1948 Miami hurricane

Hurricane Eight

Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
File:1948 Miami hurricane analysis 6 October.png Surface weather analysis of the hurricane on October 6
Formed	October 3, 1948 (1948-10-03)
Dissipated	October 16, 1948 (1948-10-17)
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 125 mph (205 km/h)
Lowest pressure	≤ 971 mbar (hPa); 28.67 inHg
Fatalities	11 direct
Damage	$12.5 million (1948 USD)
Areas affected	Nicaragua, Honduras, Yucatán Peninsula, Isle of Youth, Cuba, Florida, Bahamas, Bermuda
Part of the 1948 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1948 Miami hurricane was one of the strongest tropical cyclones of the 1948 Atlantic hurricane season. The hurricane, the second most intense storm of the season, produced winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) in the Havana, Cuba region. The eighth tropical storm, fifth hurricane, and the fourth major hurricane of the season, it developed east-northeast of Cape Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. Subsequently, it intensified over the western Caribbean Sea, attained winds of hurricane strength, and made landfall on western Cuba. The cyclone, which was the equivalence of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, crossed the island and struck the Florida Keys as a major hurricane. The center passed over Miami, departed near Fort Lauderdale, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda.

Cuba, the site of the strongest winds, received significant damage from the cyclone, and eleven fatalities occurred on the island. In Florida, the hurricane produced heavy rains and floods in the Miami region. Three tornadoes also occurred in the state; however, no deaths were confirmed. The impacts of Hurricane Seven, occurring two weeks prior to the storm, reduced the destruction from the October cyclone. The cyclone also caused extensive destruction on Bermuda.

Meteorological history

File:1948 Atlantic hurricane 8 track.png

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

A weak tropical storm, with winds of 40 mph (70 km/h), formed 90 miles (145 km) east-northeast of Cape Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua, on October 3. The cyclone, moving northwest, strengthened to a hurricane on the next day. The system was noted as an organized tropical cyclone at 10:45 a.m. (1545 UTC) on the same date. On October 5, the hurricane intensified and attained winds of at least 120 mph (195 km/h). Subsequently, the hurricane, reaching a peak intensity of 135 mph (215 km/h), made landfall east of Almacén in the Pinar del Río Province, Cuba. The center passed west of Havana, where winds were measured near 132 mph (213 km/h). Later, the hurricane made landfall near Marathon on the evening of the same date. Maximum sustained winds were near 125 mph (200 km/h), and Sombrero Key reported a pressure of 975 mbar (28.80 inHg). A lull, indicating the passage of the eye, persisted for 45 minutes at Marathon and the Bahia Honda Bridge. Maximum winds were estimated near 100 mph (161 km/h) in the Florida Keys. The hurricane passed over Miami around 7 p.m. (00 UTC); sustained winds of 90 mph (145 km/h) were documented at the U.S. Weather Bureau's airport station, and the lowest pressure was 979 mbar (28.92 inHg). The duration of the center was 35 minutes at the station; the lull lasted for a longer period at the Miami City Office, but the pressure did not drop below 981 mbar (28.96 inHg).

The hurricane, producing winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), passed over the Fort Lauderdale area and entered the Atlantic Ocean around 9:30 p.m. (0230 UTC). On October 6, the center passed over the western portion of Grand Bahama; wind gusts reached 110 mph (170 km/h), and West End reported winds near hurricane intensity. The hurricane briefly weakened over the western Atlantic Ocean, but it re-strengthened on October 7. The hurricane, attaining a second peak intensity of 105 mph (165 km/h), passed south of Bermuda on the same date. Winds reached 110 mph (170 km/h) on the island. On October 8, the hurricane turned east, weakened to a tropical storm, and executed a clockwise loop from October 9 through October 15. The system dissipated on October 15.

