The 1949 Atlantic hurricane season was the last season that tropical cyclones were not publicly labeled by the United States Weather Bureau. It officially began on June 15, and lasted until November 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first storm, a tropical depression, developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico on August 14. The final system, Tropical Storm Sixteen, dissipated in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 5. It was a fairly active season, featuring 16 tropical storms and seven hurricanes. Two of these strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.
The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Two. It caused up to $52 million (1949 USD) and two deaths after making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Another storm inflicting severe impact was Hurricane Ten. Striking Texas as a Category 2 hurricane, this storm brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge to the state, with damage reaching about $6.7 million. In late September, Hurricane Nine caused 15 deaths and over $1 million in damage in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. The third tropical storm caused seven fatalities from drowning on Barbados. Several other systems brought minor impacts to land. Overall, storms during this season caused about $59.8 million in damage and 26 fatalities. This season also had the most active September on record at that time, with seven cyclones attaining tropical storm status.
Season summary
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1949. However, tropical cyclogenesis did not begin until August 14, about two months after the start of the season. Overall, there were 16 tropical storms, seven of which strengthened into hurricanes. Three of these intensified into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). Four hurricanes and three tropical storms made landfall during the season, causing 26 deaths and $59.8 million in damage. The last storm of the season, Tropical Storm Sixteen, dissipated on November 5, about 10 days before the official end of the season on November 15.
Activity began on August 14 with a short-lived tropical depression that developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico and struck the Florida Panhandle, then dissipated the following day. The next system was first observed north of the Lesser Antilles on August 21. The hurricane later threatened the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where it caused two deaths and about $50,000 in damage. By August 23, the Florida hurricane developed near the Lesser Antilles. It later peaked as a low-end Category 4 hurricane on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale and struck South Florida at that intensity. The storm severely impacted the Florida peninsula and left two deaths and approximately $52 million in losses. On August 30, the third system of the season struck the Leeward Islands, causing some impact and seven deaths by drowning on Barbados. A fourth system was first observed near Puerto Rico on September 3. It peaked as a Category 3 hurricane while passing east on Bermuda. After becoming extratropical, the remnants of this storm struck Newfoundland. Tropical Storm Five also developed on September 3, in the southern Gulf of Mexico and struck Louisiana on September 4. It caused minor damage in Mississippi and Louisiana, totaling less than $50,000.
Neither the sixth or seventh tropical storms impacted land. The eighth hurricane was initially observed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 20. It meandered erratically for several days, until eventually making landfall in Veracruz. The system produced above normal tides and locally heavy rains in Texas and Louisiana. Hurricane Nine was initially spotted near the Leeward Islands on September 20. It struck Dominican Republic on September 22, shortly before dissipating. The storm left over $1 million in damage and 15 deaths in Dominican Republican and Puerto Rico. On September 27, the tenth hurricane developed in the Pacific Ocean offshore Guatemala. The system eventually reached the Gulf of Mexico and struck Texas as a Category 2 hurricane on October 4. The adverse effects of this storm resulted in two deaths and $6.7 million in damage. No impact was reported from the final three storms, the last of which dissipated on November 5.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 96. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated at every six-hour interval that a tropical cyclone is at or exceeding 39 mph (63 km/h), the threshold for tropical storm intensity.
Systems
Tropical depression
Historical weather maps began indicating the presence of a tropical wave to the east of the Windward Islands on August 4. Moving westward, the wave reached the Caribbean Sea three days later. The wave had entered the northeastern Gulf of Mexico by August 11, when it spawned a broad low-pressure area. A closed circulation likely formed on August 14, and thus, the wave became a tropical depression. The system soon made landfall in the western Florida Panhandle and dissipated over Alabama by the following day. A thunderstorm wind event associated with the depression produced a sustained wind speed up to 32 mph (51 km/h) in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hurricane One
A tropical storm was first observed about a few hundred miles north of the Lesser Antilles on August 21. The storm moved west-northwestward and was upgraded to a hurricane 12 hours later, after various surface vessels reported winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). It paralleled The Bahamas and turned northward on August 23. Further intensification continued until August 24, with the storm approaching major hurricane status. At 00:00 UTC it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). The eye of the cyclone later passed over the Diamond Shoals Lightship, which recorded a minimum central barometric pressure of 977 mbar (28.9 inHg) while located offshore of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The cyclone became extratropical on August 25 and dissipated near Iceland on August 30.
In the Hatteras area, sustained winds reached 73 mph (117 km/h), while rainfall up to 4 in (100 mm) was observed. Thousands of trees were destroyed in Buxton. Damage was estimated at $50,000, mostly in the Buxton area. Additionally, the storm was attributed to two fatalities. Later on August 24, the storm curved east-northeastward and began to slowly weaken. By 00:00 UTC on August 26, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while located well south of Newfoundland. It was known as Hurricane Harry in newspapers.
