Hurricane Dog (1950)

For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Dog.

Hurricane Dog
A drawn weather map of Hurricane Dog. The storm is depicted to be north of Puerto Rico. The eastern tip of North Carolina is seen in the top-left portion of the map.
Surface weather analysis of Hurricane Dog on September 4
Meteorological history
FormedAugust 30, 1950
ExtratropicalSeptember 11, 1950
DissipatedSeptember 18, 1950
Category 4 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds145 mph (230 km/h)
Lowest pressure≤943 mbar (hPa); ≤27.85 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities31
Damage$3 million (1950 USD)
Areas affectedLesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada, Northern Ireland, Scotland
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Dog was the most intense hurricane in the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season. Prior to reanalysis by the Hurricane Research Division in 2014, it was considered one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, equivalent to Category 5 status on the modern Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of 185 miles per hour (298 km/h). The fourth named storm of the season, Dog developed on August 30 to the east of Antigua; after passing through the northern Lesser Antilles, it turned to the north and intensified into a Category 4 hurricane. Dog reached its peak intensity with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) over the open Atlantic, and after weakening it passed within 200 miles (320 km) of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The storm became extratropical on September 12.

Hurricane Dog caused extensive damage to the Leeward Islands, and was considered the most severe hurricane on record in Antigua. Many buildings were destroyed or severely damaged on the island, with thousands left homeless just weeks after Hurricane Baker caused serious damage there. In the United States, the hurricane caused moderate coastal damage, including damage to several boats, and resulted in 11 offshore drownings. Strong winds caused widespread power outages across southeastern New England. There were twelve people missing and assumed dead offshore Nova Scotia. Damage across its path totaled about $3 million (1950 USD$, 26.8 million 2009 USD).