1942 Matagorda hurricane

Meteorological history

A tropical wave was first noted near St. Lucia at 0600 UTC on August 21, associated with squally weather, though there were little signs of any organization. However, in HURDAT–the official database of positions and intensities of Atlantic hurricanes dating back to 1851–the system is listed to have already organized into a tropical storm at the same time. Nonetheless, development was slow throughout its early existence as it moved quickly eastward across the Caribbean Sea. Forward motion slowed as the storm progressed westward south of Jamaica on August 25. Though signs of development were first noted at around this time, later reanalysis was conducted on the system, revealing that it had already strengthened to the equivalent of a modern-day Category 1 hurricane. Shortly after, observations indicated that the hurricane was rapidly intensifying. Passing well north of the Swan Islands, the storm attained Category 2 intensity at 0600 UTC on August 26. Shortly after, the hurricane made its first landfall at a similar intensity on the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula late on August 27.

Once in the Gulf of Mexico on August 28, the hurricane moved northwest on a nearly linear path towards the Texas coast as it steadily intensified. At the time, hurricane-force winds extended out 150 mi from the storm's center of circulation. though a pressure reading of 952 mbar in Seadrift, Texas marked the lowest recorded pressure. Once inland, the storm quickly weakened, and degenerated to tropical storm strength at 1200 UTC on August 30 while located near Hallettsville, Texas. Weakening to a tropical depression the following day, it dissipated at 1200 UTC on August 30 near Sweetwater, Texas.

Preparations and impact

Despite making landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula on August 27 as a Category 2 hurricane, no damage was reported there. Other coastal locations were evacuated via trucks, buses, and trains with the guidance of warnings published by the United States Weather Bureau. Schools in the region were prepared as emergency shelters in advance of the storm's landfall.

Upon making landfall near Palacios, Texas early on August 30, considerable damage was wrought to an extensive area of the state. At the coast, the hurricane produced a strong storm surge, mostly in the storm's eastern hemisphere. A station in Matagorda, Texas recorded a storm tide 14.7 ft above average. The unusually strong tide inundated Matagorda under 6 ft of seawater. The accumulation of the hurricane's affects resulted in the destruction of nearly every building in the city. Further north in Freeport, Texas, the storm surge reached 11.8 ft above normal. The strong wave action reopened two inlets near Corpus Christi Pass, and also destroyed two cottages on North Beach. In Harris County, Texas, located near the northern edge of the storm, crops sustained heavy damages, and losses to the rice crop alone amounted to $600,000.

The hurricane also brought strong winds which caused considerable damage as far inland as San Antonio, Texas, 120 mi from the coast. In Seadrift, Texas, where the storm's lowest pressure reading of 952 mbar was recorded, winds were estimated to have reached 115 mph. In Matagorda and Palacios, winds of at least 100 mph lasted roughly three hours, leveling several buildings. Later reports from Palacios indicated that the storm was the worst there since the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Due to the storm's fast motion before and after landfall, hurricane-force winds were felt as far inland as Atascosa County, Texas. In Corpus Christi, Texas, a peak wind gust of 72 mph was reported. There, damage was limited to oil derricks and other light structures. Communications from the city to Port Aransas, Texas. The county sheriff of Victoria County, Texas reported that every house was "damaged to some extent." In Cuero, Texas, strong winds caused severe infrastructural and crop damage.

Precipitation associated with the storm was generally light due to the hurricane's rapid forward motion. Moderate to heavy rainfall was of local extent and covered a limited area of South Texas, peaking at 9.3 in in Woodsboro, Texas. Contrary to typical rapidly moving tropical cyclones, much of the storm's rainfall fell to the west and south of the storm throughout its duration, which up to that point was a phenomenon rarely observed. The peak rainfall measurement in Woodsboro was located 25 mi away from the center of the hurricane. Throughout Atascosa County, at least 4 in of rain fell.

After making landfall, the hurricane's fast speed enabled it to still bring strong winds and impacts well inland. In South-Central Texas, the tropical cyclone was considered the worst of the entire 20th century. On August 30, despite being situated over the Austin and San Antonio metropolitan areas, the storm still retained maximum sustained winds of at least 50 mph. In Floresville, Texas, the winds damaged numerous buildings. Similar effects occurred in Atascosa County and Seguin, Texas, where trees were uprooted and additional buildings were damaged.

Overall, the hurricane caused $26.5 million in damages, with $11.5 million to property and $15 million to crops, with the storm's damage in Texas spread across twelve counties. This would make the storm the most costly of the hurricane season. Despite the hurricane's wide swath of damage and strong intensity, only eight people were killed. The low number of fatalities is attributable to the extensive evacuation procedures which the area underwent prior to the storm, as well as warnings provided by the Weather Bureau.

Notes

References

References

1. Goldenberg, Sten. "Subject: A3) What is a super-typhoon? What is a major hurricane ? What is an intense hurricane ?". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Research Division.
2. Sumner, Howard C.. (April 1, 1943). "North Atlantic Hurricanes and Tropical Disturbances of 1942". American Meteorological Society.
3. Austin/San Antonio, Texas Weather Forecast Office. (August 26, 2010). "August 1942 Hurricane". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
4. Prentiss, Louis W.. (1951). "Gulf Hurricanes And Their Effects On The Gulf Coast". Texas Digital Library.
5. (August 31, 1942). "Tropical Wind Strikes Texas". The Bulletin.
6. Schoner, R.W.. "Rainfall Associated With Hurricanes (And Other Tropical Disturbances)". United States Weather Bureau's National Hurricane Research Project.