1945 Southeast Florida hurricane
Encyclopedia
The 1945 Southeast Florida hurricane was the most intense tropical cyclone
of the 1945 Atlantic hurricane season. It made landfall
on Homestead, Florida
with estimated sustained winds
of 140 mph (220 km/h). The ninth tropical storm
, third Atlantic hurricane, and third major hurricane
of the season, it developed east-northeast
of the Leeward Islands on September 12. It moved briskly west-northwest, and it attained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) on September 13, becoming the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. It moved over the Turks and Caicos Islands on September 14, and it struck Andros
on September 15. Later, it intensified to its peak intensity over the Gulf Stream
, and it made landfall on Key Largo
and southern Dade County
.
, prompting hurricane warnings for the Leeward Islands
and Guadeloupe
to Sint Maarten. The cyclone is believed to have attained hurricane status late on September 11. Later, the hurricane quickly intensified to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. On September 13, the hurricane reached peak winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), moving westward north of the Greater Antilles
. On September 14, the deepening storm strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane, and it swiftly passed south of Grand Turk Island
. The local weather station estimated gusts of 150 mph (240 km/h) over the island.
On September 15, the hurricane made landfall on the southern portion of Andros
with 125 mph (200 km/h) sustained winds. Later, the cyclone strengthened over the Gulf Stream
, striking the northern half of Key Largo around 3:30 p.m. EDT. The light station
at Carysfort Reef
reported winds of 138 mph (220 km/h) from a southwest direction. The hurricane crossed southern Biscayne Bay and passed over the Army Air Base
in the city of Homestead, Florida. On September 16, the hurricane weakened and turned north-northeast over central Florida, and the winds decreased to 75 mph (120 km/h). Early on September 17, the low pressure system
re-entered the Atlantic Ocean near Atlantic Beach, Florida
as a tropical storm. It crossed the coast near Parris Island, South Carolina
, producing wind gusts of hurricane force. The system transitioned to an extratropical cyclone
on September 18 as it moved inland over the Mid-Atlantic states. On September 20, it dissipated 310 miles (495 km) east of Saint John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
. In total, hundreds of planes left vulnerable locations. Residents were advised to heed advisories in Florida, the Bahamas, and northern Cuba
. On September 15, hurricane force winds were expected to affect areas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
through the Florida Keys
, and hurricane warnings were accordingly released for this region. Storm warnings also extended north to Melbourne
and Tampa
. Military personnel sought shelter at Hialeah Race Track
, while residents boarded homes and evacuated from coastal areas to public structures. Boats were utilized to transport people from barrier islands, and small watercraft were secured along the Miami River
.
In south Florida, peak gusts were estimated near 150 mph (240 km/h) at the Army Air Base in Homestead. The strong winds destroyed 1,632 residences across the state, while 5,372 homes received damages. The hurricane was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Dade County until Hurricane Andrew
in 1992
. In Miami, gusts reached 107 mph (170 km/h), and damages were minimal compared to communities in southern Dade County. 200 people were injured at the Army Air Base when a fire ignited during the storm, affecting three hangars and destroying 25 blimps, 366 planes, and 150 automobiles. An additional fire also destroyed a furniture factory and a tile manufacturing plant in the northwestern portion of downtown Miami. More than 1,000 Red Cross workers were activated in response to the cyclone. In the Florida Keys
, hundreds of residences were damaged. Four people died across the state.
In Charleston, South Carolina
, strong winds caused high waves, but the storm arrived at low tide and produced modest damage. Rain
fall peaked at 6.40 inches (163 mm). In Aiken, South Carolina
, heavy precipitation caused damage to unpaved streets. Inland, the system produced heavy rainfall over North Carolina
, peaking at 8 inches (203 mm) in the state. Previous precipitation over the past 3–5 days led to saturated grounds, allowing new water to spill into streams. Many crop fields and dwellings were flooded near the Cape Fear River
as levels rose to record heights. The towns of Moncure
, Fayetteville
, and Elizabethtown
exceeded flood stage levels. Broken dams in Richmond County
produced significant flash flood
s. Few deaths were reported, but economic losses were extensive. In Hopewell, New Jersey
, the remnants of the system produced winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), though major damage was not reported.
