1854 Atlantic hurricane season

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,[1] but HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database – now excludes this system.[2] 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.

1854 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedJune 25, 1854
Last system dissipatedOctober 22, 1854
Strongest storm
NameThree
 • Maximum winds130 mph (215 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure938 mbar (hPa; 27.7 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total storms5
Hurricanes3
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)		1
Total fatalities30+ direct
Total damage$20,000 (1854 USD)

Of the season's five tropical cyclones, three reached hurricane status. Furthermore, one of those strengthened into a major hurricane, which is Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. The strongest cyclone of the season, the third hurricane, peaked at Category 3 strength with 125 mph (205 km/h) winds. After making landfall near the Georgia-South Carolina border, the storm caused 26 fatalities and extensive damage in the area. Hurricane Four caused four deaths and approximately $20,000 (1854 USD) in damage after striking the coast of Texas. Hurricane One also caused moderate damage in Texas.

Timeline
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale

Systems

Hurricane One
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
DurationJune 25 – June 27
Peak intensity80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min)  982 mbar (hPa)

A tropical storm was first observed in the Gulf of Mexico on June 25, while located about 240 miles (390 km) south-southwest of Marsh Island, Louisiana. It headed westward and strengthened into a hurricane about 12 hours later. Peaking with maximum sustained winds 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 982 mbar (29.0 inHg),[2][3] the storm maintained this intensity until making landfall in South Padre Island, Texas at 1200 UTC on June 26. It quickly weakened inland and fell to tropical storm strength about six hours later. The system continued in a west-northwestward direction over northern Mexico, until dissipating in a rural area of Coahuila on June 27.[2]

This system brought near tropical storm-force winds to Texas as far north as Galveston. Brazos Island experienced the brunt of this storm, where winds blew a "perfect hurricane". Many buildings in the area lost their roofs or were moved by the winds. Additionally, a cistern at the Quartermaster’s Department was destroyed. The coast of Texas was also impacted by storm surge, with several bath houses washed away at Lavaca. Precipitation in the region was generally light, peaking at 6.63 inches (168 mm) at Fort Ringgold, which is near modern-day Rio Grande City.[4]

Tropical Storm Two
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationAugust 23 – August 23
Peak intensity70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 

The ships Highflyer and Osceola encountered a "very violent" gale on August 23, while located at 33.0°N, 55.0°W, which is about 565 miles (910 km) east-northeast of Bermuda.[1] A sustained wind speed of 70 mph (110 km/h) was recorded, indicative of a strong tropical storm.[5] No further information is available of this storm.[2] However, the barque Pilgrim experienced a severe gale on August 29, which may have been the extratropical remnants of this system.[1]

Hurricane Three
Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 7 – September 12
Peak intensity125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min)  938 mbar (hPa)

The Coastal Hurricane of 1854 or The South Carolina Hurricane of 1854 closely duplicated the path of the famous 1804 Antigua–Charleston hurricane. The brig Reindeer sighted a hurricane about 25 miles (40 km) east of Hope Town in The Bahamas on September 7.[1] With winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg), this was the strongest tropical cyclone of the season. It moved northwestward and weakened slightly on September 8. Later that day at 2000 UTC, the hurricane made landfall near St. Catherines Island, Georgia with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Early on September 9, it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, then a tropical storm several hours later. Thereafter, the storm accelerated northeastward and re-emerged into the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach, Virginia on September 10. The system re-strengthened, becoming a hurricane again on September 11. It eventually began to weaken again while moving rapidly eastward and was last noted about 515 miles (830 km) southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland.[2]

Gales were reported in Florida, including as far south as St. Augustine. In Georgia, the entire coast suffered significant impacts, with damage more severe from St. Simons northward. About 110 acres (45 ha) of rice crops were destroyed, equivalent to a loss of approximately 6,000 bushels. Between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, "extraordinary tides" were reported.[6] Hutchinson Island, Georgia was completely submerged, while there was significant inundation in eastern Savannah. Storm surge also brought coastal flooding to much of South Carolina, from Beaufort to Georgetown. Wind damage in that area was mainly confined to downed trees. However, in Charleston, South Carolina, a two-story wooden building was destroyed and there was slight to moderate damage to other structures, limited to roofs and the destruction of fences. This hurricane compared similarly to hurricanes that struck Charleston in 1752, 1783, 1804, 1811, and 1822 in flooding and strength.[7][8] Throughout the United States, this storm resulted in at least 26 fatalities.[9]

Hurricane Four
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
DurationSeptember 18 – September 20
Peak intensity105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min)  965 mbar (hPa)

The Matagorda Hurricane of 1854

Reports first indicated a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on September 18, while centered about 110 miles (180 km) south-southwest of Cameron, Louisiana. The storm drifted west-northwestward with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.[2] The lowest barometric pressure estimate was 965 mbar (28.5 inHg).[3] At 2100 UTC on September 18, the storm made landfall near Freeport, Texas at the same intensity. It weakened to a Category 1 hurricane early on the following day. The system further weakened to a tropical storm at 1200 UTC on September 19. Re-curving northeastward, the storm persisted until dissipating over eastern Texas on September 20.[2]

The steamship Louisiana reported that a gale struck Matagorda, Texas with "unparalleled fury", with nearly all buildings and vessels in the area destroyed.[1] Several vessels also capsized near Galveston, including the Nick Hill and Kate Ward. Within the city of Galveston, merchants, businesses, and houses suffered significant water damage due to an 8 feet (2.4 m) storm surge. Cotton and sugar cane crops throughout the area were ruined. The storm caused at least four deaths, with several more occurring later due to a yellow fever outbreak. Damage in the region totaled approximately $20,000.[4][10]

Tropical Storm Five
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
DurationOctober 20 – October 22
Peak intensity70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 

The barque Southerney observed a tropical storm on October 20,[1] while located about 460 miles (740 km) north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The storm strengthened slowly while heading northward, until peaking with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) on October 21. The storm then began to re-curve northeastward. Early on October 22, it passed near Bermuda,[2] though no impact was reported on the island.[1] Several hours later, this system was last noted about 365 miles (585 km) east-northeast of Bermuda.[2]

References
  1. Jose F. Partagas (1996). Year 1854 (PDF). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. pp. 21–26. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  2. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.
  3. Chronological List of All Hurricanes: 1851 – 2012. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  4. David M. Roth (January 17, 2010). Texas Hurricane History (PDF). Weather Prediction Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 17. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  5. 1854 Storm 2 (XLS). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  6. Al Sandrik; Christopher W. Landsea (May 2003). Chronological Listing of Tropical Cyclones affecting North Florida and Coastal Georgia 1565-1899. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  7. Early American hurricanes 1492-1870, David Ludlum, pg 99
  8. Douglas Owen Mayes (1999). A Reanalysis Of Five 19th Century South Carolina Major Hurricanes Using Local Data Sources (PDF). University of Northern Colorado (Report). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. pp. 40–47. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  9. Jack Beven; Jose F. Partagas; Edward N. Rappaport (April 22, 1997). The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492 – Present. National Hurricane Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  10. Early American hurricanes 1492-1870, David Ludlum, pg 161-163
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