Poorly Known (Yet Powerful) 1947 Florida Hurricane

[MiamiensisWx]

Has anyone heard of the 1947 September Pompano Beach (or Fort Lauderdale) Hurricane that impacted southeastern Florida? It was a Cape Verde-type storm that steadily but gradually strengthened, supposedly reached Category Five status (160MPH sustained winds) in the northern Bahamas, then made a direct hit on Boca Raton in southeastern Florida. It weakened supposedly slightly before landfall, but still made landfall as a Category Four with 155MPH sustained winds, based on a one-minute sustained wind of 155MPH recorded at Hillsboro Inlet by the lighthouse by a reliable wind instrument. It then continued moving across Florida, into the Gulf of Mexico, and made a second landfall directly on New Orleans in Louisiana. The pressure at landfall was measured near Fort Lauderdale at 947 millibars. Since this was slightly away from the center of the eye at the point of landfall in Boca Raton, the lowest pressure (not recorded) was likely around 938 to 940 or to 945 millibars. At this time, southeastern Florida was still rather rural in several areas between the larger cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. To be honest, I think the storm was a Category Four at it's peak in the northern Bahamas and a high-end Category Three or low-end to middle Category Four at landfall in southeastern Florida. What do you think? Also, do you have any information on damage and other effects from this storm? I would like to know!

[brunota2003]

Yes, right here:
I'm leaving today to go to Va, will be back around the 1st, so thast where I am if anyone happens to wonder where I am...

[brunota2003]

Here is the "tracking" info on it to, I would dig up more stuff for you, but I's gotta go, later guys:

Tracking info for Unnamed hurricane
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 GMT 9/ 4/47 14.5N 20.1W 50 -999 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 9/ 4/47 14.3N 21.5W 60 -999 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 9/ 4/47 14.2N 22.8W 70 -999 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 9/ 5/47 14.1N 24.0W 75 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/ 5/47 14.0N 25.0W 75 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/ 5/47 14.0N 26.1W 80 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/ 5/47 14.0N 27.1W 80 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/ 6/47 14.1N 28.2W 80 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/ 6/47 14.2N 29.3W 80 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/ 6/47 14.3N 30.4W 85 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/ 6/47 14.3N 31.5W 85 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/ 7/47 14.3N 32.6W 85 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/ 7/47 14.2N 33.7W 85 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/ 7/47 14.0N 34.8W 85 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/ 7/47 13.7N 36.0W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/ 8/47 13.3N 37.2W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/ 8/47 12.8N 38.5W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/ 8/47 12.4N 39.8W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/ 8/47 12.1N 41.0W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/ 9/47 11.9N 42.0W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/ 9/47 11.7N 42.9W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/ 9/47 11.6N 43.8W 100 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/ 9/47 11.6N 44.8W 100 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/10/47 11.7N 45.7W 100 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/10/47 12.0N 46.7W 100 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/10/47 12.3N 47.6W 105 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/10/47 12.7N 48.6W 105 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/11/47 13.2N 49.7W 105 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/11/47 13.7N 50.5W 110 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/11/47 14.2N 51.4W 110 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/11/47 15.1N 52.9W 110 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/12/47 16.1N 54.7W 115 -999 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/12/47 17.2N 56.7W 115 -999 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/12/47 18.2N 58.6W 120 -999 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/12/47 18.9N 60.0W 120 -999 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/13/47 19.5N 61.4W 125 -999 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/13/47 20.3N 62.9W 125 -999 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/13/47 21.0N 64.3W 135 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/13/47 21.5N 65.3W 135 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/14/47 22.0N 66.2W 140 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/14/47 22.5N 67.2W 140 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/14/47 23.0N 68.2W 145 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/14/47 23.6N 69.5W 145 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/15/47 24.3N 71.1W 145 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/15/47 25.1N 72.2W 150 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/15/47 25.8N 73.3W 150 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/15/47 26.2N 74.2W 155 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/16/47 26.4N 74.9W 155 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/16/47 26.5N 75.4W 160 -999 Category 5 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/16/47 26.6N 76.0W 160 -999 Category 5 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/16/47 26.7N 76.8W 160 -999 Category 5 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/17/47 26.7N 77.6W 160 -999 Category 5 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/17/47 26.6N 78.5W 160 -999 Category 5 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/17/47 26.5N 79.5W 155 947 Category 4 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/17/47 26.3N 80.4W 150 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/18/47 26.1N 81.2W 140 -999 Category 4 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/18/47 26.1N 81.8W 100 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/18/47 26.3N 82.5W 100 -999 Category 2 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/18/47 26.9N 83.8W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/19/47 27.7N 85.6W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 9/19/47 28.9N 87.7W 90 -999 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 9/19/47 30.0N 89.7W 90 966 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 9/19/47 30.4N 91.0W 85 970 Category 1 Hurricane
0 GMT 9/20/47 30.8N 92.2W 70 984 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 9/20/47 31.6N 93.7W 40 987 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 9/20/47 32.7N 95.2W 35 994 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 9/20/47 34.1N 95.9W 30 996 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 9/21/47 35.4N 94.6W 30 997 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 9/21/47 36.4N 93.3W 25 999 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 9/21/47 37.4N 92.0W 25 1000 Tropical Depression

