The 1879 Atlantic hurricane season ran from the summer to near the end of autumn in 1879. In 1879 there were two tropical storms, four hurricanes, and two major hurricanes (Category 3+). 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.[1] Of the known 1879 cyclones, Hurricane One were first documented in 1995 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz. They also proposed large changes to the known tracks of Hurricanes Two, Three, Seven and Eight.[2] Later one storm was deemed not to be a tropical cyclone at all and was dropped from the database.[3]
| 1879 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | August 9, 1879 |
| Last system dissipated | November 20, 1879 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Four |
| • Maximum winds | 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 8 |
| Hurricanes | 6 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 47 |
| Total damage | $500,000 (1879 USD) |
Season summary
edit
The Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) recognizes eight tropical cyclones for the 1879 season. Two were tropical storms and six were hurricanes, with winds of 75 mph (119 km/h) or greater. The first storm of the season formed as a tropical storm off the Carolinas on August 9. It briefly reached Category 1 hurricane strength before dissipating on August 12 off Newfoundland. The second cyclone of the year was a major Category 3 hurricane. Known as The Great Beaufort Hurricane, it caused extensive damage to both North Carolina and Virginia. Hurricane Three made landfalls at both the Yucatan Peninsula and near Galveston, Texas, causing great damage along the Louisiana coast. Hurricane Four was the second Category 3 cyclone of the year and, like Hurricane Three, also struck the Gulf coast. In this case the damage and destruction were centred on Morgan City, Louisiana. Tropical Storm Five existed between October 3 and 7 and dissipated over Louisiana. Tropical Storm Six travelled from east of Barbados to make landfall first on Isla de la Juventud, then Cuba and later Florida. Hurricane Seven began as a tropical storm in the Caribbean Sea, before crossing Florida and travelling north, parallel to the US east coast. The last cyclone of the year was a Category 2 hurricane that developed from a tropical storm as it travelled from close to Hispaniola to a point off Atlantic Canada before dissipating on November 20.[4]
Systems
editHurricane One
edit| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 9 – August 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min); |
With The New York Times reporting stormy conditions in the Southeastern United States and the Monthly Weather Review noting that a low-pressure area probably existed by August 9,[2] the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) begins the track of this cyclone about 190 mi (305 km) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. Moving northeastward, the storm is estimated to have intensified into a hurricane by August 11 and peaked with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h),[5] based on accounts from ships.[2] It weakened to a tropical storm while paralleling the coast of Nova Scotia on August 12 and was last noted several hours later while situated about 190 mi (310 km) south-southwest of St. Shott's, Newfoundland.[5]
Rough seas generated by the hurricane swept two sailors off the ship Prince Louis, both of whom were presumed to have drowned.[2]
Hurricane Two
edit| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 13 – August 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min); 971 mbar (hPa) |
The Great Beaufort Hurricane of 1879
An unnamed vessel reported stormy conditions and rapidly falling barometric pressures northeast of the Lesser Antilles on August 13.[2] With the track initiated about 260 mi (420 km) east-northeast of Barbuda, the cyclone headed westward, passing north of the Lesser Antilles. By August 15, the storm began turning northwestward, paralleling the Dominican Republic but then striking Turks and Caicos Islands early the next day. After crossing the far southeastern Bahamas, the cyclone intensified into a hurricane on August 16. Turning northeastward on August 18, the system intensified into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), and made landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina, at 12:00 UTC.[5] A 1989 reanalysis estimated that the hurricane possessed a barometric pressure of 971 mbar (28.7 inHg), based on intense winds near the point of landfall.[3] After crossing the state, the storm moved into the northwestern Atlantic and moved ashore near Falmouth, Massachusetts, as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) early on August 19. The hurricane then weakened to a tropical storm and crossed Atlantic Canada between that day and the following, striking Nova Scotia and Newfoundland before being last noted just east of the latter on August 20.[5]
Strong winds impacted many places in coastal North Carolina. Cape Lookout recorded wind gusts of 138 mph (222 km/h) before the anemometer cups blew away; wind gusts there are estimated to have reached 168 mph (270 km/h). The Beaufort–Morehead City area likely experienced the worst impacts, where the hurricane destroyed all wharves, about 1,000 ft (300 m) of railroad, and two hotels and toppled the chimneys of most homes. Many vessels wrecked near Beaufort and at least one more near Cape Hatteras. The cyclone also destroyed anemometers at Hatteras, Fort Macon, Kitty Hawk, and Portsmouth in North Carolina and Cape Henry in Virginia, with wind speeds estimated at 100 mph (160 km/h) or more.[6] A storm surge up to 8 ft (2.4 m) high was seen at Norfolk, Virginia.[3] There, the Norfolk Virginian reported "one of the severest storms which have ever visited this section." Heavy rains caused floodwaters to inundated wharves, streets, and the lower floors of buildings, while high winds deroofed homes and uprooted many trees. Tides reached then-highest known heights in Portsmouth, flooding streets and wrecking several vessels.[7] Strong winds impacted many areas farther north, with Atlantic City and Barnegat in New Jersey recording sustained winds of 63 mph (101 km/h).[8] The hurricane was responsible for 46 deaths,[9] and sank more than 100 large vessels throughout the United States.[10]
