1903 Florida hurricane

Meteorological history

Based on research by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project in 2003, the cyclone is first noted in the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) as a moderate tropical storm about 15 mi (25 km) south-southeast of West Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands—an island group in the southeastern Lucayan Archipelago—on September 9; however, due to sparse observations, its genesis likely occurred earlier than listed but was undetected operationally. Moving slowly northwest, the cyclone quickly strengthened into a hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), equivalent to Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson scale, a day later. On September 11, it attained its initial peak of 85 mph (140 km/h) while about 10 mi (15 km) west-northwest of New Providence Island in the Bahamas. Turning to the west-northwest, the cyclone maintained its intensity while passing just north of Bimini. Around 23:00 UTC, the cyclone struck South Florida near Fort Lauderdale. Thereafter, the hurricane weakened upon crossing the Everglades, diminishing to a tropical storm early on September 12.

Shortly afterward, the cyclone entered the Gulf of Mexico near Egmont Key, in the Tampa Bay area, with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Then it quickly began to restrengthen, regaining hurricane status the following day while centered about 100 mi (160 km) south of St. Marks in the Big Bend of Florida. As it neared the Florida panhandle the storm curved to the northwest, increased its forward speed, and acquired its secondary peak of 90 mph (150 km/h). The hurricane passed just west of Cape San Blas, but did not strike there. As its heading backed to the north-northwest, the cyclone made landfall just east of Panama City around 23:00 UTC. Moving inland, the cyclone decelerated dramatically and lost hurricane intensity, weakening further as it entered southern Alabama early on September 14. The next day, its trajectory gradually veered eastward, and on September 16, it degenerated into a tropical depression. Less than 24 hours later, the system dissipated just east of the Georgia–South Carolina border.

Preparations and impact

Bahamians received no advance notice of the storm, due to scarce ship and other reports. On September 10, the United States Weather Bureau issued storm signals, equivalent to a tropical storm warning in , from Cedar Key, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina. These were later upgraded to hurricane warnings in South Florida. Due to inclement weather conditions in West Palm Beach, which had been newly incorporated as a town just days earlier, businesses suspended their normal operations and people boarded up buildings, even as the strongest winds arrived. As the cyclone moved into the Gulf of Mexico, reports from September 12 through September 14 helped ships prepare for the storm.

In the Bahamas, the eye of the storm passed over Cat Cay, accompanied by a barometric reading of 28.82 inHg, the lowest measured in the archipelago and in the storm itself. Only 0.84 in of rain attended the passage of the hurricane on the island, but up to 6 + 3/4 in drenched the capital Nassau, on New Providence Island. A weather station there recorded winds of 60 mi/h, shortly before the anemometer blew away, after which peak velocities were estimated to be 90 mi/h. Citywide the winds flattened small dwellings, along with telephone and telegraph lines, sheds, barriers, and fruit crops (mainly grapefruit and orange). Larger buildings received lesser damage, mainly to exteriors such as roof slates and verandas. Flash floods, along with the rains, soaked building interiors, ruining goods and filling streets to depths of several feet. The storm also snarled local shipping.

In southeast Florida, no meteorological observations were available within 50 mi (80 km) of the eye. However, the cyclone produced sustained winds of 84 mi/h at Jupiter, which was near the edge of the larger-than-average center. Winds of damaging force extended 30 mi (50 km) north of Jupiter, with most damage centered on areas farther south. Only pineapple sheds were damaged at Jupiter, along with others in nearby Stuart, where the storm also shifted a house, razed an outbuilding, and beached a racing yacht. The winds also downed about a dozen power poles in Jupiter. In West Palm Beach, many buildings were unroofed, while rainfall and winds subsequently caused further damage to their interiors, such as at The Tropical Sun office building, the Seminole Hotel, the Palms Hotel, Schmid's Commercial Hotel, and properties owned by former mayor Marion E. Gruber. Several other businesses suffered similar damage. Debris such as roofing scraps, tree branches, paper, and driftwood was thrown into the streets. In the African American section of the town, several buildings were destroyed, including three of the four churches. Damage there ran "way up in the thousands", according to the Tropical Sun. Hotels on the nearby island of Palm Beach survived, but many coconut palms and other vegetation were prostrated.

In Boynton Beach dozens of homes were damaged to some degree. Fruit crops including guava, lemons, and lime littered the ground, while pineapple fields were flattened. Power and telegraph lines and trees, including many large pines, were toppled throughout the city. The settlements of Pompano, where the eye was believed to have come ashore, and Delray Beach were nearly annihilated; trees were defoliated and many buildings dismantled. At Pompano the two-story McNab home was leveled, along with a well-built packing house. The loss of electricity was restored by the night of September 12. Damage in South Florida reached $100,000, mainly to crops such as sugarcane in the Everglades.

The cyclone generated rough seas near the point of impact in South Florida, including an 8 ft storm surge at Jupiter. On the west shoreline of Lake Worth Lagoon, homes were swept off their foundations and their interiors flooded. The Lake Worth News building in Lake Worth was severely damaged by flooding. and a Standard Oil barge was bashed against a reef off Boynton Beach, forcing its crew of 11 to swim ashore. Offshore of Delray Beach, the 400 ft British steamship Inchulva, laden with wheat, wrecked near the Orange Grove House of Refuge. Of the 28 crew members, nine drowned as the ship stranded and broke apart just 200 yd off the beach. The wreck was later salvaged and transformed into an underwater diving attraction.

In Central Florida, the cyclone only caused minor damage to structures and blew down trees, but at least two people died in Tampa. The storm also damaged businesses in the area and reportedly blew down half the local orange crop. Heavy rainfall occurred along the path, peaking at 14+1/2 in in Fort Meade. In the Florida panhandle, the hurricane produced a pressure of 29.08 inHg and winds up to 80 mi/h on St. Andrews Bay. The peak storm surge was measured at up to 10 ft in the town of Apalachicola. Up to 50% of the cotton crop was destroyed, but overall structural damage was minor, though ships were grounded near Apalachicola. As the cyclone moved inland over Alabama and Georgia on September 14–15, it produced widespread rains peaking at 5.42 in in Griffin, Georgia. Minor crop damage occurred in low-lying areas, but advance warning reduced the potential damage. Overall, the hurricane killed 14 people, all in Florida, and caused $500,000 in losses.

Notes

References

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References

1. "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT: 1903/03". [[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]], [[Hurricane Research Division]].
2. (September 11, 1903). "Hurricane in the Bahamas". [[The New York Times]].
3. (September 12, 1903). "The Hurricane". The Nassau Guardian and Bahama Islands Advocate and Intelligencer.
4. (September 12, 1903). "East Coast Storm Swept". [[The Tropical Sun]].
5. (September 11, 1903). "El Tiempo". Diario de la Marina.
6. (September 13, 1903). "Bad Cyclone in Florida". New York Times.
7. (September 19, 1903). "Munyon's Island Storm Swept". Tropical Sun.
8. (September 18, 1903). "Some Details of Last Week's Storm". [[The Miami Metropolis]].