1933 Treasure Coast hurricane

The 1933 Treasure Coast hurricane was the strongest and most intense tropical cyclone to strike the United States during the active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The twelfth tropical storm, fifth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the season, it formed east-northeast of the Leeward Islands on August 31. The tropical storm, steadily intensifying to a hurricane, moved rapidly westward. It turned to the northwest and attained maximum sustained winds of at least 115 mph (185 km/h) on September 1. The hurricane acquired peak winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and passed over Eleuthera at maximum intensity. Subsequently, it weakened and made landfall near the border of Palm Beach and Martin counties, Florida, as a strong Category 3 hurricane on September 4.

The hurricane produced severe damage from the Bahamas to the Florida peninsula. Eleuthera and Harbour Island, encountering the center of the hurricane, incurred major damage to homes and properties. Additionally, buildings were unroofed and wharves were destroyed. In Florida, the strong winds of the cyclone blew buildings off their foundations, and numerous trees were prostrated in citrus groves. The Treasure Coast region received the most extensive destruction, and Stuart, Jupiter, and Fort Pierce were heavily damaged.

Meteorological history

Storm path

On August 31, 1933, a moderate tropical storm, with winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), formed 380 miles (612 km) east-northeast of Barbuda. The cyclone rapidly deepened to a hurricane, and it attained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) on the same date.^[1] A ship, the Gulf Wing, reported winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 981 mbar (28.98 inHg) near the center. At the time, the ship report was the first evidence that indicated the storm attained winds of hurricane intensity within a narrow region around the center.^[2] On September 1, the hurricane intensified to a major hurricane, and the forward speed accelerated. On September 2, the center passed north of Grand Turk Island.^[1] The strong hurricane, strengthening further, attained the equivalence of a Category 4 storm on the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale during that same day. It intensified to a peak intensity with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). On September 3, the hurricane struck Eleuthera and Harbour Island at maximum strength; the eye passed over Harbour Island, where a lull was reported around 6 a.m. (1100 UTC).^[3] The hurricane crossed the northern Bahamas, weakened slightly, and made landfall near Jupiter, Florida on the morning of September 4. Maximum sustained winds were near 125 mph (205 km/h) at landfall.^[1] The center passed over the Jupiter Inlet Weather Bureau station, where the lowest pressure in the United States,^[4] 948 mbar (27.98 inHg), was recorded. The duration of the passage of the eye, occurring near midnight (0500 UTC), lasted for 40 minutes.^[2] It is estimated that the landfall point was Jupiter Island, which is located in Martin County.^[5]

Inland, the hurricane weakened rapidly and it passed over Okeechobee County.^[6] On September 4, the system diminished to a tropical storm and passed north of Bartow. The tropical cyclone, recurving near Cedar Key on September 5, moved through the Big Bend region of the state. On September 6, the cyclone, crossing southern Georgia, weakened to a tropical depression, and the circulation dissipated over South Carolina the next day.^[1]

Preparations

On September 3, the first tropical cyclone watches and warnings for Florida were released around 4 p.m. (2100 UTC); storm warnings were issued in Miami, while hurricane warnings encompassed the coast from north of Miami to Melbourne. Additionally, storm warnings extended from north of Melbourne to Jacksonville. Storm warnings, which were issued around 10 p.m. (0300 UTC), were also disseminated from Key West to Cedar Key.^[2]

Impact

In the Bahamas, the lowest pressure, recorded at 945 mbar (27.90 inHg), was measured on Harbour Island. The duration of the passage of the eye was 30 minutes. Winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) affected Harbour Island;^[3] some estimates placed winds near 140 mph (220 km/h).^[2][6] Homes and property received significant damage. The wireless station and the Commissioner's Office lost their roofs. Additionally, the southern wall of the office was blown down. Several homes and churches lost roofs. The local government school and water pumping station were demolished; the pumping station's machinery was damaged. A jetty was destroyed west of the Government Dock, and one packinghouse was destroyed. 37 dwellings were demolished, leaving 100 residents homeless. In Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, many homes were destroyed, including a teacher's house. A sloop and a motor vessel was destroyed.^[3] Governor's Harbour reported winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mbar (28.30 inHg). Government property received slight damage, but private property incurred more extensive destruction. A portion of a road, measuring 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length, was destroyed at James Cistern. Public works received minimal damage in Hatchet Bay and Gregory Town; however, the settlements received extensive damage. In Spanish Wells, farms received widespread and significant damage; fruit trees, including citrus, banana, and pear crops, were destroyed by the storm. Spanish Wells also reported sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) during the hurricane. Five homes were destroyed, and tanks were unroofed. The Board of Education School was shifted on its foundation, and the Gospel Hall was adversely affected. Six boats were destroyed at Palmetto Point, where the wharf and a packinghouse was demolished.^[7] No fatalities occurred on Eleuthera or Harbour Island.^[3][7]

In Florida, significant destruction extended from Palm Beach to Vero Beach. Some homes were completely destroyed, while numerous homes were blown from their block foundations.^[8] West Palm Beach experienced minor damage, which consisted of the destruction of trees, shrubbery, and plate glass windows. The city reported winds near 80 mph (130 km/h), and the lowest pressure was 974 mbar (28.77 inHg). Electrical transmission wires were severely damaged from north of West Palm Beach to Fort Pierce; many power poles were broken or blown down by the winds. The city of Stuart received severe damage from the effects of wind and water.^[2] In Stuart, some citrus groves lost 100 percent of the trees. 75 percent of the roofs in the town were blown away or severely damaged. Many chicken coops were destroyed, and the local chicken population was scattered and dispersed as far as Indiantown. The National Guard offered shelters for at least 400 homeless residents; at the time, the town's population encompassed 5,100 people.^[6] In the community of Olympia Beach, located north of Jupiter Inlet, homes received significant structural damage. Additionally, the destruction of trees and shrubbery was widespread.^[2] Four million boxes of citrus fruit, comprising 16 percent of the total crop,^[6] were blown from the trees across the state.^[8] The greatest losses occurred in the Indian River region from Stuart to Fort Pierce. Heavy rainfall produced localized flooding in several counties across the state. In Tampa, more than seven inches (178 mm) of precipitation resulted in the collapse of the Tampa Electric dam on September 7.^[6] Flooding occurred in the southern half of Palm Beach County.^[5] Two fatalities were reported in Florida, both of which occurred in the Stuart area. One farm worker was crushed by a collapsing home, and airborne debris killed one child.^[6] Damages in Florida reached $2,000,000 (1933 USD).^[8]

See also

Tropical cyclones portal

• List of Florida hurricanes

References

• Barnes, Jay (1998). Florida's Hurricane History. Chapel Hill Press.
• Neely, Wayne (2006). The Major Hurricanes to Affect the Bahamas. AuthorHouse. ISBN 1-4259-6608-X. 
• Williams, John M. et al. (2002). Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms: Expanded Edition. University Press of Florida. ISBN 0-8130-2494-3. 

Notes