Hurricane Dog (1950)

Hurricane Dog was the most intense hurricane in the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season. The fourth named storm of the season, Dog developed on August 30 to the east of Antigua, and after passing through the northern Lesser Antilles turned to the north and intensified into a Category 5 hurricane. Dog reached its peak intensity of 185 mph (295 km/h) over the open Atlantic, and after weakening passed within 200 miles (320 km) of Cape Cod before becoming extratropical on September 12.

Hurricane Dog delivered extensive damage to the Leeward Islands, and was considered the severest on record in Antigua. Many buildings were severely damaged or destroyed on the island, with thousands left homeless just weeks after Hurricane Baker caused severe damage on the island. In the United States, the hurricane caused moderate coastal damage, including damaging several boats and causing 11 offshore drownings. Strong winds caused widespread power outages across southeastern New England.

[edit] Storm history

Tropical Storm Dog was first observed as a 70 mph (120 km/h) tropical storm on August 30, when the SS Sibrodin reported gale force winds and an area of low pressure about 320 miles (515 km) east-southeast of Antigua. Its origin is unknown, though believed to be from a tropical wave that exited the coast of Africa on August 24. With high pressures to its northeast, the storm tracked west-northwestward, and attained hurricane status early on August 31. Hurricane Dog turned to the northwest on September 1, and intensified into a major hurricane that night as it passed just north of the northern Lesser Antilles.^[1] While passing near the islands, the island of Saint Martin reported a pressure of 978.7 mbar, the lowest recorded pressure in association with the hurricane.^[2]

Under weak steering currents, Hurricane Dog drifted northwestward as it steadily intensified, and on September 5 attained Category 5 status about 335 miles (535 km) north of the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. The hurricane strengthened further after turning to the north-northeast, and on September 6 Hurricane Hunters estimated peak winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) about 450 miles (720 km) south-southwest of Bermuda. At the time, reconnaissance practices were in their infancy, so it is possible the hurricane was over-estimated. Although the wind speed measurements may not be accurate, Dog was a formidable hurricane over the western Atlantic, producing wave heights of over 100 feet (30.5 m).^[1]

Hurricane Dog maintained its peak intensity for about 18 hours. A building ridge of high pressure to its north caused it to decelerate, and the hurricane steadily weakened for unknown reasons as it turned to the west; by September 9, the intensity decreased to 90 mph (145 km/h). On September 10, as it turned northward, Hurricane Dog briefly re-intensified slightly to winds of about 100 mph (160 km/h) before subsequently weakening. The hurricane passed within 200 miles (320 km) of Cape Cod on September 12, and shortly thereafter Hurricane Dog transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The extratropical remnant turned to the east and later northeast, and the system persisted losing its identity near Ireland on September 16.^[1]

[edit] Preparations

In the United States, the threat of the hurricane prompted the National Weather Bureau to issue warnings of gale force winds, high tides, and rough surf from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Maine. At least 17 naval ships were moved in preparation for the hurricane. Rhode Island state police officers warned homeowners near the coast to be ready to evacuate, if necessary. There, officials also closed several beaches and also canceled ferry travel along the state's southern waterways.^[3] By the day of the hurricane's closest approach to the United States, the National Weather Bureau issued northeast storm warnings from Cape May, New Jersey to Eastport, Maine.^[4]

[edit] Impact

Upon passing through the Lesser Antilles, Hurricane Dog produced a storm surge of 8 feet in Antigua.^[5] Winds on Antigua and Barbuda were estimated at 130 mph (210 km/h),^[1] with a gust of 144 mph (231 km/h) recorded at St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.^[6] On Antigua, where hurricane force winds were reported for 6 hours, residents considered it the most severe hurricane in history.^[1] Hurricane Dog left thousands homeless on Antigua, just weeks after Hurricane Baker caused severe damage on the island.^[7] Damage throughout the Lesser Antilles totaled $1 million (1950 USD, $8.5 million 2007 USD), primarily on Antigua and Barbuda and which included many damaged or destroyed homes, destroyed crops, blocked roads from washouts or fallen trees, and power outages across the islands. The passage of the hurricane resulted in several shipwrecks; two people drowned when their small boat capsized.^[1] The hurricane sank a boat on the island of Saint-Barthélemy, where damage amounted to $70,000 (1950 USD, $590,000 2007 USD).^[8]

