I found this report, fully transcribed below, after sifting through thousands of documents during a one-week visit in 2011 to the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, MD. The document contains a cover letter dated 12 October, 1938 from acting chief of the Weather Bureau, Charles C. Clark to the Secretary of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace and it consists of two parts: a report (titled The Tropical Storm of September 17-21, 1938, not signed but presumably written by Charles Mitchell, who is featured in Chapter 5), and a compilation of all the advisories issued during the storm (first by the Jacksonville, FL Weather Bureau office, and then by the Washington D.C. Headquarters office, as was the practice during the time when a hurricane moved past Cape Hatteras). These advisories were used throughout the book, in Chapters 3 to 7. The original document can be found in the Department of Agriculture textual records (RG16, Item 7, Department of Agriculture General Correspondence). I included a transcript of the report and advisories as an appendix in the first edition of the book, but removed it for the 80th anniversary update to make room for the new Chapter 10. The full transcript is included here. PDFs made with pictures of the document and the attachments to the report, which were identified as “Exhibits” are linked from the main Supplements tab. I took the pictures for my own reference and did not originally mean to share them as a group (although a couple of them were used as figures in the book), hence the “candid” quality, especially of the attachments. Perhaps a future trip to the archives for a more purposeful report photo shoot is in order.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Report from the Weather Bureau to the Secretary of Agriculture
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WEATHER BUREAU
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF
(FILED OCT12 38 – Please return to the Secretary’s File Room)
(FILED OCT12 38 – Please return to the Secretary’s File Room)
Dear Mr. Secretary:
In harmony with your request for a statement regarding the recent hurricane which went inland over Long Island and New England, I am transmitting herewith such report, prepared by the forecaster on duty in Washington, D.C., at that time.
Sincerely yours,
C.C. Clark,
Acting Chief of Bureau
~~~~~
~~~~~
THE TROPICAL STORM OF SEPTEMBER 17-21, 1938
The tropical storm that caused such serious damage in portions of New England and New York on September 21, 1938 was first located definitely the evening of Sept. 17th when a vessel about 600 miles east-northeast of Puerto Rico reported a barometer reading of 29.27 inches and gale blowing form the north-northeast. Our Jacksonville office issued an advisory warning at 9:30 p.m. of that date, giving the usual data and indicating that the storm was moving westward about 15 to 18 miles an hour. On the morning of Sept. 18 the center was located about 400 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, apparently moving west or west-northwestward 15 to 20 miles an hour. An intermediate advisory warning was issued at 3:00 p.m., and the regular advisory at 9:30 p.m. stated the center was about 900 miles east-southeast of Miami moving west-northwestward about 20 miles an hour. Another advisory was issued at 3:00 a.m. on the 19th and the regular morning advisory at 9:30 stated the hurricane was centered about 650 miles east-southeast of Miami apparently moving west-northwestward at least 20 miles an hour. At that time northeast storm warnings were ordered from Key West to Jacksonville, Florida. Intermediate advisories were issued at 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and at 9:00 p.m. advisory warning stated hurricane was centered about 400 miles due east of Miami and that the storm had turned northwestward and would probably recurve north-northwestward or northward within the next 24 hours. An intermediate advisory warning at 2:30 a.m. Sept. 20 indicated a northwestward movement with lessened danger to Florida, and the regular morning advisory at 9:30 a.m. stated that the center was about 300 miles east of Very Beach moving north-northwestward or northward about 17 miles an hour. Storm warnings were ordered displayed at that time on the North Carolina coast between Wilmington and Cape Hatteras. An intermediate advisory at 3:00 p.m. stated that the storm would gradually turn toward the north and north-northeast and move more rapidly, and the 9:30 p.m. advisory warning from Jacksonville stated that the storm center was about 400 miles east of Jacksonville moving almost due north and that the storm would gradually turn northeastward and move more rapidly during the next 24 hours with center passing near but east of Cape Hatteras during Wednesday. Storm warnings were ordered displayed by the Washington office at 9:30 p.m. from Cape Hatteras to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The last advisory from Jacksonville was issued at 3:00 a.m. on the 21st at which time the storm center was about 225 miles south of Cape Hatteras moving rapidly north or possibly slightly east of north. Storm warnings on the morning of Sept. 21 were issued from Washington, D.C. It was stated that the storm was apparently central about 75 miles east of Cape Hatteras moving rapidly north-northeastward attended by shifting gales over a wide area and by winds of hurricane force near the center. At that time northeast storm warnings were ordered along the coast north of Atlantic City to and including Connecticut and southeast storm warnings from Block Island to Eastport, Maine. Small craft were advised to remain in port until the storm passed. At 11:30 (crossed out to 10:00) a.m. the storm was centered about 100 miles east of the Virginia Capes moving rapidly northward or slightly east of north, and storm warnings were changed to whole gale warnings along the Atlantic coast north of the Virginia Capes to Sandy Hook. At 2:00 p.m. the last warning was issued stating that the storm was central at 12:00 noon about 75 miles east-southeast of Atlantic City moving rapidly north-northeastward with no material change in intensity since morning and that the storm center would likely pass over Long Island and Connecticut late in the afternoon or early night.
