1935 Yankee hurricane
Encyclopedia
The Yankee Hurricane of 1935 was a rare Category 1 hurricane
that affected the Bahamas
and South Florida
in November. It remains the only tropical cyclone
to affect Miami
from the northeast in November. The sixth tropical cyclone and fifth hurricane of the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season
, it developed 227 miles (366 km) east of Bermuda
. It strengthened to a hurricane on November 1, initially posing a threat to the Carolinas
. Subsequently, the cyclone turned southwest. It attained its peak intensity on November 3, and it made landfall
near Miami Beach
on November 4. The hurricane's unusual approach toward Florida and late arrival earned it the nickname of the Yankee Hurricane.
east of Hamilton, Bermuda
. The system was isolated from a large upper-level trough
that stretched from the Lesser Antilles
to a low pressure area
near the Faroe Islands
. A polar ridge of high pressure
was situated north of Bermuda, producing anomalous easterly trades at an unusually high latitude
. The easterly flow blew over a long fetch
of open waters, thus producing low-level convergence
. Gradually, instability probably supported convective
activity, and the cyclone slowly acquired tropical characteristics. On October 30, the system became a tropical storm with maximum sustained wind
s of 40 mph (65 km/h).
Initially, the cyclone moved westward. On November 1, the storm strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane
, and it attained peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The tropical cyclone temporarily threatened the Carolinas. On November 2, the hurricane reached its closest approach to Cape Hatteras
; the center was located less than 145 miles (230 km/h) off the coast. The cyclone's wind field remained narrow, and Hatteras
recorded peak gusts of 40 mph (65 km/h). The cyclone turned south, under the influence of northerly winds from a high pressure system. On November 3, a ship reported a minimum pressure of 964 mbar
(28.48 inHg
) north of the Abaco Islands
. However, this value remains unofficial, pending reanalysis. On November 4, the hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), made landfall north of Miami Beach
near the present location of Bal Harbour
, Florida
. The hurricane's lowest central pressure
in Florida was recorded at 973 mbar (28.73 inHg) in Miami, Florida
.
The hurricane traversed southern Florida and weakened over land. Later, the cyclone entered the Gulf of Mexico
north of Cape Sable
. On November 6, the tropical system weakened to a strong tropical storm, and it turned northwest. On November 7, the circulation turned east, and the cyclone weakened to a remnant low pressure area. On November 8, the system dissipated 50 miles (81 km) southwest of Saint Petersburg.
A recent reanalysis paper assesses the tropical cyclone as a Category 2 hurricane at peak intensity and landfall. However, this analysis not been accepted by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis
project, which has reanalyzed all Atlantic hurricane seasons prior to 1921.
. Precautionary hurricane signals were hoisted along the Florida east coast from Titusville
to Miami, and the center was expected to make landfall between Miami and West Palm Beach
. Later, hurricane warnings
were issued from Palm Beach
to Naples
. 200 men were evacuated from the Snake Creek area in the upper Florida Keys
. Workers in the Florida Keys were transported to concentration points in Miami and Homestead
. Maritime interests in the Gulf of Mexico were also warned, though the cyclone's remnants remained off the west coast of Florida.
. The duration of hurricane force winds ranged from 1–3 hours in the Abaco Islands, and five sponge fishing vessels were lost due to the hurricane. The cyclone caused 14 deaths in the islands. In Fort Lauderdale
, winds unroofed several homes, and canals overflowed. In South Florida, the hurricane dismantled communication lines, and "telegraph companies relayed" messages via Jacksonville
and Atlanta
. High waves flooded Miami Beach. Ten feet (3.5 m) of the Miami Beach causeway was eroded, and police halted traffic between Miami Beach and the mainland. The death toll in Florida was low because of well executed warnings and advisories. Winds shattered numerous plate glass windows in Miami's business district, while signs, roofing materials, and vegetation littered streets. 50 homes lost their roofs in Hollywood
and Dania
, and the oceanfront boardwalk was destroyed. Precipitation damaged equipment at the Hollywood Beach Hotel, where many windows were broken. Construction standards were improved in the aftermath of the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
, reducing damages in subsequent storms. 35 people were treated for injuries at local hospitals. Southeastern Miami was flooded by three feet (915 mm) of water. The hurricane produced light rainfall
in Miami that peaked at 4.04 inches (102.5 mm). Five deaths were reported in Florida. Total damages in Florida reached $5,500,000 in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area.
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...
that affected the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
and South Florida
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
in November. It remains the only tropical cyclone
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...
to affect Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
from the northeast in November. The sixth tropical cyclone and fifth hurricane of the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
, it developed 227 miles (366 km) east of Bermuda
Bermuda
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...
. It strengthened to a hurricane on November 1, initially posing a threat to the Carolinas
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
. Subsequently, the cyclone turned southwest. It attained its peak intensity on November 3, and it made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
near Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
on November 4. The hurricane's unusual approach toward Florida and late arrival earned it the nickname of the Yankee Hurricane.
