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1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane
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The 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane, also known as 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.
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.
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The 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane, also known as 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.
Meteorological history
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, and with a ridge to its north and a strong westerly flow, the storm tracked nearly due westward. On August 31, the storm attained hurricane status while located about 385 miles (620 km) east of Guadeloupe. 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.
After passing over or near Dominica, the hurricane entered the Caribbean Sea with winds of , 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 . 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 and a pressure of 933 mbar. The worst of the hurricane occurred in a diameter of its landfall location.
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 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 . 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 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.
Impact
Winds of 80 to were reported on Dominica, with winds of hurricane force winds reported across the Lesser Antilles. Initial damage reports immediately following the storm were scarce, though ship reports indicated damage was heaviest on Dominica. There, the hurricane caused severe damage to crops and buildings across the island, particularly in the capital city of Roseau. The hurricane killed 20 people on the island. Rough seas also occurred along the coast of Saint Kitts, and a ship recorded a pressure of 969 mbar near the island.
In southern Puerto Rico, the winds caused minor to moderate damage to plantations. Rainfall across the island was dispersed unusually; the maximum amount on the island was over in Cabo Rojo on the southwestern portion of the island, while the minimum amount was under at a location in the center of the southern coastline. Rainfall reached over inches along the northern coast, with totals varying from to in the mountainous interior. The precipitation was considered generally beneficial, due to previously dry conditions across the island.
Upon striking the Dominican Republic capital city of Santo Domingo, the hurricane left a path of destruction around wide. While just offshore the hurricane destroyed several boats through the combination of strong winds and rough seas. Wind gusts in the city were estimated from to ; a gust of was recorded by a Pan-American Airways anemometer before it was blown away. Similarly, another observation in the capital city recorded winds of before the roof it was on was damaged. Three entire districts of the city were almost completely destroyed, and an Associated Press report indicated there was [scarcely] a wreck of a wall left standing. Overall, the hurricane leveled about half of the entire city. Due to its small nature, villagers 75 miles (120 km) from the landfall location had no knowledge of the storm. Heavy rainfall from the storm flooded the Ozama River and increased its flow to , which prevented boats from traversing the river. The passage of the hurricane caused severe damage estimated at $15–$50 million (1930 USD), with the storm considered a major disaster in the area. An estimate by the Red Cross estimated 2,000 perished in the city, with an additional 8,000 injured. However, the death toll may never be known, and historians estimate the hurricane left between 2,000 to 8,000 killed.
Minor effects were reported away from the coast; the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola greatly weakened the hurricane, which prevented significant amounts of further deaths or damage. Effects in the mountainous areas included downed trees and crop damage. In Haiti, the hurricane produced locally gusty winds and heavy amounts of rainfall, though exact damage details for the nation are unknown. Despite crossing the island of Cuba, no damage or deaths were reported there. Upon moving through the U.S. state of Florida, the storm remained severely weakened; during its passage a pressure of 1006 mbar was reported in Tampa, the lowest pressure in the state. The threat of the hurricane prompted the National Weather Bureau to issue storm warnings from Southport, North Carolina through the Virginia Capes. The strongest winds remained offshore, with minor damage reported along the Outer Banks. On Cape Lookout, the hurricane downed 12 small-frame buildings and damaged the city's Coast Guard headquarters. Power outages were also reported, leaving some areas on the Outer Banks isolated from communication to the outside world.
Aftermath
Relief work in the Dominican Republic began immediately after the hurricane, with President Rafael Leónidas Trujillo personally organizing relief work. The president deployed the entire nation's military within 24 hours of the passage of the hurricane. By the day after the hurricane, lack of food had become a problem, and large numbers of robberies had occurred. The winds downed all communications inside of the city, leaving damage details unknown until communications were partially restored a day after its landfall. The city plant of the newspaper La Opinión was destroyed, with three staff members killed; the remaining workers transmitted a damage story to offices in New York City, and included a plea for disaster assistance. The Red Cross office in Washington, D.C. sent $15,000 (1930 USD) in aid on the day after the hurricane struck.
See also
External links
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