Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | June 24,1933 |
Dissipated | July 8,1933 |
Category 2 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 110 mph (175 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 965 mbar (hPa);28.50 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 35 total |
Damage | $7.2 million (1933 USD) |
Areas affected | Leeward Islands (Trinidad landfall),Venezuela,Cuba,Mexico |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1933 Atlantic hurricane season |
The 1933 Trinidad hurricane was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone,one of only three Atlantic hurricanes on record to produce hurricane-force winds in Venezuela. The second tropical storm and first hurricane of the extremely active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season,the system formed on June 24 to the east of the Lesser Antilles,unusually early for the Main Development Region (MDR) so early in the calendar year. It moved westward and attained hurricane status before striking Trinidad on June 27. The storm caused heavy damage on the island,estimated at $3 million. [nb 1] The strong winds downed trees and destroyed hundreds of houses,leaving about 1,000 people homeless. Later,the hurricane crossed the northeastern portion of Venezuela,where power outages and damaged houses were reported.
After entering the Caribbean Sea,the hurricane maintained a northwest trajectory. It passed south of Jamaica on July 1,where heavy rainfall flooded roads and railways. The hurricane crossed western Cuba on July 3. High winds on the island destroyed hundreds of houses,and the storm's rainfall damaged the tobacco crop. Upon entering the Gulf of Mexico,the hurricane turned to the west and attained peak winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) on July 5. It struck northeastern Mexico on July 8 and quickly dissipated. Upon its final landfall,the storm caused heavy damage in Mexico,and in southern Texas the storm ended a prolonged drought.
A tropical wave was first observed near 40° W on June 23. The next day,a ship in the region observed a closed circulation,suggesting that the tropical wave spawned a tropical depression about 1,300 mi (2,100 km) east of Trinidad. The storm moved westward and gradually intensified into a tropical storm. By June 27,it attained hurricane strength about 175 mi (282 km) east of Trinidad,based on a ship report of a barometric pressure of 991 mbar (29.27 inHg). At around 2100 UTC on June 27,the hurricane made landfall on extreme southern Trinidad with winds of about 85 mph (137 km/h). [nb 2] After crossing the island,the hurricane struck the Paria Peninsula of northern Venezuela at the same intensity at 0200 UTC on June 28. [1]
About two hours after striking Venezuela,the hurricane entered the southeastern Caribbean Sea. For the next few days it maintained its intensity while tracking to the northwest. A ship on June 30 reported a pressure of 982 mb (29.0 inHg),suggesting winds of about 100 mph (160 km/h). The next day,the hurricane passed south of Jamaica and turned more to the west before resuming a northwest motion. At around 0600 UTC on July 3,the hurricane made landfall on western Cuba with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h). It weakened while crossing the island,although it maintained hurricane status upon entering the Gulf of Mexico. [1] On July 4,a strong high pressure area over the eastern United States turned the hurricane to the west. [2] After restrengthening,the storm attained peak winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) on July 5,based on a ship report of a pressure of 965 mbar (28.5 inHg). It maintained that intensity for about 18 hours,and during that time the hurricane turned to the southwest. At 0100 UTC on July 8,the hurricane made its final landfall near La Pesca, [1] about halfway between Tampico,Tamaulipas and Brownsville,Texas. [2] The intensity at landfall was estimated at 85 mph (137 km/h). After moving ashore,the hurricane rapidly weakened over the high terrain of northeastern Mexico,and the storm dissipated at around 1200 UTC on July 8. [1] [ failed verification ]
Throughout its path,the hurricane killed at least 35 people altogether in Trinidad,Venezuela,Jamaica,and Cuba. [3] The hurricane first affected Trinidad,causing about $3 million in damage in the southern portion of the island. [2] The storm destroyed 300 houses in one village,and thousands were left homeless. [4] Trees across the island fell down and blocked many roads,including one that struck a car and seriously injured one man. Heavy damage was also reported to the cocoa industry. [5] High winds destroyed about 60 oil derricks,and an 11 mi (18 km) oil supply line was disrupted due to fallen trees. [4] This represented a significant loss to the island's oil industry,one of two such events in the 1930s. [6] High winds downed power lines across the island,which were repaired by three days after the storm struck. [7] The storm also dropped heavy rainfall and destroyed the roofs of many houses. [8] Little damage occurred in the capital city of Port of Spain. [5] There were 13 deaths in Trinidad, [2] some of whom drowned after their boats sank. [7] After the storm,medical assistance and relief supplies were sent via boat to Cedros,which was one of the most significantly affected areas. [9]
