The 1945 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1945, and lasted until November 30, 1945. These
dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form
in the Atlantic basin.
The 1945 season was an average season, with 11 tropical storms. 5 storms became hurricanes, of which 3 reached major hurricane
strength. Notable storms include a Category 4 hurricane Texas,
and another Category 4 hurricane hitting southern Florida.
Storms
Hurricane One
The first tropical storm of the 1945 season formed in the western Caribbean Sea on
June 20. It moved northward through the Yucatan
Channel, and rapidly intensified to a 115 mph (185 km/h) Category 3 major hurricane on June 23, one of only three June major hurricanes on record.
It turned northeast over the Gulf of Mexico, and steadily weakened to a minimal hurricane
at the time of its western Florida landfall near Cedar
Key on June 24. It continued northeastward, hitting Cape Hatteras on June 26, and
became extratropical on June 28 over the northern North Atlantic, and the system later
dissipated on July 1. The hurricane caused only minor damage.
Tropical Storm Two
A moderate tropical storm, which formed in the northwest Gulf of Mexico on
July 19, hit southern Texas on July 22, causing no reported
damage.
Tropical Storm Three
On August 1, a tropical storm formed east-southeast of Barbados and moved through the
Lesser Antilles on August 2. It continued west-northwestward, hitting southern
Hispaniola on August 4 where it soon dissipated.
Tropical Storm Four
A short-lived tropical storm formed east-northeast of the Leeward Islands on August
17. Moving west-northwest, the system peaked at 70 mph before weakening on August 19. It
weakened to a depression on August 21 and dissipated in the Bahamas.
Hurricane Five
An area of convection over the Bay of Campeche rapidly developed on August 24, reaching hurricane strength that night. It moved northward, paralleling the Mexican and Texas
coastlines while intensifying, and made landfall on August 28 near Port Aransas in
central Texas as a 140 mph (225 km/h) Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane weakened to a 75 mph (120 km/h) Category 1 hurricane shortly after
moving inland and passing near Houston, and the system weakened to a tropical storm
shortly thereafter before weakening to a depression and dissipating inland over central Texas on
August 29. Towns from Freeport to Brownsville were subjected to hurricane-force winds, causing around $20 million (1945
US dollars) in damages, and three deaths.
Tropical Storm Six
On August 29, a tropical storm formed in the western Caribbean Sea. It moved northeastward, turned to the west, and made landfall in Belize on August 31 where it caused heavy rains and high tides. The system weakened to a depression after moving
inland on September 1, and the remnants dissipated over interior Central America shortly
thereafter.
Tropical Storm Seven
A tropical storm hit Cuba on September 4 and continued
northeastward to hit southwest Florida. It turned to the northwest, and dissipated on September
6 over Louisiana after causing minor damage to boats.
Tropical Storm Eight
Another short-lived tropical storm formed east of the Leeward Islands on September
10. The system moved north-northwest, quickly reaching its peak of 60 mph (95 km/h) late
on September 10 before gradually weakening on September 11. Turning more to the north, the system dissipated after weakening to a
depression just west-northwest of Bermuda on September 12.
Hurricane Nine
On September 12, a hurricane was first observed east of the northern Lesser Antilles. It moved west-northwestward, moving through the Bahamas on September 15 as a strengthening major hurricane. After reaching its peak as a 140
mph (225 km/h) Category 4
hurricane, the hurricane made landfall in south Florida near Homestead on September 16 with maximum sustained winds estimated at 135 mph (220 km/h). Shortly after making landfall, the hurricane turned north over the peninsula, and the
system weakened while moving up the Eastern Seaboard of the United
States. The once-hurricane became extratropical on September 18 near Washington, D.C.,
and continued for 2 more days as it raced across the northern North Atlantic. The
hurricane caused $60 million (1945 US dollars) in damage and 26 deaths, including a
firefighter trying to put out a fire in the Richmond Naval Air Base in southeastern
Florida where three light hangars exploded when high winds ignited a high-octane gas fire.
Hurricane Ten
A tropical storm first detected on October 2 moved westward across the western
Caribbean. It reached a peak of 95 mph (150 km/h)
winds as a Category 2 hurricane, and hit southern Belize on October 4. It maintained its circulation across Central
America, and hit Acapulco, Mexico on October 5 as a weakening tropical depression. The
hurricane caused severe damage in southern Belize and northwestern Guatemala, but no damage
figures exist. A hurricane crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific is a relatively rare event.
Hurricane Eleven
The final hurricane of the season began its life on October 10 in the Caribbean Sea. It
moved northward, eventually reaching a peak of 95 mph (150 km/h) winds before striking
Cuba on October 12 as a Category 2
hurricane at its peak intensity. The hurricane continued northeastward, and became extratropical on October 14. The system
dissipated on October 16.
See also
External links
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