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1948 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1948 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1948, and lasted until November 15, 1948. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.

The 1948 Atlantic hurricane season featured nine tropical cyclones; six storms attained hurricane status, and four storms intensified to major hurricanes with winds of at least Category 3 intensity. Operationally, ten tropical disturbances were noted; a weak tropical disturbance formed over the southeast Bahamas in May and moved northwest into the Georgia coast near Savannah, producing winds of 30 mph (48 km/h).

Season summary

The 1948 Atlantic hurricane season was slightly below average, and it featured a total of nine storms, which fell below the climatological seasonal average of ten. All of the hurricanes formed during the latter half of the season, and the number of intense hurricanes surpassed the average of two. The season featured one tropical storm in May, and it was among eighteen tropical systems which formed during that month in the Atlantic basin. Of the ten tropical disturbances detected operationally, five struck the United States with winds of 39 mph (60 km/h) or greater, while the other tropical systems affected islands, remained over the open ocean, or affected the country with winds below tropical storm intensity. Three hurricanes made landfall in the United States, while the three other storms with winds of at least 74 mph (120 km/h) largely remained at sea.

The strongest storms of the season attained Category 4 intensity; two of the major hurricanes formed in the western Caribbean Sea and affected the United States in late September and October. A minimal hurricane struck southern Louisiana, causing tides of five feet and winds of 78 mph (125 km/h) in New Orleans. A minimal tropical storm made landfall near Destin in July. An intense hurricane attained Category 4 strength and produced extensive damage and 100 mph (160 km/h) wind gusts on Bermuda in mid-September. A Category 3 hurricane struck the southern portion of Florida, resulting in $12 million of damages in the state. After the passage of one week, another hurricane affected the region as a Category 2 storm, after crossing Cuba with winds of 135 mph (220 km/h). Only three direct fatalities occurred in the United States, largely because of improved evacuations and adherence to warnings and advisories.

Storms

Tropical Storm One

Ten days preceding the start of the season, a broad area of low pressure in the central Caribbean Sea developed into a weak tropical storm early on May 22. The circulation moved northeast, and it made landfall in southwest Haiti with winds of 40 mph (60 km/h) during the morning hours. The system crossed the island and maintained its intensity as it entered the southwest Atlantic. On May 24, the tropical cyclone slowly intensified, and it began to gradually turn to the north. Within a few hours, the storm attained its estimated peak intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h), as reported by reconnaissance aircraft. On May 25, the storm's forward motion slowed to a crawl, and the cyclone started to weaken on May 26. On May 27, the system began to accelerate northward, and it gained extratropical characteristics. The system diminished to a tropical depression on May 28 shortly prior to dissipation east of Delaware.

The tropical system brought widespread precipitation to Hispaniola, and widespread flooding took place across the region. 80 people died during the events, though other impacts are unknown, however this storm still ranks as the deadliest Atlantic storm to form in the off-season.

Tropical Storm Two

After nearly two months of inactivity, an area of disturbed weather developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The area organized to a 40 mph (65 km/h) tropical storm on July 11, and the system maintained its intensity as it moved to the northeast on July 8. The weak tropical system made landfall east of Pensacola on July 9, and it quickly weakened to a depression as it moved inland. The remnants moved north through southeastern Alabama on July 10, and the circulation dissipated over southern Tennessee on July 11.

The system produced minimal effects along the Florida Panhandle. Winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) were measured at Pensacola during the passage of a thunderstorm, and the tropical cyclone caused heavy precipitation over northern Florida, southern Alabama, and southern Georgia. Overall damage was minimal.

Hurricane Three

After one month of inactivity, the first hurricane of the season formed in late August. A 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm formed on August 26 600 miles northeast of Saint John, as ship reports indicated winds of Force 9. The tropical cyclone quickly intensified to a hurricane, and it continued to steadily progress northwest. The storm strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane on August 27, and it continued to intensify until it attained its estimated peak intensity of 120 mph (195 km/h) on August 28. Its forward motion slowed on August 29, and it began to weaken as it turned to the north south of Hatteras on August 30. The tropical system weakened to a minimal hurricane, and it accelerated to the northeast on August 31. The storm soon became extratropical, and the remnants dissipated east of southern Greenland on September 4.

In anticipation of the storm, the U.S. Weather Bureau posted hurricane warnings from Wilmington to Cape Hatteras. On August 30, as the tropical cyclone began to turn to the north, the center was expected to pass over or near Cape Hatteras. The hurricane caused high tides on the North Carolina coastline, which prompted evacuations and precautions in the area. No damages or fatalities were reported.

