hurricane status, reaching winds of 130 mph (209 km/h)—the first peak intensity in its life—before entering theLeeward Islands. Early on September 1, Hurricane Dog passed just north ofAntigua as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on theSaffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.[2] Aweather station on Antigua reported apressure of 28.73inches of mercury (973 mb), though theeye of the hurricane missed the station.[1] After bypassing Antigua, Hurricane Dog weakened slightly, based on reports byreconnaissance aircraft; the cyclone made its first and onlylandfall overAnguilla with winds of 120 to 125 mph (193 to 201 km/h). The cyclone produced hurricane-force winds over Antigua and the nearby island ofSaint Martin, which reported a pressure of 978.7 mb (28.90 inHg).[3][4]
Early on September 2, Hurricane Dog came under weaksteering currents, causing it to drift northward.[4] The cyclone weakened even further: aircraft recorded a central pressure of 962 mb (28.4 inHg), and maximum sustained winds diminished to 115 mph (185 km/h).[1] The storm mostly maintained its intensity for two more days, but on September 4 it began to re-intensify as it turned northwestward.[2] On September 5, Hurricane Dog regained Category 4 intensity about 335 miles (540 km) north of the eastern tip of theDominican Republic. The hurricane strengthened further after turning to the north, and Hurricane Dog reached its second and strongest peak intensity of 145 mph (233 km/h).[2] On September 6,Hurricane Hunters visually estimated peak winds of 185 mph (300 km/h) about 450 miles (720 km) south-southwest ofBermuda;[4] however, being early in the period of hurricane reconnaissance, such wind speeds—derived from observations of the sea surface—were subjective and sometimes unreliable.[5] In 2014, areanalysis ofHURDAT by the Hurricane Research Division found that the peak winds in Hurricane Dog were more likely 145 mph (230 km/h), marking a reduction in the intensity of Hurricane Dog from Category 5 to Category 4.[1] Nevertheless, while now estimated to have been less intense than assessed operationally in 1950, Dog was a formidable hurricane while over the western Atlantic, producing wave heights of over 100 feet (30 m).[4]
Hurricane Dog maintained its peak intensity for about 12 hours.[2] On September 7, the cyclone attained a central pressure of 948 mbar (27.99 inHg), which was the lowest pressure in association with the hurricane.[6] A buildingridge of high pressure to its north caused it to decelerate and weaken steadily for unknown reasons as it turned to the west; by September 9, the intensity had decreased to 75 mph (121 km/h).[2] On September 10, Hurricane Dog began turning to the northwest, and a day later it headed north and then northeast. Late that day, it briefly re-intensified slightly to 100 mph (161 km/h) before transitioning into anextratropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds.[2] The former hurricane passed within 200 miles (320 km) ofCape Cod on September 12. Shortly afterwards, the extratropical remnant turned to the east, losing hurricane winds for several days beginning on September 13.[2] The system eventually turned to the northeast on September 15, and a day later it regained hurricane-force winds as a vigorous extratropical cyclone. Early on September 17, the cyclone struckScotland with winds of 75 mph (121 km/h), but the system persisted until finally losing its identity north of Scotland on September 18.[4][2]
In the United States, the threat of the hurricane prompted theNational Weather Bureau to issue warnings of gale-force winds, high tides, and rough surf from theOuter Banks ofNorth Carolina toMaine. At least 17 naval ships were moved in preparation for the hurricane.Rhode Island state police officers warned homeowners near the coast to be ready to evacuate, if necessary. There, officials also closed several beaches and canceled ferry travel along the state's southern waterways.[7]On the day of the hurricane's closest approach to the United States, the National Weather Bureau issuedstorm warnings fromCape May, New Jersey, toEastport, Maine.[8]
