1940 Atlantic hurricane season
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox tropical cyclone season The 1940 Atlantic hurricane season was a generally average period of tropical cyclogenesis in 1940.<ref group="nb">An average season, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has twelve tropical storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref></ref> Though the season had no official bounds, most tropical cyclone activity occurred during August and September. Throughout the year, fourteen tropical cyclones formed, of which nine reached tropical storm intensity; six were hurricanes. None of the hurricanes reached major hurricane intensity. Tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. As a result of a reanalysis project which analyzed the season in 2012, an additional hurricane was added to HURDAT.<ref group="nb">HURDAT is an official database listing the locations and intensities of Atlantic hurricanes since 1851.</ref> The year's first tropical storm formed on May 19 off the northern coast of Hispaniola. At the time, this was a rare occurrence, as only four other tropical disturbances were known to have formed prior during this period;<ref name=mwr /> since then, reanalysis of previous seasons has concluded that there were more than four tropical cyclones in May before 1940.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The season's final system was a tropical disturbance situated in the Greater Antilles, which dissipated on November 8.
All three hurricanes in August brought flooding rainfall to areas of the United States. The first became the wettest tropical cyclone recorded in Louisiana history. The second hurricane impacted regions of the Southeastern United States, producing record precipitation and killing at least 52 people. Despite not making landfall, the third hurricane in August interacted with a stationary front over the Mid-Atlantic states, resulting in localized flooding and thus making the tropical cyclone the wettest in New Jersey history. This hurricane would also be the strongest in the hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of 961 mbar (hPa; 28.39 inHg), making it a high-end Category 2 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Activity decreased in September, though a damaging hurricane swept through areas of the Canadian Maritimes, resulting in large crop and infrastructural losses. Two tropical cyclones of at least tropical storm strength were recorded in October, though neither resulted in fatalities. Collectively, storms in the hurricane season caused 71 fatalities and $29.329 million in damages.<ref group="nb">All damage totals are in 1940 United States dollars unless otherwise noted.</ref> The 1940 South Carolina hurricane, which swept through areas of the Southeastern United States in August, was the most damaging and deadly of the tropical cyclones.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 68 units,<ref name="ACE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> below the 1931–1943 average of 91.2.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of Template:Convert, which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.<ref name="ACE"/>
Timeline
ImageSize = width:800 height:173.6 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:80 right:20 left:20 Legend = columns:3 left:30 top:58 columnwidth:270 AlignBars = early
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/05/1940 till:01/12/1940 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMinor = grid:black unit:month increment:1 start:01/06/1940
Colors =
id:canvas value:gray(0.88) id:GP value:red id:TD value:rgb(0.43,0.76,0.92) legend:Tropical_Depression_=_≤38_mph_(≤62_km/h) id:TS value:rgb(0.3,1,1) legend:Tropical_Storm_=_39–73_mph_(63–117_km/h) id:C1 value:rgb(1,1,0.85) legend:Category_1_=_74–95_mph_(118–153_km/h) id:C2 value:rgb(1,0.85,0.55) legend:Category_2_=_96–110_mph_(154–177_km/h) id:C3 value:rgb(1,0.62,0.35) legend:Category_3_=_111–129_mph_(178–208_km/h) id:C4 value:rgb(1,0.45,0.54) legend:Category_4_=_130–156_mph_(209–251_km/h) id:C5 value:rgb(0.55,0.46,0.90) legend:Category_5_=_≥157_mph_(≥252_km/h)
Backgroundcolors = canvas:canvas
BarData =
barset:Hurricane bar:Month
PlotData=
barset:Hurricane width:10 align:left fontsize:S shift:(4,-4) anchor:till from:19/05/1940 till:25/05/1940 color:TS text:"One (TS)" from:03/08/1940 till:10/08/1940 color:C2 text:"Two (C2)" from:05/08/1940 till:14/08/1940 color:C2 text:"Three (C2)" from:26/08/1940 till:02/09/1940 color:C2 text:"Four (C2)" from:02/09/1940 till:07/09/1940 color:TD text:"TD" from:07/09/1940 till:17/09/1940 color:C2 text:"Five (C2)" barset:break from:10/09/1940 till:13/09/1940 color:TD text:"TD" from:18/09/1940 till:28/09/1940 color:TS text:"Six (TS)" from:22/09/1940 till:28/09/1940 color:C2 text:"Seven (C2)" from:09/10/1940 till:10/10/1940 color:TD text:"TD" from:14/10/1940 till:14/10/1940 color:TD text:"TD" from:20/10/1940 till:24/10/1940 color:C1 text:"Eight (C1)" barset:break from:24/10/1940 till:26/10/1940 color:TS text:"Nine (TS)" from:07/11/1940 till:08/11/1940 color:TD text:"TD"
