1886 Atlantic hurricane season

1886 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
First system formed June 13, 1886 (Hurricane One)
Last system dissipated October 26, 1886 (Tropical Storm Twelve)
Strongest storm1 "Indianola" – 925 mbar (hPa) (27.32 inHg), 150 mph (240 km/h)
Total storms 12
Hurricanes 10
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 4
Total fatalities 200-225
Total damage ~ $2.25 million (1886 USD)
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888

The 1886 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the early summer and the first half of fall in 1886. This is the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was a very active year, with ten hurricanes, seven of which struck the United States.[1] Four hurricanes became 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 are known, 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.[2] Of the known 1886 cyclones, Hurricane Seven and Tropical Storm Eleven were first documented in 1996 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz. They also proposed large alterations to the known tracks of several other 1886 storms.[3]

Seasonal summary

1886 Indianola hurricane Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale

The 1886 Atlantic hurricane season commenced at 06:00 UTC on June 13.[4][nb 1] The season was approximately average, featuring 12 tropical storms compared to the 1981–2010 annual average of 12.1.[5] The number of hurricanes, however, was well above average, with 10 forming compared to the annual average of 6.4. The number of major hurricanes—defined as Category 3 or higher on the modern Saffir–Simpson scale—was four, compared to an average of 2.7. Owing to deficiencies in surface weather observations at the time, the total number of tropical storms in 1886 was likely higher than 12. A 2008 study indicated that about three storms may have been missed by observational records due to scarce marine traffic over the open Atlantic Ocean.[6] All but two of the storms in 1886 affected land at some point in the tropical stages of their life cycles.[4] Of these, four hurricanes struck the island of Cuba, a record unsurpassed in any Atlantic hurricane season since then.[7] According to the Cuban Meteorological Society, 1886 coincided with a highly active period, 1837–1910, in which one hurricane struck the island every 9.25 years.[8] Additionally, seven hurricanes made landfall in the United States, establishing a record for the number of hurricane strikes in a single season. The years 1886–1887 featured 11 U.S. hurricane landfalls, setting a record for consecutive seasons until 2004–2005, when 12 such storms hit the country.[9] Hurricane activity centered on the Gulf of Mexico: all seven landfalls in 1886 occurred on the U.S. Gulf Coast, with no hurricanes making landfall along the Atlantic Seaboard.[10]

Corpses in Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, following the October hurricane

Although other storms may have went undetected, tropical activity definitely began by the middle of June with the formation of the first named storm over the western Gulf of Mexico on June 13. Two other storms formed before the end of the month and also reached the Gulf of Mexico. The first three storms of the season each attained hurricane intensity and eventually made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h).[4] A mid-July storm that formed over the western Caribbean Sea moved northward and struck the west coast of Florida as a hurricane, after two earlier, stronger storms had already done so. Never before or since have so many hurricanes struck Florida in the same season before the month of August.[11] Three storms, all of which attained major hurricane intensity, formed in close succession, over a span of eight days, in August. The first of these, the Indianola hurricane, was the strongest and most intense tropical cyclone of the season, striking multiple islands in the Greater Antilles before rapidly strengthening over the western Gulf of Mexico. It struck the U.S. state of Texas on August 20 with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), making it one of the strongest hurricanes on record to hit the state.[10] September was a less active month than August, featuring two hurricanes on and just after mid-month. The final hurricane of the year formed in early October and struck Louisiana with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). Two additional tropical storms occurred in October, with no further activity confirmed afterward.[4]

Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE)

The ACE index value for the 1886 season was 166,[12] well above the 1981–2010 median of 92.[13] When measured by ACE, the 1886 season was one of the most active on record prior to 1900.[12] Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration, such as Humberto, will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated for specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h). Accordingly, tropical depressions are not included here.[5]

Storms

Hurricane One

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration June 13 – June 15
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) < 997 mbar (hPa)

Early in June, unsettled weather prevailed over the western Caribbean Sea, causing heavy rain and strong winds over Jamaica as early as June 7–8.[14] However, ship reports and data from weather stations first confirmed that a low-pressure center formed off the coast of South Texas.[15][16] Based on the data, HURDAT analyzed that a tropical storm formed about 140 miles (225 km) east-southeast of La Pesca, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, on the morning of June 13.[4] Moving generally northward at first, the cyclone quickly intensified through the day as it gradually turned to the north-northeast, paralleling the Texas coast. By 00:00 UTC on June 14, the cyclone was already a strong tropical storm with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). Six hours later, the storm attained hurricane status, and its parabolic path increasingly bent to the northeast. At 11:50 UTC, Galveston recorded peak winds of 50 mph (81 km/h), and a barometer in town attained its minimum pressure of 29.43 inHg (997 mb) about three hours later.[16] Around 16:00 UTC, the cyclone attained its peak intensity of 100 mph (155 km/h), equivalent to a modern-day Category 2 hurricane, and made landfall just east of High Island. The cyclone rapidly weakened as it headed inland and accelerated to the east-northeast, crossing south-central Louisiana as a tropical storm on June 15. The storm lost intensity so suddenly that weather forecasters could not monitor its progress after passing Galveston.[16] Reanalysis in the 1990s determined that it dissipated about 20 miles (30 km) east-southeast of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, by 18:00 UTC on June 15.[4][14]