 |
| Portion of Exhibit A. |
Exhibit A gives the approximate path and location of the center of the tropical storm each 12 hours from the evening of September 17 to the evening of September 22 when the disturbance entirely disappeared over eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec.
 |
| Portion of Exhibit B. |
 |
| Portion of Exhibit C. |
 |
| Portion of Exhibit D. |
According to reports on the storm from the coastal stations from New York to Boston, there was considerable delay in delivery of our warnings on the 21st. This, together with the unfortunate fact that one of the powerful New York radio stations upon which so many residents of Long Island, Connecticut and adjacent areas depend for their weather information failed to broadcast the important storm information probably due to the popular interest in broadcasts of information regarding the threatened war in Europe, resulted in the failure of thousands of residents in the affected area to receive our warnings in time or perhaps not at all in many cases.
This delay or failure to receive warnings was serious because of the fact that this storm moved 600 miles in 12 hours after leaving the vicinity of Cape Hatteras, in contrast with the computed normal movement in September of about 200 miles. This rate of movement of 50 miles per hour was unprecedented so far as we know for such a storm of tropical origin. This meant the arrival of the storm center at the Connecticut coast line before 4:00 p.m. instead of many hours later if the rate of movement had been normal which meant a period of several hours less time for preparation. Notwithstanding these unfortunate and unavoidable delays the warnings undoubtedly resulted in the saving of many lives and much property. Of course, because of the severity of the storm much of the property damage could not have been saved. It was one of the most destructive storms of which there is record in the Western Hemisphere.
 |
| Exhibit E. |
These charts give data up to 14,000 feet. Inasmuch as the tropical cyclones are carried along in the general drift of the air above the system of gyratory wind around the center at lower levels very much as a whirlpool in a creek or river is carried along with the general current (except that the whirl of water is at the top instead of the bottom), the wind data plotted fave no clue to the direction or rate of movement of the air currents aloft over the area affected by the storm. The center of the storm was just far enough off the Carolina coast and the area of cloudiness (low clouds) was such that the pilot balloons released that morning were lost to sight as soon as they entered the clouds at all stations east of those from which reports are entered on the charts of the 21st. The Bureau had to rely on its experience in dealing with previous storms and on surface data as shown on the daily weather map. However, the development of the radiometeograph has progressed so rapidly during the past two or three years that we now have a few stations scattered over the United States where daily flights of balloons carrying these instruments are made, and from the date received, isobars are drawn for the levels 5,000, 10,000 and 14,000 feet above sea level, supplementing the sea-level isobars on the regular map and enabling us (if sufficient data are available) to know almost the exact direction of movement of the air at the respective levels and to calculate the approximate rate of air movement. But the program for radiometeograph soundings is still more or less in the experimental state, only a few stations are in operation, and none is located east of Michigan and Tennessee, except one operated by the Navy at Anacostia, D.C. If only a few reports from radiometeographs had been received from this area the morning of September 21st, the Bureau could have known the approximate direction and rate of movement of the air to high levels over the entire region and consequently could have known there were excessively high wind velocities from the south and could have speeded up the predicted rate of movement accordingly. Development and expansion of the Bureau’s program of radiometeograph observations will, in the future, be immensely valuable to the forecaster in dealing, not only with these destructive storms of tropical origin, but also with those of extra-tropical origin.