bar:Month width:15 align:center fontsize:S shift:(0,-20) anchor:middle color:canvas from:01/05/1940 till:01/06/1940 text:May from:01/06/1940 till:01/07/1940 text:June from:01/07/1940 till:01/08/1940 text:July from:01/08/1940 till:01/09/1940 text:August from:01/09/1940 till:01/10/1940 text:September from:01/10/1940 till:01/11/1940 text:October from:01/11/1940 till:01/12/1940 text:November
TextData =
pos:(570,30) text:"(From the" pos:(617,30) text:"Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale)"</timeline>
Systems
Tropical Storm One
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small Template:See also On May 18, a weak low-pressure area was detected south of Hispaniola.<ref name=Metadata /> Moving northward, the low became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical storm at 1200 UTC on May 19,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track southeast of Turks Island.<ref name=mwr>Template:Cite journal</ref> At the time, ship observations indicated that the disturbance had a well-defined cyclonic circulation, with the strongest winds situated in the northern semicircle of the cyclone.<ref name=mwr /> Continuing northward, the tropical storm gradually intensified and attained maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert by 0000 UTC on May 22.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The Belgian ship M.S. Lubrafol recorded a peripheral barometric pressure of 996 mbar (hPa; 29.42 inHg); this was the lowest pressure measured in connection with the storm.<ref name=mwr /><ref name=Metadata /> The following day, the tropical storm temporarily curved towards the east-southeast before recurving back towards a northeast direction.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track<ref name=mwr /> At the same time, the storm expanded in size and began to transition into an extratropical cyclone.<ref name=Metadata /> By 1200 UTC, the cyclone completed its extratropical transition,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track due to the entrainment of colder air.<ref name=Metadata /> The remnant system persisted until 0600 UTC on May 27.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Hurricane Two
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small The 1940 Louisiana Hurricane {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} On August 3, an extratropical cyclone developed into a tropical depression off the west coast of Florida.<ref name=mwr />Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Initially a weak disturbance, it moved generally westward, slowly gaining in intensity. Early on August 4, the depression attained tropical storm intensity.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Ships in the vicinity of the storm reported a much stronger tropical cyclone than initially suggested.<ref name=Metadata /> After reaching hurricane strength on August 5 south of the Mississippi River Delta, the storm strengthened further into a modern-day Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert at 0600 UTC on August 7. The hurricane moved ashore near Sabine Pass, Texas later that day at peak strength.<ref name=Metadata /> Once inland, the storm executed a sharp curve to the north and quickly weakened, degenerating into a tropical storm on August 8 before dissipating over Arkansas on August 10.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Reports of a potentially destructive hurricane near the United States Gulf Coast forced thousands of residents in low-lying areas to evacuate prior to the storm moving inland.<ref name=90MPH>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Flee>Template:Cite news</ref> Offshore, the hurricane generated rough seas and a strong storm surge, peaking at Template:Convert on the western edge of Lake Pontchartrain.<ref name="Louisiana Hurricanes">Template:Cite book</ref> The anomalously high tides flooded many of Louisiana's outlying islands, inundating resorts. Strong winds caused moderate infrastructural damage, primarily in Texas, though its impact was mainly to communication networks along the U.S. Gulf Coast which were disrupted by the winds. However, much of the property and crop damage wrought by the hurricane was due to the torrential rainfall it produced in low-lying areas, setting off record floods. Rainfall peaked at Template:Convert in Miller Island off Louisiana, making it the wettest tropical cyclone in state history. Nineteen official weather stations in both Texas and Louisiana observed record 24-hour rainfall totals for the month of August as a result of the slow-moving hurricane.<ref name="Louisiana Hurricanes" /><ref name="Texas Hurricanes">Template:Cite book</ref> Property, livestock, and crops – especially cotton, corn, and pecan crops – were heavily damaged. Entire ecosystems were also altered by the rainfall.<ref name=TheCajunsHurricanes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Overall, the storm caused $10.75 million in damages and seven fatalities.<ref name="Louisiana Hurricanes" /><ref name="Texas Hurricanes" />
Hurricane Three
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small
