1924 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1924 Atlantic hurricane season featured the earliest known Category 5 hurricane - a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds exceeding 155 mph. The first system, Tropical Storm One, was first detected in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on June 18. The final system, an unnumbered tropical depression, dissipated on November 24. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Of the 13 tropical cyclones of the season, six existed simultaneously. The season was average with 11 tropical storms, three of which strengthened into hurricanes. Further, two of those three intensified 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 Ten, nicknamed the 1924 Cuba hurricane. It struck western Cuba as a Category 5 hurricane, before weakening and making landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. Severe damage and 90 fatalities were collectively reported at both locations. Another system, Hurricane Four, brought strong winds and flooding to the Leeward Islands. The storm left 59 deaths, 30 of which were on Montserrat alone. Several other tropical cyclones had minor impacts on land, including Tropical Storms One, Eight, and Ten, as well as Hurricanes Three and Five. Overall, the storms of the 1924 Atlantic hurricane season collectively caused at least 150 fatalities.
The season's activity was reflected with a low accumulated cyclone energy rating of 100. 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. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots or tropical storm strength.
Timeline
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Systems
Tropical Storm One
A tropical storm was detected 75 miles southeast of Chetumal, Quintana Roo on June 18. It made landfall on northern Belize with estimated winds near 45 mph. Pressures were progressively decreasing over the preceding days in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. The tropical system crossed the Yucatán Peninsula, emerging over the Bay of Campeche on June 19 with 40 mph winds. It re-strengthened over water and re-attained winds of 45 mph. Early on June 21, the storm made landfall 115 miles south of Tampico, Tamaulipas. It dissipated over land. The cyclone was classified as a weak disturbance, and strong winds were not recorded throughout the life span of the storm. Squalls affected the Texas coast, prompting advisories for small watercraft. Heavy rainfall was reported in Mexico.Tropical Storm Two
Toward the end of July, a decaying cold front off the east coast of Florida resulted in the formation of a tropical storm, which possessed some hybrid cyclone characteristics. The storm tracked northeast, steadily intensifying to reach peak winds of 65 mph as it passed near the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Later it weakened over colder sea surface temperatures. On July 30, it was absorbed by a cold front to the south of Nova Scotia.Hurricane Three
The third tropical cyclone of the season formed 420 miles southeast of Bridgetown, Barbados on August 16. It moved northwest and crossed the eastern Caribbean as a minimal tropical storm on August 18. It passed east of San Juan, Puerto Rico and re-entered the Atlantic Ocean on August 9. It quickly strengthened, reaching hurricane status by the following day. The cyclone slowed and turned west on August&nbsol21, and it continued to strengthen east of the northern Bahamas. The cyclone strengthened to a peak intensity of 120 mph north of Grand Bahama on August 24. At the time, the storm was nearly stationary. The cyclone turned sharply north, remaining offshore the East Coast of the United States. On August 25, it quickly weakened, and it passed close to Cape Hatteras on August 26. It transitioned to an extratropical cyclone, before passing over Nova Scotia on August 27.The approach of the storm led to the issuance of storm warnings from Cape Hatteras to Miami, Florida, on August 22. Hurricane warnings extended from Beaufort, North Carolina, to Cape Henry, Virginia. In advance of the storm, radio broadcasts also advised shipping interests to remain cautious north of Puerto Rico. No damages occurred along the coast because of the recurving storm. Peak wind gusts reached 74 mph at Hatteras, North Carolina, and two people drowned along the coast. Damage was minimal, though Ocracoke Island was flooded during the storm. The White Star passenger liner was battered by the storm on August 26 while the ship was off the Nantucket Shoals. The ship arrived in New York the following day with 75 injured after having what was reported as a "100-foot wave" crash over the liner.
Hurricane Four
The fourth tropical storm of the season developed 800 miles southeast of Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe on August 25. Initially, it moved west on August 26. On August 27, it turned west-northwest and intensified as it approached the Lesser Antilles. It strengthened to a hurricane on August 28 and crossed Cudjoe Head on the island of Montserrat. A minimum pressure of 965 mbar was recorded. The cyclone turned northwest, crossing the northeastern Caribbean near Anguilla on August 29. The hurricane continued to intensify over the western Atlantic Ocean, and it reached peak winds of 105 mph when it was located 755 miles south-southeast of Bermuda on August 30.The cyclone recurved northward on September 2 and weakened to the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane on September 3. The storm lost tropical characteristics on September 4, but retained hurricane-force winds when it struck Nova Scotia on September 5. In the Virgin Islands, the cyclone destroyed hundreds of homes and severely damaged crops. Several deaths were reported. Heavy precipitation caused flooding on several islands in the path of the storm. On Saint Thomas, small boats were wrecked and trees were uprooted by the winds. More than 6,000 people were homeless on Montserrat, while 30 were dead and 200 received wounds. Damages were estimated near £100,000 on the island. The Red Cross donated $3,000 and fed victims after the storm. In total, damages reached £86,000 and at least 59 people were killed in the Leeward Islands.
