The
1935 Labor Day Hurricane was the strongest and most intense hurricane to make landfall in the United States and the Atlantic Basin in recorded history. The second
tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and second
major hurricane of the
1935 Atlantic hurricane season, the Labor Day Hurricane was the first of three
Category 5 hurricanes at landfall that the United States endured during the 20th Century (the other two being
1969's
Hurricane Camille and
1992's
Hurricane Andrew). After forming as a weak tropical storm east of
the Bahamas on August 29, it slowly proceeded westward and became a hurricane on September 1. Northeast storm warnings were ordered displayed
Fort Pierce to
Fort Myers in the September 1, 9:30 AM Weather Bureau advisory. Upon receipt of this advisory the U. S. Coast Guard Station, Miami, FL, sent a plane along the coast to advise boaters and campers of the impending danger by dropping message blocks. A second flight was made Sunday afternoon. All planes were placed in the hangar and its door closed at 10:00 AM Monday morning.