The 1940 South Carolina Hurricane {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} A storm of potentially Cape Verde origin was detected in the Virgin Islands at 1800 UTC on August 5. Initially moving westward, the tropical storm gradually gained in intensity before making a sharp curve towards the north on August 8. The storm continued in a northerly motion before a second curvature brought it in a generally westward direction on August 9. Shortly after, the tropical storm reached hurricane intensity as a modern-day Category 1 hurricane.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The hurricane eventually made landfall at peak intensity on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina at 2030 UTC on August 11.<ref name=Metadata /> At the time, the storm had maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum central pressure of Template:Convert, equivalent to a modern-day Category 2 hurricane.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Once inland, the tropical cyclone gradually weakened,<ref name=mwr /> and recurved northeastward before dissipating over the Appalachian Mountains on August 14.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
The hurricane dropped torrential rainfall over the Southeast United States, causing unprecedented devastation in the region.<ref name=mwr /> The storm was considered the worst to impact in the region in at least 29 years.<ref name="Tannehill">Template:Cite book</ref> Precipitation peaked at Template:Convert in Idlewild, North Carolina.<ref name=SERainfall>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The heavy rainfall caused streams to greatly exceed their respective flood stages, damaging waterfront property.<ref name=VACanes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many of the deaths occurred in North Carolina, where 30 people died.<ref name=mwr /> Transportation was disrupted as a result of the debris scattered by the wind and rain. In Caldwell County alone, 90 percent of bridges were swept away.<ref name=Laurelmor>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Overall, the storm caused 50 fatalities and $13 million in damages.<ref name=mwr />
Hurricane Four
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Infobox Hurricane Small On August 26, a low-pressure area in the open Atlantic Ocean became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical cyclone. Moving slowly in a general west-northwest motion, the disturbance intensified, reaching tropical storm strength on August 28 and subsequently hurricane intensity on August 30.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The hurricane passed within Template:Convert of Cape Hatteras before recurving towards the northeast.<ref name=Metadata>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, the hurricane continued to intensify, and reached peak intensity as a modern-day Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert, though these statistical peaks were achieved at different times on September 2. Afterwards, the tropical cyclone began a weakening trend as it proceeded northward, and had degenerated into a tropical storm by the time it made its first landfall on Nova Scotia later that day.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the next day while making another landfall on New Brunswick. The extratropical remnants persisted into Quebec before merging with a larger extratropical system late on September 3.<ref name=mwr /><ref name=Metadata />
Despite not making landfall on the United States,<ref name=mwr /> the hurricane caused widespread damage.<ref name=Disease>Template:Cite news</ref> Extensive precautionary measures were undertaken across the coast, particularly in New England. The heightened precautions were due in part to fears that effects from the storm would be similar to that of a devastating hurricane which struck the region two years prior.<ref name=VeersAway>Template:Cite news</ref> Most of the damage associated with the hurricane occurred in New Jersey, where the combination of moisture from the hurricane and a stationary front produced record rainfall, peaking at Template:Convert in the town of Ewan. This would make the storm the wettest in state history.<ref name=Rainfall>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The resultant floods damaged infrastructure, mostly to road networks. Damage in the state amounted to $4 million.<ref name=Disease /> Further north in New England, strong winds were reported, though damage remained minimal.<ref name=Metadata /> Although the storm made two landfalls in Atlantic Canada, damage there too was minimal, and was limited to several boating incidents caused by strong waves.<ref name=Canada4>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Overall, the hurricane caused $4.05 million in damage, primarily due to flooding in New Jersey, and seven fatalities.<ref name=Disease />
Hurricane Five
