1940 Atlantic hurricane season
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 Season summary map |
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| First storm formed: | May 19, 1940 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | Oct. 26, 1940 |
| Strongest storm: | #5 - 85 knots (95 mph) |
| Total storms: | 8 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 0 |
| Total damage: | $4.7+ million (1940 USD) |
| Total fatalities: | 101 |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942 |
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The 1940 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1940, and lasted until October 31, 1940.[1] These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
Contents |
[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm One
While not entirely notable based on its track and location, a tropical storm formed and existed entirely during the month of May, a relatively rare event for its timing. It caused no damage or deaths.
[edit] Hurricane Two
At the southern end of an extratropical low-pressure trough, a frontal wave developed into a tropical storm on August 2 off the coast of Florida. It moved westward, and hit Florida early the next day. The storm continued westward, crossing the Gulf of Mexico while slowly strengthening to an 80 mph (129 km/h) hurricane. The hurricane hit near the Texas/Louisiana border on the 8th, and dissipated three days later over Missouri. One casualty and $1.7 million in damage from flooding can be attributed to this hurricane.
[edit] Hurricane Three
- Main article: Georgia-South Carolina Hurricane of 1940
A tropical storm was first observed on August 5, north of the Lesser Antilles. It tracked generally to the northwest, and became a hurricane on the 8th. After reaching a peak of 90 mph (145 km/h) winds, the hurricane weakened to a minimal hurricane until hitting near the Georgia/South Carolina border on the 11th. It moved slowly northwestward, and became extratropical on the 14th over Kentucky. It drifted eastward, and dropped heavy rain and flooding. The hurricane caused around 100 deaths, 80 from the mountainous flooding, and $3 million in damage at the coastal area of Georgia and South Carolina. Damage estimates are not available from the extratropical remnant.
[edit] Hurricane Four
Discovered as a strengthening tropical storm in late August, Storm Four headed northwest toward the East Coast of the United States. The storm strengthened rather rapidly, its winds increasing to hurricane force and the pressure falling to 978 millibars on the same day it was discovered. Brushing North Carolina's Outer Banks, the hurricane turned to the north-northeast, maintaining intensity. After passing offshore of Cape Cod and approaching the Bay of Fundy, the storm winds finally weakened below hurricane force. Storm Four made landfall along the coast of New Brunswick on September 3 as it became extratropical.
[edit] Hurricane Five
The strongest storm of the 1940 season formed in the south central Atlantic a several hundred miles southeast of the Leeward Islands on September 10. The storm passed north of the eastern Greater Antilles on a west-northwestward track, steadily strengthening, becoming a hurricane north of Hispaniola. The hurricane continued to strengthen as it turned north-northeast. Upon reaching Category 2 strength, the storm did not strengthen further. Maintaining heading and intensity for the next two days, cooler water finally weakened the storm on September 15. However, Storm Five maintained hurricane intensity and struck southern Nova Scotia with 75 mph winds. Continuing northeast as a tropical storm, it eventually became extratropical over Newfoundland. No damage or human fatalities were reported.
[edit] Tropical Storm Six
A tropical storm formed just east of Bluefields, Nicaragua on September 19. It moved northwestward, hitting the country shortly thereafter and reaching the Gulf of Honduras on the 20th. Early the next day, the storm made landfall on Belize, and after crossing the Yucatan Peninsula it moved across the Gulf of Mexico the northwest. As it neared the Texan coast, it slowed and turned to the east, paralleling the Texas and Louisiana coastlines before making landfall on the 24th over southern Louisiana. It dissipated the next day, after causing heavy flooding, amounting to 7 inches in some locations throughout its path.
[edit] Tropical Storm Seven
Forming from a late-October disturbance in the southwest Caribbean Sea, Storm Seven never attained winds higher than 50 mph. It moved north and then curved west, impacting Nicaragua as a weak system on October 23. Despite its low intensity, Storm Seven caused considerable damage from freshwater flooding.
[edit] Tropical Storm Eight
Another weak tropical storm formed near the Turks and Caicos islands on October 24. The storm's winds peaked at 45 mph as it curved northeast out to sea, dissipating a couple days later.
[edit] See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Louisiana
[edit] References
- ^ A. D. Hawkins. Weather Bureau Maps Plan For New Storm Season. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
[edit] External links
| 1940-49 Atlantic hurricane seasons | |
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| Previous: 1939 | 1940s: 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | Next: 1950 | |
