1932 San Ciprian hurricane
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Surface weather analysis of the storm on September 27
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| Formed | September 25, 1932 |
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| Dissipated | October 2, 1932 |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 943 mbar (hPa); 27.85 inHg |
| Fatalities | 225-257 direct |
| Damage | $30 million (1932 USD) |
| Areas affected | Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico |
| Part of the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The 1932 San Ciprian hurricane was a powerful Atlantic tropical cyclone that struck Puerto Rico during the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season. The ninth tropical cyclone, fourth hurricane and third major hurricane of the 1932 season, the San Ciprian Hurricane formed on September 25 east of the Leeward Islands and moved due west where it quickly gained hurricane strength a day later. After peaking as a Category 4 storm, the hurricane crossed the entire length of Puerto Rico at Category 4 strength. The hurricane later struck the Dominican Republic as a Category 1 storm. Weakened by its three landfalls, the storm continued to trek westward as a weak tropical storm before making its fourth and fifth landfalls in Belize and mainland Mexico. The storm then dissipated on October 3.
The San Ciprian Hurricane took an unusual east to west path across Puerto Rico, producing damage across the entire length of the United States territory. The next storm to follow a similar path was Hurricane Georges in 1998. Overall damage in Puerto Rico was catastrophic as the storm left $30 million (1932 USD, $443 million 2006 USD) and 225-257 fatalities. The hurricane also caused moderate damage in the Virgin Islands.
A possible Cape Verde-type hurricane, the San Ciprian storm was detected by ships as a tropical storm on September 25. A strong high pressure system to the north kept the storm moving due west. It reached hurricane strength hours later as it passed the islands of Antigua and St. Barthelemy at 3 p.m. On September 26, the hurricane passed through the rest of the Leeward Islands as it gained strength. During its journey, the hurricane quickly strengthened to Category 4 status and its winds peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h). At 10 p.m., the hurricane made landfall near Ceiba, with the eye passing directly over the Ensenada Honda harbor. After striking Puerto Rico, the storm continued westward where it made its second landfall near Santo Domingo on September 27. The storm weakened as it crossed into Haiti as a tropical storm. After impacting Hispaniola, the storm continued westward where it brushed past Jamaica to the south. On October 1, the tropical storm made landfall in Belize (then known as British Honduras) and crossed over the Yucatan Peninsula before making its final landfall near Veracruz, Mexico. It dissipated on October 3.
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