[Bob Peyton]

Boy, this one brought back memories. Nineteen forty seven, I was seventeen at the time and courting a beautiful girl, Jeannette. She lived in a beautiful home in an exclusive section of New Orleans and I lived on (the other side of the tracks) I was not doing too good in winning her affection. She had a long time boyfriend living one block from her home. When the hurricane hit the phone lines and power lines went down.I was going craxy with worry. As the streetcar and bus lines were also down I started walking through the flooded streets of New Orleans from on the other side of Napoleon Avenue to Esplanade Avenue across New Orleans. The stores on world famous Canal Street were flooded as I passed. Itseemes like it took me forever to get to her home but as I walked up to her back door her father (a stern old Englishman looked at me and called out, "Jeannette, you had better come see. This dam fool is out in the hurricane. He is either crazy or in love".

That did it. She found out how much I cared. Her friend Mickey who lived in the next block didn't think it important enough to check on her. I was in like the proverbial Flynn.

In October 14, 2005 we were married 55 years. This has been one of the true love stories.

Bob Peyton

[Hurricanehink]

Let's see. The 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane killed 51 people directly, and caused $110 million in damage (1947 USD, 1.041 billion 2005 USD). The hurricane is also known as the Forgotten Hurricane, as it it occurred shortly after World War II, and other powerful hurricanes that hit the area made people almost complacent about powerul hurricanes.

[Air Force Met]

one thing the 1947 hurricane is really known for is it is the worst case scenario track for New Orleans. Imagine a Katrina on THAT track.

[HURAKAN]

one thing the 1947 hurricane is really known for is it is the worst case scenario track for New Orleans. Imagine a Katrina on THAT track.

IF YOU SHIFT THE INTENSITY AT LANDFALLS, THEN IT WOULD BE A REAL CATASTROPHE.

[wxmann_91]

That's a great story Bob and a great first post.

Today that storm would more than likely cost >$100 billion in total losses whether it hit Miami as a Cat 4 or New Orleans at a Cat 4. However - the death toll that would result in switching the intensities - that is something to cringe on.

[Normandy]

Must have been a small cane to have a 160 mph winds with a pressure in the 940s.

[wxmann_91]

Must have been a small cane to have a 160 mph winds with a pressure in the 940s.

I'd take the pressure readings back in 1947 with a grain of salt.

[Scorpion]

Actually the hurricane was enormous and very slow moving, like Frances except much stronger.

[Normandy]

Actually the hurricane was enormous and very slow moving, like Frances except much stronger.