After affecting Trinidad,the hurricane struck northeastern Venezuela,where damage was heaviest in Carúpano,Río Caribe,and Isla Margarita. High winds cut telephone and telegraph lines for several days. The storm destroyed several houses and fishing boats,resulting in several million bolívares in damage. [nb 3] Officials reported that there were "a number of lives lost" due to the hurricane. [2] Striking with winds of 85 mph (137 km/h), [1] the storm was one of only three Atlantic tropical cyclones on record at the time to affect the country with hurricane-force winds,after hurricanes in 1877 and 1892. [10]
After moving across the Caribbean,the hurricane affected Jamaica. High winds downed about 200,000 banana trees,while flooding in the western portion of the island affected roads and railways. [11] Later,the hurricane crossed western Cuba, [2] killing 22 people and causing $4 million in damage. [12] The hurricane destroyed about 100 houses in Pinar del Río Province from the combination of strong winds and flooding from heavy rainfall. One person died after her house collapsed in the province. [13] The rainfall caused four rivers to exceed their banks,and the storm-related flooding left serious damage to the tobacco industry. [11] The storm also damaged crops in the region. High winds downed telephone and telegraph lines in western Cuba. Little damage was reported in the capital city of Havana,despite the report of a peak wind gust of 70 mph (110 km/h). After the storm,Cuban President Gerardo Machado utilized the military to assist in relief operations and prevent looting. [13]
The threat of the storm prompted the United States Weather Bureau to issue southeast storm warnings for Key West,Florida. Light rainfall from the storm was reported in Miami. [13] Before the storm made its final landfall,the Weather Bureau issued northeast storm warnings from Brownsville to Port O'Connor,Texas on July 5. That same day,a hurricane warning was also issued for Brownsville. The hurricane ultimately struck a sparsely-populated area of northeastern Mexico,causing several deaths and heavy damage in the country. [2] High winds downed trees and power lines,and damaged the roofs of several houses. Along the beach near Tampico,high tides damaged coastal structures and flooded some cars. [14] The effects extended into Texas,and Brazos Island,Port Isabel,and Port Aransas were flooded due to the storm surge. [15] High tides damaged ten piers in Port Isabel,and there was damage to buildings along the coast. The storm damaged the cotton and fruit crops in south Texas from high winds and rainfall. [14] Rains from the storm ended an extended drought in the Brownsville area. [16]
The 1933 Monthly Weather Review summary of the season noted that the hurricane was the "earliest known in [the] general area also the only one in a record of nearly 50 years to pass south of the Island of Trinidad and over the northeast corner of Venezuela." [2] It became a tropical storm farther east in the MDR at an earlier date than any prior system on record in the calendar year; [17] this distinction was later surpassed by Tropical Storm Bret in 2023. [18] It was also the easternmost Atlantic hurricane in June until Beryl in 2024. [19]
The 1963 Atlantic hurricane season was a slightly below average season in terms of tropical cyclone formation, with a total of ten nameable storms. Even so, it was also a notoriously deadly and destructive season. The season officially began on June 15, 1963, and lasted until November 15, 1963. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first system, an unnamed tropical storm, developed over the Bahamas on June 1.
The 1966 Atlantic hurricane season saw the Weather Bureau office in Miami, Florida, be designated as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and assume responsibility of tropical cyclone forecasting in the basin. The season officially began on June 1, and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was an above-average season in terms of tropical storms, with a total of 15. The first system, Hurricane Alma, developed over eastern Nicaragua on June 4 and became a rare major hurricane in the month of June. Alma brought severe flooding to Honduras and later to Cuba, but caused relatively minor impact in the Southeastern United States. Alma resulted in 90 deaths and about $210 million (1966 USD) in damage.
