Retrospective Intensity Estimates
In 2012, revised wind speed and pressure estimates by Christopher Landsea of the National Hurricane Center caused this hurricane to be upgraded from a Category 4 to Category 5 by HURDAT. The official path, intensity, and pressure data used in the reanalysis were all different than the original 1932 reports. Landsea's research sources included statements from the S.S. Phemius, a ship out of Savannah that was caught in the hurricane for 4 days (but survived along with its crew), recorded a peripheral pressure of 914.6 millibars (27.01 inHg) late on November 5, Another ship recorded 27.40 inches of mercury (928 mbar) on the 6th. The pressure at landfall in Cuba was estimated (using peripheral readings) at 917 (based on 940 mbar at Nuevitas) to 918 mbar (based on 944 mbar at Camaguey). Additional corroboration of these pressure readings was taken from two observers' wind speed estimates of 200 and 210 mph. Using a computer to estimate surge heights, Landsea's findings found that a central pressure of 918 mbar and a radius of maximum wind of 32 nautical miles (59 km) "obtained a close match to the observed storm surge in Santa Cruz del Sur."
Read more about this topic: 1932 Cuba Hurricane
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