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A tropical depression was first detected east of the Lesser Antilles on September 7,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track though at the time weather observations in the area were sparse.<ref name=mwr /><ref name=Metadata /> The disturbance gradually intensified throughout much of its early formative stages, attaining tropical storm strength on September 10; further strengthening into a hurricane north of Puerto Rico occurred two days later. Shortly thereafter, the hurricane recurved northward, and reached peak intensity the following day as a modern-day Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of at least Template:Convert.<ref name=mwr /><ref name=Metadata /> The cyclone steadily weakened thereafter before making landfall on Nova Scotia on September 17 with winds of Template:Convert.<ref name=Canada5>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Moving into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence later that day, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone. The remnant system curved eastward and passed over Newfoundland before dissipating over the Atlantic on September 19.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
While off of the United States East Coast, the hurricane caused numerous shipping incidents, most notably the stranding of the Swedish freighter Laponia off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on September 16. Two other boat incidents resulted in two deaths.<ref name=HitSteamer>Template:Cite news</ref> The hurricane also brought strong winds of tropical storm-force and snow over areas of New England. In Atlantic Canada, a strong storm surge peaking at Template:Convert above average sunk or damaged several ships and inundated cities. In New Brunswick, the waves hurt the lobster fishing industry. In Nova Scotia, strong winds disrupted telecommunication and power services. The winds also severely damaged crops.<ref name=Canada5 /> Roughly half of apple production in Annapolis Valley was lost during the storm, resulting in around $1.49 million in economic losses.<ref name=Diminishes>Template:Cite news</ref> Strong winds in New Brunswick caused moderate to severe infrastructural damage, and additional damages to crops occurred there.<ref name=Canada5 /> Overall, the hurricane caused three fatalities, with two off of the United States and one in New Brunswick.<ref name=Canada5 /><ref name=HitSteamer />
Tropical Storm Six
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small A westward moving tropical depression developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea just west of Bluefields, Nicaragua at 1200 UTC on September 18.<ref name=mwr />Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The following day, the depression intensified into a tropical storm at 0600 UTC.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The tropical storm made landfall on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua at 1400 UTC, with winds of Template:Convert.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track<ref name=Metadata /> The cyclone weakened to a tropical depression over land, but reintensified back to tropical storm strength upon entry into the Gulf of Honduras on September 20.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The cyclone's northwest motion caused it to make a second landfall near the border of Mexico and British Honduras at 0300 UTC on September 21 as a slightly stronger system with winds of Template:Convert;<ref group="nb">British Honduras, formerly a British Overseas Territory, attained its independence in 1981, becoming the country of Belize.<ref name=BH>Template:Cite news</ref> The region is referred as British Honduras in the article.</ref><ref name=Metadata /> this would be the storm's peak intensity. Over the Yucatán Peninsula, the tropical storm re-weakened, but later intensified once again once it reached the Gulf of Mexico. In the Gulf, the storm made a gradual curve northward,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track before making a final landfall near Lafayette, Louisiana at 0900 UTC on September 24 with winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert.<ref name=mwr /><ref name=Metadata /> Once inland, the tropical cyclone curved eastward and weakened before dissipating the next day, after becoming absorbed by a frontal boundary.<ref name=Metadata />
Upon making landfall, the tropical storm produced strong winds over a wide area. The strongest winds were reported by a station in San Antonio, Texas, which reported Template:Convert winds, far removed from the storm's center; these strong winds were likely due to squalls.<ref name=Metadata /> Heavy rainfall was also reported, though the rains mainly occurred to the east of the passing tropical cyclone. Precipitation peaked at Template:Convert in Ville Platte, Louisiana.<ref name=Rainfall /> The tropical storm produced three tornadoes over the Southern United States which collectively caused $39,000 in damage and caused two fatalities. Two of the tornadoes formed in Mississippi while one formed in Louisiana. Several other people were also injured by the tornadoes.<ref name="Severe September">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Hurricane Seven
