surprise hurricane surprise hurricane hurricane entered reconnaissance aircraft tracked tropical cyclone atlantic hurricane season system developed tropical storm situated northeastern gulf_of_mexico july storm gradually strengthened tracking westward reached hurricane status late july hurricane curved slightly west northwestward continued intensifying early july category hurricane modern day saffir simpson hurricane wind scale peaked winds mph system maintained intensity landfall texas late july moving inland storm initially weakened rapidly remained tropical cyclone dissipating north central texas july storm occurred world war information reports censored government united_states news media advisories cleared weather_bureau office new_orleans resulting late releases turn delayed preparations ahead storm louisiana storm produced gusty winds heavy rains damage occurred storm considered worst texas galveston hurricane wind gusts mph reported galveston houston area numerous buildings houses damaged destroyed storm caused fatalities occurred separate ships sunk overall damage reached approximately million usd meteorological history partial atmospheric circulation observed extreme early july area disturbed weather went unnoticed july wind shifts southeast northeast observed new_orleans louisiana mississippi utc tropical storm developed approximately miles southeast moving westward mph storm strengthened hurricane late july early following day storm strengthened category hurricane modern day saffir simpson hurricane wind scale time storm attained maximum sustained wind speed mph later july reconnaissance aircraft flight hurricane occurred eye feature width miles observed flight utc july storm landfall texas winds mph system described weather_bureau small intense storm accompanied hurricane winds time landfall barometric pressure mbar inhg observed early july system weakened category hurricane tropical storm hours later later day storm began curving northwestward east central texas early july weakened tropical depression utc following day storm dissipated near texas hurricane hunting hurricane intentionally flown reconnaissance aircraft morning hours july british pilots training field texas alerted hurricane approaching galveston area informed planes need flown away storm criticized policy instead colonel bet british pilots fly trainer directly storm requested colonel hair navigator field fly hurricane hair believed headquarters approve flight decided proceed permission hair hurricane hunters hair later compared weather encountered flight tossed like stick dog mouth returning requested fly hurricane hair decided exit aircraft censorship hurricane occurred world war activity german boat expected gulf_of_mexico result ship reports time weather_bureau relied primarily ship land weather station observations issue storm warnings additionally advisories cleared weather_bureau office new_orleans louisiana causing released hours late advisories contained forecast information allowed preparation storm struck news media hurricane heavily censored government national security information leaked axis powers loss production war materials reportedly shut telegraph office telegram sent containing information damage hurricane news storm published texas louisiana loss life storm government united_states censored hurricane advisories impact aftermath louisiana light winds observed gusts mph locally heavy rains reported areas hour precipitation total inches july storm brought strong winds texas gusts mph reported cooling towers shell oil humble oil towers destroyed damage reduced production ingredient tnt towers toppled shell oil primary producing aviation fuel world war decided news loss production censored number oil destroyed chambers jefferson counties near houston strong winds blew hangar destroyed planes injured cadets thousands houston left telephone electrical service caused radio stations area air nearby suffered heavy damage point located nearly homes destroyed high winds high school physical education building originally story building reduced floor windows shattered support beams toppled causing roof collapse nearby water tower knocked number brick businesses buildings churches collapsed heavy rainfall observed areas eastern texas inches port arthur numerous homes flooded inches water included damage electric motors automobiles downtown galveston number streets inundated flooding damage relatively minor children hospitals suffered leaking roofs water damage forcing patients evacuated staff branch students percent house buildings suffered water damage complete destruction including plant sites producing war materials discouraged going shelters epidemic galveston bay wind driven waves flooded western southern shores northerly winds bay resulted tides extremely low storm surge feet observed offshore galveston broke smashed north causing fatalities began sinking offshore port arthur members crew drowned attempting board rubber person died remainder crew reached shore overall storm killed people caused million usd damage houston area following storm residents warned water cautious potential food contamination electrical outages regional office dallas offered relief victims storm makeshift hospital set city hall point nearly houses destroyed residents transported galveston chapter galveston housing
1943 Surprise Hurricane