Impact

A total of 26 bulletins were released by the Miami Weather Bureau office. The storm brought strong winds to Cuba, with a wind gust of 132 mph (212 km/h) in Havana. The city suffered considerable damage, forcing police to patrol for looters. Nearly all of the city was left without electricity. In some portions of the neighborhood of Miramar, flooding was reported. Trees were felled onto Paseo del Prado, a famous street in Havana. In other parts of the city, falling trees and rubble also disrupted transportation. There were heavy crop losses in Havana and Pinar Del Rio provinces, where several rivers overflowed their banks. Homes and cattle were swept away by flash flooding. Overall, the hurricane left eleven fatalities, three of them due to houses collapsing on their occupants. Additionally, there were about 300 injuries and an estimated $6 million in damage. After the storm, Cuban President Ramón Grau, President-elect Carlos Prío Socarrás, and Major General Genovevo Pérez Dámera – Chief of Staff of the Army – assessed damage in the Havana area and developed plans for recovery.

The Hurricane Warning Service, operated by the United States Weather Bureau and the predecessor to the National Hurricane Center, issued hurricane warnings from Fort Myers to Miami, including the Florida Keys on October 4. Miami Weather Bureau chief Grady Norton urged residents to take precautions and concentrate on further advisories. On October 5, the hurricane warning was revised to include Naples to Jupiter. Additionally, other warnings were issued for areas surrounding Lake Okeechobee due to flooding concerns. Four U.S. Navy wartime housing project areas in Key West were evacuated. About 100 Seminoles fled the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation, with 95% of the property still inundated from the September hurricane. Two 25-car trains evacuated about 5,000 people in the Lake Okeechobee area in Lake Harbor and transported them to Sebring. Many residents throughout South Florida boarded-up their windows and sandbagged their properties. The American Red Cross opened 143 shelters, which 21,663 people sought refuge in.

The hurricane, reminiscent of Hurricane Floyd in 1987, produced minimal damage in the Florida Keys. At the Naval Air Station Key West on Boca Chica Key, several buildings were deroofed. In southern Florida, the cyclone produced a storm surge of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) on Biscayne Bay. Rainfall exceeded 9.5 inches (241.30 mm) at the Miami airport station, and Miami streets were flooded by deep water. Water resembled flooding streams in the streets of Homestead, Miami Springs, Hialeah, and sections of Miami Beach. In Hialeah, the city mayor reported water depths of 3.5 feet (1.1 m) in the streets. The city had been plagued by floods in recent years. A Miami bridge, located near the Miami River, was damaged by a loose barge during the hurricane. Planes were overturned and damaged by strong winds at the Tamiami Airport. The hurricane produced three tornadoes prior to landfall. One tornado, touching down around 4 p.m., demolished 25 homes south of Pompano Beach. A total of 29 residences were damaged or destroyed. Forty-four minutes later, the second tornado struck homes west of Fort Lauderdale. One building, containing two stories, lost its roof, while five homes incurred damage. Barns were damaged or destroyed. Losses reached $15,000 (1948 USD). Another tornado destroyed three homes in the city of Opa-locka, where damages reached $100,000 (1948 USD). The tornado flipped cars and inflicted extensive damage at the Royal Palm dairy farm. All of the tornadoes attained the equivalence of F2 intensity on the modern Fujita scale.

The hurricane caused no fatalities across the state, which the Weather Bureau considered unusual due to the storm's path over the densely populated Miami metropolitan area. The passage of hurricane in September, which had resulted in pre-existing damage, mitigated the destruction from the October hurricane. Overall, 36 homes were destroyed and 638 others suffered serious impact, while 45 buildings were demolished and 50 others experienced damage. Total losses in Florida reached $5.5 million, which included $3.5 million to property, $1.5 million to crops, $400,000 to electricity and communications, and $100,000 to roads.

Bermuda was also impacted by the hurricane. Roofs were blown from buildings, and the sides of some structures were knocked down. Electrical light wires and telephone lines were down across the island. The local U.S. Air Force Base and the U.S. Naval Base received minimal damage. Damages exceeded $1,000,000 (1948 USD).

See also

• List of Florida hurricanes