Meteorological history 1919 Florida Keys hurricane

map plotting track , intensity of storm, according saffir–simpson scale

based on isolated observations east of lesser antilles on september 1, precursor 1919 florida keys hurricane may have been disorganized tropical wave tracked westward towards leeward islands. next day, additional observations indicated disturbance had acquired cyclonic circulation; thus, system determined have become tropical depression 12:00 utc day east of guadeloupe. gradual strengthening occurred depression tracked west-northwest, attaining tropical storm intensity @ 06:00 utc on september 3. twelve hours later, tropical cyclone clipped extreme-southwestern portion of puerto rico maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h). cyclone maintained low-end tropical storm intensity paralleled northern coast of hispaniola following day. on september 6, storm abruptly turned towards north in direction of turks , caicos before resuming more westerly trajectory day later.

at 06:00 utc on september 7, cyclone strengthened hurricane intensity north of crooked island. traversing westward across southern extents of bahamas, newly developed hurricane steadily grew in size , intensity. september 7, hurricane reached equivalent of category 2 on modern-day saffir–simpson scale , later reached major hurricane strength on september 8 shortly before crossing andros island. on september 9, storm intensified further category 4 strength before passing 30–40 mi (48–64 km) south of key west, florida in florida straits. @ 07:00 utc on september 10, hurricane made landfall on dry tortugas @ peak intensity winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) extending far 17 mi (28 km) outwards center , low barometric pressure of 927 mbar (hpa; 27.37 inhg) based on barometer observation in eye of storm. @ time, made tropical cyclone second strongest strike united states since 1851, behind 1886 indianola hurricane. after landfall, storm moved westward gulf of mexico.

from september 10 september 14, tropical cyclone traversed gulf of mexico, maintaining powerful intensity. on september 12, hurricane briefly weakened category 3 intensity before restrengthening shortly thereafter. following day, storm reached secondary peak intensity winds of 145 mph (235 km/h) , minimum pressure of 931 mbar (hpa; 27.50 inhg) on western gulf of mexico before weakening precipitously afterwards. @ 21:00 utc on september 14, hurricane made final landfall near baffin bay category 3 hurricane winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) , central pressure of 950 mbar (hpa; 28.06 inhg). upon moving ashore, storm unusually large; radius of maximum winds measured 40 mi (65 km) compared average of 21 mi (33 km) storms of similar intensities. hurricane tracked further inland, land interaction weakened cyclone, winds dropping below hurricane-force on september 15 , below tropical storm-force next day. 18:00 utc on september 16 tropical cyclone had dissipated on west texas near border between texas , mexico.