1928 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1928 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1928. The season was not active, but eventful. Six tropical cyclones formed during the season. Four of those became hurricanes. Only one became a major hurricane, which was also a Category 5 hurricane.
on August 3. Moving northwest on August 4, the system made landfall near Santo Domingo as a 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h) tropical storm on August 5. The system crossed Hispaniola as a 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm late on August 5 and began to restrengthen steadily on August 6 while moving through the Bahamas. The storm strengthened into a hurricane later on August 6, and the hurricane reached its peak of 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) as a Category 2 hurricane
on August 7 while nearing the Florida
east coast. The hurricane weakened slightly on August 8, making landfall near Fort Pierce
as a 90 miles per hour (144.8 km/h) Category 1 hurricane
. The hurricane weakened to a strong tropical storm later on August 8 after moving inland, and the weakened system continued moving northwest as it neared St. Marks
on August 9. The remnants then began to move northeast while weakening to a depression on August 10, becoming extratropical on August 10. The circulation dissipated on August 13 after the system exited the Carolinas and moved offshore off southeast Virginia near Norfolk
.
late on August 7. Moving west-northwest, the system moved through the Windward Islands
on August 8 as a weak tropical storm and then began to slowly intensify shortly thereafter. Continuing to move west-northwest, the strengthening tropical storm intensified to a hurricane late on August 9, and the hurricane reached its peak as an 90 miles per hour (144.8 km/h) Category 1 hurricane
early on August 10. The hurricane later made landfall at its peak intensity in southwest Hispaniola
on August 11, and the storm maintained intensity before making a second landfall near Guantanamo Bay later on August 11. The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm shortly after moving inland over Cuba, and the system entered the Straits of Florida
late on August 12 as a 50 mph (80 km/h) tropical storm before slowly beginning to reintensify on August 13 as it crossed the Florida Keys
near Key West
. Moving northwest, the system slowly reintensified to a brief secondary peak of 65 miles per hour (104.6 km/h) off southwest Florida before slowly weakening on August 14, eventually making landfall near St. George Island as a weak 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h) tropical storm. The system soon weakened to a depression late on August 15 after moving inland, and the remnants dissipated on August 17.
. Moving just north of due west, the system brushed the south coast of Jamaica as a 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm on September 2 before slowly beginning to intensify on September 3. The strengthening tropical storm reached its peak of 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) on September 4 shortly before making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula
near Playa del Carmen
near its peak intensity early on September 5. The system weakened after crossing the peninsula, entering the Bay of Campeche early on September 6 as a weak tropical storm, later restrengthening slightly to a 50 mph (80 km/h) while nearing mainland Mexico on September 7. The tropical storm then weakened slightly shortly before making landfall north of Tampico early on September 8 as a weak 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm. After moving inland, the system weakened quickly to a depression and dissipated.
was the second recorded hurricane to reach Category 5
intensity in the Atlantic basin. After forming on September 6 and crossing the tropical Atlantic
, it began strengthening rapidly as it crossed the Leeward Islands
on September 12, killing hundreds in Guadeloupe
. The storm, continuing to intensify, then made landfall on September 13 in Puerto Rico
at its peak intensity as a devastating Category 5 hurricane
, causing catastrophic damage and killing at least 300. The storm also caused numerous deaths elsewhere in the Caribbean
and Bahamas before making landfall near West Palm Beach, Florida
on September 16 as an intense Category 4 storm. Although damage was severe along coastal southeast Florida, relatively few deaths were reported in those areas; the storm's deadliest blow was on Lake Okeechobee
as the eyewall crossed. The muck dike surrounding portions of the lake's southern shores burst, resulting in a storm surge that caused massive flooding in many of the southern lake towns. At least 2,500 people died in Florida in what is the United States’ second deadliest hurricane and second deadliest natural disaster. The storm eventually ended its days as an extratropical storm over western New York
that dissipated out over Lake Erie
near Toronto
.
northeast of the Leeward Islands on September 8. Moving northwest while slowly intensifying, the system began to turn northward on September 10, and the system reached its peak of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) early on September 10 while turning northeast and becoming extratropical. The remnants dissipated on September 12 over the open North Atlantic.
west of Cape Verde
. Moving north-northwest, the system maintained intensity on October 11 before beginning to intensify more rapidly on October 12. The strengthening tropical storm intensified to its peak as an 80 miles per hour (128.7 km/h) Category 1 hurricane
on October 13 as it began to turn northeast. In the process, the hurricane weakened to a 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) tropical storm on October 14, and the system became extratropical later that day and dissipated on October 15.