We still have to deal with the unprecedented intensity of the storm over portions of New England, even as far north as Vermont, and especially the destructive winds to the east of the center to a distance of over 100 miles. All tropical storms of the past 50 years or more have been studied by the Weather Bureau and from our intensive studies, it has been found that destructive winds seldom, if ever, occur more than 50 to 60 miles away from the storm center when the storm is of wide extent, such as the recent one, or not more than 15 or 20 miles away if the storm is of very small diameter. Furthermore, tropical cyclones upon reaching the cooler waters north of Cape Hatteras, as a rule, lessen in intensity progressively and all tropical storms, whether they move inland in the South or North almost invariably begin to dissipate rapidly and cause destructive winds only a few miles inland, with central pressure in the storm increasing very rapidly. But, in the case of this storm, the barometer fell to 28.10 inches at New Haven, Conn., which is 0.43 inch lower than previously recorded at that place, and far to the north, at Burlington, Vt., the barometer fell to 28.68 inches, an unheard of central pressure for a storm of tropical origin that had moved so far inland (225 miles).
The storm center never approached nearer than 75 miles to land at any point in its path until it reached Long Island, and the wind velocities reported from the nearest land stations and vessels were rather disappointing until about noon of the 21st. Vessels approximately as far east of the center in southern waters as Boston and Providence were from the center when it passed over Connecticut, reported velocities of Beaufort force 8 (39-46 m.p.h.) and force 9 (47-56 m.p.h.) and none of them reported the usual exceedingly turbulent sea conditions experienced, as a rule, for a considerable distance from the storm center. Those considerations, together with the total absence of vessel reports that morning of the 21st to the northeast, east and southeast of the storm center, and the very weak pressure gradient to the northward over New York, western New England and Canada, resulted in our being totally unprepared to anticipate its experienced violence near and for a considerable distance east of the storm center as it moved inland and on to the North. On the other hand the wind velocities experienced at our coastal station from Cape Hatteras to New York City were rather less than expected, although the storm center was much nearer to Cape Hatteras, Atlantic City, Sandy Hook and New York City than it was to Boston and Providence, and the wind experienced on the coast of Maine was about as expected.
~~~~~
Description of Exhibits Mentioned Above
Exhibit A – Hurricane track 17–22 September
Exhibit B – 7:30 am 21 September observations and sea level pressure analysis (pressure units are inches of mercury)
Exhibit C – 7:30 pm 20 September observations and sea level pressure analysis (pressure units are inches of mercury)
Exhibit D – Special 10:00 am 21 September observations and sea level pressure analysis (pressure units are inches of mercury)
Exhibit E – Upper air winds (velocity in mph, arrows show the direction, seven heights: surface, and 2,000 ft to 14,000 ft every two 2,000 ft)
~~~~~
ADVISORIES ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TROPICAL HURRICANE OF SEPTEMBER 17–21, 1938.
From Jacksonville, Fla.
September 17, 1938
Advisory nine thirty p.m. A well developed tropical disturbance probably of full hurricane intensity has appeared some five hundred miles northeast of the Leeward Islands and was centered at seven p.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty two degrees north y seven degrees thirty minutes west apparently moving westward about fifteen to eighteen miles per hour. Caution advised all vessels in path of this dangerous storm.
September 18, 1938
Preliminary advisory nine thirty a.m. Tropical disturbance probably of full hurricane intensity centered at seven a.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty two degrees thirty minutes north longitude sixty two degrees west apparently moving west or west-northwestward fifteen to twenty miles per hour. Caution advised all vessels in the path of this dangerous storm.
Advisory ten thirty a.m. Same as 9:30 a.m. preliminary advisory.
Advisory three p.m. Hurricane central at one p.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty two degrees forty five minutes north and longitude sixty three degrees west which is approximately twelve hundred miles due east of Havana Cuba moving west-northwestward sixteen to twenty miles per hour attended by strong shifting gales and squalls over an increasing area and by hurricane winds near center. Caution advised vessels in path against dangerous conditions. Storm continues to move rather rapidly at present with no material change in direction likely next twenty four hours. All small craft Cape Hatteras to Florida Straits should navigate with extreme caution until storm danger passes.
