1944 Cuba–Florida hurricane
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Formed | October 12, 1944 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 20, 1944 |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 937 mbar (hPa); 27.67 inHg |
| Fatalities | 318 direct |
| Damage | $10 million (1944 USD) |
| Areas affected | Swan Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, Carolinas, Virginia |
| Part of the 1944 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The 1944 Cuba–Florida hurricane (also known as the Pinar del Río Hurricane of 1944 and 1944 Havana Hurricane) was a large, intense Category 4 hurricane that affected western Cuba and Florida. The eleventh tropical cyclone, seventh hurricane, and third major hurricane of the season developed over the southern Caribbean Sea on October 12. It intensified to a hurricane on October 13, attained its peak on October 17, and struck Pinar del Río with gusts in excess of 160 mph (260 km/h). The hurricane accelerated, and it struck southwest Florida near Sarasota on October 19. It diminished to a tropical storm, briefly exited over water off southeast Georgia, and moved inland near Savannah on October 20. It became extratropical over southeastern Virginia on October 21. The late-season October storm was eventually responsible for very heavy rains, a wide swath of destruction, and over 300 deaths, especially in rural areas of Cuba.
On the late afternoon of October 12, an area of disturbed weather organized to a tropical storm 190 miles (310 km) east of Cape Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. It was originally detected by the motorship Silver Arrow, while rough seas were reported near the Swan Islands. The tropical storm moved slowly northward, and it quickly attained hurricane intensity. On October 13, heavy rainfall was reported through the afternoon at Grand Cayman, with sustained winds near 25 mph (40 km/h). The hurricane gradually intensified, and its forward motion slowed to a near stall 60 miles (100 km) southeast of George Town, Grand Cayman on October 14. As the hurricane began to drift westward, conditions grew more severe on the Swan Islands, although maximum gusts remained below 60 mph (95 km/h). On October 16, the hurricane strengthened to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph (160 km/h). Grand Cayman remained north of the center, though the island recorded gusts near 118 mph (190 km/h) on October 15.
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