Well if thats the case the pressure should be lower.

[Ixolib]

Oh Yeah!!! This is the one my grandparents ALWAYS talked about until Camille came along. They lived in Biloxi in '47 and often talked of how long the storm lasted. Really screwed up Biloxi and was "the storm" until 1969. Of course, we all know the story that has since transpired...

[MiamiensisWx]

If you switch the intensities around and have a track similar to this 1947 storm, not only will New Orleans have it hard, but the storm will be in a position to push surge into the bays, inlets, and marshes of the northern Gulf coast (such as Mississippi and Alabama). It would also be in a position to push surge directly into the mouth of the Mississippi River and directly into the Mississippi Delta, unlike Katrina. All this, plus a large size like this storm was, and virtually all of the Gulf coast states (northwest Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) would not be spared impact from the storm. The only exception would be Texas. A storm like this would truly be catastrophic. Who agrees?

[MGC]

My father told me of the 1947 hurricane in New Orleans. He said much of the city flooded as the levee system was much worst than the current levee.......MGC

[MiamiensisWx]

Well if thats the case the pressure should be lower.

Actually, contrary to popular belief, the 1947 Fort Lauderdale (or Pompano Beach) Hurricane did not make a direct landfall on Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or even Pompano Beach. The actual eye made landfall in southeastern Palm Beach County directly on Boca Raton. No pressure readings were taken in that area, so the lowest pressure in the eye's center was likely not found. The lowest recorded pressure was taken further south in Fort Lauderdale, were 947 millibars was reported. Take in the fact that the storm was very large in size. The lowest pressure was likely closer to 940 millibars, lower than that which was recorded.

[MiamiensisWx]

Here is a map from NOAA Coastal Services Storm Tracks showing the landfall location of the September 1947 Fort Lauderdale (or Pompano Beach) Hurricane. The actual center made it's landfall in Boca Raton in the southeastern part of Palm Beach County. It is actually almost right over my house.

[Scorpion]

It was likely 115-120 kts at landfall with that 940 pressure.

[Normandy]

Well if thats the case the pressure should be lower.

Actually, contrary to popular belief, the 1947 Fort Lauderdale (or Pompano Beach) Hurricane did not make a direct landfall on Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or even Pompano Beach. The actual eye made landfall in southeastern Palm Beach County directly on Boca Raton. No pressure readings were taken in that area, so the lowest pressure in the eye's center was likely not found. The lowest recorded pressure was taken further south in Fort Lauderdale, were 947 millibars was reported. Take in the fact that the storm was very large in size. The lowest pressure was likely closer to 940 millibars, lower than that which was recorded.

I took that into account. 940 is still not low enough for a "massive" cat5. Perhaps Scorpion's estimate is about right.

[george_r_1961]

Boy, this one brought back memories. Nineteen forty seven, I was seventeen at the time and courting a beautiful girl, Jeannette. She lived in a beautiful home in an exclusive section of New Orleans and I lived on (the other side of the tracks) I was not doing too good in winning her affection. She had a long time boyfriend living one block from her home. When the hurricane hit the phone lines and power lines went down.I was going craxy with worry. As the streetcar and bus lines were also down I started walking through the flooded streets of New Orleans from on the other side of Napoleon Avenue to Esplanade Avenue across New Orleans. The stores on world famous Canal Street were flooded as I passed. Itseemes like it took me forever to get to her home but as I walked up to her back door her father (a stern old Englishman looked at me and called out, "Jeannette, you had better come see. This dam fool is out in the hurricane. He is either crazy or in love".

That did it. She found out how much I cared. Her friend Mickey who lived in the next block didn't think it important enough to check on her. I was in like the proverbial Flynn.

In October 14, 2005 we were married 55 years. This has been one of the true love stories.

Bob Peyton

What a story Bob! Congratulations on your 55 years of marriage and welcome to Storm2k!