1943 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1943 Atlantic hurricane season marked the first deliberate reconnaissance aircraft flights into tropical cyclones. The season officially lasted from June 16 to October 31, which was, at the time, considered the most likely period for tropical cyclone formation in the Atlantic Ocean. A total of ten storms from 1943 are listed in the Atlantic hurricane database, and an eleventh system that affected Florida and Georgia has been identified as a probable tropical depression. The first system of the year, dubbed the "Surprise hurricane", caused severe damage throughout Texas and Louisiana in June, partially because information about its approach was censored in the fray of World War II; the storm caused 19 deaths and $17 million in damage. A major hurricane in mid-August produced hurricane-force winds in Bermuda, and several other tropical cyclones throughout the year resulted in strong winds there. In September, a hurricane impacted the western Gulf Coast of the United States, then a tropical storm struck the Mid-Atlantic. The two storms resulted in $419,000 and $20,000 in damage, respectively; one death was attributed to the latter system. In mid-October, a strong hurricane resulted in flooding and damage to crops throughout the Caribbean; after becoming post-tropical, it contributed to moderate impacts across Nova Scotia.
Timeline
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Systems
Hurricane One
The Surprise Hurricane of 1943The 1943 Surprise hurricane was the first hurricane to be entered by a reconnaissance aircraft. An area of low pressure was first observed over the Southeastern United States and eastern Gulf of Mexico on June 23. It tracked west-northwest and, in conjunction with surface observations along the Louisiana coastline, was found to have organized into a tropical storm by 18:00 UTC on July 25 while situated about 110 mi southeast of the Mississippi Delta. The nascent cyclone rapidly intensified thereafter, attaining hurricane intensity by 18:00 UTC on June 26 and reaching its peak as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 105 mph early the following morning. The compact hurricane moved ashore the coastline of Texas near Galveston Bay at 18:00 UTC on July 7, around which time it was intercepted by the first reconnaissance aircraft to intentionally fly into a tropical cyclone. The storm weakened once inland and dissipated about 60 mi early of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex by 00:00 UTC on July 30.
In the fray of World War II, information was censored by the Federal government of the United States across the country, including reports from ships that the Weather Bureau heavily relied upon for hurricane updates. The cyclone that affected the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, therefore, was dubbed the 1943 "Surprise" hurricane. Documentation of the storm's impacts suggests it was the worst since the 1915 Galveston hurricane. The Houston, Texas Metropolitan Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 132 mph. Two utility towers over the Houston Ship Channel, built to withstand winds of roughly 120 mph, were toppled. Along the coastline near Texas City, storm surge values were surprisingly light at between 3–6 ft, but 90% of homes either suffered water damage or were completely destroyed. Rising water from Galveston Bay resulted in flooding throughout the city itself, and a three-story building was collapsed by strong winds. Rainfall across Texas and Louisiana varied, but Devers, Texas, recorded a maximum storm total of 23 in. Widespread freshwater flooding occurred in the Beaumont and Port Arthur areas. At Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, scores of air cadets and soldiers held onto the wings of airplanes to prevent them from going airborne; almost two dozen were injured in the aftermath. Offshore, the hopper dredge Galveston and tugboat Titan were capsized, leading to a total of 15 deaths. Overall, damage from the hurricane reached $17 million, 19 deaths were documented, and hundreds of people were injured. As a result of the casualties, the decision to censor information during an approaching storm was never again repeated.
