1930 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1930 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the least active hurricane seasons on record, with only three documented tropical cyclone
s. In the North Atlantic Ocean, hurricanes generally form between the months of June and November, with most occurring in August and September. The first system of the year formed on June 14 and the last dissipated on October 21. Two of the three storms developed into major hurricanes and the latter of these nearly attained Category 5 intensity. Though the season had few storms, one caused catastrophic losses in the Dominican Republic
, killing between 2,000 and 8,000 people.
, and became extratropical shortly after on August 28. The extratropical storm was tracked over to the Azores
for a few days, and very briefly regained tropical characteristics, until it became extratropical again and dissipated.
, was one of the more notable and one of the deadliest storms of the twentieth century, known as the 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane. A strong Category 4
hurricane, it directly hit Santo Domingo. It unleashed torrential rainfall and severe damage in the city, where as many as 8,000 people died. After making landfall, the storm quickly weakened from a monstrous Category 4 to a minimal tropical storm
within 24 hours due to land interaction with the mountains. The tropical storm crossed Cuba
and Florida
and restrengthened into a Category 2
hurricane before dissipating in the central Atlantic.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s. In the North Atlantic Ocean, hurricanes generally form between the months of June and November, with most occurring in August and September. The first system of the year formed on June 14 and the last dissipated on October 21. Two of the three storms developed into major hurricanes and the latter of these nearly attained Category 5 intensity. Though the season had few storms, one caused catastrophic losses in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, killing between 2,000 and 8,000 people.
Hurricane One
The first hurricane began in the Central Atlantic on August 21. It reached Category 3 hurricane strength on August 25 with winds of 125 mph (201.2 km/h) as it grazed BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, and became extratropical shortly after on August 28. The extratropical storm was tracked over to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
for a few days, and very briefly regained tropical characteristics, until it became extratropical again and dissipated.
Hurricane Two
The second storm, likely a 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 one of the more notable and one of the deadliest storms of the twentieth century, known as the 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane. A strong Category 4
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...
hurricane, it directly hit Santo Domingo. It unleashed torrential rainfall and severe damage in the city, where as many as 8,000 people died. After making landfall, the storm quickly weakened from a monstrous Category 4 to a minimal tropical storm
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...
within 24 hours due to land interaction with the mountains. The tropical storm crossed Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and 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...
and restrengthened into a Category 2
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...
hurricane before dissipating in the central Atlantic.
Tropical Storm Three
The final storm of the season developed in the Bay of Campeche. It moved northeastward, reaching peak winds of 70 mph (112.7 km/h) before dissipating on October 21. The storm never made landfall, one of the few storms to do so in the Gulf of Mexico.See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons