1949 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1949 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1949, and lasted until October 31, 1949. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
.
1949 was a fairly active season
, with 13 storms reaching tropical storm strength, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. 1949 was the last year in which Atlantic tropical cyclones were not named. Some notable storms of the 1949 season include a Category 4 hitting near West Palm Beach
in August, as well as a Category 4 hurricane hitting Freeport, Texas
in October; this season was one of only two, along with the 1945 season, in which two Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes hit the United States.
on August 21. It moved northwestward, gradually strengthening to a peak of 110 mph winds. It brushed the Outer Banks
on August 24, turned east, and became extratropical on August 26. No damage was reported, although a ship recorded a minimum central pressure of 963 mbar (28.43 inHg) in the center.
waters, and attained a peak of 150 mph (240 km/h) winds just before hitting West Palm Beach, Florida
on August 27. The hurricane turned northward, weakened to a tropical storm, moved up the Atlantic coast states, and became extratropical on the 29th over New Hampshire
. Hurricane Two caused more than $52 million in damage (1949 dollars), as well as two deaths.
on August 30. It moved steadily west-northwestward, passing over Barbados
and the central Lesser Antilles as a 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm. After entering the Caribbean Sea
on September 1, hostile conditions weakened the storm, and the third tropical cyclone of the season degenerated into a tropical wave
on September 3 to the south of the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic
.
, the same one which spawned the previous storm, developed a tropical storm near eastern Puerto Rico
on September 3. It moved northward and strengthened to a hurricane later that day. The hurricane halted its forward motion and turned to an eastward drift, and continually intensifying it became a major hurricane on September 6. The hurricane turned to the north on September 7, and after briefly weakening to a Category 2 hurricane it re-attained major hurricane status. It passed about 65 miles (104.6 km) east of Bermuda
on September 8, and later that day it reached a peak intensity of 125 mph (205 km/h). The hurricane weakened as it accelerating northeastward over cooler waters, and became extratropical on September 10 near Atlantic Canada
. Shortly after becoming extratropical, it passed over Newfoundland, and ultimately dissipated on September 11 near southwestern Greenland
. The hurricane produced gale force winds on Bermuda, though overall, no damage was reported.
on September 3. Moving northward, it remained a 45 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm until it made landfall on southern Louisiana
on September 4. The storm turned northeastward and quickly weakened, and dissipated over central Tennessee
on September 5. Damage was minimal in Louisiana and Mississippi
, likely amounting to less than $50,000 (1949 USD).
and the Azores
. The storm moved to the northwest and reached peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) on September 6. It turned to the northeast, southeast, then looped back to the northwest. On September 11 it again turned to the northeast, and later that day the storm was last observed about half-way between the Azores and Newfoundland, or about 1000 miles (1600 km) north-northwest of its starting position.
and moved north-northeastward. After attaining peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) on September 15, the storm began a weakening trend, and dissipated on September 17 to the south of the Azores
.
entered the Gulf of Mexico
on September 18. It moved northwestward, slowly organizing, and developed into a tropical storm on September 20 off the coast of Louisiana
. The storm continued northwestward, then turned to the southwest, and erratically looped to the south on September 22. Steadily strengthening as it tracked south-southwestward, the storm intensified into a hurricane on September 23, and after turning to the southwest it reached a peak intensity of 105 mph (155 km/h) on September 24. The hurricane weakened as it turned to the south-southeast then south, and degenerated into a tropical storm shortly before making landfall between Veracruz
and Nautla
. The system quickly dissipated.
The storm produced 2 to 3 foot (0.9144 m) higher than normal tides along the coast of Texas
and Louisiana
, while its outer rainband
s produced locally heavy rainfall. No damage is associated with the system. Operationally, the storm was treated as two separate storms, due to Reconnaissance Aircraft
being unable to report a center of circulation on September 23.
approached the Lesser Antilles
on September 20. Reconnaissance Aircraft
reports indicated the system initially lacked a circulation, though based on a ship report of westerly winds, it is estimated the system developed into a tropical storm on September 21 about 100 miles (160.9 km) south-southeast of Saint Croix
. A small storm, it quickly strengthened as it traversed west-northwestward, and became a hurricane about 6 hours after forming. After reaching peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) the hurricane weakened, and it made landfall on the southeastern Dominican Republic
on September 22 with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). The storm rapidly dissipated.
Strong winds resulted in heavy damage in Saint Croix. In Puerto Rico
, where it was known as the San Mateo Hurricane, wind gusts from the hurricane peaked at 64 mph in Ramey. The hurricane dropped heavy rainfall of up to 13.56 inches in San Lorenzo
, which caused flooding in several rivers in the northern portion of the island. Damage in Puerto Rico totaled to over $1 million (1949 USD), mainly to coffee crops and buildings. In the Dominican Republic, the hurricane killed 15 people, while damage amounted to $12,000 (1949 USD).
just off the coast of Guatemala
. It drifted northwestward, and made landfall on Guatemala on September 28. It moved northward along the western border of Guatemala, and after crossing southeastern Mexico
the storm entered the Gulf of Mexico
near Ciudad del Carmen
on October 1. As it traversed northwestward it strengthened, and became a hurricane on October 2. It turned more to the north and intensified to a major hurricane on October 3 as it neared the Texas
coastline. It rapidly attained peak winds of 135 mph (205 km/h). Subsequently, the made landfall near Freeport, Texas
on October 4 as a Category 4 hurricane
. The lowest recorded pressure was 978 mbar, and estimates place the minimum central pressure near 972 mbar. The hurricane rapidly weakened to a tropical storm as it turned northeastward over land, though it maintained tropical storm status until October 6 while over Missouri
. As a tropical depression it accelerated northeastward, and later that day it dissipated near Chicago, Illinois.
The hurricane produced high tides along the Texas coast, peaking at 11 feet (3.4 m) in Velasco
. Moderate beach erosion from the storm damaged streets in Galveston
and destroyed a wooden fishing pier. The hurricane dropped heavy rainfall in Texas, including a maximum amount of 14.5 inches in Goodrich
. Damage from the storm totaled to $6.7 million (1949 USD), primarily to crop damage. The hurricane also caused two deaths.
on October 12 and October 13. As it moved northeast across the open Atlantic, it reached a peak of 105 mph (165 km/h) winds. It became extratropical on October 18, causing little damage on its way.
on November 4. It dissipated the next day, causing no reported damage.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s form in the Atlantic basin
Atlantic Basin
The Atlantic Basin is the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Basin may also refer to:* Atlantic Basin Iron Works, an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century...
.
1949 was a fairly active season
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
, with 13 storms reaching tropical storm strength, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. 1949 was the last year in which Atlantic tropical cyclones were not named. Some notable storms of the 1949 season include a Category 4 hitting near West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
in August, as well as a Category 4 hurricane hitting Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
in October; this season was one of only two, along with the 1945 season, in which two Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes hit the United States.
Hurricane One
Hurricane One formed north of the Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
on August 21. It moved northwestward, gradually strengthening to a peak of 110 mph winds. It brushed the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
on August 24, turned east, and became extratropical on August 26. No damage was reported, although a ship recorded a minimum central pressure of 963 mbar (28.43 inHg) in the center.
Hurricane Two
On August 23 a tropical storm was located northeast of the Lesser Antilles. It moved west-northwest, passing the islands to the north, and became a hurricane on August 25. Moving through the Bahamas, it rapidly strengthened over the warm Gulf StreamGulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
waters, and attained a peak of 150 mph (240 km/h) winds just before hitting West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
on August 27. The hurricane turned northward, weakened to a tropical storm, moved up the Atlantic coast states, and became extratropical on the 29th over New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. Hurricane Two caused more than $52 million in damage (1949 dollars), as well as two deaths.
Tropical Storm Three
A tropical depression formed to the east of the Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
on August 30. It moved steadily west-northwestward, passing over Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and the central Lesser Antilles as a 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm. After entering the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
on September 1, hostile conditions weakened the storm, and the third tropical cyclone of the season degenerated into a tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
on September 3 to the south of the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Hurricane Four
A tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
, the same one which spawned the previous storm, developed a tropical storm near eastern Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
on September 3. It moved northward and strengthened to a hurricane later that day. The hurricane halted its forward motion and turned to an eastward drift, and continually intensifying it became a major hurricane on September 6. The hurricane turned to the north on September 7, and after briefly weakening to a Category 2 hurricane it re-attained major hurricane status. It passed about 65 miles (104.6 km) east of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
on September 8, and later that day it reached a peak intensity of 125 mph (205 km/h). The hurricane weakened as it accelerating northeastward over cooler waters, and became extratropical on September 10 near Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. Shortly after becoming extratropical, it passed over Newfoundland, and ultimately dissipated on September 11 near southwestern Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The hurricane produced gale force winds on Bermuda, though overall, no damage was reported.
Tropical Storm Five
A tropical storm formed in the central Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
on September 3. Moving northward, it remained a 45 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm until it made landfall on southern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
on September 4. The storm turned northeastward and quickly weakened, and dissipated over central Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
on September 5. Damage was minimal in Louisiana and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, likely amounting to less than $50,000 (1949 USD).
Tropical Storm Six
The sixth tropical storm of the season was first observed on September 5 about half-way between the northern Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
and the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. The storm moved to the northwest and reached peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) on September 6. It turned to the northeast, southeast, then looped back to the northwest. On September 11 it again turned to the northeast, and later that day the storm was last observed about half-way between the Azores and Newfoundland, or about 1000 miles (1600 km) north-northwest of its starting position.
Tropical Storm Seven
On September 13, a tropical storm developed in the eastern Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and moved north-northeastward. After attaining peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) on September 15, the storm began a weakening trend, and dissipated on September 17 to the south of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.