Tropical Storm Two
A minimal tropical storm was first discovered about 80 mi east of Antigua and Barbuda around 12:00 UTC on August 13. It passed just north of the Caribbean Sea while on a west-northwest track, reaching peak winds of 60 mph by early on August 16. It curved northwest the following day before then turning northeast between the East Coast of the United States and Bermuda. The storm steadily lost intensity and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by 12:00 UTC on August 19, and it was last documented six hours later. In the wake of the 1943 Surprise hurricane, this was the first tropical cyclone that reconnaissance aircraft flew through and had observations reported back to the Weather Bureau during real-time operations.Hurricane Three
The third tropical cyclone of the 1943 season was noted about 265 mi east of Barbados around 06:00 UTC on August 19. Like its predecessor, the storm steered clear of the Caribbean on its west-northwest course, producing only minor squally weather across the Leeward Islands as it intensified. It became a hurricane around 00:00 UTC on August 20, intensified into the season's first major hurricane by 18:00 UTC on August 22, and further organized to attain its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph around 06:00 UTC on August 24. It curved northeast after passing within 165 mi of Bermuda, where winds peaked at 81 mph, interacting with a high-latitude cyclone to become extratropical by 00:00 UTC on August 26. The post-tropical cyclone gradually lost strength and was last noted over the far northern Atlantic.Hurricane Four
A few days after the dissipation of Hurricane Three, a new tropical storm on the cusp of hurricane intensity was identified about 630 mi southeast of Bermuda around 06:00 UTC on September 1. The system steadily strengthened as it moved erratically, attaining peak winds of 120 mph by 06:00 UTC on September 4. After passing within 120 mi of Bermuda, delivering a period of tropical storm-force winds to the island, the hurricane was directed north and then northeast by a developing area of high pressure. It brushed Nova Scotia before moving ashore the southern coastline of Newfoundland, ultimately transitioning into an extratropical cyclone by 00:00 UTC on September 10.Tropical Storm Five
The northern end of a trough developed into a tropical depression just north of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas around 00:00 UTC on September 13. It attained tropical storm intensity six hours later and attained peak winds of 50 mph by 18:00 UTC as it moved north-northeast. The cyclone lost tropical characteristics by 12:00 UTC on September 15 while positioned about 95 mi south-southeast of Nantucket and subsequently tracked across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It was last observed over the northern Atlantic on September 17. Impacts from the storm were relegated to heavy rainfall along the shores of Nantucket, "extraordinarily high tides" northeast from Cape Cod, as well as gale-force winds and 1.2 in of rainfall from the post-tropical cyclone within Nova Scotia.Hurricane Six
A circulation aloft was first documented across the western Gulf of Mexico on September 12. It became evident in surface maps three days later, marking the formation of a tropical storm by 18:00 UTC about 270 mi southeast of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The nascent cyclone tracked northwest and attained hurricane intensity on September 16 before reaching its peak as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph the following morning. Thereafter, an area of high pressure over the northern High Plains forced the system to complete a counter-clockwise loop. It turned northeast and steadily weakened before reaching the southern coastline of Louisiana as a tropical depression by 12:00 UTC on September 20.As a tropical cyclone, the system produced tropical storm-force winds along a wide stretch of the Texas coastline, peaking at 62 mph in Freeport. A tide of 4.5 ft was also recorded there. About five percent of the rice crop in Jefferson County was ruined, while buildings were damaged around Galveston. Farther east, much of southern Mississippi and Louisiana received between 5–10 in of rainfall, peaking at 19 in in Morgan City, Louisiana. The combination of heavy precipitation and backwater flooding led to 3–5 ft of inundation just south of Raceland. Levees in False Bayou came within inches of overflowing, forcing numerous families to higher grounds. Total damage along the coastline reached $419,000.
Tropical Storm Seven
A tropical wave ascended to tropical storm status by 06:00 UTC on September 28 while located about 230 mi south of Bermuda. It moved northwest and then west-northwest, steadily organizing to attain peak winds of 65 mph early on September 30. The storm then moved ashore the central coast of Maryland and was last distinguishable near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, around 00:00 UTC on October 2. Considerable damage to crops, and lesser damage to structures, was inflicted throughout the Norfolk and Cape Charles, Virginia, areas, with damage estimated at $20,000. Rainfall was generally light, peaking at 4.6 in in Diamond Springs, but did result in some street flooding. A small ship and several small boats were sunk. Atlantic City, New Jersey, reported a maximum gust of 70 mph, and only slightly weaker gusts were recorded throughout Virginia. One death was reported.Tropical Storm Eight
On the first day of October, a strong tropical storm with winds of 70 mph was observed about 620 mi southeast of Bermuda, where winds near gale-force were later observed. No further intensification occurred as the cyclone moved northwest and then curved northeast, and it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by 06:00 UTC on October 3. The system crossed Nova Scotia and Newfoundland before entering the far northern Atlantic.Hurricane Nine
Hurricane San Calixto of 1943A tropical storm was documented passing through the Windward Islands into the Caribbean Sea early on October 11. It intensified into a hurricane by 12:00 UTC the next morning, whereupon it began a curve toward the north. The cyclone passed through the Mona Passage and attained its peak a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph shortly thereafter. Passing within 180 mi of Bermuda, it produced winds around tropical storm-force there before it was last documented over the northwestern Atlantic early on October 17.
As the cyclone entered the Caribbean Sea, it produced maximum winds of 40–50 mph in Saint Lucia. Puerto Rico recorded winds near 60 mph which unroofed houses. Heavy rainfall, peaking at 17.6 in in Toro Negro, led to flooding in several communities. The combination of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and high seas resulted in severe damage to the island's coffee crop. As the hurricane passed through the western Atlantic, Bermuda recorded a period of tropical storm-force winds. The USS Lee Fox encountered the storm on its voyage and was nearly capsized. As a post-tropical cyclone, the system produced winds near 70 mph across Nova Scotia, cut electricity to Liverpool and Annapolis Valley, and disrupted telephone service in Halifax. Heavy surf washed out a 200 ft section of railway in Shelburne while some railway lines in Lockeport suffered damage. A barge was severed from a large ship in Halifax and went aground on Georges Island.