Hurricane Three
edit| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 19 – August 24 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); 964 mbar (hPa) |
Benito Viñes documented this storm over the northwestern Caribbean as early as August 19.[2] Moving west-northwestward, the cyclone intensified into a hurricane on at 00:00 UTC on August 20,[5] according to reports from the ship Elvina.[3] About 12 hours later, the hurricane made landfall in Mexico near Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm late on August 20, but re-strengthened into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico the next day. Turning north-northwestward, the cyclone strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane on August 22, and made landfall near present-day High Island, Texas, early on August 23.[5] Based on a barometric pressure of 988 mbar (29.2 inHg) at Shreveport, Louisiana, the hurricane is estimated to have possessed sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 964 mbar (28.5 inHg).[3] The system weakened to a tropical depression later on August 23 and then to a tropical depression early on August 24, before dissipating over Kentucky several hours later.[5]
Strong winds over far eastern Texas damaged all sawmills, tossed railroad cars off their tracks, and uprooted many trees in Orange. Several vessels capsized, suffered damage, or beached across that part of the state.[11] In Louisiana, a wave at Calcasieu Pass grounded at least 12 vessels high-and-dry. The Sabine Pass Lighthouse reportedly swayed about 6 in (150 mm) and lost its beacon. A two-story church in Johnson Bayou and numerous homes were destroyed throughout Cameron Parish, with some completely swept away. Additionally, hundreds of cattle drowned. Farther east, few structures between Morgan City and New Iberia escaped damage, while the hurricane destroyed some homes and deroofed many others in the former and in Franklin. The Lake Charles area demolished many chimneys, fences, and older buildings; ripped off a church spire; uprooted trees; and damaged much vegetation. Throughout Louisiana, the cyclone caused extensive damage to fruit and sugar cane crops.[12]
Hurricane Four
edit| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 29 – September 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min); 945 mbar (hPa) |
The Louisiana Hurricane of 1879
The official track for this storm begins on August 29 over the south-central Gulf of Mexico,[5] one day before Port Eads, Louisiana, started to report elevated wind speeds.[2] Early on August 30, the storm intensified into a hurricane while heading northwestward and then major hurricane status about one day later. Slightly further strengthening occurred,[5] with the storm estimated to have peaked with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) due to damage in Morgan City, Louisiana,[3] near where the hurricane made landfall at 16:00 UTC on September 1.[5] In turn, the wind speed and pressures recorded at Morgan City led the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project to estimate the storm's barometric pressure at 945 mbar (27.9 inHg).[3] Rapid weakening occurred after landfall, with the cyclone falling to a tropical storm around 00:00 UTC on September 2. About 18 hours later, the storm weakened to a tropical depression over northern Alabama and subsequently dissipated.[5]
The cyclone produced brisk winds along the Gulf Coast of the United States from Brownsville, Texas, to St. Marks, Florida.[2] In Louisiana, the Morgan City area experienced the worst impacts. Fifteen cabins, two churches, and a sawmill collapsed and sugar houses suffered damage. All streets in the city flooded after Berwick Bay rose approximately 9 ft (2.7 m). Meteorologist David Roth noted in 2010 that "the wind was so intense between Morgan City and Jeanerette that trees were defoliated as if it was winter." The hurricane also destroyed sawmills in the latter. Many trees throughout Iberia and St. Mary Parish. Strong winds in Abbeville topped a number of homes, fences, and trees, one of which partially deroofed a church. Heavy rainfall caused flooding that swept away bridges. Farther inland, more than half of cotton and most corn crops in St. Landry Parish were ruined.[12] Dwellings also collapsed in Baton Rouge, Bayou Sara, Lewisburg, and Mandeville.[2] Throughout Louisiana, the hurricane caused approximately $500,000 in damage and killed twenty mules, five cattle, and one person.[12]
Tropical Storm Five
edit| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 3 – October 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min); |
The Monthly Weather Review documented this storm starting on October 3,[2] with HURDAT beginning the track about 225 mi (360 km) south of Jamaica. Moving northwestward for most of its duration, the cyclone clipped Cuba's Guanahacabibes Peninsula before entering the Gulf of Mexico early on October 5. About 24 hours later, the storm is estimated to have peaked with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h), an intensity that the cyclone held through its landfall near Port Eads, Louisiana, at 05:00 UTC on October 7. Thereafter, the system rapidly weakened and dissipated over central Mississippi about 13 hours later.[5]
Tropical Storm Six
edit| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 9 – October 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min); |
Similar to the path constructed by meteorologist C. J. Neumann in 1993,[2] the official track begins on October 9 about 240 mi (385 km) east-northeast of Barbados. Moving west-northwestward, the storm passed through the Lesser Antilles on the next day, striking Martinique before entering the Caribbean. On October 12, the cyclone struck or moved very close to Jamaica with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Shortly after turning north-northwestward on October 14, the system made landfall in Cuba on Isla de la Juventud and then near La Coloma in Pinar del Río Province. The storm entered the Gulf of Mexico and likely underwent little change in intensity before making its final landfall near Fort Walton Beach, Florida, around 08:00 UTC on October 16. Several hours later, the cyclone dissipated over central Alabama.[5]
