Hurricane Dog (1950) - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

Tropical Storm Dog was first observed as a 70 mph (110 km/h) tropical storm on August 30, when the SS Sibrodin reported gale force winds and an area of low pressure about 320 miles (510 km) east-southeast of Antigua. Its origin is unknown, though it is believed to have formed from a tropical wave that left the coast of Africa on August 24. With high pressures to its northeast, the storm tracked west-northwestward, and attained hurricane status early on August 31. Hurricane Dog turned to the northwest on September 1, and intensified into a major hurricane that night as it passed just north of the northern Lesser Antilles. While the hurricane was passing near the islands, the island of Saint Martin reported a pressure of 978.7 mbar.

Under weak steering currents, Hurricane Dog drifted northwestward as it steadily intensified, and on September 5 attained Category 5 status about 335 miles (540 km) north of the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. The hurricane strengthened further after turning to the north-northeast, and on September 6 Hurricane Hunters estimated peak winds of 185 mph (300 km/h) about 450 miles (720 km) south-southwest of Bermuda. At the time, reconnaissance practices were in their infancy, so it is possible the hurricane was overestimated. Although the wind speed measurements may not be accurate, Dog was a formidable hurricane while over the western Atlantic, producing wave heights of over 100 feet (30 m).

Hurricane Dog maintained its peak intensity for about 18 hours. On September 7, the cyclone attained a central pressure of 948 mbar (27.99 inHg), which was the lowest pressure in association with the hurricane. A building ridge of high pressure to its north caused it to decelerate and weaken steadily for unknown reasons as it turned to the west; by September 9, the intensity had decreased to 90 mph (145 km/h). On September 10, as it turned northward, Hurricane Dog briefly re-intensified slightly to winds of about 100 mph (160 km/h) before weakening again. The hurricane passed within 200 miles (320 km) of Cape Cod on September 12, and shortly afterwards it transitioned to an extratropical cyclone. The extratropical remnant turned to the east and later to the northeast, and the system persisted, finally losing its identity near Ireland on September 16.