1908 Atlantic hurricane season
| First system formed |
March 6, 1908 |
| Last system dissipated |
October 23, 1908 |
| Strongest storm1 |
Six – 120 mph (195 km/h) |
| Total depressions |
13 |
| Total storms |
10 |
| Hurricanes |
6 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
1 |
| Total fatalities |
Unknown |
| Total damage |
Unknown |
| 1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure |
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910
|
The 1908 Atlantic hurricane season ran from June 1 to November 30 in 1908. These dates conventionally delimit the year in which most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, this season got off to a very early start, with a Category 2 hurricane forming on March 6, making it the third earliest hurricane on record to form in the Atlantic Basin after Hurricane One in 1938 and Hurricane Alex in 2016, and the only known Atlantic tropical cyclone to exist in the month of March. Another hurricane formed and existed during the last week of May, and became the earliest hurricane to hit the U.S. in recorded history. Cape Hatteras was affected by two hurricanes and one tropical storm this year. Overall, this season was near average with 10 tropical storms forming.
Storms
Hurricane One
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
March 6 – March 9 |
| Peak intensity |
100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) <991 mbar (hPa) |
In early March, the season's first tropical cyclone developed to the northeast of the Leeward Islands. According to the Atlantic hurricane database, the system was first identified as a tropical storm on March 6 as it tracked in an unusual south-southwest direction. Early the following day, it was estimated that the storm intensified into a minimal hurricane, becoming the earliest known cyclone of this strength during the course of a season. Further intensification took place as the hurricane neared the United States Virgin Islands. Shortly before bypassing the islands, it attained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), equivalent to a modern-day Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Once in the Caribbean Sea on March 8, the system slowly began to weaken, losing hurricane status the following morning. The last known position of the storm was late on March 9 over the eastern Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela.[1]
The two island nations of Antigua and Basseterre and three ships reported effects from Hurricane One. On Saint Barthélemy, some buildings were damaged. The highest wind gust reported was at 70 mph (110 km/h), from a ship called Hattie C. Luce. Two other ships reported winds at 35 mph (56 km/h) and 40 mph (64 km/h), while Basseterre reported winds at 50 mph (80 km/h). Rainfall peaked at 8 inches (200 mm), which was reported in Basseterre. The minimum pressure of Hurricane One is unknown, however the city of Basseterre reported a minimum pressure of 991 mbars.[2] Also, St. Kitts reported 4 inches of rain and Nevis reported 3 inches of rain.[3]
Hurricane Two
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
May 24 – May 31 |
| Peak intensity |
75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 989 mbar (hPa) |
This hurricane hit the U.S. in May, causing minor effects. It was one of only three May hurricanes during the 20th century in the Atlantic Basin; the others were Able in 1951 and Alma in 1970. It marked the earliest date for the season's second hurricane to form in any Atlantic season on record, and it was the earliest hurricane to hit the U.S. in recorded history.
Hurricane Three
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 24 – August 2 |
| Peak intensity |
80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 985 mbar (hPa) |
This storm formed north of the Bahamas on July 24. The storm then made a loop north of the Bahamas and became a hurricane shortly after. The storm grazed North Carolina and moved into the Atlantic. The storm dissipated on August 3.
Tropical Storm Four
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 29 – August 3 |
| Peak intensity |
60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) <990 mbar (hPa) |
The fourth tropical storm of the season had an unusual track. It formed on July 29 offshore Texas, before moving southeast into the Gulf of Mexico. It turned around and made landfall in Louisiana, dropping 19.62 inches (498 mm) at Franklin, Louisiana between July 26 and August 2.[4] It dissipated in Tennessee on August 3.
Tropical Storm Five
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 30 – August 2 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) |
This storm formed off of the Carolinas. The storm moved west and then northeast, grazing the coast of North Carolina. It headed out to sea and dissipated.
Hurricane Six
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 7 – September 18 |
| Peak intensity |
120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min) |
The sixth and strongest storm of the season was a Category 3 in mid-September that moved across the central Bahamas and turned out to sea.
Tropical Storm Seven
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 16 – September 18 |
| Peak intensity |
70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) |
Tropical Storm Seven formed in the middle of The Gulf of Mexico on September 16. It dissipated on September 18 off shore of Louisiana.
Hurricane Eight
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 21 – October 7 |
| Peak intensity |
110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min) <971 mbar (hPa) |
1908's eighth storm was a Category 2 hurricane in late September and early October that crossed the Lesser Antilles, moved over Hispaniola and eastern Cuba, and crossed over the Bahamas before turning northeast. It then made a loop and became extratropical on October 7. It caused extensive damage to the Greater Antilles.
Hurricane Nine
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 14 – October 19 |
| Peak intensity |
105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) |
In mid-October, the ninth storm of the season, a Category 2 hurricane, struck Nicaragua. Because it moved slowly, very heavy rainfall fell in its path, although there is no known damage or deaths from the hurricane itself.
Tropical Storm Ten
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 20 – October 23 |
| Peak intensity |
40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) |
This storm formed off of the Carolinas on October 19. It stayed out in the Atlantic until it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone and made landfall in South Carolina shortly before dissipating.
See also
References
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External links
