The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 106 units,[6] slightly higher than the 1931–1943 average of 91.2.

[6] Historical weather maps and ship data indicate that a low-pressure area developed into a tropical depression about 105 mi (170 km) south of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, at 00:00 UTC on May 15.

[8] On May 18, the Dutch ship Magdala observed sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 1,003 mbar (29.6 inHg), marking the storm's peak intensity.

[8] Data from ships and nearby Windward Islands indicate that a tropical depression formed approximately 275 mi (445 km) southeast of Barbados around 06:00 UTC on August 16.

[9] Gale-force winds and rough seas wrecked multiple schooners off the coast of Newfoundland, claiming an estimated 50 lives.

[13] The SS Argyle was dispatched on search and rescue for three other vessels; however, upon discovery of the ships they reported no sign of life and their crew are believed to have been washed overboard.

[11] An area of disturbed weather developed into a tropical depression around 06:00 UTC on August 29 while situated roughly 200 mi (320 km) northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

[2][8] The depression initially strengthened slowly as it moved west-northwestward and then westward, reaching tropical storm intensity by early on August 31.

After passing near the south end of Andros Island, the storm rapidly intensified while moving across the Straits of Florida, achieving major hurricane status by 06:00 UTC on the next day.

[8] Around that time, a weather station on Craig Key, Florida, observed a barometric pressure of 892 mbar (26.3 inHg), the lowest in relation to the storm.

The storm made its final landfall on the sparsely populated Apalachee coast near Cedar Key on September 4 as a Category 2 hurricane.

[20] The disturbance gradually organized as it moved to the west, and strengthened to tropical storm intensity less than a day after formation and further to a hurricane by September 25.

[8][20] After passing the island, the system reintensified and peaked with a minimum barometric pressure below 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg)[nb 3] and maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h), making it a Category 4 hurricane.

[21] In Jamaica, the storm's strong winds and heavy rain destroyed roughly 3 percent of the island's banana production and damaged road networks.

[21] As it crossed Cuba, widespread evacuation procedures occurred in southern areas of Florida, heightened due to the effects of a disastrous hurricane which struck less than a month prior.

[21] Passing directly over Bimini in The Bahamas, a large storm surge destroyed nearly half of the island; 14 people were killed here.

[20] Farther north, the storm had slight impacts in Bermuda and Atlantic Canada, though a person drowned off of Halifax, Nova Scotia, due to rough seas.

The storm reached hurricane intensity early on October 22 and made landfall near Santiago de Cuba later that day with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h).

[8] Flooding and landslides in Jamaica damaged crops, property, and infrastructure; fruit growers alone suffered about $2.5 million in losses.

[33] Catastrophic river flooding left roughly 2,000 people dead,[31] razed hundreds of native houses, and destroyed crops and livestock.

[31] Reported at the time to be the worst flood in the nation's history, the disaster decimated banana plantations and communities after rivers flowed up to 50 ft (15 m) above normal.

[35] Torrents of floodwaters trapped hundreds of citizens in trees, on rooftops, and on remote high ground, requiring emergency rescue.

Peaking with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mbar (28.5 inHg) shortly thereafter, the storm curved southwestward later that day while approaching the Bahamas.

The cyclone then continued west-southwestward and made landfall in Miami-Dade County, Florida, near present-day Bal Harbour around 18:00 UTC on November 4 with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h).

By 12:00 UTC on November 8, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about 140 mi (230 km) west of St. Petersburg, Florida, and dissipated several hours later.

[40] In Hialeah, considered the worst hit city in the Miami area, approximately 230 homes suffered complete destruction, while many others sustained damage.

[38] Based on historical weather maps, a weak trough developed into a tropical depression about 215 mi (345 km) northeast of Bermuda around 00:00 UTC on November 3.

[8] On November 4, the system attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,001 mbar (29.6 inHg), the latter being observed by a ship.

Researchers at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that the system may have become a weak tropical storm, but a lack of concrete evidence prevented classification as such.

Remaining nearly stationary for four days, the depression finally moved northeast on August 27 and made landfall over the Florida Panhandle.