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1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Surface weather analysis of the hurricane |
||
| Formed | August 25, 1930 | |
| Dissipated | September 17, 1930 | |
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 933 mbar (hPa; 27.56 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 2,000-8,000 | |
| Damage | $50 million (1930 USD) $604.3 million (2006 USD) |
|
| Areas affected |
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Florida | |
| Part of the 1930 Atlantic hurricane season |
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The 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane (Hurricane San Zenon) is the fifth deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. The second of two known tropical cyclones in the 1930 Atlantic hurricane season, the hurricane was first observed on August 25 near the Cape Verde islands. The hurricane was a small but intense Category 4 hurricane during the 1930 Atlantic hurricane season, and killed as many as 8,000 people when it crossed Hispaniola.
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The cyclone was first observed on August 25 as a tropical storm to the south of the Cape Verde islands, likely having developed from a tropical wave. It gradually intensified,[1] and with a ridge to its north and a strong westerly flow, the storm tracked nearly due westward.[2] On August 31, the storm attained hurricane status while located about 385 miles (620 km) east of Guadeloupe.[3] Operationally, the hurricane was first observed on September 1, while the storm was passing through the Lesser Antilles as an intensifying hurricane. Based on north winds in Dominica to south winds in Barbados, the evidence of the circulation prompted an observer to report, "[there are] evidences of an approaching hurricane." Cautionary advice was immediately sent out from Barbados to Saint Lucia, and based on additional ship and island reports, the National Weather Bureau issued storm warnings for the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.[4]
After passing over or near Dominica, the hurricane entered the Caribbean Sea with winds of 100 mph, the equivalence of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. A small cyclone, the hurricane continued west-northwestward, passing just south of Puerto Rico on September 2 after attaining major hurricane status. After passing by the island, its forward motion decelerated to a forward speed of about 8 mph. This allowed the hurricane to continue to intensify, despite its proximity to land. At 1800 UTC on September 3, the hurricane made landfall near Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with peak winds of 150 mph and a pressure of 933 mbar. The worst of the hurricane occurred in a 20 mile diameter of its landfall location.[4]
The mountainous terrain of Hispaniola rapidly weakened the hurricane, and by about 6 hours after moving ashore the winds decreased to tropical storm status. The cyclone spent less than 12 hours over the Windward Passage before striking southeastern Cuba with winds of 60 mph on September 4. It briefly emerged into the Caribbean Sea on September 5, but moved back ashore as it continued to weaken on its west-northwest direction. On September 6, the tropical storm reached the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 40 mph. It slowly recurved northeastward, and on September 9 struck near Tampa, Florida without restrengthening. After crossing the state, the storm reorganized over the Gulf Stream as it accelerated northeastward, and on September 12 again attained hurricane status about 95 miles (155 km) southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina. On September 13, the hurricane turned eastward, and attained a secondary peak intensity of 100 mph the following day about 310 miles (500 km) north of Bermuda. The hurricane gradually weakened over the north Atlantic Ocean and on September 17 dissipated to the west of the Azores Islands.[4][3]
| Deadliest Atlantic hurricanes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Fatalities |
| 1 | "Great Hurricane" | 1780 | 22,000 |
| 2 | Mitch | 1998 | 11,000 – 18,000 |
| 3 | "Galveston" | 1900 | 8,000 – 12,000 |
| 4 | Fifi | 1974 | 8,000 – 10,000 |
| 5 | "Dominican Republic" | 1930 | 2,000 – 8,000 |
| 6 | Flora | 1963 | 7,186 – 8,000 |
| 7 | "Pointe-a-Pitre" | 1776 | 6,000+ |
| 8 | "Newfoundland | 1775 | 4,000 – 4,163 |
| 9 | "Okeechobee" | 1928 | 4,075+ |
| 10 | "San Ciriaco" | 1899 | 3,433+ |
| Main article: List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes | |||
While crossing the Lesser Antilles, the hurricane had a relatively minor effect, bringing flooding and shipping delays.
Puerto Rico received heavy rains up to 6 inches, where it was a welcome relief to the rain-parched island. An unusual occurrence happened when the southern part of the island, the part nearest to the hurricane, felt only 1-2 inches of rain.
The city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was nearly destroyed from the hurricane's strong winds. There, damage was estimated at $50 million (1930 USD). The death toll is estimated between 2,000 to 8,000 people. The rest of Hispaniola fared well, with little damage or flooding being seen. This is due to the small nature of the storm, as well as the effect the mountains had at rapidly weakening the hurricane.
- ^ Chris Landsea (2005-06-28). The Atlantic Hurricane Database Reanalysis for 1911 to 1930 (PPT). Hurricane Research Division/NOAA. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
- ^ F.A. Young (1930-09-01). Weather Map of the North Atlantic Ocean. United States Weather Bureau. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
- ^ a b NHC Hurricane Research Division (2006-02-17). Atlantic hurricane best track. NOAA. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
- ^ a b c F. Eugene Hartwell (1930). The Santo Domingo Hurricane of September 1 to 5, 1930. Weather Bureau Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.