1948 Miami hurricane

Hurricane Nine (Fox)

Surface weather analysis of the hurricane on October 6
Meteorological history
Formed	October 3, 1948(1948-10-03)
Dissipated	October 16, 1948(1948-10-17)
Category 3 major hurricane
1-minute sustained(SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	125 mph (205 km/h)
Lowest pressure	≤971mbar(hPa); ≤28.67inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	11 direct
Damage	$12.5 million (1948USD)
Areas affected	Cuba,Florida,Bahamas,Bermuda
IBTrACS
Part of the1948 Atlantic hurricane season

The1948 Miami hurricane(Air Weather Servicedesignation:Fox)caused no fatalities in Florida, despite moving across theMiamiarea as a hurricane.The ninth tropical storm and fifth hurricane of the1948 season,the storm developed from a largelow pressure areaover the northwesternCaribbean Seaon October 3. The storm intensified into a tropical storm early the next day and a hurricane several hours later. Fox then significantly deepened, peaking with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h) early on October 5. Around that time, Fox madelandfallin easternPinar del Río Provinceof Cuba. Fox crossed the island and emerged into the Straits of Florida. Late on October 5, the hurricane struckBahia Honda Key,Florida, with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) and two hours later, hitFlamingo.Fox emerged into the Atlantic Ocean nearFort Lauderdaleearly on October 6. The storm moved northeastward and later curved to the east-northeast. Late on October 7, Fox made landfall on Bermuda with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h). Fox weakened over the next several days and later executed a large cyclonic loop. By October 16, it became extratropical while well east-southeast of Newfoundland.

In Cuba, homes and cattle were swept away byflash flooding.Eleven deaths and about 300 injuries were attributed to the tropical cyclone. Damage in the country reached about $6 million. The storm brought strong winds to Florida, with a sustained wind speed of 122 mph (196 km/h) atNaval Air Station Key West.Heavy rainfall exceeding 9.5 in (240 mm) in Miami and three tornadoes also contributed to the damage in South Florida. Throughout the state, 674 homes were severely damaged or destroyed, while 45 other buildings were demolished. Overall, damage in Florida reached $5.5 million and there were no deaths, but 36 injuries, none of which were serious. In Bermuda, buildings were unroofed and the sides of some structures were knocked down. Electrical light wires and telephone lines were toppled across the island. Damage totaled over $1 million.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone,remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

A very large but weak and elongatedlow pressure areafirst noted over theIntertropical Convergence Zoneon October 1 developed into a tropical depression around 12:00UTCon October 3,while situated about 55 mi (89 km) southeast of theSwan Islands.The storm intensified into a tropical storm early on October 4 and was designated as Tropical Storm Fox by the Air Weather Service in real time,although the nameFoxis not included inHURDAT.Several hours later, the storm intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on theSaffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.A reconnaissance flight into the hurricane late on October 4 indicated winds near the center estimated at 90 mph (140 km/h). Early the following day, Fox became a Category 2 hurricane. At 06:00 UTC the system peaked as a Category 3 hurricane withmaximum sustained windsof 125 mph (201 km/h). About an hour later, Fox made landfall at the same intensity in easternPinar del Río ProvinceofCuba.Shortly before 12:00 UTC on October 5, the storm emerged into theStraits of Florida.Prior to reanalysis in 2014, it was thought that Fox briefly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h), but reanalysis instead revealed that the storm weakened to 125 mph (201 km/h) because the aforementioned wind speed was a gust rather than a sustained wind.

Fox weakened while moving northeastward and fell to Category 2 hurricane intensity by 18:00 UTC, at which time it made landfall onBahia Honda Key,Florida,with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h). Continuing northeastward, the hurricane struck nearFlamingoabout two hours later at the same intensity. While passing nearMiamiearly on October 6, Fox briefly weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. Shortly thereafter, it emerged into theAtlantic OceannearFort Lauderdaleand quickly re-strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane. After brushingGrand Bahamaisland, the storm continued on its northeasterly trajectory into the open sea, until curving east-northward on October 7.Around 12:00 UTC, a ship observed abarometric pressureof 971mbar(28.7inHg), the lowest in relation to the cyclone.Ten hours later, Fox made landfall onBermudawith winds of 105 mph (169 km/h). The storm fell to Category 1 early on October 8 and to tropical storm status after about 24 hours. Fox then meandered out in the central Atlantic for several days and executed a large cyclonic loop between October 11 and October 14. Fox turned northward on October 14 and began to accelerate. After curving northeastward, the storm transitioned into anextratropical cycloneearly on October 16 while located about 535 mi (861 km) east-southeast ofCape Race,Newfoundland.The remnants were absorbed by acold frontseveral hours later.

Impact

The storm brought strong winds toCuba,with a wind gust of 132 mph (212 km/h) inHavana.The city suffered considerable damage,forcing police to patrol for looters.Nearly all of the city was left without electricity.In some portions of the neighborhood ofMiramar,flooding was reported. Trees were felled ontoPaseo del Prado,a famous street in Havana.In other parts of the city, falling trees and rubble also disrupted transportation.There were heavy crop losses inHavanaandPinar Del Rioprovinces,where several rivers overflowed their banks.Homes and cattle were swept away by flash flooding.Overall, the hurricane left eleven fatalities,three of them due to houses collapsing on their occupants.Additionally, there were about 300 injuries and an estimated $6 million in damage.After the storm,Cuban PresidentRamón Grau,President-electCarlos Prío Socarrás,and Major General Genovevo Pérez Dámera – Chief of Staff of the Army – assessed damage in the Havana area and developed plans for recovery.

The Hurricane Warning Service, operated by theUnited States Weather Bureauand the predecessor to theNational Hurricane Center,issuedhurricane warningsfromFort MyerstoMiami,including theFlorida Keyson October 4. Miami Weather Bureau chiefGrady Nortonurged residents to take precautions and concentrate on further advisories.On October 5, the hurricane warning was revised to includeNaplestoJupiter.Additionally, other warnings were issued for areas surroundingLake Okeechobeedue to flooding concerns.FourU.S. Navywartimehousing project areas inKey Westwere evacuated.About 100Seminolesfled theBrighton Seminole Indian Reservation,with 95% of the property still inundated fromthe September hurricane.Two 25-car trains evacuated about 5,000 people in the Lake Okeechobee area inLake Harborand transported them toSebring.Many residents throughout South Florida boarded-up their windows and sandbagged their properties.TheAmerican Red Crossopened 143 shelters, which 21,663 people sought refuge in.

The hurricane, reminiscent ofHurricane Floydin1987,produced minimal damage in the Florida Keys.Strong winds were reported at some islands, with winds well over 100 mph (160 km/h) observed onBahia Honda Key.At theNaval Air Station Key WestonBoca Chica Key,several buildings were deroofed.The cyclone produced astorm surgeof 4.5 ft (1.4 m) onBiscayne Bay.Rainfall exceeded 9.5 in (240 mm) at the Miami airport station, inundating many streets in the city and inHialeah,Homestead,Miami Beach,Miami Springs.In Hialeah, the city mayor reported water depths of 3.5 ft (1.1 m) in the streets. A Miami bridge, located near theMiami River,was damaged by a loose barge during the hurricane. Planes were overturned and damaged by strong winds at theTamiami Airport.Electrical outages occurred in Miami as power lines snapped due to the wind. InMiami Beach,a fire that broke out during the storm severely damaged a meat market and destroyed a photo shop.Prior to landfall, the hurricane produced threetornadoes,all of which attained the equivalence of F2 intensity on the modernFujita scale.A tornado destroyed three homes in the city ofOpa-locka,where damage reached $15,000. The tornado flipped cars and inflicted extensive damage at the Royal Palm dairy farm.

Another tornado touched down just south ofPompano Beachdemolished 25 homes and left $100,000 in damage and seven injuries.Forty-four minutes later, a third tornado struck homes west of Fort Lauderdale. One building, containing two stories, lost its roof, while five homes incurred damage. Barns were damaged or destroyed. Losses reached $15,000.West Palm Beachobserved wind gusts up to 62 mph (100 km/h).The hurricane caused no fatalities across the state, which the Weather Bureau considered unusual due to the storm's path over the densely populatedMiami metropolitan area.The passage of hurricane in September, which had resulted in pre-existing damage, mitigated the destruction from the October hurricane.Overall, 36 homes were destroyed and 638 others suffered serious impact, while 45 buildings were demolished and 50 others experienced damage. Total losses in Florida reached $5.5 million, which included $3.5 million to property, $1.5 million to crops, $400,000 to electricity and communications, and $100,000 to roads.

In theBahamas,wind gusts reached 110 mph (180 km/h) onGrand Bahama.Bermuda was also impacted by the hurricane, with strong winds blowing roofs off buildings, including a portion of the roof on theHouse of Assembly of Bermuda,and the sides of some structures were knocked down. Electrical light wires and telephone lines were down across the island.Kindley Air Force Baseand the U.S. Naval Base received minimal damage. Damages exceeded $1 million.

See also

• List of Bermuda hurricanes
• List of Florida hurricanes

References

• Barnes, Jay (1998).Florida's Hurricane History.Chapel Hill Press.ISBN0-8078-2443-7.
• Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993).Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events.Environmental Films.ISBN1-879362-03-1.
• Williams, John M.; et al. (2002).Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms: Expanded Edition.University Press of Florida.ISBN0-8130-2494-3.