The Great Nassau hurricane, also called the second San Liborio hurricane, was a powerful Atlantic hurricane that caused catastrophic damage and tremendous casualties in the Lucayan Archipelago, particularly in and near the Bahamian capital Nassau, as well as additional fatalities and damages from the Greater Antilles to the Southeastern United States. The first named storm and hurricane of the busy 1926 Atlantic hurricane season, it developed a short distance east of the Lesser Antilles on July 22, becoming a hurricane the following day. On July 24 it struck southwestern Puerto Rico as a moderate hurricane, then weakened as it traced the northeastern coast of Hispaniola. As it neared the Turks and Caicos Islands, on July 25, it began to re-intensify, and when it reached the Bahamas a day later, it was a potent hurricane with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h), equal to Category 4 on the present-day Saffir–Simpson scale, and the strongest observed in the month of July until 2005. After passing over or near Nassau, the cyclone began to lose intensity, and on July 28 impacted the First Coast of Florida with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). Once inland, the storm quickly degenerated over the Southeastern United States, and became extratropical on July 31; it dissipated near the Great Lakes region a couple of days later.
The hurricane was at its deadliest and most destructive in the Caribbean and Bahamas, claiming as many as 455 lives there, though some estimates of the dead were higher. Heavy rainfall in Puerto Rico led to flash flooding that exacted a toll of 25 lives and $5 million in losses. Similar phenomena, along with shipwrecks, in the Dominican Republic killed 162 people and induced a loss of $3 million. The worst to impact New Providence and the city of Nassau since 1866, the cyclone ravaged the Bahaman archipelago, destroying roughly 20% of the sponging fleet there, flattening entire communities on many of the islands, and causing as many as 400 fatalities. The impacts were so severe that many Bahamians were temporarily forced to migrate to the United States. Damage from the Miami and Havana–Bermuda hurricanes subsequently compounded recovery, adding over a hundred additional casualties. In the United States, particularly Florida, the storm caused comparatively modest damage, mainly to coastal structures, though heavy rainfall and tornadoes also attended the storm. 10 deaths were reported in the state of Florida, though high tides and prolific rains extended farther north, along the Southeastern coastline. In all, the storm killed at least 464 people—unofficially up to 598—and inflicted at least $19.1 million in damages.
Meteorological history
At 06:00 UTC on July 22, the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) initialized a weak tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), 200 miles (320 kilometres) east of Barbados, an outpost of the Windward Islands. Operationally, the cyclone was first noted 190 mi (305 km) farther northwest, near , on the same date. Quickly strengthening, the cyclone headed generally west-northwestward, crossing the northern tip of Martinique. Entering the eastern Caribbean early on July 23, it became a minimal hurricane six hours later, and gradually intensified to its first peak of 105 mph (165 km/h) by 18:00 UTC. As it did so, the cyclone began turning northwestward, toward coastal southwestern Puerto Rico, and made landfall over present-day Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge early on July 24. At the time, it was equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.
Over the next day, the cyclone crossed the Mona Passage and skirted the coastal northeastern Dominican Republic; in the meantime its winds decreased to 85 mph (140 km/h) due to interaction with Hispaniola. Early on July 25, however, a period of rapid deepening commenced: within 18 hours the cyclone successively attained winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or more—equivalent to a major hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale—and then 130 mph (215 km/h), making it a Category 4 storm. At 00:00 UTC on July 26, the cyclone reached its estimated peak of 140 mph (220 km/h), with central pressure of about ; this made it the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in the month of July until Hurricanes Dennis and Emily in 2005.
During its peak the cyclone tore through the Bahamas as a potent hurricane, though few meteorological observations were available near the storm's eye. Largely maintaining its force, the storm passed near or over the Bahamian capital Nassau. After passing New Providence, the cyclone began to gradually weaken and its forward speed decreased. As it did so, the western flank of the Azores High—a seasonal ridge of high atmospheric pressure—eroded, allowing a northward shift. By 06:00 UTC on July 27 the cyclone lost major-hurricane status and turned north-northwestward, nearing coastal eastern Florida. Sideswiping the Indian River, the storm continued to gradually weaken, and made landfall near New Smyrna at 10:00 UTC on July 28. At the time, the storm featured a smaller-than-average eye size and a central pressure near , both of which suggested winds of 105 mph (165 km/h).
After landfall, the storm quickly weakened and resumed a northwestward course. Eight hours after moving inland, it shed hurricane status. A day later, after crossing Georgia, the cyclone degenerated into a tropical depression and headed westward over Alabama. Late on July 30, the depression began curving northward over Mississippi, and spent nearly three additional days heading northeastward. The system traversed the Mississippi and Ohio valleys before encountering the Great Lakes region. It became extratropical early on August 1 and dissipated over southern Ontario a day and a half later.
