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How did they track hurricanes in the 1900s?

Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:39 pm
Posted by LSUmajek
Kemah
Member since Dec 2013
546 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:39 pm
Having a debate over the 1900 storm that hit Galveston….

How did the meteorologists in the 1900s know the previous track / intensity of hurricanes?




Posted by Areddishfish
The Wild West
Member since Oct 2015
6277 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:41 pm to
They didn't. That's why thousands died in this event lol
Posted by bbarras85
Member since Jul 2021
1964 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:42 pm to
They didn’t. That’s why 12,000 people died in that storm.
Posted by rmnldr
Member since Oct 2013
38220 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:43 pm to
They didn’t know and still don’t know the exact track but observations made from ships, etc, and barometer data helps.

They had very little warning. Same with the Labor Day hurricane.
Posted by bbarras85
Member since Jul 2021
1964 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:43 pm to
quote:

They didn't. That's why thousands died in this event lol
I thought I double posted.
Posted by Jones
Member since Oct 2005
90447 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:43 pm to
quote:

They didn't. That's why thousands died in this event lol



Iirc, thats not very true at all.

Cuba meteorologists had messages being sent out about the storm but the US blocked all messages from them because of politics etc.

It could have been way less of a loss
Posted by SuperSaint
Sorting Out OT BS Since '2007'
Member since Sep 2007
140462 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:44 pm to

Posted by LSUgrad04
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2006
1880 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:44 pm to
My dad, born in 47, when I asked this question, always told me that the weatherman said that there was a hurricane in the gulf. Back then, if there was a hurricane in the gulf you would prepare.

He did not elaborate as to the level of preparation however.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
75158 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:45 pm to
I’ve got patchy delays near the upslope of the high rise, all clear once you reach Louisa.

One accident at Magazine and Napoleon











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Terminix
Posted by BengalBen
Midwest
Member since May 2008
2220 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:45 pm to
Posted by HoboDickCheese
The overpass
Member since Sep 2020
9362 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:46 pm to
They guessed
Posted by PowerTool
The dark side of the road
Member since Dec 2009
21094 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:47 pm to
I need to read the book "Isaac's Storm."

I think it goes into some detail about warnings and fears that were ignored, because too many people considered it unlikely that another big storm would hit Galveston. The Texas Gulf Coast had been hit hard by hurricanes in the 1880's (I believe Florida got slammed too), but 20 years was enough time for wiseasses downtown to think it would never happen again.
Posted by loogaroo
Welsh
Member since Dec 2005
30391 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:50 pm to
All the old people along the coast had a barometer. I remember seeing this 3 dial barometer at a lot growing up.

Posted by back9Tiger
Mandeville, LA.
Member since Nov 2005
14131 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:51 pm to
You walked outside and all hell broke loose… 50/50 if you lived.
Posted by Jones
Member since Oct 2005
90447 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:51 pm to
The US sent warnings to a bunch of areas around the Gulf Coast, primarily Florida. Cuba was pretty much the go to weather people at the time and we just ignored them.

Did the book have anything on the orphanage that got hit? Pretty sad story.
Posted by back9Tiger
Mandeville, LA.
Member since Nov 2005
14131 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:51 pm to
Same, my grandparents had one of those.
Posted by TheHarahanian
Actually not Harahan as of 6/2023
Member since May 2017
19499 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:51 pm to

They tracked hurricanes from boats. That’s how they knew the track and strength. People were badass back then.
Posted by Ponchy Tiger
Ponchatoula
Member since Aug 2004
45094 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:51 pm to
quote:

Cuba meteorologists had messages being sent out about the storm but the US blocked all messages from them because of politics etc.



Stop with the political bullshite. The USA did not block messages that is a lie. Until the late 50’s Americans were regularly vacationing in Cuba. The storm passed Cuba as a Tropical Storm and didn’t even become a hurricane until is was past Cuba.
Posted by loogaroo
Welsh
Member since Dec 2005
30391 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:51 pm to
They used to give those track maps out in school.
Posted by saturday
Pronoun (Baw)
Member since Feb 2007
7094 posts
Posted on 12/22/21 at 7:53 pm to
quote:

Stop with the political bullshite. The USA did not block messages that is a lie. Until the late 50’s Americans were regularly vacationing in Cuba. The storm passed Cuba as a Tropical Storm and didn’t even become a hurricane until is was past Cuba.



I dont know one way or the other but it may be true due to the Spanish/American War
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