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small In late September, a tropical wave persisted in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The low-pressure area later became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical storm at 0000 UTC on September 22.<ref name=Metadata />Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The disturbance quickly organized after tropical cyclogenesis, and reached a strength equivalent to a modern-day Category 1 hurricane strength at 1800 UTC later that day.<ref name=Metadata /> The American steamship Otho encountered the system that day, and reported gale-force winds in conjunction with a peripheral barometric pressure of Template:Convert.<ref name=MWRWeatherSeptember>Template:Cite journal</ref> The tropical cyclone continued to the east-northeast, where it gradually intensified. At 1200 UTC on September 23, the hurricane attained modern-day Category 2 hurricane intensity with winds of 100 mbar (155 km/h); a peak which would be maintained for at least the following 12 hours.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track A second steamship, the Lobito, reported hurricane-force winds along with a minimum pressure of Template:Convert; this would be the lowest pressure measured associated with the tropical cyclone.<ref name=MWRWeatherSeptember /> After reaching peak intensity, the hurricane began a weakening trend, and degenerated to a Category 1 hurricane at 0600 UTC as it passed over the Azores.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The following day, the hurricane recurved westward, where it weakened before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on September 28.<ref name=Metadata /> This remnant system subsequently dissipated.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
As the hurricane passed over the Azores, several weather stations reported low barometric pressures,<ref name=MWRWeatherSeptember /> with the lowest being a measurement of Template:Convert on Terceira Island at 0600 UTC on September 25.<ref name=Metadata />Template:Atlantic hurricane best track As a result of the impending storm, several Pan Am Clipper flights to the archipelago were suspended for three consecutive days.<ref name=ClippersDelayed>Template:Cite news</ref> The maximum reported gust in the Azores was an observation of Template:Convert on September 25. As a result of moving slowly over the islands, torrential rainfall was also reported. At Angra do Heroísmo, Template:Convert of precipitation was reported in a four-day, accounting for a third of the station's yearly average rainfall. Strong storm surge was reported at the same location. The waves swept boats away from the coasts of islands. Further inland, there was extensive damage to homes and crops, though no people died.<ref name=MWRWeatherSeptember /> Despite evidence that the system had distinct tropical characteristics, it was not operationally added to HURDAT.<ref name=Metadata />
Hurricane Eight
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small On October 19, a low-pressure area moved into the southwestern Caribbean Sea.<ref name=mwr /> The area of disturbed weather quickly became well-organized,<ref name=mwr /> and was analyzed to have become a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on October 20.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Initially, the tropical cyclone moved very slowly towards the west and then the northwest. Shortly after formation, the disturbance intensified into a tropical storm at 1800 UTC later that day.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The S.S. Cristobal provided the first indications of a tropical cyclone in the region, after reporting strong gusts and low pressures north of the Panama Canal Zone during that evening.<ref name=mwr /> Continuing to intensify, the storm reached hurricane intensity at 0600 UTC on October 22.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Several vessels in the storm's vicinity reported strong gusts and rough seas generated by the storm.<ref name=mwr /> Later that day at 1200 UTC, the ship S.S. Castilla reported a minimum pressure of Template:Convert near the periphery of the storm. Based on this observation, the hurricane was estimated to have reached intensity at the same time with winds of Template:Convert.<ref name=Metadata /> The hurricane subsequently curved west and then southwest, before making its only landfall in northern Nicaragua at 1900 UTC on October 23 at peak intensity. Once inland, the tropical cyclone rapidly weakened over mountainous terrain, and dissipated at 1200 UTC the following day.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Reports of damage were limited, though a report stated that considerable damage had occurred where the hurricane made landfall.<ref name=mwr />
Tropical Storm Nine