Hurricane Seven
edit| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 24 – October 29 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min); |
The official track for this storm begins over the northwestern Caribbean on October 24,[5] one day before some cities along the Gulf Coast of the United States first observed elevated winds.[2] Initially moving northwestward, the cyclone crossed the Yucatán Channel and entered the Gulf of Mexico before turning northeastward on October 26. Around 21:00 UTC the following day, the storm made landfall near Yankeetown, Florida, with winds estimated at 70 mph (110 km/h). Reaching the Atlantic near St. Augustine early on October 28, the cyclone paralleled the East Coast of the United States.[5] Ship reports indicate that the storm likely intensified into a hurricane around 00:00 UTC on October 29 and peaked with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).[5][3] However, the system weakened back to a tropical storm about 12 hours later and was last noted that day near Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula.[5]
Climate researcher Michael Chenoweth argued that this system was extratropical, instead noting a gradient between gales over the Gulf of Mexico and a very strong high-pressure area, while an extratropical developed offshore North Carolina.[13]
Hurricane Eight
edit| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | November 18 – November 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); |
Although the schooner O. S. Bailey reported gales on November 17,[2] the track listed in HURDAT begins on the next day over the southeastern Bahamas about 35 mi (55 km) north of Inagua. Around 00:00 UTC on November 19, the storm intensified into a hurricane while moving northward. About 24 hours later, it is estimated that the cyclone intensified into a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). However, around 12:00 UTC on November 20, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about 185 mi (300 km) southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.[5] Later that day, Halifax, Nova Scotia, recorded a barometric pressure of 968 mbar (28.6 inHg), forming the basis for the peak intensity estimate while the storm was still a tropical cyclone.[2][3]
The extratropical storm affected Atlantic Canada with winds equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane.[5] Chenoweth concluded that this system was never tropical, due to cold air enveloping the low-pressure area.[13]
Other storms
editChenoweth proposed seven other storms not currently listed in HURDAT:[13]
- August 15 to August 18, peaked as a tropical storm
- August 15 to August 31, peaked as a Category 1 hurricane
- September 10 to September 20, peaked as a Category 1 hurricane
- September 8 to September 14, peaked as a tropical storm
- September 23 to September 26, peaked as a tropical storm
- October 11 to October 20, peaked as a tropical storm
- November 5 to November 7, peaked as a Category 1 hurricane
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Landsea, C. W. (2004). "The Atlantic hurricane database re-analysis project: Documentation for the 1851–1910 alterations and additions to the HURDAT database". In Murname, R. J.; Liu, K.-B. (eds.). Hurricanes and Typhoons: Past, Present and Future. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 177–221. ISBN 0-231-12388-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Partagas, J.F. and H.F. Diaz, 1995b "A Reconstruction of Historical Tropical Cyclone Frequency in the Atlantic from Documentary and other Historical Sources : 1851-1880 Part II: 1871-1880" Climate Diagnostics Center, NOAA, Boulder, CO
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Landsea, Christopher W.; et al. (May 2015). Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT (Report). National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "noaa.gov". National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration. 18 November 2023. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Landsea, Chris (April 2022). "The revised Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT2) - Chris Landsea – April 2022" (PDF). Hurricane Research Division – NOAA/AOML. Miami: Hurricane Research Division – via Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
- ^ Hudgins, James E. (2000). "Tropical cyclones affecting North Carolina since 1586-An Historical Perspective". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Roth, David M.; Cobb, Hugh (July 16, 2001). "Late Nineteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". Virginia Hurricane History. Weather Prediction Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "Center fix data: 1871-1880". National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Rappaport, Edward N.; Fernández-Partagás, Jose (1996). "Cyclones with 25+ deaths". The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "Barometric Pressure" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 7 (8). August 1879. Bibcode:1879MWRv....7RR..1.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1879)78[1b:BP]2.0.CO;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Roth, David M. (February 4, 2010). Texas Hurricane History (PDF) (Report). National Weather Service Camp Springs, Maryland. p. 22-23. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c David M. Roth (January 13, 2010). Louisiana Hurricane History (PDF). National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Chenoweth, Michael (December 2014). "A New Compilation of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1851–98". Journal of Climate. 27 (12). American Meteorological Society: 8682. Bibcode:2014JCli...27.8674C. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00771.1. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