As it passed just offshore, the hurricane produced strong winds from the east and northeast in Galveston, generating very high tides. Observers suggested that only the shifting of the winds prevented severe flooding, possibly the worst since a hurricane in 1875; even so, small boats sustained significant damage. Waterfront structures, a tramway, and a railroad were destroyed.[16] Upon making landfall, the hurricane brought a 7-foot (2.1 m) storm tide and major flooding to Sabine Pass and its environs. Numerous structures and wharves were destroyed by wind or water. Saltwater intrusion extended several miles inland, imperiling livestock for want of freshwater.[16] Extensive flooding also took place at Calcasieu Pass, and a barge was blown ashore as well. Half of the corn crop in southwest Louisiana was damaged.[17]

Hurricane Two

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration June 17 – June 24
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min)  973 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm formed in the Caribbean Sea, southwest of Cuba, on June 17. It strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane as it passed the western tip of Cuba the next day. Moving slowly northwards, it grew to a Category 2 cyclone as it approached the west coast of Florida. By June 21 it had made landfall near St. Marks, Florida[18] as a Category 1 hurricane. As it continued northward overland it weakened, first to a tropical storm while crossing Georgia, then on June 23 to a tropical depression over Virginia.[19]

Hurricane Three

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration June 27 – July 2
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min)  973 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm formed in the Caribbean Sea, west of Jamaica, on June 27. The next day it strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane as it passed the Cayman Islands and approached Cuba. By June 30 it was north of Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico and had reached Category 2 strength with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h).[19] On the evening of June 30 it made landfall near Apalachicola, Florida at hurricane strength.[18] Although it weakened whilst overland the next day it continued moving north and its effects as a tropical storm were seen as far north as Virginia. On July 2 the storm moved off shore at Chincoteague, Virginia.[3] In Jamaica, at least 18 people lost their lives due to the storm and there was also some fatalities at Cuba.[20] Passing Cuba, the hurricane caused damage at Batabanó to some property and to boats in the harbour. At Apalachicola roofs were blown off houses and several craft in the bay sunk.[3] Two days of heavy rain brought flooding to the southeast of Virginia with railtracks washed away. The James River at Richmond rose 10 feet above high-water mark.[21] In North Carolina, winds of 47 mph47 mph (76 km/h) were recorded at Fort Macon on June 30 and of 42 mph (68 km/h) at Kitty Hawk on July 1.[22]

Hurricane Four

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration July 14 – July 22
Peak intensity 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min)  985 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm developed in the western Caribbean, southwest of the Cayman Islands on July 14. It moved slowly northward. Although it passed west of Cuba it brought heavy rains to Pinar del Rio throughout July 16 and 17.[3] The cyclone reached Florida early on July 19, making landfall south of Cedar Key,[18] at minimal hurricane strength. It weakened whilst passing overland but regained hurricane intensity when it entered the Atlantic. It reached a peak of 85 mph (137 km/h) over the Western Atlantic while moving out to sea, and became extratropical on July 22.

Hurricane Five

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration August 12 – August 21
Peak intensity 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min)  925 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm developed east of Trinidad and Tobago on August 12 and began moving northwestward. Originally it was thought the storm became a Category 1 hurricane the next day but re-analysis now shows it remained as a tropical storm until August 14.[23] On the evening of August 15 it reached the island of Hispaniola. After crossing the south of that island as a Category 1 hurricane, it struck southeastern Cuba on August 16 as a Category 2 hurricane.[23] The storm briefly weakened whilst over land and entered the Gulf of Mexico near Matanzas on August 18 as a Category 1 storm. As the hurricane crossed the Gulf of Mexico it strengthened further, first to a Category 2 then to a Category 3 cyclone. As it approached the coast of Texas, it had intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) Category 4 hurricane. On August 20, it made landfall at that strength with catastrophic results. The storm eventually dissipated on August 21 in the northwest corner of Texas.