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...
of the 1945 Atlantic hurricane season. 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...
on Homestead, Florida
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....
with estimated sustained winds
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...
of 140 mph (220 km/h). The ninth tropical storm
Tropical cyclone scales
Tropical systems are officially ranked on one of several tropical cyclone scales according to their maximum sustained winds and in what oceanic basin they are located...
, third Atlantic hurricane, and third major 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...
of the season, it developed east-northeast
Boxing the compass
Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two points of the compass in clockwise order. Such names are formed by the initials of the cardinal directions and their intermediate ordinal directions, and are very handy to refer to a heading in a general or colloquial fashion, without...
of the Leeward Islands on September 12. It moved briskly west-northwest, and it attained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) on September 13, becoming the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. It moved over the Turks and Caicos Islands on September 14, and it struck Andros
Andros
Andros, or Andro is the northernmost island of the Greek Cyclades archipelago, approximately south east of Euboea, and about north of Tinos. It is nearly long, and its greatest breadth is . Its surface is for the most part mountainous, with many fruitful and well-watered valleys. The area is...
on September 15. Later, it intensified to its peak intensity over the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
, and it made landfall on Key Largo
Key Largo, Florida
Key Largo is a census-designated place in Monroe County, Florida, United States, located on the island of Key Largo in the upper Florida Keys. The population was 11,886 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the Spanish Cayo Largo, or "long key"...
and southern Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
.
Meteorological history
Early on September 12, a tropical storm of unknown intensity was detected 200 miles (320 km) east of AntiguaAntigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, prompting hurricane warnings for 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...
and 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...
to Sint Maarten. The cyclone is believed to have attained hurricane status late on September 11. Later, the hurricane quickly intensified to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
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 September 13, the hurricane reached peak winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), moving westward north of the Greater Antilles
Greater Antilles
The Greater Antilles are one of three island groups in the Caribbean. Comprising Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles constitute almost 90% of the land mass of the entire West Indies.-Greater Antilles in context :The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as...
. On September 14, the deepening storm strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane, and it swiftly passed south of Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with . It contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town and the JAGS McCartney International Airport...
. The local weather station estimated gusts of 150 mph (240 km/h) over the island.
On September 15, the hurricane made landfall on the southern portion of Andros
Andros
Andros, or Andro is the northernmost island of the Greek Cyclades archipelago, approximately south east of Euboea, and about north of Tinos. It is nearly long, and its greatest breadth is . Its surface is for the most part mountainous, with many fruitful and well-watered valleys. The area is...
with 125 mph (200 km/h) sustained winds. Later, the cyclone strengthened over the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
, striking the northern half of Key Largo around 3:30 p.m. EDT. The light station
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
at Carysfort Reef
Carysfort Reef Light
Carysfort Reef Light is located approximately six nautical miles east of Key Largo, Florida. The lighthouse has an iron screw-pile foundation with a platform, and a skeletal octagonal pyramidal tower, which is painted red. The light is 100 feet above the water. The original lens was a first order...
reported winds of 138 mph (220 km/h) from a southwest direction. The hurricane crossed southern Biscayne Bay and passed over the Army Air Base
Homestead Air Reserve Base
Homestead Air Reserve Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Homestead, Florida.The host unit at Homestead is the 482d Fighter Wing assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force...
in the city of Homestead, Florida. On September 16, the hurricane weakened and turned north-northeast over central Florida, and the winds decreased to 75 mph (120 km/h). Early on September 17, the low pressure system
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...
re-entered the Atlantic Ocean near Atlantic Beach, Florida
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Atlantic Beach, a city in Duval County, Florida, is the northernmost of the Jacksonville Beaches communities. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Atlantic Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Baldwin, Florida,...
as a tropical storm. It crossed the coast near Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island, South Carolina
Parris Island is a former census-designated place , currently a portion of Port Royal in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,841 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Parris Island is included within the Beaufort Urban Cluster and the larger...