Template:Infobox Hurricane Small On October 23, an open trough was centered north of Hispaniola near the Turks and Caicos islands.<ref name=Metadata /> At 0000 UTC the following day,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track the area of disturbed weather became organized and was analyzed to have become a tropical storm southeast of Inagua, based on nearby vessel reports. Initially, the storm drifted northward, but later began to accelerate towards the northeast after a roughly 12-hour period.<ref name=mwr />Template:Atlantic hurricane best track At 0600 UTC on October 25, the disturbance slightly gained in intensity to attain maximum wind speeds of Template:Convert; these would be the strongest winds associated with the storm as a fully tropical cyclone.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track A reanalysis of the system indicated that due to a lack of definite tropical features, the storm may have had been a subtropical cyclone. On October 26, the system became increasingly asymmetric and had developed frontal boundaries,<ref name=Metadata /> allowing for it to be classified as an extratropical cyclone at 0600 UTC that day. Once transitioning into an extratropical system, the storm continued to intensified as it moved northward.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track On October 27, the system was analyzed to have a minimum pressure of at least Template:Convert after passing to the southeast of Bermuda.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track<ref name=Metadata /> At 1200 UTC later that day, the cyclone reached an extratropical peak intensity with winds of Template:Convert just east of Newfoundland. Had the storm been tropical at the time, it would have been classified as a modern-day Category 1 hurricane. Subsequently, the extratropical storm curved eastward, where it persisted before dissipating by 1800 UTC on October 29.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track
Tropical depressions
In addition to the storms which attained at least tropical storm strength in 1940, five additional tropical depressions were analyzed by the HURDAT reanalysis project to have developed during the season. Due to their weak intensity, however, they were not added to HURDAT.<ref name=Metadata /> On September 2, a closed low-pressure area was detected in the open Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda and was analyzed as a tropical depression. At the time, the disturbance had a minimum pressure of at least Template:Convert. The depression initially moved to the southeast, but later recurved towards the northwest over the next two days.<ref name=Metadata /> On September 4, the S.S. West Kebar en route for Boston, Massachusetts reported winds of Template:Convert,<ref name=Gales>Template:Cite journal</ref> which would be considered as tropical storm-force winds. The depression later moved to the northeast before it was absorbed by a stationary front on September 7. Since there was only one report that the disturbance may have reached tropical storm intensity, it was not included in HURDAT. Later on September 10, a trough was detected in a similar region in the Atlantic where the first depression formed. The trough later became sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression. The cyclone moved slowly to the east and did not further intensify before dissipating on September 13.<ref name=Metadata />
On October 7, a large elongated extratropical cyclone extended across the Atlantic Ocean with a pressure of at most Template:Convert. The following day, the low-pressure area became more narrow and well-defined, with its central pressure deepening to Template:Convert. On October 9, the extratropical system was analyzed to have become a tropical depression. The low moved slowly to the northeast and gradually weakened before dissipating on October 10. On October 14, offshore observations indicated that a tropical depression had developed north of The Bahamas. The following day, however, the depression became less defined and degenerated into a trough of low pressure. On October 16, two ships listed in the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set reported winds of Template:Convert off the coast of North Carolina. However, since these reports occurred in a higher pressure gradient, the system was not included in HURDAT.<ref name=Metadata />
On November 2, a trough of low-pressure was analyzed near the Lesser Antilles. The system moved westward into the Caribbean Sea without much organization. On November 7, the low-pressure area moved south of Cuba and became sufficiently organized to be considered a tropical depression with a pressure of at least Template:Convert. The depression moved over Cuba and into the Atlantic, where it dissipated the following day. On November 9, a second system was detected northeast of Bermuda with a pressure of Template:Convert, though it remained unclear whether the two systems were related.<ref name=Metadata />
Season effects
Template:TC stats table start3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name="Louisiana Hurricanes" /><ref name="Texas Hurricanes" /> Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name=mwr /> Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name=Disease /> Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name=Canada5 /><ref name=HitSteamer /><ref name=Diminishes/> Template:TC stats cyclone3<ref name="Severe September"/> Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3 Template:TC stats cyclone3
Template:TC stats table end3See also
- 1940 Pacific hurricane season
- 1940 Pacific typhoon season
- 1900–1950 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
- 1940s Australian region cyclone seasons
- 1940s South Pacific cyclone seasons
Notes
References
External links
Template:1940 Atlantic hurricane season buttons Template:TC Decades Template:Tropical cyclone season