At Indianola, Texas a storm surge of 15 feet overwhelmed the town. Every building in the town was either destroyed or left uninhabitable. When the Signal Office there was blown down, a fire started which took hold and destroyed several neighboring blocks. The village of Quintana, at the mouth of the Brazos River was also destroyed.[24] At Houston the bayou rose between 5–6 feet on August 19. Bridges were overrun by flood water and trees blown over at Galveston. Offshore several ships were wrecked there.[24] Later in 1886, the town of Indianola was abandoned.

Hurricane Six

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration August 15 – August 27
Peak intensity 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min)  ≤977 mbar (hPa)

On August 15 a hurricane was seen 90 miles northeast of Barbados. On August 16 it passed over the island of Saint Vincent as Category 2 hurricane. The hurricane passed north of Grenada and continued westward towards the coast of Venezuela, bringing a heavy gale, and some damage, to Curacao before curving north. Around midnight on August 19 it hit Jamaica, still at Category 2 intensity. The island experienced winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) throughout August 19 and 20th. The hurricane approached the south coast of Cuba as a major Category 3 hurricane on August 21. It crossed Cuba over the central provence of Ciego de Ávila before exiting the island near Moron on the north coast. The hurricane then passed over Nassau on the night of August 22. It quickly moved northeastward, and travelled parallel to the east coast of the United States, still at Category 2 intensity, before it weakened and dissipated south of Newfoundland on the August 27.[3] Damage was extensive at several of the locations impacted by the hurricane and some fatalities occurred on St. Vincent, Jamaica and possibly Cuba. Throughout the south of St Vincent, damage was extensive with many injuries and some fatalities reported. Thousands of trees were blown down and 300 homes destroyed on the island. At Jamaica crops and plantations were destroyed and some ships wrecked in Kingston harbour. In Cuba hundreds of homes were blown down, many trees were uprooted and some areas flooded. In the Bahamas, several sailing ships were blown ashore, both at Nassau and at Andros and at the Berry Islands.[3]

Hurricane Seven

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration August 20 – August 25
Peak intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min)  ≤962 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm formed west of Bermuda on August 20. It passed about 175 miles to the south of the island before turning northwestward. As the storm travelled north on August 21, it intensified to a 115 mph (185 km/h) Category 3 hurricane. It reached the area of Georges Bank at that intensity on August 22 and damaged several vessels there.[3] On August 23 it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and became an extratropical storm on August 24 near the Grand Banks.[19]

Hurricane Eight

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration September 16 – September 24
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min)  973 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm formed north of Puerto Rico on September 16. It travelled west, passing north of Hispaniola on September 17 and crossing Cuba in the Las Tunas region on September 18. The next day the storm passed just south of Isla de la Juventud and continued westward before curving north into the Gulf of Mexico. As the storm travelled north, parallel to the east coast of Mexico, it intensified to a 100 mph (160 km/h) Category 2 hurricane.[19] However, when it made landfall in Texas between Brownsville and Corpus Christi on September 23, it was more likely at Category 1 intensity.[23] The hurricane quickly weakened and dissipated over Texas the next day. Landfall was accompanied by record amounts of rainfall. 26 inches fell at Brownsville between September 21 and 23rd. Two hundred houses were blown down there.[3] Only five weeks after the devastation brought by Hurricane Five, Indianola was again flooded by rainwater and storm surge from Matagorda Bay. The remaining residents were evacuated. Following this storm the post office at Indianola was shut down, marking the official abandonment of the town.[24]

Hurricane Nine

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration September 22 – September 30
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min)  ≤990 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm formed in the western Atlantic on September 22. Within two days it had grown to a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph/160kph. The storm maintained this intensity for six days until September 30, when it weakened to first a Category 1 hurricane then to a tropical storm.[19] The cyclone never made landfall but is known from several ship reports. Most notable are those from the bark Mary, which endured the storm from September 22 until the 28th, and that of the brigantine Pearl which, on the evening of September 25, recorded sightings of ball lighting and "St. Elmo's light at the yard-arms" during the storm.[3]

Hurricane Ten

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration October 8 – October 13
Peak intensity 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min)  955 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm was observed in the northwest Caribbean Sea on October 8. It moved to the northwest, reaching major hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico on October 11. Late on October 12, the hurricane made landfall near the border between Louisiana and Texas. It caused between 126-150 deaths in the East Texas area.[25] due to the heavy rainfall and storm surge, with $250,000 in damage occurring. Port Eads, Louisiana and parts of New Orleans were reported to be flooded.[3] Sabine Pass, Texas was all but destroyed. On the afternoon of October 12 wind speeds there reached 100 mph (160 km/h) and waves from the Gulf were 20 feet high. Most buildings in the town were destroyed and ten miles of railroad track damaged. Numerous vessels were washed miles inshore and wrecked. At Johnson Bayou, Louisiana most buildings in the town were destroyed, and many residents drowned, by the impact of a seven-foot storm surge which extended twenty miles inland.[26]

Tropical Storm Eleven

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration October 10 – October 15
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 

A tropical storm existed in the western Atlantic between October 10 and October 15. It reached a peak wind speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) throughout October 13 and 14.[19] It is thought that the existence of this storm may have been responsible for the westward deviation taken by Hurricane Ten in the Gulf of Mexico on October 10.[3]

Tropical Storm Twelve

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration October 21 – October 26
Peak intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min)  ≤992 mbar (hPa)

Several ships reported a large, but weak, tropical storm in the Caribbean Sea, south of Haiti on October 22.[3] It is thought the storm had actually formed the previous day. After crossing Haiti on October 22 the storm continued moving northeastward into the Atlantic. The storm maintained a peak wind speed of 70 mph (110 km/h) throughout October 23 and 24. It weakened on October 25 and dissipated on October 26 in the mid-Atlantic.[19]

Season effects

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ All dates denoting individual storms' life cycles are based on UTC unless otherwise noted.

References

  1. ↑ Hurricane Research Division (2008). "Chronological List of All Hurricanes which Affected the Continental United States: 1851-2007". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
  2. ↑ 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. Hurricanes and Typhoons: Past, Present and Future. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 177–221. ISBN 0-231-12388-4.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Partagas, J.F. and H.F. Diaz, 1996a "A reconstruction of historical Tropical Cyclone frequency in the Atlantic from documentary and other historical sources Part III: 1881-1890" Climate Diagnostics Center, NOAA, Boulder, CO
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division (February 17, 2016). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Background Information: the North Atlantic Hurricane Season". National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Vecchi, Gabriel A.; Knutson, Thomas R. (July 2008). "On Estimates of Historical North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Activity". Journal of Climate 21 (14): 3588–3591. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2178.1. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Pérez Suárez, R.; Vega, R.; Limia, M. (2000). Los ciclones tropicales de Cuba, su variabilidad y su posible vinculación con los Cambios Globales (Report) (in Spanish). Instituto de Meteorología.
  8. ↑ "Los ciclones tropicales que han afectado a las provincias de Ciudad de la Habana y la Habana". Boletín de SOMETCUBA (in Spanish) (Sociedad Meteorológica de Cuba) 6 (1). January 2000. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Blake, Eric S.; Ethan J. Gibney (August 2011). The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010 (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) (PDF) (Technical report). National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center. pp. 16–17. NWS NHC-6. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (February 2015). "Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description)". aoml.noaa.gov. Miami: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  11. ↑ Barnes, Jay (1998). Florida's Hurricane History (1st ed.). Chapel Hill: UNC Press. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-8078-4748-8.
  12. 1 2 "North Atlantic Hurricane Basin (1851-2015) Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". Hurricane Research Division. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  13. ↑ Klotzbach, Phillip J.; Gray, William M. (10 April 2014). "Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and Landfall Strike Probability for 2014" (PDF). Tropical Meteorology Project. Colorado State University. p. 29. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  14. 1 2 Partagás, J. F.; Díaz, H. F. (1996). A Reconstruction of Historical Tropical Cyclone Frequency in the Atlantic from Documentary and other Historical Sources (PDF) (Report). Climate Diagnostics Center. pp. 36–37. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Chart I. Tracks of Areas of Low Pressure. June, 1886" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review 14 (6): C1. June 1886. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1886)146[c1:CITOAO]2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Atmospheric Pressure" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review 14 (6): 149. June 1886. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1886)14[147b:AP]2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  17. ↑ David M. Roth (2010-01-13). Louisiana Hurricane History (PDF). National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  18. 1 2 3 Al Sandrik and Chris Landsea (2003). "Chronological Listing of Tropical Cyclones affecting North Florida and Coastal Georgia 1565-1899". Hurricane Research Division. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hurricane Research Division (2012). "Easy to Read HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  20. ↑ Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1996). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996: Cyclones that may have 25+ deaths". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  21. ↑ David Roth and Hugh Cobb. "Virginia Hurricane History". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  22. ↑ Hudgins, James E. (2000). "Tropical cyclones affecting North Carolina since 1586 - An Historical Perspective" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  23. 1 2 3 Hurricane Research Division (2008). "Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  24. 1 2 3 David Roth (2010-02-04). "Texas Hurricane History" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  25. ↑ Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1996). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996: Cyclones with 25+ deaths". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  26. ↑ W. T. Block (October 10, 1979). "October 12, 1886: The Night That Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana Died". The Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 2011-06-22.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1886 Atlantic hurricane season.

Unisys Data for 1886 Atlantic Hurricane Season 1886 Hurricane/Tropical Data for Atlantic

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.