Meteorological history
The cyclone originated as an extratropical systemExtratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
east of Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
. The system was isolated from a large upper-level trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
that stretched from the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
to a low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
near the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
. A polar ridge of high pressure
Ridge (meteorology)
A ridge is an elongated region of relatively high atmospheric pressure, the opposite of a trough....
was situated north of Bermuda, producing anomalous easterly trades at an unusually high latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
. The easterly flow blew over a long fetch
Fetch (geography)
The fetch, often called the fetch length, is the length of water over which a given wind has blown. It is used in geography and meteorology and is usually associated with coastal erosion. It plays a large part in longshore drift as well....
of open waters, thus producing low-level convergence
Convergence zone
Convergence zone usually refers to a region in the atmosphere where two prevailing flows meet and interact, usually resulting in distinctive weather conditions....
. Gradually, instability probably supported convective
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
activity, and the cyclone slowly acquired tropical characteristics. On October 30, the system became a tropical storm with maximum sustained wind
Maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained winds associated with a tropical cyclone are a common indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, they are found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unlike gusts, the value of these winds are...
s of 40 mph (65 km/h).
Initially, the cyclone moved westward. On November 1, the storm strengthened to a 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...
, and it attained peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The tropical cyclone temporarily threatened the Carolinas. On November 2, the hurricane reached its closest approach to Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
; the center was located less than 145 miles (230 km/h) off the coast. The cyclone's wind field remained narrow, and Hatteras
Hatteras, North Carolina
Hatteras is an unincorporated community in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, on the Outer Banks island of Hatteras. North Carolina Highway 12 passes through the community linking it to Frisco and Ocracoke . It is south of the famous Cape Hatteras and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton...
recorded peak gusts of 40 mph (65 km/h). The cyclone turned south, under the influence of northerly winds from a high pressure system. On November 3, a ship reported a minimum pressure of 964 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(28.48 inHg
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
) north of the Abaco Islands
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
. However, this value remains unofficial, pending reanalysis. On November 4, the hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), made landfall north of Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
near the present location of Bal Harbour
Bal Harbour, Florida
Bal Harbour is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,305 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bal Harbour is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of...
, 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...
. The hurricane's lowest central pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
in Florida was recorded at 973 mbar (28.73 inHg) in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
The hurricane traversed southern Florida and weakened over land. Later, the cyclone entered the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
north of Cape Sable
Cape Sable
Cape Sable, Florida is the southernmost point of the US mainland and mainland Florida. It is located in southwestern Florida, in Monroe County, and is part of the Everglades National Park. The cape is a peninsula issuing from the southeastern part of the Florida mainland, running west and curving...
. On November 6, the tropical system weakened to a strong tropical storm, and it turned northwest. On November 7, the circulation turned east, and the cyclone weakened to a remnant low pressure area. On November 8, the system dissipated 50 miles (81 km) southwest of Saint Petersburg.
A recent reanalysis paper assesses the tropical cyclone as a Category 2 hurricane at peak intensity and landfall. However, this analysis not been accepted by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis
Atlantic hurricane reanalysis
Atlantic hurricane reanalysis is an ongoing project within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which seeks to correct and add new information about past Atlantic tropical cyclones...
project, which has reanalyzed all Atlantic hurricane seasons prior to 1921.
Preparations
Shops and residences were "boarded up" in NassauNassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
. Precautionary hurricane signals were hoisted along the Florida east coast from Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
to Miami, and the center was expected to make landfall between Miami and West Palm Beach
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...
. Later, hurricane warnings
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
were issued from Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
to Naples
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
. 200 men were evacuated from the Snake Creek area in the upper 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...
. Workers in the Florida Keys were transported to concentration points in Miami and Homestead
Homestead, Florida
Homestead is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States nestled between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area....
. Maritime interests in the Gulf of Mexico were also warned, though the cyclone's remnants remained off the west coast of Florida.
Impact
The cyclone produced winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) on Grand BahamaGrand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
. The duration of hurricane force winds ranged from 1–3 hours in the Abaco Islands, and five sponge fishing vessels were lost due to the hurricane. The cyclone caused 14 deaths in the islands. In Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, winds unroofed several homes, and canals overflowed. In South Florida, the hurricane dismantled communication lines, and "telegraph companies relayed" messages via Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. High waves flooded Miami Beach. Ten feet (3.5 m) of the Miami Beach causeway was eroded, and police halted traffic between Miami Beach and the mainland. The death toll in Florida was low because of well executed warnings and advisories. Winds shattered numerous plate glass windows in Miami's business district, while signs, roofing materials, and vegetation littered streets. 50 homes lost their roofs in Hollywood
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
and Dania
Dania Beach, Florida
Dania Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 29,639. It is part of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census. Dania Beach is the location of one of the largest jai alai frontons in...
, and the oceanfront boardwalk was destroyed. Precipitation damaged equipment at the Hollywood Beach Hotel, where many windows were broken. Construction standards were improved in the aftermath of the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
1928 Okeechobee Hurricane
The Okeechobee hurricane, or San Felipe Segundo hurricane, was a deadly hurricane that struck the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Florida in September of the 1928 Atlantic hurricane season...
, reducing damages in subsequent storms. 35 people were treated for injuries at local hospitals. Southeastern Miami was flooded by three feet (915 mm) of water. The hurricane produced light rainfall
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
in Miami that peaked at 4.04 inches (102.5 mm). Five deaths were reported in Florida. Total damages in Florida reached $5,500,000 in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale area.