Hurricane Eight
A tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
entered the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
on September 18. It moved northwestward, slowly organizing, and developed into a tropical storm on September 20 off the coast of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The storm continued northwestward, then turned to the southwest, and erratically looped to the south on September 22. Steadily strengthening as it tracked south-southwestward, the storm intensified into a hurricane on September 23, and after turning to the southwest it reached a peak intensity of 105 mph (155 km/h) on September 24. The hurricane weakened as it turned to the south-southeast then south, and degenerated into a tropical storm shortly before making landfall between Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
and Nautla
Nautla
Nautla is a settlement in the Mexican state of Veracruz.Nautla comes from the Nahuatl Naui, four; and from tlan, that means place; so it is known as Four Places....
. The system quickly dissipated.
The storm produced 2 to 3 foot (0.9144 m) higher than normal tides along the coast of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, while its outer rainband
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
s produced locally heavy rainfall. No damage is associated with the system. Operationally, the storm was treated as two separate storms, due to Reconnaissance Aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
being unable to report a center of circulation on September 23.
Hurricane Nine
A strong tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
approached the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
on September 20. Reconnaissance Aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
reports indicated the system initially lacked a circulation, though based on a ship report of westerly winds, it is estimated the system developed into a tropical storm on September 21 about 100 miles (160.9 km) south-southeast of Saint Croix
Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...
. A small storm, it quickly strengthened as it traversed west-northwestward, and became a hurricane about 6 hours after forming. After reaching peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) the hurricane weakened, and it made landfall on the southeastern Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on September 22 with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). The storm rapidly dissipated.
Strong winds resulted in heavy damage in Saint Croix. In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where it was known as the San Mateo Hurricane, wind gusts from the hurricane peaked at 64 mph in Ramey. The hurricane dropped heavy rainfall of up to 13.56 inches in San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
San Lorenzo is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras. San Lorenzo is spread over ten wards and San Lorenzo Pueblo...
, which caused flooding in several rivers in the northern portion of the island. Damage in Puerto Rico totaled to over $1 million (1949 USD), mainly to coffee crops and buildings. In the Dominican Republic, the hurricane killed 15 people, while damage amounted to $12,000 (1949 USD).
Hurricane Ten
On September 27, a tropical storm formed in the Eastern Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
just off the coast of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It drifted northwestward, and made landfall on Guatemala on September 28. It moved northward along the western border of Guatemala, and after crossing southeastern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
the storm entered the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
near Ciudad del Carmen
Ciudad del Carmen
Ciudad del Carmen is a city in the southwest of the Mexican state of Campeche. Ciudad del Carmen is located at on the southwest of Carmen Island, which stands in the Laguna de Términos on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The 2005 census population was 154,197 people...
on October 1. As it traversed northwestward it strengthened, and became a hurricane on October 2. It turned more to the north and intensified to a major hurricane on October 3 as it neared the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
coastline. It rapidly attained peak winds of 135 mph (205 km/h). Subsequently, the made landfall near Freeport, Texas
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
on October 4 as a Category 4 hurricane
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. The lowest recorded pressure was 978 mbar, and estimates place the minimum central pressure near 972 mbar. The hurricane rapidly weakened to a tropical storm as it turned northeastward over land, though it maintained tropical storm status until October 6 while over Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. As a tropical depression it accelerated northeastward, and later that day it dissipated near Chicago, Illinois.
The hurricane produced high tides along the Texas coast, peaking at 11 feet (3.4 m) in Velasco
Velasco, Texas
Velasco was a town in Texas, United States, that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River in southeast Texas. It is sixteen miles south of Angleton, Texas, and four miles from the Gulf of Mexico.The town's early history is...
. Moderate beach erosion from the storm damaged streets in Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and destroyed a wooden fishing pier. The hurricane dropped heavy rainfall in Texas, including a maximum amount of 14.5 inches in Goodrich
Goodrich, Texas
Goodrich is a city in Polk County, Texas, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Goodrich is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. Damage from the storm totaled to $6.7 million (1949 USD), primarily to crop damage. The hurricane also caused two deaths.
Hurricane Eleven
A tropical storm moved through CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on October 12 and October 13. As it moved northeast across the open Atlantic, it reached a peak of 105 mph (165 km/h) winds. It became extratropical on October 18, causing little damage on its way.
Tropical Storm Twelve
This storm formed over the open Atlantic east of Bermuda in mid-October and moved north-northwest. The storm reached its peak with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). The storm never threatened land and dissipated over the north Atlantic on October 17.Tropical Storm Thirteen
The final storm of the season formed in the Western Caribbean Sea on November 3. It drifted west, then moved southward, hitting HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
on November 4. It dissipated the next day, causing no reported damage.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- 1925-1949 Pacific hurricane seasons1925-1949 Pacific hurricane seasonsThe 1925–1949 Pacific hurricane seasons all began during late spring in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the central Pacific. They ended in late fall.Before the satellite age started in the 1960s, data on east Pacific hurricanes is extremely unreliable...