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The 1926 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1926. The 1926 season was relatively average in activity, but was very eventful. The season produced 11 tropical storms, of which 6 became major hurricanes. Notable storms include the Nassau Hurricane, the Miami Hurricane, and the Havana-Bermuda Hurricane.
Season summary The table on the right shows the ACE for each storm in the season. Broadly speaking, the ACE is a measure of the power of a 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 calculated for only full advisories on specifically tropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h), or tropical storm strength. Accordingly, tropical depressions and subtropical cyclones are not included here.[1] Due to the presence of several long-lives, major hurricanes, 1926 generated an ACE of 230 which was the second-highest on record at the time, behind 1893 by one unit. Since then, it has dropped to fourth as the 1950 and 2005 seasons have surpassed it.[2] Storms Hurricane One The first storm of the season was a Category 4 hurricane that formed near the Lesser Antilles on July 22 and crossed through the Bahamas on July 26 at peak intensity. It weakened as it headed northwestward, brushing the east-central Florida coast as a Category 2, and made landfall near Cocoa Beach, Florida on July 27. It continued across the United States, and became extratropical on August 1 and later dissipated on August 2. The storm caused heavy damage in the Bahamas, as well as heavy rainfall over the southeastern United States. Over 287 people were killed. The storm's lowest recorded pressure was 967 mbar as it was making landfall in Florida. The pressure in the Bahamas is unknown. Hurricane Two The second storm of 1926 formed over the open Atlantic in the latter part of July and intensified as it moved north-northwest. It eventually reached Category 3 strength and passed near Bermuda and continued north, eventually striking Nova Scotia as an extratropical cyclone. It caused tragic losses to fishermen off Nova Scotia sinking the schooners Sylvia Mosher[3] and Sadie Knickle[4] Hurricane Three The third hurricane of the season formed in the northwestern Caribbean on August 22 near the Cayman Islands and moved northwest through the Yucat n Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico. The storm then turned due north and strengthened into a hurricane and reached Category 3 intensity in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It struck Louisiana as a strong Category 2 with 110 mph (175 km/h) winds on August 26. It caused $3 4 million (1926 USD) in crop damage, with 25 fatalities reported. Hurricane Four A Cape Verde-type hurricane reached Category 4 strength over the open Atlantic Ocean on September. It turned to the northeast, looped, and became extratropical on September 21. A slow moving hurricane, it stayed alive for a very long time, lasting 23 days, from September 1 to September 24. Hurricane Five By September 10 (possibly earlier due to sparse data), a tropical storm developed over the open Atlantic northeast of the Lesser Antilles. It headed north-northwestward and strengthened, peaking with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). It turned slowly southeastward and weakened, dissipating on September 15. Tropical Storm Six A tropical storm was first seen on September 11 in the Caribbean Sea. It curved northeastward, crossed Cuba, turned slowly to the southwest, and grazed the Florida Keys, where it dissipated on September 17. Hurricane Seven The most notable storm of the season was the Great Miami Hurricane. It struck Miami directly as a Category 4 hurricane on September 16. The storm surge tore through the city, gutting homes and businesses. Lines of people were washed away. The calm of the eye proved fatal for many who thought the storm was over, for the second half of the storm was worse than the first. 265-350 people were killed, mostly in Florida. Several dozen were killed when the hurricane skimmed the Gulf coasts of the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Mississippi. Throughout the Bahamas, reports of damage were relatively scarce despite the intensity in which the storm struck the region. At least 17 people are known to have died and numerous structures were completely destroyed.[5] Within days of the hurricane striking Miami, newspapers reported death tolls as high as 1,200, fearing catastrophic damage in the city.[6] This number gradually decreased as persons initially feared dead were found alive. According to estimates in 2007, the storm was responsible for 374 deaths in the Southeastern United States, most of which took place in Miami.[7] In terms of monetary losses, damage from the hurricane was estimated to be as high as $125 million ($ 2012 USD).[8] Thousands of structures throughout southern Florida were destroyed, leaving at least 38,000 people homeless.[6] In a study of hurricane damage statistics conducted in 2008, it was estimated that if a storm similar to that of the Miami hurricane were to occur in 2005 it would result in over $140 157 billion in damage.[9] Hurricane Eight The eighth storm of the season formed in the eastern Atlantic on September 21. It moved to the northeast and strengthened. It peaked as a Category 2 hurricane and made a counter-clockwise loop through the Azores Islands. After the loop, it moved south-southeast and weakened, dissipating on October 1. Tropical Storm Nine A weak tropical storm formed in the western Caribbean on October 3 and moved westward. Hurricane Ten Artist's impression of the loss of the Valerian On October 14 a tropical storm developed in the southwest Caribbean Sea. It moved northward, becoming a major hurricane on October 20 before crossing Cuba and southeast Florida. It headed northeastward, and strengthened into a Category 4 before hitting Bermuda on October 22. While weather forecasters knew of the storm's approach on Bermuda, it covered the thousand miles from the Bahamas to Bermuda so rapidly it apparently struck with few warning signs aside from heavy swells. On the 21 October, with the eye of the storm still 700 miles from Bermuda, weather forecasts from the US called for it to strike the island on the following morning with gale force. The Arabis class sloop HMS Valerian, based at the HMD Bermuda, was returning from providing hurricane relief in the Bahamas and was overtaken by the storm shortly before she could make harbour. Unable to enter through Bermuda's reefline, she fought the storm for more than five hours before she was sunk with the loss of eighty-five men.[10][11] The British merchant ship the Eastway was also sunk near Bermuda. Although the Valerian's commanding officer, Commander Usher, reported that there was no sign of a major storm at 08:00, when his ship was in sight of Bermuda, and when the British Army meteorologists at Prospect Camp measured the wind at 28 mph. By 10:00, the winds had reached 95 mph. When the centre of the storm passed over Bermuda at noon, the winds dropped to 8 mph, then increased to 114 mph, whereupon the Army took down its anemometer to protect it. The Royal Naval Dockyard was being hammered severely and never took its anemometer down. It measured 138 mph at 13:00 (about the same time the Valerian went down), before the wind destroyed it.[12][13][14] The storm became extratropical on October 23. Striking Cuba with winds up to 145 mph (230 km/h),[15] the hurricane caused catastrophic damage and a large loss of life. Several small towns in the storm's path were completely destroyed and damage estimates exceeded $100 million ($ 2012 USD).[16] Tropical Storm Eleven The final storm of the season formed in the Caribbean Sea on November 12. It tracked to the northwest, then curved to the northeast, hitting Cuba on November 16 before dissipating. See also References External links
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