Coastal Georgia & NE FL, interesting cane history 1890's

[Emmett_Brown]

Here is a great read if you are a resident of NE FL or coastal GA. I am a resident of NE FL, and had no idea that this area and especially the GA coast was so active in the 1890's... apparently several major cane hits during that time. This is a sobering thought for those that consider this region "cane proof". Read this... especially the late 1800's section.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/history/index.html

[SouthFloridawx]

I find it very interesting reading about these old storms and the reports from people there. Eventhough technology wasn't advanced they were able to measure windspeed and air pressure. IMO eventhough we have satelite technology the damage affect is something we will never be able to control. No matter how much preparation we do the wind and surge will do it's damage. The only thing we can greatly limit is the death toll. I'm going to keep reading this... thanks for this link.

Year: 1893

Date(s): 27-28 August

Principle Affected Area(s): Upper Georgia - Major hurricane

Upper Georgia coastal waters - Major hurricane

Lower Georgia - hurricane

Lower Georgia coastal waters - Major hurricane

North Florida - hurricane

North Florida coastal waters - Major hurricane

Landfall Point(s): South of Tybee Island

Remarks: Partagas and Diaz Storm 6, 1893, listed by Davis.

One of the great weather related natural disasters. Up to 2,500 perished along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. Accompanied by a tremendous surge which completely submerged many of the Sea Islands. This storm was sharply recurving offshore. It passed to the east of downtown Jacksonville by 45-60 statute miles and offshore of St. Simons Island by 25-30 statute miles. Jacksonville barometer was 29.04 inches/983.4 mb, based on local station records. 9 cottages blown down at Mayport, may have destroyed the remains of the original lighthouse at Mayport. Dr. Frances Ho, estimated a central pressure of 931 mb (making it a category four storm) at landfall. Endnote The Atlantic Hurricane Re-analysis Project has indicated a Category three landfall along the upper Georgia coast with a minimum central pressure at landfall of 954 mb and a 23 nmi Radius of maximum winds. Additionally, the storm made landfall coincident with the full moon phase the moon reaching full at 3:42 am on the 27th.

Utilizing Ho’s central pressure relationship equation for this event, with the same RMW (as at Savannah) of 23 nm, an outer pressure of 1010 mb, a Jacksonville minimum pressure of 983.4 mb, and distance from downtown Jacksonville of 45 nm yields a central pressure of 943.5 mb at the storm’s closest point of approach to Jacksonville. It seems unlikely that the storm was deepening at the time of landfall as Ho’s analysis suggests, and the Re-analysis Project’s 954 mb landfall pressure and a weakening trend prior to landfall seem more reasonable. As the North Florida and Lower Georgia coastal areas were on the weaker western side of the storm it will be counted as a minimal hurricane for those areas. Damage reports from the 1893 hurricane are very similar to damage sustained in Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and it appears the 1893 event was a similar storm for those areas.

Summary: This storm will be counted as a hurricane for northeast Florida and the lower Georgia coast and a major hurricane for the upper Georgia coast and all of the coastal water areas

[Emmett_Brown]

One particularly interesting entry is the from October 2, 1898. A major hurricane that they compare to Hugo in its size and strength made landfall at Cumberland island GA, causing widespread damage.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/history/index.html

[SouthFloridawx]

One particularly interesting entry is the from October 2, 1898. A major hurricane that they compare to Hugo in its size and strength made landfall at Cumberland island GA, causing widespread damage.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/history/index.html

I didn't get that far ahead yet... LOL you spoiled it for me.

Year: 1896

Date(s): 29 September

Principle Affected Area(s): Northeast Florida - major hurricane

Upper Georgia - hurricane

Lower Georgia - hurricane

Interior North Florida - major hurricane

Northeast Florida coastal waters - hurricane

Upper Georgia coastal waters - hurricane

Lower Georgia coastal waters - hurricane

Landfall Point(s): Overland from Cedar Key

Remarks: Partagas and Diaz Storm 4, 1896, listed by Davis. Dunn and Miller identify as a major hurricane with 100 killed Endnote , but Ho does not reevaluate this event.