Preparations On July 23 the United States Weather Bureau cautioned mariners in the eastern Caribbean, and later that day issued hurricane warnings for vessels at sea, southeast of Puerto Rico. On July 24 the agency apprised Caribbean-bound ships of winds, notifying areas south of 25°N. At 02:00 UTC on July 25 the Weather Bureau issued a tropical storm warning from Jupiter Inlet to Key West, Florida; this was raised to a hurricane warning the next day. Residents of Nassau began securing their properties, but warnings did not reach Family Islanders—residents of the Out Islands, the majority of the Bahaman archipelago—or seafarers. As the hurricane neared South Florida, the Miami-area crew of the cruising yacht Cinnabar sought shelter in the Bimini Islands during an excursion there. p. 11 Vessels off Florida remained on standby, while others idled in port. On July 27 the Weather Bureau extended the hurricane warning north to Jacksonville, Florida, and to Charleston, South Carolina, a day later. Most residents of the Sea Islands evacuated inland, p. 7 including hundreds from St. Simons, Georgia. p. 2 Watercraft headed for safety. Brunswick launched flares to alert mariners. Part 2
Impact Impacts by regionRegionDeathsInjuriesLocaleDeathsInjuriesDamagesSourceCaribbean and Bahamas445–55+? Bahamas 258–68+ Dominican Republic 162 Puerto Rico 25 United States11? Florida 10 Georgia 1 Total456–66+?
Eastern Caribbean Sea The schooner Schwabbe grounded on Saint Kitts, along with several lighters, a few of which were ripped apart. Communication lines on the island were slightly damaged. In Puerto Rico, where the storm was dubbed the second San Liborio hurricane, the Weather Bureau office in San Juan measured peak winds of , rainfall of , and a minimum atmospheric pressure of . Rainfall from the storm in Puerto Rico peaked at , in Río Grande. All the rivers in the south of Puerto Rico, including the Arecibo, Guacio, Loíza, Bayamón, La Plata, Yauco, Peñuelas, and Manatí, overflowed their banks.
Floods wrecked many small homes. The coffee crop received a 30% loss. Losses in Puerto Rico totaled $5 million, and 25 fatalities were recorded. A study concluded that, due to the level of wind damage (equal to F2 on the modern Fujita scale), estimated wind gusts peaked at 113–157 mph (182–253 km/h) in Puerto Rico, suggesting Category 2 sustained winds there. In the Dominican Republic the storm inflicted $3 million in losses, mainly due to flash flooding, as heavy rains caused watercourses to overtop their banks. Bridges were swept away, warehouses swamped, and ships damaged. At Santo Domingo rescuers located at least 59 dead by July 29. At Macoris Harbor violent seas sank several barges and a tugboat. A few boats were lost at sea with 100 aboard. Winds tore off the roof of the custom house as well. Three schooners capsized off Saona Island, near southeastern Hispaniola, and other vessels stranded elsewhere. Additionally, three crew members aboard the Peceful were swept overboard and drowned.
The Bahamas As of August 1, reports suggested that the storm killed more than 150 people in the Bahamas, while 400 others in the crown colony were unaccounted for, 350 of whom were believed to have been lost at sea. Final estimates of the death toll in the Bahamas ranged as high as 400, though official counts ranged from 258 to 68. Nearly 100 vessels in the Bahamas were wrecked at sea, including 80 of the 400 vessels in the Bahamian sponge fleet, along with 60 watercraft in Nassau Harbour. In all the storm destroyed three-fourths of all shipping in the islands. The cumulative effects of this storm, the Miami hurricane, and the Havana–Bermuda hurricane created a food shortage and led to out-migration of sponge fishermen to Tarpon Springs, Florida. Many other Bahamians either flocked to Nassau seeking work or sought temporary refuge with relatives in Florida. The storms of 1926 proved deadlier than all other Bahamian cyclones put together from 1927 to 2008.
Out Islands On the Abaco Islands the cyclone destroyed all seawalls and wharves, homes in reach of which were washed out as well. Most settlements were inundated with or more of seawater, and main thoroughfares were blocked for many days by fallen trees. Fruit crops such as mangos, oranges, sapodillas, pears, and grapefruit incurred major damage. At Cherokee Sound seven men were killed on land, in addition to several other fatalities at sea. One death and losses in excess of £2,000 were reported from Marsh Harbour, where all trees, a schoolhouse, three churches, and numerous dwellings were downed. The majority of three-masted schooners in the vicinity were ruined. Three fishing smacks from Cherokee Sound were destroyed as well, resulting in five drownings. A fourth schooner also wrecked on the western part of Great Abaco. The storm also destroyed many homes at Hope Town.