Hurricane Five
On September 12, a strong tropical storm developed 85 miles southwest of Key West, Florida. It moved northwest, quickly strengthening to a hurricane on September 13. Shortly thereafter, the storm attained maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Late on September 14, the cyclone turned northeast, and it struck the Florida Panhandle near Port St. Joe on September 15. The hurricane quickly weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland, crossing southern Georgia on September 16. It entered the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia, with winds near 45 mph. The storm accelerated east-northeastward, becoming extratropical off Cape Hatteras on September 17. The system was last detected on September 19 south of Newfoundland.In Florida, minor damage to properties was reported. Wind gusts reached 75–80 mph in Port St. Joe. Two fishing vessels were blown ashore in the area, while a schooner was wrecked near Carrabelle. Advance warnings reduced the potential damages in northwest Florida. Heavy rains fell across the Florida panhandle, the Carolinas, and southeast Virginia, with the highest amount reported of at Beaufort, North Carolina. In Georgia, heavy precipitation caused two deaths and significant crop damage. Most of Brownton, Georgia was destroyed by floods. Gale-force winds also occurred along the Eastern Seaboard, though warnings were released in advance of the winds. Operationally, the cyclone was not believed to have attained hurricane intensity. The hurricane was generally unexpected in the Tampa, Florida area.
Tropical Storm Six
On September 20, a weak tropical storm was observed over the islands of Cape Verde. It tracked slowly northwestward through the archipelago. Ship observations were sparse in tracking the storm; it was last observed on September 22.Tropical Storm Seven
It is estimated a tropical depression formed south of the Cape Verde islands on September 24. It moved generally west-northwestward and slowly intensified. By September 28 it began recurving northward as winds increased to about 50 mph. The storm weakened and later re-intensified to the same peak intensity on October 2. It became extratropical on October 3, while turning northeastward. The remnants were absorbed by a larger extratropical storm on October 5.Tropical Storm Eight
Low pressures were reported in the northwestern Caribbean Sea from September 23 through September 27. On the latter day, a minimal tropical storm formed over the southwestern Caribbean Sea east of Roatán, Honduras. On September 28, the cyclone moved northward and slowly intensified, passing east of Cozumel. On September 29, it entered the southern Gulf of Mexico, attaining its maximum sustained winds of 50 mph as a tropical system. It quickly accelerated northeast and transitioned to an extratropical system with 60 mph winds. Later, it entered the Big Bend of Florida near Cedar Key. On September 30, it rapidly moved northeast across the coastal Southeastern United States. It was last detected near Norfolk, Virginia. Storm warnings were released for the eastern Gulf Coast of the United States on September 29, advising residents to prepare for gale-force winds. Warnings were also issued from Jacksonville, Florida, to Fort Monroe, Virginia. Eventually, warnings also encompassed the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Gale-force winds affected the East Coast of the United States.Tropical Storm Nine
The pattern that led to the formation of this system led to a significant heavy rainfall event in eastern Florida, which experienced prolonged easterly flow within its northeastern periphery. Between October 4 and October 11, fell at New Smyrna. Early on October 12, the sixth tropical cyclone of the season developed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico 280 miles southwest of Saint Petersburg, Florida. At the time, the storm was estimated to have attained its maximum intensity of 60 mph. It moved quickly southwest and weakened to a minimal tropical storm on October 13. The system weakened to a tropical depression on October 14 and dissipated over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico the following day. Operationally, the system was classified as a moderate disturbance.Hurricane Ten
The Great Cuba Hurricane of 1924Late on October 13, a minimal tropical storm formed in the western Caribbean Sea east-northeast of northern Honduras. The storm moved slowly west-northwest and gradually turned north on October 15. Later that day, it steadily intensified, attaining hurricane intensity on October 17. It strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane on October 19. The storm then struck the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba with sustained winds of 165 mph. On October 20, the hurricane turned east-northeast in response to the southward movement of a ridge. It quickly weakened and made landfall in Southwest Florida near Naples, Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm entered the Atlantic Ocean north of Miami with 70 mph winds. The cyclone steadily weakened as it moved across the western Atlantic Ocean, before dissipating west-southwest of Bermuda on October 23. Following reanalysis released in March 2009, the storm was re-classified as a Category 5 with winds of 165 mph and a minimum pressure of.
In Cuba, at least 90 people were killed. The hurricane produced severe damage to crops and buildings across western Cuba, injuring 50–100 people in Arroyos de Mantua. In Florida, watercraft were secured and trees were trimmed in anticipation of the storm. Peak wind gusts reached 66 mph in Key West, where damage to vegetation was minimal. The hurricane produced heavy precipitation across southern Florida, peaking at 23.22 inches on Marco Island. The rains caused flooding in Palm Beach County, disrupting traffic on highways and railroads. The measured totals of 11.21 inches were believed to have been the highest rainfall in the county over the past 15 years. Peak gusts reached 68 mph across the mainland of southern Florida, while sailing trips from southeastern Florida were cancelled. Telegraph wires were disabled in Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, though damages were minimal.