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Researchers Reconstruct the Wind Field of the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926
Researchers at the University of Miami have reconstructed the wind field of the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, providing a more detailed picture of one of the most destructive storms in South Florida's history. The Category 4 hurricane struck just south of downtown Miami in the early morning of September 18, 1926, producing estimated winds of 145 mph and killing more than 100 people in the Miami area while leaving thousands homeless. The disaster also contributed to the collapse of Florida's 1920s land boom and affected the newly established University of Miami, although the university resumed operations and began classes in late October.
Tropical cyclone expert Brian McNoldy created six-hourly wind field maps covering the storm's approximately 11-day lifetime. Because many of the measurements available in 1926 were incomplete, the reconstruction combines historical observations with estimates of tropical-storm-force wind radii, eyewall size, storm motion, latitude, and other characteristics. John Knaff of NOAA contributed expertise in estimating tropical cyclone size. The researchers also accounted for differences between ocean and land surfaces using a historical adjustment to represent Miami's much less developed urban environment in 1926.
The resulting estimates suggest that the hurricane was unusually large as well as intense. McNoldy estimates that its integrated kinetic energy at landfall was about 170 terajoules, compared with roughly 43 terajoules for Hurricane Andrew at its 1992 South Florida landfall. The reconstruction is not currently part of NOAA's official Atlantic hurricane reanalysis, but the data could eventually be submitted for consideration in updating the historical record.
The project also illustrates how dramatically hurricane forecasting has advanced since 1926, when aircraft reconnaissance, computer modeling, and routine weather satellites were not yet available. Researchers say studying past storms can help improve understanding of hurricane impacts and inform building practices, infrastructure, and preparedness for future hurricanes.
