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The 1948 Atlantic hurricane season featured the first tropical cyclone before the month of June since 1940. The season officially began on June 15, 1948, and lasted until November 15, 1948. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. There were fifteen tropical cyclones; ten systems strengthened into a tropical storm, six storms attained hurricane status, and four storms intensified into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.|group="nb" respectively, were the most intense tropical cyclones of the season, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with a minimum barometric pressure of . The former caused eight deaths and $400,000 (1948 USD) in damage after bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rainfall to Bermuda and Atlantic Canada. In Cuba and Florida, the eighth hurricane left 13 fatalities and at least $14 million in damage. The ninth hurricane, assigned the name Fox by the Air Weather Service, brought similar impact to Cuba and Florida about two weeks later. In May, the first tropical cyclone killed 80 people from flooding in the Dominican Republic. Collectively, the storms of this season left around $28.8 million in damage and 112 fatalities.
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Season summary
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1948. However, tropical cyclogenesis began on April 15, about two months before the official start of the season. There was a total of fifteen tropical depressions, ten of which intensified into tropical storms, while six of those became hurricanes. Further, four of the six hurricanes deepened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.
The strongest storms of the season attained Category 4 intensity; two of the major hurricanes formed in the western Caribbean Sea and affected the United States in late September and October. A minimal hurricane struck southern Louisiana on September 4, causing tides of and winds of in New Orleans. A minimal tropical storm made landfall near Destin in July. An intense hurricane attained Category 4 strength and produced extensive damage and wind gusts on Bermuda in mid-September. A Category 4 hurricane struck the Florida Keys and the Everglades in September, resulting in $12 million of damages in the state. After the passage of one week, another hurricane affected the region as a Category 2 storm, after crossing Cuba with winds of . Only three direct fatalities occurred in the United States, largely because of improved evacuations and adherence to warnings and advisories.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 95. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding , which is tropical storm strength.
Systems
Tropical Storm One
A broad area of low pressure in the central Caribbean Sea developed into a tropical depression early on May 22. The circulation moved northward, and it made landfall in southwest Haiti around 1200 UTC with winds of . Over the next day, the system crossed Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands with winds unchanged. Turning to the northeast, it strengthened into a tropical storm at 1200 UTC on May 24 while over the southwest Atlantic. Shortly afterward, the tropical cyclone turned to the north. On May 25, the storm's forward motion slowed to a crawl; within a few hours, the storm attained its estimated peak intensity of , as reported by reconnaissance aircraft, though no ships reported gale-force winds. The storm ranks as the deadliest recorded Atlantic tropical cyclone to form in the off-season.
Tropical Storm Two
After nearly two months of inactivity, an area of disturbed weather developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. was first identified on August 26 about northeast of Saint John, as ship reports indicated winds of Force 9. However, it is likely that Able formed much farther east, possibly as a Cape Verde-type hurricane. The tropical cyclone quickly intensified to a hurricane, and it continued to steadily progress northwest. The storm strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane on August 27, and while turning west-northwestward it continued to intensify. The cyclone peaked as a Category 3 hurricane by 1800 UTC on August 28, which was measured by a reconnaissance aircraft flight. High tides occurred along the North Carolina coastline, which prompted evacuations and precautions in the area.
Tropical Storm Four (Baker)
On August 30, a tropical storm named Baker by the Air Weather Service in real time, was first detected about east of Barbados, by a ship that reported high easterly seas and winds of Force 10.
Hurricane Five (Charlie)
An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical storm – named Charlie by the Air Weather Service in real time – on September 1 over the western Gulf of Mexico. On the morning of September 2, the poorly defined center moved northeast, and Charlie gradually intensified. It attained hurricane intensity on September 3 and then slowly accelerated toward the upper Gulf Coast. It rapidly reached its peak intensity of , and it crossed the coastline west of Golden Meadow, Louisiana, on September 4. The center moved inland over Orleans Parish, and the weakening tropical cyclone diminished to a strong tropical storm prior to moving over southern Mississippi. Charlie continued to weaken and fell to tropical depression intensity on September 5. The remnants turned to the north, and the circulation dissipated over northwestern Indiana on September 6. The weather service also noted that abnormally high tides were expected from the Mississippi River to Pensacola, as the center was predicted to pass east of New Orleans and move to the west of Biloxi shortly before dawn. About 1,000 people left their homes in Terrebonne Parish and took shelter in a courthouse and school buildings in Houma. Offshore, oil drilling platforms and equipment were destroyed by high seas near Grand Isle.
Throughout southeastern Louisiana, beans were destroyed north of Lake Pontchartrain, while sugar cane and corn were flattened, especially in Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Charles, and Terrebonne parishes. Pecan and tung nut crops also suffered damage in southeastern Mississippi. The hurricane produced gusts of at Moisant Airport, and tides ranged from along the coast from Mississippi to the Florida panhandle. The maximum tide reached in New Orleans, and winds caused damage to small boats, trees, and power and communication lines. Total damage in the United States reached $900,000. In the former, the hurricane brought winds in excess of , downing power lines and trees. Property damage also resulted from the strong winds, totaling about $400,000. After passing west of Bermuda, the tropical cyclone tracked across numerous shipping lanes. Two ships, the Leicester and Gaspar, encountered the hurricane and became stricken in open waters. Though most people were rescued from both ships, six people perished on the former while one died on the latter. Beginning on September 15, the hurricane tracked east of Newfoundland, producing heavy rainfall on land. The precipitation flooded roads and caused streams to overflow, inundating additional areas. On the island, one person were killed. Overall, the hurricane caused eight fatalities. Ten deaths occurred and damage totaled at least $2 million, while other sources estimate "several million dollars." Throughout the state, 1,200 homes were severely damaged or destroyed, while 40 businesses were demolished and 237 suffered impact. There were three deaths and about $12 million in damage, over half of which was inflicted on crops. Throughout the state, 674 homes were severely damaged or destroyed, while 45 other buildings were demolished. Overall, damage in Florida reached $5.5 million and there were no deaths, but 36 injuries, none of which were serious.
Hurricane Ten (George)
A tropical storm developed about midway between Bermuda and Puerto Rico on November 8. Designated as George by the Air Weather Service in real time, the storm moved quickly west-northwestward. Early on November 10, George is believed to have reached hurricane intensity after reconnaissance aircraft flights recorded a small area of winds ranging from .
Other systems
In addition to the ten systems that became a tropical storm there five other tropical cyclones that failed to strengthen beyond tropical depression strength.