1942 Belize hurricane

The 1942 Belize hurricane was the only known hurricane to strike Belize in the month of November. The thirteenth observed tropical cyclone, eleventh tropical storm, and fourth hurricane of the 1942 Atlantic hurricane season, this storm was detected in the vicinity of Turks and Caicos Islands on November 5. Initially a tropical storm, it strengthened slowly while moving westward and then south-southwestward across the Bahamas. On November 6, the storm became a Category 1 hurricane on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Later that day, it made landfall in Cayo Romano, Camagüey Province, Cuba. Impact in Cuba and the Bahamas was limited to lower barometric pressure readings and strong winds. While crossing Cuba, the system weakened to a tropical storm early on November 7, shortly before emerging into the Caribbean Sea. The storm re-strengthened into a hurricane later that day and headed southwestward.

1942 Belize hurricane
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Surface analysis map of the hurricane on November 8
FormedNovember 5, 1942
DissipatedNovember 11, 1942
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 110 mph (175 km/h)
Lowest pressure991 mbar (hPa); 29.26 inHg
Fatalities9
Damage$4 million (1942 USD)
Areas affectedBahamas, Belize, Cuba
Part of the 1942 Atlantic hurricane season

Late on November 8, this system curved westward and intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. Six hours later, it peaked with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). Early on November 9, the storm struck Caye Caulker and northern Belize District. Rapidly weakening, the system fell to tropical storm status within 12 hours of landfall. By early on November 10, it emerged into the Bay of Campeche. The storm meandered erratically until striking the Yucatán Peninsula on November 11 and dissipating hours later. Strong winds were observed in Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Severe damage was reported in the former. About 90% of structures in San Pedro Town were destroyed, while Newtown was completely obliterated, causing its residents to relocate and establish the village of Hopkins. Trees and crops such as coconuts also suffered heavy losses. Overall, nine deaths and approximately $4 million (1942 USD) in damage were reported.[nb 1]

Meteorological history
Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

A tropical wave moved through the West Indies between November 3 and November 4.[1] The wave reached the vicinity of Turks and Caicos Islands on November 5, where it developed into a tropical storm at 0000 UTC. The storm moved north-northwestward and then westward across the southern Bahamas.[2] A ridge aloft blocked the storm's westward progress and caused it to re-curve west-southwestward on November 6.[1] The system strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane at 1200 UTC on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Around 1800 UTC on November 6, the storm made landfall on Cayo Romano in Camagüey Province with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The system quickly weakened while crossing the mountainous terrain of Cuba and fell to tropical storm intensity early on November 7, shortly before emerging into the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Later that day, the storm re-intensified into a Category 1 hurricane and continued on a southwestward path.[2]

Around midday on November 8, the storm curved westward while approaching Belize and strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. Shortly thereafter, the hurricane attained its maximum sustained wind speed of 110 mph (175 km/h);[2] this may be a conservative assessment, as it is possible the storm strengthened into a major hurricane, but there was no conclusive data.[3][nb 2] This storm was the only known hurricane to strike Belize in the month of November.[5] At about 0000 UTC on November 9, the storm struck Caye Caulker and then northern Belize District at the same intensity.[2] An observatory in Belize City recorded a barometric pressure of 991 mbar (29.3 inHg) – the lowest in association with this storm.[1][2] The storm rapidly weakened inland and fell to tropical storm intensity by 1200 UTC on November 9. It then curved northwestward, reaching the Bay of Campeche early on November 10. The storm drifted erratically to the west of the Yucatán Peninsula and eventually curved southeastward. Around 1200 UTC on November 11, the system made another landfall near Campeche, Campeche with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). Less than six hours later, the storm weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated shortly thereafter.[2]

Impact

In the Bahamas, a barometric pressure reading of 997 mbar (29.4 inHg) and force 9 sustained winds on the Beaufort scale were observed on at Georgetown on Exuma. No damage was reported in that country. Strong winds were reported in some areas of Cuba. Cayo Paredon Grande in Camagüey Province recorded sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h), while the city of Camagüey observed wind gusts up to 46 mph (74 km/h). In Mexico, the storm struck the Gulf Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula near Campeche, Campeche, where wind gust of force 9 on the Beaufort scare were observed.[1] In Quintana Roo, damaged vegetation fueled a large forest fire.[6]

Although the storm's intensity was equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, sustained winds in Belize reached only 54 mph (87 km/h). Damage from the hurricane was mainly limited to an area along the coast about 100 miles (160 km) north to south and 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 km) east to west. In San Pedro Town, about 90% of structures were destroyed.[1] Newtown was completely demolished, causing its resident to establish the city of Hopkins further south.[7] At Ambergris Caye, many houses and coconut plantations were damaged or destroyed. This forced many laborers and coconut plantation owners to seek new professions; most of them entered the fishing industry.[8] Nine deaths were reported, though the toll may have been higher, as numerous small fishing boats were beached or swept out to sea.[1] Widespread damage to vegetation and trees occurred. An assessment of damage after the storm indicated that more than 75% of the canopy species had been destroyed. Although the low bush was not badly damaged, about 25% to 50% of the pine trees were toppled. Damage on deep soils was largely from breakage while on shallow soils mostly from wind throw.[9] Tides along the coast split Caye Caulker into three separate islands and swept away "everything in its path". Overall, damage totaled approximately $4 million, with $1 million to private and public property, including buildings and dwellings. The remaining $3 million in damage was incurred to coconuts and other crops; this total possibly includes damage to the mahogany and chicle industries.[1]

See also

Notes
  1. All damage totals are in 1942 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.
  2. A major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale.[4]

References
  1. Howard C. Sumner (April 1, 1943). "North Atlantic Hurricanes and Tropical Disturbances of 1942" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Washington, D.C.: American Meteorological Society. 71 (4): 49–52. Bibcode:1943MWRv...71...49S. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1943)71<49:NAHATD>2.0.CO;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  2. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.
  3. Eberhard Gischler; Eugene A. Shinn; Wolfgang Oschmann; Jens Fiebig; Noreen A. Buster (2008). "A 1500-Year Holocene Caribbean Climate Archive from the Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef, Belize". Journal of Coastal Research. 24 (6): 1495–1505. doi:10.2112/07-0891.1.
  4. Stan Goldenberg. Subject: A3) What is a super-typhoon? What is a major hurricane ? What is an intense hurricane ?. Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  5. Ambergris Caye (San Pedro), Belize (MZAC) (Report). Caribbean Hurricane Network. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  6. Dennis F. Whigham; Ingrid Olmsted; Edgar Cabrera Cano; Alan B. Curtis (2010). Impacts of Hurricanes on the Forests of Quintana Roo, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (PDF) (Report). Cancun, Quintana Roo: Reserva Ecológica El Eden. p. 208. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  7. Carol O'Donnell; Vivien Lougheed (February 1, 2003). Adventure Guide to Belize. Edison, New Jersey: Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 333. ISBN 1588432890. Retrieved January 11, 2014. hopkins belize newtown hurricane.
  8. History of Ambergris Caye and Ramon's Village Resort (Report). Ambergris Caye, Belize: Ramon's Village Resort. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  9. Jon Friesner (April 1993). Hurricanes and the Forests Of Belize (PDF). Forest Department of Belize (Report). Belmopan, Belize: Biological-Diversity.Info. p. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
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