 The 1909 Greater Antilles hurricane was a rare , late @-@ season tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage and loss of life in Jamaica and Haiti . Forming out of a large disturbance in early November , the hurricane began as a minimal tropical storm over the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 8 . Slowly tracking northwestward , the system gradually intensified . Late on November 11 , the storm reached hurricane status and later reached Category 3 intensity . The hurricane struck Jamaica on November 12 , causing severe damage and loss of life . After striking the island , the storm quickly weakened and struck Haiti . There , the hurr