Advisory nine thirty p.m. Hurricane centered at seven p.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty three degrees north and longitude sixty six degrees west which is about nine hundred miles east-southeast of Miami moving west-northwestward about twenty miles per hour attended by strong shifting gales and squalls over large area and by hurricane winds near center. Caution advised all vessels in path and all small craft Hatteras to Florida Straits should remain in port until storm danger passes. Storm will begin to affect extreme eastern Bahamas by midday Monday and central Bahamas by Monday night. Interests on east Florida coast should keep closely in touch with further advices. If present direction and rate of movement is maintained winds will begin to increase on east Florida coast early Tuesday.
September 19, 1938
Advisory three a.m. The hurricane continues to move west-northwestward about twenty miles per hour and was central at one a.m. near latitude twenty three degrees thirty minutes north and longitude sixty eight degrees thirty minutes west. Present direction and rate of movement will bring storm over Bahamas Islands late Monday and to Florida coast by early Tuesday morning. All interests in path of this severe storm should exercise extreme caution. Florida is in the danger zone of this storm and all persons are urged to stand by for later announcements today.
Advisory nine thirty a.m. Northeast storm warnings ordered Jacksonville to Key West Florida. Hurricane centered at seven a.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty three degrees forty five minutes north and longitude seventy degrees thirty minutes west which is about six hundred y miles east- southeast of Miami apparently still moving west-northwestward at least twenty miles per hour. Winds will increase in Bahamas throughout day reaching hurricane force during afternoon in outlying islands and if present direction and rate of movement is maintained storm will reach southeast Florida coast Tuesday morning with winds commencing to increase tonight. Florida east coast is in the danger zone of this storm and all interests are urged to stand by for possible hurricane warnings during the day.
Advisory three p.m. Hurricane centered at one p.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty four degrees north longitude seventy two degrees west which is about five hundred and thirty miles east-southeast of Miami apparently still moving west-northwestward nearly twenty miles per hour attended by gales and squalls over a large area and hurricane winds near center. If present direction and rate of movement is maintained center of storm will pass through Bahamas tonight and reach southeast Florida coast in twenty four to thirty hours with winds beginning to increase on coast late tonight. All interests in southern Florida should immediately make all possible preliminary preparations to withstand this severe storm and then stand by for later advices. Hurricane warnings probably will be issued tonight. Northeast storm warnings remain displayed Jacksonville to Key West.
Bulletin six thirty p.m. Barometer readings in Bahamas since one p.m. have shown only gradual fall in pressure with lowest pressure reported twenty nine sixty inches on Cat Island. At five p.m. EST slow fall in pressure this region indicates storm may be turning towards the northeast. However, interests on southeast Florida coast urged not relax vigilance until recurving tendency is definitely established.
Advisory nine p.m. Hurricane centered at seven p.m. EST in approximately latitude twenty five degrees thirty minutes north longitude seventy three degrees thirty minutes west which is about four hundred twenty miles due east of Miami attended by gales and squalls over large area and by hurricane winds near center. Storm has turned northwestward and will probably recurve north-northwestward or northward next twenty four hours. Storm threat to Florida east coast has greatly diminished although interests this area should follow advices carefully next twelve hours. Vessels in path of this severe storm should exercise extreme caution.
September 20, 1938
Advisory two thirty a.m. Severe hurricane with central pressure about 28.00 inches was centered at one a.m. EST near latitude twenty six degrees thirty minutes north longitude seventy five degrees west moving northwestward about seventeen miles per hour. is position is about three hundred y miles east of Palm Beach. Caution advised all ships in the Atlantic south of Cape Hatteras from the coast outward three hundred to four hundred miles. e northwestward movement lessens the danger to Florida but vigilance should be continued for another twelve hours. Storm warnings remain dis- played Jacksonville to Key West Florida.
Advisory nine thirty a.m. Northeast storm warnings ordered nine thirty a.m. EST North Carolina coast between Wilmington and Cape Hatteras. Hurricane of great intensity central seven a.m. EST near latitude twenty eight degrees north longitude seventy five degrees west which is about three hundred miles east of Vero Beach Florida now moving north-northwestward or northward about seventeen miles per hour. Storm will gradually turn toward the north-northeast with center passing some distance east of Cape Hatteras tonight and will cause increasing northerly winds on the North Carolina coast becoming fresh to strong and probably reaching gale force at exposed places on the Cape with hurricane winds some distance o shore. Caution advised all vessels in path and all small craft from Virginia Capes to Charleston should remain in harbor until storm passes. Lowest pressure reported during night twenty seven ninety inches.