Tropical Storm Four

The season's activity increased during late August. Four days after the formation of Hurricane Three, a 60 mph (95 km/h) tropical storm was detected on August 30 east of Saint Lucia, as a ship reported high easterly seas and winds of Force 10. The small system moved steadily to the west, and it slowly weakened to a marginal tropical cyclone on August 31. On the morning of September 1, the circulation passed between Saint Lucia and Martinique, when a reconnaissance aircraft mission reported a minimum pressure of 1007 mbar (29.73 inHg). Subsequent missions failed to detect a center of circulation, and the tropical cyclone quickly degenerated to a tropical depression. It dissipated over the eastern Caribbean Sea.

The short-lived tropical storm resulted in no reports of damages, and heavy precipitation affected the islands. The rainfall was beneficial, notably in Puerto Rico; water supplies and crops were replenished. Minor flooding occurred on the islands and caused minimal damage.

Hurricane Five

As the peak of hurricane season arrived, an area of disturbed weather organized to a 39 mph (63 km/h) tropical storm on September 1 over the southern Gulf of Mexico. On the morning of September 2, the poorly defined center moved northeast, and the tropical cyclone gradually intensified. It attained hurricane intensity on September 3, and it slowly accelerated toward the upper Gulf Coast. It rapidly reached its peak intensity of 80 mph (130 km/h), and it crossed the coastline near Grand Isle around midnight on September 4. The center moved inland over Orleans Parish, and the weakening tropical cyclone diminished to a strong tropical storm prior to moving over southern Mississippi. It continued to weaken as it approached Hattiesburg on September 5, and it moved over the area with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). The remnants turned to the north, and the circulation dissipated over northwestern Indiana on September 6.

On September 4, the U.S. Weather Bureau advised residents that the storm was expected to strike land between Morgan City and Grand Isle around midnight, as its forward motion had increased to 15 mph (25 km/h). The weather service also noted that abnormally high tides were expected from the Mississippi River to Pensacola, as the center was predicted to pass east of New Orleans and move to the west of Biloxi shortly before dawn. 1,000 people left their homes in Terrebonne Parish and took shelter in a courthouse and school buildings in Houma. As winds increased, city officials in New Orleans ordered 2,000 people to evacuate from a wartime housing project into an auditorium for shelter. The hurricane produced gusts of 78 mph (125 km/h) at Moisant Airport, and tides ranged from 6 to along the coast from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. The maximum tide reached in New Orleans, and winds caused damage to small boats, trees, and power and communication lines. At Grand Isle, the heaviest damage occurred to oil rigs and drilling equipment from high tides. Total damage in the United States reached $900,000, but no loss of life was reported.

Hurricane Six

Storm Six was a Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed from a tropical wave off Africa on September 3 and rapidly strengthened into a hurricane. It moved steadily west-northwest across the Atlantic, gradually strengthening. The storm became a major hurricane while northeast of the Windward Islands. It began to make a broad curve to the north over a three-day period. During that period, the storm continued to strengthen, peaking at Category 4 strength with winds of 135 mph (220 km/h). Shortly after, the hurricane passed almost directly over Bermuda, bringing 100+ mph (160 km/h) winds to the island. Damage was heavy but no figures currently exist. No people are known to have died. The hurricane continued north and curved gently to the northeast, passing south of Cape Race, Newfoundland before becoming extratropical.

Hurricane Seven

A tropical wave in the northwestern Caribbean Sea developed into a tropical storm on September 18. It moved northwestward, hitting Cuba south of Havana on September 20. It strengthened to a major hurricane the next day, hit the Florida Keys, and made landfall near Everglades City, Florida on September 21. It weakened over Florida, and turned northeast, becoming extratropical on September 24. The hurricane was responsible for $12 million in damage (1948 dollars) and 3 deaths in Florida and 10 deaths and "several million dollars" in damage in Cuba.

Hurricane Eight

A tropical storm formed in the Western Caribbean Sea on October 3. It turned northward, hitting western Cuba on October 5 as a major hurricane, an area recently affected by the previous hurricane two weeks ago. It continued northeastward, reaching a peak of 135 mph (220 km/h) winds before hitting the Florida Keys and southwest Florida on October 5 and early on October 6. Weakening over land, the hurricane passed just south of Bermuda, weakened to a tropical storm, looped northward, and dissipated on October 16. The hurricane caused $11 million in damage (1948 dollars) and 11 casualties.

Hurricane Nine

The final storm of the season formed in early November over the open ocean southwest of Bermuda and made a curve to the north while slowly strengthening. The storm peaked with winds before the center began to fall apart. The weakening storm passed by the Outer Banks with minimal effects before degenerating into a squall line off the Virginia coast early on November 11.

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) rating

ACE (10⁴kt²) (2008 Atlantic hurricane season/ACE calcs) — Storm:
1	35.9875	Six	6	3.8	One
2	20.66	Eight	7	3.755	Nine
3	17.5825	Seven	8	1.145	Four
4	17.53	Three	9	0.98	Two
5	4.62	Five
Total: 106.06

The table on the right shows the ACE for each storm in the season. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the 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 only officially released for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical storms are not included in season totals.