Hurricane Two
The Florida Hurricane of 1949
A tropical storm developed east of the northernmost Lesser Antilles on August 23. It moved west-northwestward and strengthened, becoming a hurricane on August 24. Moving through the Bahamas, the storm rapidly strengthened over the warm sea surface temperatures of the Gulf Stream. It became a major hurricane on August 26 and then passed just north of Nassau. At 18:00 UTC on that day, it peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h). Five hours later, the storm made landfall in Lake Worth, Florida, at the same intensity. On August 27, the hurricane weakened quickly after moving inland over Lake Okeechobee, but otherwise maintained hurricane intensity as it curved northward into southern Georgia. At 00:00 UTC on August 28, it degenerated into a tropical storm. It later ejected northeastward and tracked rapidly across the Southeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. On August 29, the storm became extratropical over New Hampshire.
Early in its duration, the cyclone dropped precipitation in the Lesser Antilles. Rains combined with intense thunderstorms caused minor damage to telephone poles and trees, as well as some power outages. In Florida, the storm produced strong winds, with highest official observations being sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) at the Palm Beach International Airport and gusts of 155 mph (250 km/h) in Palm Beach. The most severe damage in South Florida occurred in Palm Beach, Jupiter, and Stuart; hundreds of homes, apartment buildings, stores, and warehouse buildings lost roofs and windows. Interior furnishings were blown through broken glass into the streets. Approximately 90% of homes and buildings were damaged in Stuart, leaving about 500 people homeless. Additionally, heavy rainfall caused water to enter numerous homes in Martin and Palm Beach Counties. Significant damage to crops also occurred, particularly to citrus. In Florida alone, the hurricane caused two deaths and at least $52 million in damage, $20 million of which was to agriculture. Minor impact was reported in other states, with local flooding and light wind damage in Georgia, The Carolinas, and Maryland.
Tropical Storm Three
A tropical depression formed to the east of the Lesser Antilles on August 30. It moved steadily west-northwestward, passing over Barbados as a weak tropical storm. Seven people drowned on the island and 27 houses were destroyed in Bridgetown. On Dominica, winds uprooted some trees, while rough seas damaged roads, jetties, and Landings. 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.
Hurricane Four
A tropical wave developed into a tropical storm east of Puerto Rico on September 3. It moved northward and strengthened to a hurricane later that day, but then weakened to a strong tropical storm the next day. At the same time, the system halted its forward motion and began to drift eastward. Early on September 5, it re-intensified into a hurricane, and it became a major hurricane on September 6. The storm turned to the north on September 7 and passed about 65 mi (105 km) east of Bermuda on September 8. The hurricane weakened as it accelerated 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. In Newfoundland, the storm brought rainfall up to 2 inches (51 mm) in many areas. The Bayfield was smashed into pieces along the rocky shores, though all of the crewmen swam to safety.
Tropical Storm Five
Early on September 3, a tropical storm developed in the south-central Gulf of Mexico. Throughout much of its duration, the storm headed north-northwestward, gradually intensifying into a moderate tropical storm. At around 12:00 UTC on September 4, the storm made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, while at its peak intensity. While moving inland, it passed west of New Orleans and east of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The storm curved northeastward and slowly weakened across the Southern United States. Late on September 5, it dissipated over Tennessee. Damage was minimal in Louisiana and Mississippi, likely amounting to less than $50,000.
Tropical Storm Six
The sixth tropical storm of the season was first observed on September 5, while located about half-way between the northern Lesser Antilles and the Azores. The storm moved to the northwest and reached its peak intensity early on September 12. It then became extratropical, turning to the northeast before curving southeastward. It dissipated on September 16.
Tropical Storm Seven
An extratropical system developed into a tropical storm offshore The Carolinas on September 11. The storm moved west-northwestward and strengthened slightly, peaking with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,006 mbar (29.7 inHg). It then weakened somewhat before making landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina on September 13 with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). The storm soon weakened to a tropical depression and curved northeastward. It dissipated over southeastern Virginia on September 14.
Tropical Storm Eight
A tropical storm developed early on September 13, while located about 595 miles (960 km) west of the southernmost islands of Cape Verde. The storm slowly strengthened while moving north-northeastward across the eastern Atlantic Ocean for much of its duration. Late on September 14, the system attained its peak intensity. Thereafter, it began to weakened and fell to tropical depression intensity on September 17. Later that day, the storm dissipated about 475 miles (765 km) south of the central Azores.