In the Mid-Atlantic States, heavy amounts of precipitation were reported, leading to flash flooding in some locations. In Bel Aire, Maryland, a car drove into the swollen Gunpowder River; three in the car drowned with a fourth left injured. Additionally, two people drowned in Lexington, Virginia. Though newspaper sources attributed the rainfall to Hurricane Dog,^[4] it was not later confirmed.^[1]

The hurricane produced high tides and rough surf along the East Coast of the United States, with coastal flooding reported along some beaches in Rhode Island.^[3] The hurricane capsized or damaged several boats along the coastline, including two large vessels on Nantucket. In Marblehead, Massachusetts, the surf grounded at least 15 vessels from the harbor into a coastal causeway. Near Cape Cod, damage to fishermen assets totaled $150,000 (1950 USD, $1.3 million 2007 USD). Reportedly, tides along Nantucket were the highest levels since the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane.^[4] Hurricane Dog produced powerful wind gusts along coastal areas of New England. The winds caused widespread power outages, including a loss of power to fifteen towns on Cape Cod, hundreds of residents on Nantucket, and several other locations across the area. Additionally, winds from the hurricane destroyed two small barns and downed a few trees, some of which blocked roads.^[4] The hurricane dropped light to moderate rainfall across southeastern Massachusetts, ranging from around 1 inch (25 mm) to about 4 to 5 inches (100 to 125 mm) near Nantucket.^[9]^[10] In Provincetown, the driver of a car hit a woman, neither of whom able to see due to the rains. A man in Falmouth was paralyzed downward from the waist after encountering a wet tree limb next to a downed power line.^[4] Overall damage was fairly light, totaling about $2 million (1950 USD, $17 million 2007 USD) — a much lower total than if the hurricane had made landfall. In all, twelve people died in New England as a result of the hurricane.^[1]

[edit] Naming, records, and aftermath

During the 1950, 1951, and 1952 seasons, Atlantic hurricanes were named using the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.^[11] However, Hurricane Dog was referred as the great hurricane in the central Atlantic in newspaper reports, and its name was scarcely used.^[7] Operationally, hurricanes were not referred by name until 1952.^[12]

Hurricane Dog retains the record for longest continuous duration for a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane, although Hurricane Allen spent longer total time as a Category 5. From September 4 to the 6th, Hurricane Dog was one of three simultaneous Atlantic hurricanes, along with Charlie and Easy. This is a rare occurrence in the Atlantic Ocean, and has only happened six times since — in 1961, 1967, 1980, 1995, 1998, and 2005.^[13]

In the aftermath of the hurricane, the newspaper The Daily Gleaner started a hurricane relief fund and requested for its viewers to assist the country of Antigua. By four days after the hurricane, the fund totaled ₤171,000 (1950 GBP, $2.5 million 2007 USD). One Antigua official stated the country would appreciate voluntary assistance from outside, especially food and clothing. The primary concern on the island was in the form of transportation by land and sea.^[14] Relief aid was also sent from the United States to the affected islands.^[15]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Grady Norton (1951). Hurricanes of the 1950 Season. Weather Bureau Office. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (2006). Hurricanes and Tropical Storms in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ ^a ^b Associated Press. "Hurricane Winds, High Tides Due Along Newport Shore Tonight", The Newport Daily News, 1950-09-11. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lowell Sun. "Hurricane Misses Nantucket", 1950-09-12. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ Hurricanecity.com (2006). Antigua Hurricanes. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ International News Service. "Second Hurricane Lashes Caribbean", The Charleston Gazette, 1950-09-02. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ ^a ^b Canadian Press. "Havoc Heaped On Antigua As Storm Strikes Again", Daily Gleaner, 1950-09-02. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ Edouard Magras (2006). St-Barth Weekly. Le Journal de Saint-Barth. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ National Weather Service and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University at Albany: State University of New York (2001). 41 Tropical Cyclones producing > 4 inches of rainfall in the Northeast U.S. during the period 1950 – 2001. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ National Weather Service and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University at Albany: State University of New York (2001). Hurricane Dog Storm Track and Precipitation. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ Atlantic Tropical Weather Center (2003). Tropical cyclone naming. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ O'Neil Hendrick. "Coastal City Whipped by Hurricane", Associated Press, 1952-08-31. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ NHC Hurricane Research Division (2006-02-17). Atlantic hurricane best track. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
^ Staff Writer. "Gleaner Opens Antigua Fund", The Daily Gleaner, 1950-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ Associated Press. "Hurricane Relief Rushed", 1950-09-12. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.

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