 Map of the storm on October 8 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 5, 1946 |
| Extratropical | October 9, 1946 |
| Dissipated | October 14, 1946 |
| Category 2 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 100 mph (155 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 977 mbar (hPa); 28.85 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 5 total |
| Damage | $5.2 million (1946 USD) |
| Areas affected | Cuba, Florida, Southeastern United States |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1946 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The 1946 Florida hurricane also known as the 1946 Tampa Bay hurricane was the last hurricane to make direct landfall in the Tampa Bay Area of the U.S. state of Florida to date. Forming on October 5 from the complex interactions of several weather systems over the southern Caribbean Sea, the storm rapidly strengthened before striking western Cuba. After entering the Gulf of Mexico, it peaked with winds corresponding to Category 2 status on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale; however, it quickly weakened before approaching Florida. It made landfall south of St. Petersburg and continued to weaken as it proceeded inland. Its remnants persisted for several days longer.
In advance of the storm, preparations were taken along threatened areas of coastal Florida (mainly the Tampa Bay Area), including the evacuation of thousands of residents. Damage was extensive in Cuba, and five people were killed there, making it the only killer tropical cyclone of the 1946 Atlantic hurricane season. The cyclone's effects in the United States were minor to moderate, and the most significant impact was to citrus crops. No deaths occurred in the country, although high tides caused some flooding of low-lying terrain. The cyclone's structure was extensively observed and investigated.