Forecasting the Formation and Movement of the Cedar Keys Hurricane, September 1–7, 19501

The Cedar Keys hurricane of September 1–7, 1950, formed south of Cuba and crossed the west coast of Florida near Cedar Keys. Thus its entire life was spent in an area where considerable upper air data were available, and during September 3–6 it was tracked almost constantly by either airborne or land-based radar. Its path was extremely erratic. Analyses of surface and upper air data are used to explain the formation and various changes in rate and direction of movement of the storm, including two loops in its path. The concept of steering, as used in the Weather Bureau's Hurricane Warning Center at Miami, and other forecasting tools are discussed.