1905 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1905 Atlantic hurricane season featured five known tropical cyclones, two of which made landfall in the United States. The first system was initially observed near the Windward Islands on September 6. The last system to dissipate, the fourth storm, transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 11, while located well southeast of Newfoundland. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Between October 5 and October 10, the fourth and fifth system existed simultaneously.

1905 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	September 6, 1905
Last system dissipated	October 11, 1905
Strongest storm
Name	Four
• Maximum winds	120 mph (195 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Seasonal statistics
Total storms	5
Hurricanes	1
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	1
Total fatalities	8
Total damage	Unknown
Related article
1900–09 Pacific hurricane seasons

Of the season's five tropical cyclones, only one reached hurricane status, the fewest since 1890. Furthermore, that storm strengthened into major hurricane, which is Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[1] This storm, which was the fourth and strongest hurricane of the season, peaked at Category 3 strength with 120 mph (195 km/h) winds. It was also attributed to at least six fatalities after sending a rogue wave across the steerage of the steamer Campania. The first storm also resulted in two deaths after a schooner wrecked in Barbados.

The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 28, the lowest value since 1864. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.[1]

Timeline

Systems

Tropical Storm One

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 6 – September 8
Peak intensity	60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min)

The first storm of the season, already at tropical storm intensity, was identified on September 6 to the east of Grenada.[2] A small storm, it quickly passed through the southern Lesser Antilles early on September 7.[3] The next day, the storm weakened to a tropical depression before dissipating as a shallow but large system.[2][3] A schooner sailing from Bridgetown to Suriname encountered heavy seas just a day out of port and turned back. It was thrown onto the pierhead and wrecked. The captain and a crewman were swept overboard and drowned.[3]

Tropical Storm Two

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 11 – September 16
Peak intensity	60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min)  <1004 mbar (hPa)

HURDAT indicates that a tropical storm originated to the northeast of the Windward Islands on September 11. Steadily tracking towards the west-northwest, the storm gradually intensified, reaching its peak intensity with winds estimated at 60 mph (95 km/h) on September 13. After turning northwestward, the system slowed and began to weaken. By September 16, the storm weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated shortly thereafter.[2]

Tropical Storm Three

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 24 – September 30
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  <1000 mbar (hPa)

Based on weather reports from the Weather Bureau Office in New Orleans, Louisiana,[4] a tropical storm was first observed about 20 miles (30 km) north-northwest of Swan Island on September 24. The storm strengthened slightly before making landfall near Punta Allen, Quintana Roo around 1200 UTC on September 25. Early on the following day, the system emerged into the Gulf of Mexico and headed north-northwestward. At midday on September 26, it peaked with sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). The storm re-curved north-northeastward late on September 28, while approaching the Gulf Coast of the United States. At 1000 UTC the next day, this system made landfall in extreme southwest Vermilion Parish, Louisiana at the same intensity. The storm slowly weakened inland and dissipated over Arkansas on September 30.[2] Strong winds and rough seas were reported along the central Gulf Coast of the United States, forcing ships to remain in port.[4]

Hurricane Four

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	October 1 – October 11
Peak intensity	120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min)

On October 1, a tropical depression developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Moving slowly north-northeastward, it reached tropical storm status early on October 3. The following day, the storm curved northeastward.[2] Kingston, Jamaica recorded rainfall as the system bypassed the island.[4] Late on October 5 and early on October 6, the storm passed through the Windward Passage.[2] Eastern Cuba was affected "with some force", but damage was not significant.[4] Entering the Atlantic Ocean,[2] the system passed through the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands without causing damage.[4] While centered about halfway between Bermuda and Turks and Caicos Islands, the storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[2]

Later on October 8, it deepened to a Category 2 hurricane, while passing south of Bermuda.[2] The island experienced gale-force winds with gusts reaching hurricane force, but damage was apparently minimal.[4] Early on October 9, the storm intensified into a Category 3 hurricane and peaked with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). On October 10, it weakened to a Category 2 and then became extratropical early the next day.[2] The steamer Campania encountered the remnants of the storm and was reported to have been struck by a large rogue wave, which was described as "disastrous."[4] The ship roll and water moved across the steerage, sweeping five passengers into the ocean, they presumably drowned. At least 30 other people were injured, one of them fatally.[5] The extratropical remnants dissipated over the Labrador Sea on October 13.[2]

Tropical Storm Five

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	October 5 – October 10
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  <1003 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm was first observed in the Gulf of Mexico on October 5, while located about 105 miles (170 km) north of the Yucatán Peninsula. The storm strengthened slowly while crossing the Gulf of Mexico and peaked with sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) early on October 8. At 1700 UTC on the following day, it made landfall near Morgan City, Louisiana at the same intensity. The system quickly weakened inland and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over Mississippi on October 10. The extratropical remnants dissipated over Virginia on October 11.[2] The remnants of this storm brought heavy rains to the Eastern United States and Atlantic Canada.[3]

See also

• List of tropical cyclones
• Atlantic hurricane season

References

1. Atlantic Basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. February 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
2. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.
3. Cleveland Abbe & Frank Owen Stettson (1906). Monthly Weather Review for 1905 (PDF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
4. Jose Fernandez Partagas & Henry F. Diaz (1997). Year 1905 (PDF). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
5. "Campania's Death List Incomplete". San Francisco Call. New York City, New York: California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 15, 1905. Retrieved May 3, 2014.

External links

• Monthly Weather Review