The 1923 Atlantic hurricane season featured 11 tropical cyclones, 9 of which intensified into tropical storms, the most since 1916. Four of the tropical storms intensified into hurricanes, one of which reached major hurricane intensity—Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. No tropical storms or hurricanes formed in or entered the Caribbean Sea. The first known system, a tropical depression, formed on June 19, while the last known system, a tropical storm, transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 26. Additionally, an October tropical depression was previously recognized as a tropical storm until reanalysis in 2009, while the first and third tropical storms were added to the Atlantic hurricane database that year. The sixth, seven, and eight storms as well as the October tropical depression existed simultaneously on October 16.
Four tropical cyclones made landfall in the United States during 1923, with three striking the Gulf Coast of the United States and the other hitting Massachusetts. The first of the four, which struck Louisiana in June, mostly produced excessive rainfall along the Gulf Coast and parts of the East Coast. A storm which formed in the eastern Pacific basin around October 12 struck Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane on October 16. The system caused some damage to coastal areas, especially between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Pensacola, Florida. Just two days later, a tropical storm also struck Louisiana; it caused less damage, though four people died after a ship capsized in Perdido Bay. On October 19, a cyclone struck Massachusetts, but produced mostly beneficial rainfall in New England. The fifth system and the October tropical depression caused significant impact as extratropical cyclones. The former left at least 9 deaths and about $300,000 (1923 USD) in damage in Atlantic Canada, while the latter was attributed to 2 fatalities and more than $1 million in damage along the East Coast of the United States.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 49 units, well below the 1921–1930 average of 76.6. 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 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here. __TOC__
Timeline
Systems
Tropical Storm One
Early on June 22, a broad area of low pressure was observed in the Bay of Campeche where it intensified into a tropical depression later that day. It remained at that intensity for the next three days while drifting slowly northeastward, while its pressure continued to gradually fall. By late June 25 it had begun to become better organized and move more swiftly to the north-northeast as a tropical storm. The storm clipped the southeastern Louisiana coastline and made landfall as a minimal tropical storm over extreme southern Mississippi and Alabama on June 26. The system weakened into a tropical depression while over southeastern Alabama late on June 26.
The cyclone turned in a more easterly direction under the influence of an extratropical low. On June 27, it regained tropical storm intensity as it reached the Atlantic Ocean off the Georgia–South Carolina coast. On June 28, the cyclone reached a peak intensity of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a peripheral pressure of . At this time, the extratropical low to the northwest began to affect this tropical storm more heavily, causing it to lose tropical characteristics around 00:00 UTC on June 29. Excessive rains fell in the vicinity of the cyclone and farther up the East Coast of the United States, which mostly proved beneficial, especially for cotton crops in North Carolina and South Carolina. This storm was first introduced to the Atlantic hurricane best track in a 2009 reanalysis of the season.
Hurricane Two
Around August 31, a low-pressure area formed along the tail end of a cold front extending from the Bahamas to Bermuda. Early on the following day, a tropical depression developed roughly east-southeast of Jacksonville, Florida. The depression moved slowly east-northeastward as the cold front dissipated. Late on September 3, the system intensified into a tropical storm, and the next day the cyclone passed northwest of Bermuda. Based on observations from the S.S. Evergreen City, the small storm likely reached Category 1 hurricane intensity early on September 5. The cyclone continued to strengthen, reaching Category 2 intensity on September 6 while drifting northward and then peaking with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) early the following day. On September 8, the system curved northwestward and weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. The storm then turned north-northeastward on September 9 and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone later that day. The extratropical low continued north-northeastward until dissipating over southern Newfoundland on September 10. Cape Race observed sustained winds of .
Tropical Storm Three
Early on September 7, a tropical depression developed over the far eastern Atlantic about southwest of Banjul, The Gambia. The depression moved north-northwest and intensified into a tropical storm later that day. Around 12:00 UTC on September 8, the cyclone peaked with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). The storm then curved northwestward early the next day. Late on September 10, the system weakened to a tropical depression and then dissipated at 00:00 UTC on September 11 while situated about northwest of Santo Antão in the Cabo Verde Islands. This system was not entered into the Atlantic hurricane best track until reanalysis of the season in 2009.