Advisory three p.m. Severe hurricane centered one p.m. EST approximately latitude twenty nine degrees north longitude seventy five degrees west which is about three hundred y miles east of Daytona Beach Florida moving between north-northwestward and northward about seventeen miles per hour attended by gales and squalls over large area and hurricane winds near center. Storm will gradually turn toward the north and north-northeast and move more rapidly during next thirty six hours with center passing some distance east of Cape Hatteras late tonight or Wednesday morning. Caution advised vessels in path and all small craft Virginia Capes to Charleston should remain in port until storm passes. Storm warnings remain displayed between Cape Hatteras and Wilmington.
Advisory nine thirty p.m. Severe hurricane with central pressure still close to 28.00 inches was centered at seven p.m. EST in approximately latitude thirty degrees north longitude seventy five degrees thirty minutes west which is about four hundred miles east of Jacksonville now moving almost due north attended by gales over large area and hurricane winds near center. Storm will gradually turn northeastward and move rapidly during next twenty four hours with center passing near but east of Cape Hatteras during Wednesday and will cause strong winds on North Carolina coast reaching gale force on the Cape with high tides north of Beaufort North Carolina. Caution advised vessels in path and all small craft Virginia Capes to Charleston should re- main in port until storm passes. Storm warnings remain displayed Atlantic City New Jersey to north of Wilmington.
September 21, 1938
Advisory three a.m. Hurricane central one a.m. EST about two hundred and twenty five miles south of Cape Hatteras moving rapidly north or possibly slightly east of north. Indications are that center will pass near but slightly o the Carolina Capes within the next twelve hours attended by dangerous gales and high tides on the coast and by hurricane winds short distance off shore. Storm warnings are displayed north of Wilmington North Carolina to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Caution advised ships in path of this severe storm.
From Washington, D.C.
September 20, 1938
Advisory one p.m. Northeast storm warnings ordered south of Virginia Capes to Cape Hatteras. Wind will become north or northeast this afternoon and probably increase to gale force late tonight or Wednesday forenoon.
Advisory nine thirty p.m. Northeast storm warnings ordered Atlantic coast Virginia Capes to Atlantic City New Jersey including lower Chesapeake Bay. Tropical storm will be attended by northeast winds becoming strong and reaching gale force Virginia Capes Section Wednesday and southern New Jersey coast late Wednesday afternoon or Wednesday night.
September 21, 1938
Advisory nine a.m. Northeast storm warnings ordered upper Chesapeake Bay. Increasing northerly winds becoming strong and possibly reaching gale force at times this afternoon. Further information regarding tropical storm later.
Advisory nine a.m. Northeast storm warnings ordered north of Atlantic City and south of Block Island and southeast storm warnings ordered Block Island to Eastport Maine. Tropical storm apparently central about seventy five miles east of Cape Hatteras moving rapidly north-northeastward attended by shifting gales over a wide area and by winds of hurricane force near its center. Northeast or north gales backing to northwest south of Block Island to Hatteras today and southeast or east gales Block Island to Eastport becoming northwest tonight or Thursday morning. Small craft should remain in port until storm passes.
Advisory nine thirty a.m. Warnings changed to northwest south of the Virginia Capes to Cape Hatteras.
Advisory eleven thirty a.m. Warnings changed to whole gale Atlantic coast north of Virginia Capes to Sandy Hook New Jersey. Tropical storm central ten a.m. about one hundred miles east of the Virginia Capes moving rapidly northward or slightly east of north. It is attended by shifting gales over a wide area and by winds of whole gale force over a considerable area around center. Northerly winds along the New Jersey, Maryland and southern Delaware coast will likely increase to whole gale force this afternoon and back to northwest and diminish tonight.
Advisory two p.m. Warnings changed to northwest Virginia Capes to Sandy Hook New Jersey. Tropical storm central twelve noon about seventy five miles east-southeast of Atlantic City moving rapidly north-northeastward with no material change in intensity since morning. Storm center will likely pass over Long Island and Connecticut late this afternoon or early tonight attended by shifting gales.