The 1979 Atlantic hurricane season was the first Atlantic hurricane season to include both male and female names on its list of tropical cyclone names. The season officially began on June 1, and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was slightly below average, with nine systems reaching tropical storm intensity. The first system, an unnumbered tropical depression, developed north of Puerto Rico on June 9. Two days later, Tropical Depression One formed and produced severe flooding in Jamaica, with 40 deaths and about $27 million (1979 USD) in damage. Tropical Storm Ana caused minimal impact in the Lesser Antilles. Hurricane Bob spawned tornadoes and produced minor wind damage along the Gulf Coast of the United States, primarily in Louisiana, while the remnants caused flooding, especially in Indiana. Tropical Storm Claudette caused extensive flooding in Texas due to torrential rainfall, resulting in two deaths and about $750 million in damage.
Hurricane Flora is among the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, with a death total of at least 7,193. The seventh tropical storm and sixth hurricane of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season, Flora developed from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone on September 26 while located 755 miles (1,215 km) southwest of the Cape Verde islands. After remaining a weak depression for several days, it rapidly organized on September 29 to attain tropical storm status. Flora continued to quickly strengthen to reach Category 3 hurricane status before moving through the Windward Islands and passing over Tobago, and it reached maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour (233 km/h) in the Caribbean.
The 1945 Atlantic hurricane season produced multiple landfalling tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 16 and lasted until October 31, dates delimiting the period when a majority of storms were perceived to form in the Atlantic Ocean. A total of 11 systems were documented, including a late-season cyclone retroactively added a decade later. Five of the eleven systems intensified into hurricanes, and two further attained their peaks as major hurricanes. Activity began with the formation of a tropical storm in the Caribbean on June 20, which then made landfalls in Florida and North Carolina at hurricane intensity, causing one death and at least $75,000 in damage. In late August, a Category 3 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale struck the Texas coastline, with 3 deaths and $20.1 million in damage. The most powerful hurricane of the season, reaching Category 4 intensity, wrought severe damage throughout the Bahamas and East Coast of the United States, namely Florida, in mid-September; 26 people were killed and damage reached $60 million. A hurricane moved ashore the coastline of Belize in early October, causing one death, while the final cyclone of the year resulted in 5 deaths and $2 million in damage across Cuba and the Bahamas two weeks later. Overall, 36 people were killed and damage reached at least $82.85 million.
The 1933 Atlantic hurricane season is the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record in terms of accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), with a total of 259. It also set a record for nameable tropical storms in a single season, 20, which stood until 2005, when there were 28 storms. The season ran for six months of 1933, with tropical cyclone development occurring as early as May and as late as November. A system was active for all but 13 days from June 28 to October 7.
The 1932 Atlantic hurricane season featured several powerful storms, including the Cuba hurricane, which remains the deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of Cuba and among the most intense to strike the island nation. It was a relatively active season, with fifteen known storms, six hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. However, tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. The Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project discovered four new tropical cyclones, all of which were tropical storms, that occurred during the year. Two storms attained Category 5 intensity, the first known occurrence in which multiple Category 5 hurricanes formed in the same year. The season's first cyclone developed on May 5, while the last remaining system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by November 13.
The 1928 Atlantic hurricane season was a near average hurricane season in which seven tropical cyclones developed. Of these, six intensified into a tropical storm and four further strengthened into hurricanes. One hurricane deepened into a major hurricane, which is Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale. The first system, the Fort Pierce hurricane, developed near the Lesser Antilles on August 3. The storm crossed the Bahamas and made landfall in Florida. Two fatalities and approximately $235,000 in damage was reported. A few days after the first storm developed, the Haiti hurricane, formed near the southern Windward Islands on August 7. The storm went on to strike Haiti, Cuba, and Florida. This storm left about $2 million in damage and at least 210 deaths. Impacts from the third system are unknown.
