Formed July 29, 1926 Fatalities 55-58+ Affected areas Atlantic Canada, Bermuda | Dissipated August 8, 1926 Highest winds 225 km/h | |
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Lowest pressure 968 mbar (hPa); 28.59 inHg Areas affected Bermuda, Atlantic Canada Date 29 July 1926 – 8 August 1926 Similar 1926 Miami hurricane, 1926 Louisiana hurricane, 1926 Nassau hurricane | ||
The 1926 Nova Scotia hurricane (also known as the 1926 Great August Gale) was a powerful Category 3 hurricane that struck the Canadian province of Nova Scotia in early-August 1926.
Contents
Storm history
Early on July 29, a tropical depression formed more than 1,200 mi (1,930 km) east of the Leeward Islands. Over the next few days, it moved west-northwest, becoming a tropical storm by 00:00 UTC on July 31. On August 1, the cyclone turned northwestward and began strengthening rapidly, reaching hurricane intensity by the early afternoon. The next day, it attained major hurricane intensity—winds of at least 115 mph (185 km/h), equivalent to the modern-day classification of Category 3 intensity—and over the next few days its track varied between north-northwest and northwest. Early on August 5, it reached a peak intensity of 120 mph (190 km/h), based on the pressure–wind relationship. It curved to the north and weakened, then passed about 80 mi (129 km) west of Bermuda on August 6. A few days later, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone and then struck near Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, with winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a central pressure at or below 1,000 mb (29.5 inHg).
Preparations
Shipping ahead of the hurricane received repeated warnings broadcast by both American and Canadian weather officials. However, the majority of fishing vessels in Atlantic Canada in this period did not have radios, leaving the large fishing fleet on the offshore banks unaware of the approaching disaster.
Impact
The hurricane was devastating in Atlantic Canada as the storm caused tremendous damage and at least 55 deaths, most of which were at sea. The hurricane's impact was one of the worst for Atlantic Canada in over a half a century.
Atlantic Canada
Several ships recorded hurricane-force winds and pressures as low as 968 mb (28.59 inHg), though none entered the eye of the hurricane and sampled the lowest pressure in the storm. The system produced winds of 54 mph (87 km/h) on Bermuda as it passed very close to that island. About this time, five ocean liners near each other encountered the storm; some portholes on the Orca were damaged and 15 passengers were treated for cuts, bruises, and contusions. Off Nova Scotia, the cyclone produced an unspecified number of casualties, including the sinking of the schooners Sylvia Mosher and Sadie Knickle. Between 55 and 58 deaths occurred, including 49 from two ships crashing ashore Sable Island. In Nova Scotia, the storm downed trees and electrical poles, damaging some homes and leaving telephone service outages. Crops and fruit trees were also damaged. High winds also interrupted telegraph communications in Newfoundland.