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The 1903 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1903, and lasted until November 30, 1903. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
The 1903 season was an average season, with ten tropical storms, seven hurricanes, and one major hurricane.
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane One
The season started in late July when a tropical storm formed just offshore of Hispanola. The storm moved northwestward, reached hurricane strength, and went out to sea without affecting land masses.
[edit] Major Hurricane Two
The second storm formed in the tropical Atlantic in early August. It hit Martinique as a Category 1 hurricane, and hit eastern Jamaica as a Category 3. It maintained its strength until it hit the northeastern coast of Yucatán. The storm moved across the Gulf of Mexico and hit Tamaulipas on August 15.
[edit] Hurricane Three
The tropics were quiet until early September when a tropical storm formed over the Bahamas. It strengthened to hurricane strength, and moved inland near Miami, Florida as a minimal hurricane. It moved back over the Gulf of Mexico, and hit the Florida Panhandle on September 13.
[edit] Hurricane Four
- Main article: 1903 Vagabond Hurricane
The 1903 Vagabond Hurricane, as dubbed by the The Press of Atlantic City, is the most recent Atlantic hurricane to strike the state of New Jersey.[1] The fourth hurricane of the season, the cyclone was first observed on September 12 about 550 miles (885 km) northeast of Antigua. It moved quickly westward, then later turned to the north-northwest, steadily strengthening to reach a peak intensity of 100 mph (155 km/h). The hurricane weakened slightly before striking near Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 16 with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). It weakened over Pennsylvania and became an extratropical cyclone over western New York on September 17.[2]
Rough surf and moderate winds from the hurricane capsized several ships along the East Coast of the United States; 30 people were left missing and presumed killed from a shipwreck in Chincoteague, Virginia.[3] In New Jersey, the passage of the hurricane caused heavy damage, particularly near the coast. Dozens of buildings were damaged or destroyed, and damage across the state totaled $8 million (1903 USD, $180 million 2006 USD). On Long Island, President Theodore Roosevelt directly experienced the effects of the hurricane while on a yacht. The life of the president was briefly threatened due to the rough conditions, though none on board of the yacht suffered any problems from the hurricane.[4]
[edit] Tropical Storm Five
The next storm formed near the Bahamas and went out to sea.
[edit] Hurricane Six
The sixth storm formed southeast of Bermuda and passed just east of the island on September 28. Winds at Bermuda reached 63 knots/74 mph. A landslide occurred, shearing off a portion of the cliff at Deep Bay. The resulting earth trembling and noise created from the slide resembled an earthquake. (Beware the Hurricane, Tucker)
[edit] Hurricane Seven
The seventh storm started east of the Lesser Antilles and moved out to sea, reaching Category 2 hurricane status on the way.
[edit] Tropical Storm Eight
The eighth storm of the season formed near the Bahamas on October 5 and moved out to sea.
[edit] Tropical Storm Nine
On October 21, Tropical Storm Nine also formed near the Bahamas and moved out to sea.
[edit] Hurricane Ten
The final storm started in the tropical Atlantic in early November, reached hurricane strength midway between the Bahamas and the Azores Islands, and became extratropical in the north Atlantic.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Printed Media
- Terry Tucker. Beware the Hurricane! Hamilton Press: Bermuda, 1966.
[edit] External links