Hurricane One
A weak 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm formed near TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
on August 3. Moving northwest on August 4, the system made landfall near Santo Domingo as a 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h) tropical storm on August 5. The system crossed Hispaniola as a 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm late on August 5 and began to restrengthen steadily on August 6 while moving through the Bahamas. The storm strengthened into a hurricane later on August 6, and the hurricane reached its peak of 105 miles per hour (169 km/h) as a Category 2 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...
on August 7 while nearing the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
east coast. The hurricane weakened slightly on August 8, making landfall near Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
as a 90 miles per hour (144.8 km/h) Category 1 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 hurricane weakened to a strong tropical storm later on August 8 after moving inland, and the weakened system continued moving northwest as it neared St. Marks
St. Marks, Florida
St. Marks is a city in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 272 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 299 .-Geography:...
on August 9. The remnants then began to move northeast while weakening to a depression on August 10, becoming extratropical on August 10. The circulation dissipated on August 13 after the system exited the Carolinas and moved offshore off southeast Virginia near Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
Hurricane Two
A 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm formed near BarbadosBarbados
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...
late on August 7. Moving west-northwest, the system moved through the Windward Islands
Windward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
on August 8 as a weak tropical storm and then began to slowly intensify shortly thereafter. Continuing to move west-northwest, the strengthening tropical storm intensified to a hurricane late on August 9, and the hurricane reached its peak as an 90 miles per hour (144.8 km/h) Category 1 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...
early on August 10. The hurricane later made landfall at its peak intensity in southwest Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
on August 11, and the storm maintained intensity before making a second landfall near Guantanamo Bay later on August 11. The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm shortly after moving inland over Cuba, and the system entered the Straits of Florida
Straits of Florida
The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a strait located south-southeast of the North American mainland, generally accepted to be between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and between the Florida Keys and Cuba. The strait carries the Florida Current, the beginning of...
late on August 12 as a 50 mph (80 km/h) tropical storm before slowly beginning to reintensify on August 13 as it crossed the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
near Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
. Moving northwest, the system slowly reintensified to a brief secondary peak of 65 miles per hour (104.6 km/h) off southwest Florida before slowly weakening on August 14, eventually making landfall near St. George Island as a weak 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h) tropical storm. The system soon weakened to a depression late on August 15 after moving inland, and the remnants dissipated on August 17.
Tropical Storm Three
A tropical storm formed on September 1 just south of HispaniolaHispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. Moving just north of due west, the system brushed the south coast of Jamaica as a 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm on September 2 before slowly beginning to intensify on September 3. The strengthening tropical storm reached its peak of 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) on September 4 shortly before making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
near Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a balneario resort city just south of Cancún on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the northeast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The city is the seat of the Solidaridad municipality. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 149,923 people and it is rapidly growing...
near its peak intensity early on September 5. The system weakened after crossing the peninsula, entering the Bay of Campeche early on September 6 as a weak tropical storm, later restrengthening slightly to a 50 mph (80 km/h) while nearing mainland Mexico on September 7. The tropical storm then weakened slightly shortly before making landfall north of Tampico early on September 8 as a weak 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm. After moving inland, the system weakened quickly to a depression and dissipated.
Hurricane Four
The most notable storm of the season was the Okeechobee Hurricane (or San Felipe Segundo Hurricane). This Cape Verde-type hurricaneCape Verde-type hurricane
A Cape Verde-type hurricane is an Atlantic hurricane that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. The average hurricane season has about two Cape Verde-type hurricanes, which are usually the largest and most intense storms of the season because they often have plenty of...
was the second recorded hurricane to reach Category 5
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...
intensity in the Atlantic basin. After forming on September 6 and crossing the tropical Atlantic
Atlantic 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...
, it began strengthening rapidly as it crossed the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
on September 12, killing hundreds in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
. The storm, continuing to intensify, then made landfall on September 13 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...
at its peak intensity as a devastating Category 5 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...
, causing catastrophic damage and killing at least 300. The storm also caused numerous deaths elsewhere in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and Bahamas before making landfall near 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 September 16 as an intense Category 4 storm. Although damage was severe along coastal southeast Florida, relatively few deaths were reported in those areas; the storm's deadliest blow was on Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
as the eyewall crossed. The muck dike surrounding portions of the lake's southern shores burst, resulting in a storm surge that caused massive flooding in many of the southern lake towns. At least 2,500 people died in Florida in what is the United States’ second deadliest hurricane and second deadliest natural disaster. The storm eventually ended its days as an extratropical storm over western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that dissipated out over Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
near Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Tropical Storm Five
A 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h) tropical storm formed in the central AtlanticAtlantic 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...
northeast of the Leeward Islands on September 8. Moving northwest while slowly intensifying, the system began to turn northward on September 10, and the system reached its peak of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) early on September 10 while turning northeast and becoming extratropical. The remnants dissipated on September 12 over the open North Atlantic.
Hurricane Six
A tropical storm formed on October 10 in the eastern tropical AtlanticAtlantic 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...
west of Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. Moving north-northwest, the system maintained intensity on October 11 before beginning to intensify more rapidly on October 12. The strengthening tropical storm intensified to its peak as an 80 miles per hour (128.7 km/h) Category 1 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...
on October 13 as it began to turn northeast. In the process, the hurricane weakened to a 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) tropical storm on October 14, and the system became extratropical later that day and dissipated on October 15.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons