1866 Atlantic hurricane season | |
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Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | July 11, 1866 |
Last system dissipated | October 30, 1866 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | Six |
• Maximum winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
• Lowest pressure | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.7 inHg) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Total depressions | 7 |
Total storms | 7 |
Hurricanes | 6 |
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 1 |
Total fatalities | 391 |
Total damage | Unknown |
The 1866 Atlantic hurricane season was originally one of only four Atlantic hurricane seasons in which every known tropical cyclone attained hurricane status, along with 1852, 1858, and 1884. [1] Initially, there were three known storms during the season, but a re-analysis confirmed the increased activity. [2] There were also two other systems that were included as tropical cyclones at one time, although both were considered to have been other storms already in the database. All tropical activity occurred between the middle of July and the end of October. There may have been additional unconfirmed tropical cyclones during the season. Meteorologist Christopher Landsea estimates that up to six storms were missed from the official database, due to small tropical cyclone size, sparse ship reports, and relatively unpopulated coastlines. [3]
Every storm but the fourth hurricane affected land during the season. The first hurricane hit Matagorda, Texas in July, the only one of the season to hit the United States as a hurricane. A month later a hurricane made two landfalls in Mexico. The third hurricane of the season formed near Bermuda and was last observed along the southern coast of Newfoundland. A few weeks later another storm executed a similar track, although it struck Newfoundland as a hurricane and caused damage. The most notable storm of the season was the Great Nassau Hurricane, which killed at least 383 people in the Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, and the western Atlantic Ocean. It attained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h), which is a Category 4 on the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The final hurricane developed over the Bahamas and later struck New Jersey, producing strong winds and high tides across New England.
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | July 11 – July 16 |
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Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); 969 mbar (hPa) |
The first hurricane of the season was observed on July 11, when a schooner encountered heavy seas to the south of the Florida Panhandle. As the hurricane moved westward, it remained a short distance off the Gulf Coast of the United States, bringing strong winds to New Orleans on July 12. High tides surrounded the lighthouse at Timbalier Bay for about 24 hours, prompting the lighthouse keeper to resign from loneliness and from fear of the weather. [4]
On July 15, the hurricane moved ashore near Matagorda Bay in Texas, with winds estimated around 105 mph (165 km/h), or a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. At landfall, the minimum barometric pressure was estimated at 969 mbar (28.61 inHg). [5] The hurricane's strong winds broke all of the boats from their moorings in the Matagorda harbor. Four ships were either lost or wrecked, and one schooner was washed ashore. [2] The storm dissipated early on July 16 after progressing further inland. [1]
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | August 13 – August 18 |
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Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); |
On August 13, a ship encountered a severe hurricane in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Based on observations, it is estimated the hurricane attained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). There were no reports for several days, although based on continuity it is estimated the storm passed south of Jamaica on August 15. The following day, the hurricane struck the eastern Yucatán Peninsula, washing seven boats ashore. It is estimated to have weakened to a tropical storm while moving over land, although the system re-intensified into a hurricane in the Bay of Campeche. It made its second and final landfall near Veracruz before dissipating on August 18. [2] [1]
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 4 – September 7 |
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Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min); |
The third hurricane of the season was first encountered on September 4 by a ship 200 mi (320 km) north of Bermuda; the vessel sustained damage to its foretopmast. The storm affected another ship later that day, leaving similar heavy damage. Tracking generally northeastward, the hurricane was last observed on September 7 near Newfoundland. [2] [1]
On September 18 and for two days subsequently, a barque sailed through a hurricane near the Cape Verde islands. The vessel was en route from New York to Shanghai, but due to a leak from the storm it had to return to New York for repairs. [2] Aside from a single reported location, the track of the hurricane is unknown. Winds were estimated around 80 mph (130 km/h). [1]
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 22 – September 24 |
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Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); |
A ship named "Honduras" observed the fifth hurricane of the season on September 22 to the south-southeast of Nova Scotia. The ship lost its masts and sails from the storm, and based on the observations the winds were estimated around 105 mph (165 km/h). Additional ship reports indicated the hurricane maintained a northeast track toward Newfoundland. Late on September 23, the hurricane made landfall in south-central Newfoundland, although it quickly weakened to tropical storm intensity. The winds spread across much of the island, severing the telegraphs in and around St. John's. Late on September 24, the storm was last observed to the north of the island. [1] [2]
Around August 14, the emigrant bark Laura left Bremen en route to Baltimore, Maryland. According to a contemporary account in The Baltimore Sun , "She reports having encountered a hurricane on the 22d September, shipping a tremendous sea, which washed overboard seven passengers and one of the crew, besides slightly injuring fifty others." [6]
Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
Duration | September 24 – October 5 |
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Peak intensity | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min); 938 mbar (hPa) |
The Great Nassau Hurricane of 1866 or The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1866 was the sixth hurricane of the season and was also the longest-lasting. The brig Jarien encountered the hurricane on September 24 to the west-southwest of the Cape Verde islands. The track is unknown for the following five days, until another ship reported a hurricane about 20 miles (32 km) north of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. The hurricane affected the Leeward Islands, washing several ships ashore and destroying a pier in St. Thomas. On September 30 through the following day, the cyclone moved through the Turks and Caicos Islands, becoming what was considered "one of the most terrific hurricanes ever known". About 75% of the population was left homeless and moneyless. [2]
After affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands, the hurricane passed through Eleuthera in the Bahamas where “the brig John Drew of Nova Scotia was overtaken halfway between Harbor Island and Spanish Wells." [7] All but two of the passengers and crew were lost: John Ridley and his daughter, Bessie, were rescued and resuscitated by the island occupants who discovered them. The eye then crossed over Nassau, where a barometric pressure of 938 mbar (27.70 inHg) was reported. [2] Based on this observation, the hurricane is estimated to have had sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). [4] The hurricane struck without warning in the Bahamas, either washing ashore or sinking every ship but one in Nassau. In addition, strong winds downed trees and destroyed roofs. [2] Every building in Nassau was damaged or destroyed. [8] After moving through the islands, the hurricane curved northeastward, [1] affecting dozens of other ships and wrecking four. On October 4, it passed north of Bermuda, where it produced Force 11 winds on the Beaufort scale. [2] The hurricane was last observed on October 5 to the southeast of Atlantic Canada. [1] Along its path through the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and the western Atlantic, the hurricane killed at least 383 people, making it among the 100 deadliest Atlantic hurricanes. [9]
Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
Duration | October 29 – October 30 |
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Peak intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min); |
The final storm of the season was first observed on October 28 over the Bahamas, and may have been a hybrid or subtropical cyclone. It moved north-northwestward through the island chain, followed by a turn to the north-northeast over the western Atlantic. Several ships encountered the tropical storm, and one lost their supply of molasses. [2] On October 30, the cyclone, at the time transitioning to extratropical, struck on the southern end of Long Beach Island with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). [10] As it moved through the northeastern United States, the storm dropped heavy rainfall, causing flooding near Jersey City and Hoboken, New Jersey. In Brooklyn, the storm moved the rail cars off their tracks, while in Providence, Rhode Island the winds destroyed three buildings and wrecked the roofs of two others. Further northeast, the storm disrupted shipping and cut telegraph lines, although no fatalities were reported. The post-tropical storm was last observed over Vermont late on October 30. [2]
The 1945 Atlantic hurricane season produced multiple landfalling tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 16 and lasted until October 31, dates delimiting the period when a majority of storms were perceived to form in the Atlantic Ocean. A total of 11 systems were documented, including a late-season cyclone retroactively added a decade later. Five of the eleven systems intensified into hurricanes, and two further attained their peaks as major hurricanes. Activity began with the formation of a tropical storm in the Caribbean on June 20, which then made landfalls in Florida and North Carolina at hurricane intensity, causing one death and at least $75,000 in damage. In late August, a Category 3 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale struck the Texas coastline, with 3 deaths and $20.1 million in damage. The most powerful hurricane of the season, reaching Category 4 intensity, wrought severe damage throughout the Bahamas and East Coast of the United States, namely Florida, in mid-September; 26 people were killed and damage reached $60 million. A hurricane moved ashore the coastline of Belize in early October, causing one death, while the final cyclone of the year resulted in 5 deaths and $2 million in damage across Cuba and the Bahamas two weeks later. Overall, 36 people were killed and damage reached at least $82.85 million.
The 1942 Atlantic hurricane season was one of seven seasons to feature multiple hurricane landfalls in Texas. The season officially lasted from June 16, 1942, to October 31, 1942. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. A total of 11 tropical storms from 1943 are listed in the Atlantic hurricane database, with two additional tropical depressions. The first system of the year, a tropical depression, developed over the central Gulf of Mexico on June 3, while the last system, the Belize hurricane, dissipated over the Yucatán Peninsula on November 11. After the depression dissipated on June 3, the season remained dormant until the next system developed two months later. In mid-August, a hurricane struck Texas, causing about $790,000 (1942 USD) in damage.
The 1929 Atlantic hurricane season was among the least active Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, with only five tropical cyclones forming. Three of them intensified into a hurricane, with one strengthening further into a major hurricane. The first tropical cyclone of the season developed in the Gulf of Mexico on June 27. Becoming a hurricane on June 28, the storm struck Texas, bringing strong winds to a large area. Three fatalities were reported, while damage was conservatively estimated at $675,000 (1929 USD).
The 1926 Atlantic hurricane season featured the highest number of major hurricanes at the time. At least eleven tropical cyclones developed during the season, all of which intensified into a tropical storm and eight further strengthened into hurricanes. Six hurricanes deepened into a major hurricane, which is Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. It was a fairly active and deadly season. The first system, the Nassau hurricane, developed near the Lesser Antilles on July 22. Moving west-northwest for much of its duration, the storm struck or brush several islands of the Lesser and Greater Antilles. However, the Bahamas later received greater impact. At least 287 deaths and $7.85 million (1926 USD) in damage was attributed to this hurricane. The next cyclone primarily affected mariners in and around the Maritimes of Canada, with boating accidents and drownings resulting in between 55 and 58 fatalities. In late August, the third hurricane brought widespread impact to the Gulf Coast of the United States, especially Louisiana. Crops and buildings suffered $6 million in damage and there were 25 people killed.
The 1921 Atlantic hurricane season was an active hurricane season, with 12 tropical cyclones forming. Among them, seven became tropical storms, of which five strengthened into hurricanes. Furthermore, two of these strengthened into a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, the most since the 1917 season. The first system, a tropical depression, developed on June 1, while the last, a tropical storm, dissipated on November 25. Of note, three tropical cyclones co-existed with another during the season.
The 1905 Atlantic hurricane season featured five known tropical cyclones, two of which made landfall in the United States. The first system was initially observed near the Windward Islands on September 6. The last system to dissipate, the fourth storm, transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 11, while located well southeast of Newfoundland. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Between October 5 and October 10, the fourth and fifth system existed simultaneously.
The 1903 Atlantic hurricane season featured seven hurricanes, the most in an Atlantic hurricane season since 1893. The first tropical cyclone was initially observed in the western Atlantic Ocean near Puerto Rico on July 21. The tenth and final system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone well northwest of the Azores on November 25. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Six of the ten tropical cyclones existed simultaneously.
The 1899 Atlantic hurricane season featured the longest-lasting tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin on record. There were nine tropical storms, of which five became hurricanes. Two of those strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern day Saffir–Simpson scale. The first system was initially observed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on June 26. The tenth and final system dissipated near Bermuda on November 10. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. In post-season analysis, two tropical cyclones that existed in October were added to HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database. At one point during the season, September 3 through the following day, a set of three tropical cyclones existed simultaneously.
The 1932 Bahamas hurricane, also known as the Great Abaco hurricane of 1932, was a large and powerful Category 5 hurricane that struck the Bahamas at peak intensity. The fourth tropical storm and third hurricane in the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season, it was also one of two Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean that year, the other being the 1932 Cuba hurricane. The 1932 Bahamas hurricane originated north of the Virgin Islands, became a strong hurricane, and passed over the northern Bahamas before recurving. The storm never made landfall on the continental United States, but its effects were felt in the northeast part of the country and in the Bahamas, especially on the Abaco Islands, where damage was very great. To date, it is one of four Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes to make landfall in the Bahamas at that intensity, the others having occurred in 1933, 1992, and 2019.
The 1883 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1883. This is the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. In the 1883 Atlantic season there was one tropical storm, one Category 1 hurricane, and two major hurricanes. However, in the absence of modern satellite monitoring and remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated.
The 1851 Atlantic hurricane season was the first Atlantic hurricane season to be included in the official Atlantic tropical cyclone record. Six known tropical cyclones occurred during the season, the earliest of which formed on June 25 and the latest of which dissipated on October 19. These dates fall within the range of most Atlantic tropical cyclone activity. None of the cyclones existed simultaneously with another. Three of the six storms only have a single point in their track known.
The 1854 Atlantic hurricane season featured five known tropical cyclones, three of which made landfall in the United States. At one time, another was believed to have existed near Galveston, Texas in September, but HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database – now excludes this system. The first system, Hurricane One, was initially observed on June 25. The final storm, Hurricane Five, was last observed on October 22. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. No tropical cyclones during this season existed simultaneously. One tropical cyclone has a single known point in its track due to a sparsity of data.
The 1868 Atlantic hurricane season was among the quietest on record, with only four tropical cyclones recorded. Initially, there were no known storms during the season, although a re-analysis confirmed the activity. All tropical activity occurred within a 45‑day span. There may have been other unconfirmed tropical cyclones during the season. Meteorologist Christopher Landsea estimates up to six storms were missed from the official database, due to small tropical cyclone size, sparse ship reports, and relatively unpopulated coastlines.
The 1877 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1877 there were eight cyclones, of which five were tropical storms and three were hurricanes, one of which became a major hurricane. However, in the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated.
The 1875 Atlantic hurricane season featured three landfalling tropical cyclones. However, in the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 has been estimated. There were five recorded hurricanes and one major hurricane – Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale.
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The 1869 Atlantic hurricane season was the earliest season in the Atlantic hurricane database in which there were at least ten tropical cyclones. Initially there were only three known storms in the year, but additional research uncovered the additional storms. Meteorologist Christopher Landsea estimates up to six storms may remain missing from the official database for each season in this era, due to small tropical cyclone size, sparse ship reports, and relatively unpopulated coastlines. All activity occurred in a three-month period between the middle of August and early October.
The 1865 Atlantic hurricane season included two landfalling hurricanes, with one that caused over 325 deaths. The first storm was reported on May 30 by ships in the western Caribbean. A month later, a storm hit southern Texas, and in late August, a storm paralleled the coastline of the Carolinas. The fourth storm of the season was also the longest-lasting, forming east of the Lesser Antilles before hitting Guadeloupe and eventually moving ashore in Louisiana. In both of its major landfalls, the storm left many houses destroyed. There was confusion whether or not the fifth storm of the season was separate from the fourth storm, as both systems struck Louisiana in September. Another hurricane occurred in late September, before the final storm of the season developed north of Panama. The final hurricane struck Cuba and Key West, Florida before dissipating north of Bermuda on October 25.
The 1863 Atlantic hurricane season featured five landfalling tropical cyclones. In the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 has been estimated. There were seven recorded hurricanes and no major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern day Saffir–Simpson scale. Of the known 1863 cyclones, seven were first documented in 1995 by José Fernández-Partagás and Henry Diaz, while the ninth tropical storm was first documented in 2003. These changes were largely adopted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic hurricane reanalysis in their updates to the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT), with some adjustments.
The 1858 Atlantic hurricane season was one of only three Atlantic hurricane seasons on record in which every tropical cyclone intensified into a hurricane. The first hurricane was first observed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on June 12. The sixth and final storm was last noted on October 26. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Three tropical cyclones during the season existed simultaneously. Two of the cyclones have only a single known point in its track due to a sparsity of data. Operationally, another tropical cyclone was believed to have existed over the eastern Atlantic between September 17 and September 18, but HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database – excludes this system. However, in the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only cyclones that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea are currently known, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to four tropical cyclones per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated. Of the six known 1858 Atlantic cyclones, five were first documented in 1995 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz.