The 1930 Atlantic hurricane season was a very inactive Atlantic hurricane season that produced just three tropical cyclones, of which two became major hurricanes. The first tropical cyclone of the season developed on August 21, while the last storm dissipated on October 21, exactly two months later. The most intense hurricane was the second hurricane of the season, more frequently known as 1930 Dominican Republic hurricane, which peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h), just short of Category 5 intensity.
Due to the lack of systems that developed, only one tropical cyclone made landfall during the season, Hurricane Two. The hurricane severely impacted areas of the Greater Antilles, particularly the Dominican Republic, before making subsequent landfalls on Cuba and the U.S. state of Florida, with lesser impacts. The estimated 2,000 to 8,000 deaths caused by the hurricane in the Dominican Republic alone would rank as one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history. No other storms affected any landmasses during the year, although Hurricane One affected a cruise ship in open waters.
Timeline [edit]
Storms [edit]
Hurricane One [edit]
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 21 – August 28 |
| Peak intensity |
125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min) 960 mbar (hPa) |
The first hurricane of the season was first noted in the Central Atlantic on August 21. Slowly intensifying, the system initially moved towards the west. On August 22,[1] a steamship in the vicinity was reported to have sustained some structural damage.[2] After attaining hurricane strength on August 24, Hurricane One curved towards the northwest. It reached Category 3 hurricane strength on August 25 with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h) as it grazed Bermuda.[3] Recurving to the northeast, a French cruise liner encountered the hurricane while it was a Category 2 hurricane. It was reported that a large wave had impacted the ship, shattering glass into the ship and injuring 40 passengers.[2] Although still a Category 2 hurricane, the system became extratropical shortly after on August 28.[3] The extratropical storm was tracked due east towards the Azores for a few days as it gradually weakened before abruptly turning to the north and dissipating.[2]
Hurricane Two [edit]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 29 – September 17 |
| Peak intensity |
155 mph (250 km/h) (1-min) 933 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Two, also known as the 1930 Dominican Republic hurricane, was the fifth deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record, severely effecting areas of the Greater Antilles and Florida. Hurricane Two developed in the open waters of the Central Atlantic on August 29. Initially moving towards the west, the storm gradually intensified, reaching hurricane strength on August 31, still east of the Lesser Antilles.[1] The next day, the hurricane entered the Caribbean Sea, passing the island of Dominica as a Category 2 hurricane. Continuing to intensify, Hurricane Two reached major hurricane strength, and, on September 3 at 1800 UTC, made landfall at its peak intensity near Santo Domingo. An offshore ship recorded winds of 150 mph (240 km/h).[4] The mountainous terrain of Hispanola rapidly weakened the storm to tropical storm strength. After moving to the west and crossing western Cuba, the system made a curve to the northeast and subsequently made another landfall near Tampa, Florida as a minimal tropical storm. Now moving northeast, the storm was able to reintensify to a secondary peak intensity of 100 mph (160 km/h) north of Bermuda. However, Hurricane Two later weakened once again and dissipated on September 17. Its remnants would later effect the Azores and Ireland.[1]
Hurricane Two ravaged the areas it passed, killing an estimated 8,000 people along its path.[5] In its initial stages, the hurricane dropped rainfall across the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.[4] In the Dominican Republic, three districts of Santo Domingo were destroyed, and half of the city was leveled by the hurricane.[6] Damages in the city were an estimated $50 illion (1930 USD).[4] Haiti experienced crop damage due to the storm.[7] After passing the Outer Banks as a reintensifying hurricane, power outages occurred across the region.[7]
Tropical Storm Three [edit]
| Tropical storm (SSHS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 18 – October 21 |
| Peak intensity |
70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 992 mbar (hPa) |
The final storm of the season developed in the Bay of Campeche on October 18 at the tail end of a frontal boundary. Although cool air advection was occurring off the United States coast, warm air around the system allowed the tropical storm to intensify. Moving to the northeast, the system reached peak intensity as a high end tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). However, an intrusion of cool advection quickly weakened the storm. By 0600 UTC on October 21, Tropical Storm Three dissipated.[1]
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