Hurricane Four
A low-pressure area developed into a tropical depression at 00:00 UTC on September 10, approximately northeast of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. Tracking to the northeast, the depression intensified into a tropical storm about 24 hours later. Based on observations from the S.S. Emergency Aid and S.S. City of Joseph, the cyclone strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane around 12:00 UTC on September 12. The hurricane peaked with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). Accelerating rapidly northeastward, the system transitioned into an extratropical storm early on September 13 while situated about southeast of Sydney, Nova Scotia. The extratropical low struck Newfoundland later that day and then moved eastward over the Atlantic before dissipating by September 15. In Newfoundland, Cape Race recorded a sustained wind speed of .
Hurricane Five
Late on September 24, a tropical wave developed into a tropical storm near Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas. Moving northwestward, the storm gradually intensified and crossed Acklins early the next day. Around 00:00 UTC on September 26, the system intensified into a Category 1 hurricane near Rum Cay. Several hours later, the hurricane turned northward and passed east of the northern Bahamian islands. The cyclone curved east-northeastward early on September 28, around the time that it strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. Reaching major hurricane intensity early on the following day, the storm peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). The system began weakening by September 30, falling to Category 2 status while passing northwest of Bermuda. Thereafter, the hurricane accelerated northeastward and lost tropical characteristics, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone roughly south-southeast of Sable Island on October 1. The extratropical system continued northward and struck Newfoundland late on October 2, before resuming a northeastward motion and dissipating near Greenland on October 4.
In the Bahamas, a weather station in Nassau observed sustained winds of . On September 30, a weather station on Bermuda recorded a sustained wind speed of . The hurricane caused minor damage to the electrical and telephone plant, as well as slight impact to vessels anchored at the harbor. Additionally, several buildings "of a temporary nature" lost their roofs, according to the Montreal Gazette. The remnants of the storm brought wind gusts up to to Nova Scotia. Winds toppled trees and power, telegraph, and telephone lines throughout the province, while also leaving sporadic damage to structures. Heavy rains fell over the province, including a total of in Sydney. The resultant flooding inundated low-lying areas of the city with up to of water, submerging at least 40 homes and damaging bridges. Winds and floods caused significant damage to apple orchards, especially in Annapolis Valley. Damage in Nova Scotia alone exceeded $300,000. On Prince Edward Island, the storm damaged or destroyed 23 bridges, while winds toppled trees and knocked out communications. Winds caused mostly minor damage in Newfoundland, though rainfall washed out several roads and swept away many small bridges in the vicinity of Conception Bay. Nine deaths occurred in Newfoundland.
Hurricane Six
A tropical wave developed into a tropical storm in the eastern Pacific basin by October 12. Initially located about southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador, the cyclone moved north-northwestward and made landfall near Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, early on the following day. The storm quickly weakened to a tropical depression later on October 13, but remained a tropical cyclone while crossing Mexico and reached the Gulf of Mexico on October 14. At the time, it was the third tropical storm to cross from the eastern Pacific basin to the Atlantic basin; it is one of only five to have done so in recorded history. Curving northeastward, the system soon re-strengthened into a tropical storm. Late on October 15, the storm reached hurricane intensity and peaked with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) early the next day. Around 06:00 UTC, the hurricane made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, at the same intensity. The system weakened to a tropical storm about six hours later. Now moving quickly north-northwestward, the storm fell to tropical depression status on October 17 and dissipated over Missouri shortly thereafter.
The storm left little impact in Mexico. Storm surge and abnormally high tides were reported in all ports along the coast of Louisiana. Several washouts occurred along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in New Orleans and eastward, causing a suspension of service. At Lake Pontchartrain, tides partially flooded Milneburg and Spanish Fort. Mississippi experienced the highest storm surge, which peaked at approximately above mean low tide at Gulfport. Along the coast of the state, the storm surge and tides capsized rowboats and small launches and destroyed small piers. The Mississippi and Gulf Coast Traction Company reported about $35,000 in damage to its railroads. In Alabama, an observation site in Mobile recorded wind gusts up to . Storm surge and abnormally high tides inundated low-lying coastal areas of the state, with of water on the beachfront road in Bayou La Batre. Seafood factory buildings suffered minor damage. The storm generated wind gusts up to in Pensacola, Florida. There, winds downed trees, telegraph, and electrical wires, and deroofed some homes, mainly those without fastened roofs.
Mid-October tropical depression