1952 Atlantic hurricane season

1952 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedFebruary 3, 1952
Last system dissipatedNovember 30, 1952
Strongest storm
NameFox
 • Maximum winds145 mph (230 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure934 mbar (hPa; 27.58 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions11
Total storms11
Hurricanes5
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)
2
Total fatalities607
Total damage$13.75 million (1952 USD)
Related articles
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954

The 1952 Atlantic hurricane season was the last Atlantic hurricane season in which tropical cyclones were named using the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet. It was a near normal Atlantic hurricane season, although it was the least active since 1946.[1] The season officially started on June 15;[2] however, a pre-season unnamed storm formed on Groundhog Day, becoming the only storm on record in the month of February. The other six tropical cyclones were named using the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet, the first of which formed on August 18. The final storm of the season dissipated on October 28, two and a half weeks before the season officially ended on November 15.[3]

Four of the tropical cyclones made landfall during the season, the first being the February tropical storm that crossed southern Florida. The first hurricane, named Able, struck South Carolina with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), causing heavy damage near the coast and widespread power outages. It moved up most of the East Coast of the United States, leaving 3 deaths and widespread damage. As a developing tropical cyclone, Hurricane Charlie caused damaging flooding and landslides in southwest Puerto Rico. The final and strongest of the season, Hurricane Fox, struck Cuba with winds of 145 mph (233 km/h); it killed 600 people and left heavy damage, particularly to the sugar crop, reaching $10 million (1952 USD, $115 million 2024 USD).

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mwr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Staff Writer (1952-06-15). "Hurricane Season Opens Today". The News and Courier. Retrieved 2011-01-15.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Robert Hunger (1952-11-14). "End of Hurricane Season". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved 2011-01-15.