Passing through theLesser Antilles, Hurricane Dog produced astorm surge of 8 feet (2.4 m) inAntigua.[9] Winds on Antigua andBarbuda were estimated at 130 mph (210 km/h),[4] with a gust of 144 mph (232 km/h) recorded atSt. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.[10] On Antigua, where hurricane-force winds were reported for six hours, residents considered it the most severe hurricane in history.[4] Hurricane Dog left thousands homeless on Antigua, just weeks afterHurricane Baker caused severe damage on the island.[11] Damage throughout the Lesser Antilles totaled $1 million (1950 USD$, 8.92 million 2009 USD), primarily on Antigua and Barbuda, and included many damaged or destroyed homes, ruined crops, blocked roads from washouts or fallen trees, and power outages across the islands. The hurricane resulted in several shipwrecks; two people drowned when their small boat capsized.[4] The hurricane sank a boat on the island ofSaint-Barthélemy, where damage amounted to $70,000 (1950 USD$, 624,191 2009 USD).[12]
Heavy rain fell in theMid-Atlantic States, leading toflash floods in some locations. InBel Air, Maryland, a car drove into the swollenLittle Gunpowder Falls; three people in the car drowned and a fourth was injured. A further two people drowned inLexington, Virginia. Though newspaper sources attributed the heavy rainfall to Hurricane Dog,[8] this was not confirmed.[4] The hurricane deposited light to moderate rainfall across southeasternMassachusetts, ranging from around 1 inch (25 mm) to about 4 to 5 inches (100 to 125 mm) nearNantucket.[13][14] InProvincetown, a car hit a woman—neither the driver nor the victim was able to see due to the rains. A man inFalmouth was paralyzed from the waist downwards after coming into contact with a wet tree limb next to a downed power line.[8]
The hurricane produced high tides and rough surf along theEast Coast of the United States, withcoastal flooding reported along some beaches inRhode Island.[7] The hurricane capsized or damaged several boats along the coastline, including two large vessels inNantucket. InMarblehead, Massachusetts, the surf grounded at least 15 vessels from the harbor onto a coastalcauseway. NearCape Cod, damage to fishermen's assets totaled $150,000 (1950 USD$, 1.34 million 2009 USD). Tides along Nantucket were reported at the highest levels since the1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane.[8] Hurricane Dog produced powerful wind gusts along coastal areas ofNew England, which caused widespread power outages, including a loss of power to 15 towns on Cape Cod, to hundreds of residences on Nantucket, and to several other locations in the area. Additionally, winds from the hurricane destroyed two small barns and uprooted a few trees, some of which blocked roads.[8] Overall damage was fairly light, totaling about $2 million (1950 USD$, 17.8 million 2009 USD)—a much lower total than would have been expected if the hurricane had made landfall. In all, 12 people died inNew England as a result of the hurricane.[4] Two ships went missing during the storm along the coast ofNova Scotia, with a crew of six people each; their status is unknown, and they are considered storm fatalities.[15]
Before scientific reexamination reduced its winds, Hurricane Dog was listed as the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, tied with HurricanesGilbert in1988 andWilma in2005; following reanalysis in 2012, the1935 Labor Day hurricane also met this distinction. Only HurricanesCamille in1969 andAllen in1980 were stronger, peaking at 190 mph (306 km/h).[1][2] (However, Camille was later found to have been somewhat weaker than originally estimated, with top winds of 175 mph (282 km/h).) During the 1950,1951, and1952 seasons, Atlantic hurricanes were named using theJoint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.[16] However, Hurricane Dog was referred to as "the great hurricane in the central Atlantic" in newspaper reports, and its name was seldom used.[11] Operationally, hurricanes were not referred to by name until 1952.[17]
A relief fund was organized in the aftermath of the hurricane byThe Daily Gleaner, a newspaper from Kingston, Jamaica. The newspaper invited its readers to help assist "their suffering fellow-West Indians in the island ofAntigua."[18] Four days after the hurricane, the fund totaled £171,000 (1950 GBP, $4.27 million 2009 USD). One Antigua official stated the country "would appreciate voluntary assistance from outside, especially food and clothing".[18] Relief aid was also sent from the United States to the affected islands.[19]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
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