The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900

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The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900

A Difficult Prediction

This map shows the approximate path of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Click image for larger view and full description.

 

U.S. Weather Bureau forecasters were aware of the Galveston hurricane as early as August 30. By the time the storm passed over Cuba (September 4) and reached a position just northwest of Key West (September 6), forecasters were convinced the storm would continue to track to the northeast. But, once in the Gulf of Mexico, the system began to strengthen and veer westward – on a collision course with the Texas coast. Since wireless ship-to-shore communications were not yet available, there was no way to know just when and where the hurricane would strike.

 

While the usual signs associated with the approach of a hurricane were still not in evidence, Galveston Weather Station Chief Isaac M. Cline was becoming increasingly suspicious of the weather. On September 7, Cline ordered hurricane warning flags to be flown.

 

In a special report on the hurricane, published in the Monthly Weather Review, Cline later noted:

 

“A heavy swell from the southeast made its appearance in the Gulf of Mexico during the afternoon of the 7th. The swell continued during the night without diminishing, and the tide rose to an unusual height when it is considered that the wind was from the north and northwest…” http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazine/galv_hurricane/welcome.html#

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I've read a book on this storm, very interesting at how little people knew about how storms could impact these "new" areas.