This accelerating and very asymmetrical storm moved inland north of Cedar Key and progressed northward across Lake City, Fl. and Jesup, Ga. The storm was moving rapidly ahead of a large Polar air outbreak and has already been identified as major in the southeast Gulf of Mexico. Period reports indicate this was a major event over land also. After the eye passed over Lake City the winds there were estimated to be 150 mph Endnote , although that value must be used with extreme caution. Tremendous destruction occurred in a 50 mile wide swath from Cedar Key to Savannah, with most of the damage occurring east of the center. The center appears to have made landfall near the mouth of the Suwannee River between 6 and 6:30 AM (Partagas brings the center onshore to early) and passed across Fort White at 7:30 AM and Lake City around 8 AM . The center was later identified at Guyton, Ga, west of Savannah, between 12:30 and 12:45 PM. This is an approximate track distance of 215 statute miles and estimating a 7 hour transit time yields a forward motion slightly in excess of 30 mph.

Maximum wind speeds at downtown Jacksonville were southeast at 70 mph (60 statute miles east of the storm center). Period accounts of the 2 October 1898 hurricane indicate the 1896 hurricane had a higher wind velocity at Darien, along the Georgia coast. Endnote Based on a best fit hurricane using the SLOSH model, a central pressure of 960 mb with a 15 nm Radius of Maximum Wind is indicated at landfall. This central pressure suggest a 115 mph from the Gulf of Mexico wind-pressure relationship (Landsea et. al. 2002). With a smaller than usual RMW for this central pressure and latitude and a rapid forward motion (30-35 mph at landfall), winds are estimated at 125 mph at landfall. landfall. A 963 mb central pressure estimated via Ho's methodology for 12Z on the 29th suggests 106 mph from the subtropical wind-pressure relationship

- 115 mph chosen due to small RMW and fast speed of motion although the hurricane is overland. Period reports of damage to structures and forested areas are consistent with this estimate, suggesting this was a major hurricane inland over northeast florida. Surface analysis suggest an outer pressure of 1014 to 1016 mb would be appropriate for this event.

Summary: This storm will be counted as a major hurricane for interior north Florida and northeast Florida and a hurricane for all of the coastal waters areas.

[SouthFloridawx]

The storm that you posted about before indicates major hurricane conditions in coastal florida and almost all of the Georgia coast and points inland that are risk to such conditions. I have been to Fernandina Beach and to think of 12 storm surge along there is quite impressive and it was probably higher points northward along the georgia coast. This is indeed a notable storm in history.

Landfall Point(s): Savannah

Remarks: Not listed by Tannehill. Dunn and Miller reported the center passed over Tybee Island. Partagas and Diaz Storm 2, 1899, not listed by Davis. A small but vicious hurricane with a maximum wind velocity of 84 mph at Tybee Island. Roofs were ripped off houses and extensive flooding occurred.

Summary: This storm will be counted as a hurricane for the upper Georgia coast.

Year: 1898

Date(s): 2 October

Principle Affected Area(s): Northeast Florida - hurricane

Upper Georgia - major hurricane

Lower Georgia - major hurricane

Northeast Florida coastal waters - major hurricane

Upper Georgia coastal waters - major hurricane

Lower Georgia coastal waters - major hurricane

Landfall Point(s): Cumberland Island

Remarks: Partagas and Diaz Storm 7, 1898, listed by Davis. A major hurricane event with landfall on central Cumberland Island. Moving on a due west course similar to “Dora” in 1964, but intensifying on landfall much like Hugo (1989). Dunn and Miller reported 179 killed in coastal Georgia Endnote . Severe impacts in Florida were restricted to the extreme northeast portion of the state. The Fernandina waterfront was heavily damaged with a possible 12' storm surge. It was reported that 4 feet of water flowed into the office of the local newspaper, The Mirror. "The water invaded every building as high as Third street.". The Cumberland Island Pilot Boat MAUD HELEN was left 20 feet high on a bluff at High Point, with a 16 foot storm surge in downtown Brunswick. This event caused the storm surge of record for most points in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. Ho re-evaluated this event as being a 945 mb storm with an RMW of 24 nmi Endnote . A subsequent re-evaluation by Sandrik and Jarvinen ( 1999 ) determined a central pressure of 938 mb and a radius of maximum winds of 18 nmi Endnote . These values were derived based on multiple SLOSH runs to determine a best fit hurricane from observed storm surge values.

Summary: This storm will be counted as a major hurricane for the entire Georgia coast as well as all of the coastal waters areas and a hurricane for Northeast Florida (though approaching major hurricane status in Fernandina). Clearly this event compares favorably to Hurricane “Hugo” of 1989.

[SouthFloridawx]

bump

[jdray]

NE Florida thru SC is very similar in surge problems as the gulf is.

Wide shallow water, being bottled up with nowhere to go.


Plus the St Johns River will flood 50 miles upstream if a storm comes in at the correct agnle.