The 1921 Atlantic hurricane season was an active hurricane season, with 12 tropical cyclones forming. Among them, seven became tropical storms, of which five strengthened into hurricanes. Furthermore, two of these strengthened into a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, the most since the 1917 season. The first system, a tropical depression, developed on June 1, while the last, a tropical storm, dissipated on November 25. Of note, three tropical cyclones co-existed with another during the season.
The 1909 Atlantic hurricane season was an average Atlantic hurricane season. The season produced thirteen tropical cyclones, twelve of which became tropical storms; six became hurricanes, and four of those strengthened into major hurricanes. The season's first storm developed on June 15 while the last storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on November 14. The most notable storm during the season formed in late August, while east of the Lesser Antilles. The hurricane devastated the Lesser Antilles, the Greater Antilles, and Mexico, leaving around 4,000 fatalities and more than $50 million (1909 USD) in damage.
The 1901 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active season without a major hurricane – tropical cyclones that reach at least Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale – until 2013. The first system was initially observed in the northeastern Caribbean on June 11. The fourteenth and final system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone near Bermuda on November 5. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Eight of the fourteen tropical cyclones existed simultaneously.
The 1892 Atlantic hurricane season included the last tropical cyclone on record to pass through the Cabo Verde Islands at hurricane intensity until 2015. A total of nine tropical storms developed, five of which strengthened into a hurricane, though none of them became a major hurricane. However, in the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated. Three tropical storms made landfall on the United States.
The 1887 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record at the time in terms of the number of known tropical storms that had formed, with 19. This total has since been equaled or surpassed multiple times. The 1887 season featured five off-season storms, with tropical activity occurring as early as May, and as late as December. It is also worthy of note that the volume of recorded activity was documented largely without the benefit of modern technology. Tropical cyclones during this era did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period may not be comprehensive. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated. Of the known 1887 cyclones, Tropical Storm One and Tropical Storm Three were first documented in 1996 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz. They also proposed large alterations to the known tracks of several of the other 1887 storms. Later re-analysis led to the known duration of Hurricane Six, and also that of Hurricane Fifteen, being increased.
The 1886 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the early summer and the first half of fall in 1886. This is the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was a very active year, with ten hurricanes, six of which struck the United States, an event that would not occur again until 1985 and 2020. Four hurricanes became major hurricanes. However, in the absence of modern satellites and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea are known, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated. Of the known 1886 cyclones, Hurricane Seven and Tropical Storm Eleven were first documented in 1996 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz. They also proposed large alterations to the known tracks of several other 1886 storms.
Tropical Storm Alma, the first named storm to develop in the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season, was a short lived tropical cyclone that made a rare Venezuelan landfall. The storm formed from the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) on August 12 well to the east of the Windward Islands, but advisories were not issued until the next day when Alma was at peak intensity. Alma entered the southeastern Caribbean Sea at an unusually brisk westward pace of between 20 mph (32 km/h) to 25 mph (40 km/h), prompting numerous watches and gale warnings throughout the nations in this region. After crossing Trinidad, Alma became one of only four tropical storms to traverse the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. The storm dissipated on August 15 over the high terrain of Venezuela.
The 1933 Cuba–Brownsville hurricane was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone in the 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. It was one of two systems during the season to reach Category 5‑equivalent intensity on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. It formed on August 22 off the west coast of Africa, and for much of its duration it maintained a west-northwest track. The system intensified into a tropical storm on August 26 and into a hurricane on August 28. Passing north of the Lesser Antilles, the hurricane rapidly intensified as it approached the Turks and Caicos islands. It reached Category 5 status and its peak winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) on August 31. Subsequently, it weakened before striking northern Cuba on September 1 with winds of 120 mph (190 km/h). In the country, the hurricane left about 100,000 people homeless and killed over 70 people. Damage was heaviest near the storm's path, and the strong winds destroyed houses and left areas without power. Damage was estimated at $11 million.