The 1919 Hurricane

On September 3, 1919, a hurricane was detected in the Caribbean. Forecasters at the U.S. Weather Bureau had no idea that it would become one of the largest and strongest storms ever to affect the United States.

As it moved over the eastern Bahamas, weather reports from Nassau ceased. Forecasters issued warnings for the coast of Southeast Florida.

But by the afternoon of September 9th, it was evident that the storm was in the Florida Straits. Warnings were posted, but there was no time to do anything. About midnight, the center passed just thirty miles south of Key West. The highest winds were not measured because the equipment was destroyed five hours before the peak of the storm arrived. Key West experienced sustained tropical storm force winds for thirty eight straight hours.

A pressure of 27.37 inches (927 mb) was observed on a ship near the Dry Tortugas, and this measurement is the basis for making the Great Hurricane of Sept 1919 the sixth strongest ever to hit the U.S.

As the hurricane moved slowly into the Gulf, it was not clear where it would eventually make landfall. (Sound familiar?) Storm warnings were issued for Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, then extended to the Texas coast. On t he 12th, it was believed the hurricane would hit Louisiana. High tides and winds were being experienced all around the Gulf, including Tampa, Pensacola, and the Louisiana coast.

Mindful of their tragic past, residents of Galveston prepared well in advance. Finally, on the 14th, the hurricane came ashore near Corpus Christi. Abut 600 deaths were reported in the United States.

In Key West, Sister Gabriel and the Nuns at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church created a stone shrine. When she blessed the grotto, she vowed that Key West would never experience the full brunt of a hurricane. Since then no Key West resident has died in a hurricane. A total of 2,500 people are estimated to have died in the

Category: Met 101/Weather History