, producing wind gusts of hurricane force. The system transitioned to an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical 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...
on September 18 as it moved inland over the Mid-Atlantic states. On September 20, it dissipated 310 miles (495 km) east of Saint John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Preparations
Although hurricane warnings were initially issued for the Leeward Islands and Guadeloupe through Sint Maarten, the cyclone passed north of the Lesser Antilles. In advance of the storm, aircraft were evacuated from the Naval Air Station in Miami, FloridaMiami, 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...
. In total, hundreds of planes left vulnerable locations. Residents were advised to heed advisories in Florida, the Bahamas, and northern 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...
. On September 15, hurricane force winds were expected to affect areas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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...
through 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...
, and hurricane warnings were accordingly released for this region. Storm warnings also extended north to Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
and Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. Military personnel sought shelter at Hialeah Race Track
Hialeah Park Race Track
The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
, while residents boarded homes and evacuated from coastal areas to public structures. Boats were utilized to transport people from barrier islands, and small watercraft were secured along the Miami River
Miami River (Florida)
The Miami River is a river in the United States state of Florida that drains out of the Everglades and runs through the Downtown and the city of Miami. The long river flows from the terminus of the Miami Canal at Miami International Airport to Biscayne Bay...
.
Impact
In the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 people were killed. The hurricane demolished three-quarters of the structures on Grand Turk Island, while the remaining intact buildings were damaged. The cyclone also produced heavy damage on Long Island, though damages were not reported in Nassau. Peak gusts were estimated near 40 mph (65 km/h) in the city. After the storm, The Daily Gleaner initiated a fund to offer aid for residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands.In south Florida, peak gusts were estimated near 150 mph (240 km/h) at the Army Air Base in Homestead. The strong winds destroyed 1,632 residences across the state, while 5,372 homes received damages. The hurricane was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Dade County until Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 1992
1992 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1992 Atlantic hurricane season had one of the latest dates on record for the first named storm. The season officially began on June 1, 1992, and lasted until November 30, 1992. It was the least active hurricane season in nine years due to a strong El Niño...
. In Miami, gusts reached 107 mph (170 km/h), and damages were minimal compared to communities in southern Dade County. 200 people were injured at the Army Air Base when a fire ignited during the storm, affecting three hangars and destroying 25 blimps, 366 planes, and 150 automobiles. An additional fire also destroyed a furniture factory and a tile manufacturing plant in the northwestern portion of downtown Miami. More than 1,000 Red Cross workers were activated in response to the cyclone. In 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...
, hundreds of residences were damaged. Four people died across the state.
In Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, strong winds caused high waves, but the storm arrived at low tide and produced modest damage. Rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
fall peaked at 6.40 inches (163 mm). In Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
, heavy precipitation caused damage to unpaved streets. Inland, the system produced heavy rainfall over North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, peaking at 8 inches (203 mm) in the state. Previous precipitation over the past 3–5 days led to saturated grounds, allowing new water to spill into streams. Many crop fields and dwellings were flooded near the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
as levels rose to record heights. The towns of Moncure
Moncure, North Carolina
Moncure is a small unincorporated rural community in southeastern Chatham County, North Carolina. The community is located near the confluence of the Deep and Haw Rivers, which forms the Cape Fear River. Moncure once served as the western-most inland port in the state, linked all the way to the...
, Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
, and Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, North Carolina
Elizabethtown is a town in Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,698 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bladen County.-Geography:Elizabethtown is located at ....
exceeded flood stage levels. Broken dams in Richmond County
Richmond County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,564 people, 17,873 households, and 12,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 19,886 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
produced significant flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
s. Few deaths were reported, but economic losses were extensive. In Hopewell, New Jersey
Hopewell, New Jersey
Hopewell is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,922.Hopewell was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1891, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of a...
, the remnants of the system produced winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), though major damage was not reported.