1858 San Diego Hurricane
Encyclopedia
The 1858 San Diego hurricane was a very rare California
hurricane. It is the only known tropical cyclone
to impact California as a hurricane, although other systems impacted California as tropical storms.
. Unlike most east Pacific storms, this one accelerated towards the north-northeast. On October 2, it neared Southern California
while weakening due to cool water and strong wind shear. It just missed making landfall, while it turned to the west-northwest. It approached Santa Catalina Island
in the Channel Islands
and dissipated. There is some uncertainty to this reconstructed path.
Rainfall in San Pedro was also heavy, but high winds were not reported. Parts of the embankment in the city were washed away, causing only around $100 ($ today) in damage. The yacht Medora was washed ashore. Many reports claimed that the yacht was irreparable, but it was later claimed that the damage wasn't actually that great and could be repaired. A barge was destroyed, as was a large portion of the San Pedro wharf.
El Monte was buffeted by high winds, damaging corn crops and trees. Los Angeles
and Visalia
noted large amounts of rain, as much as 7 inches (177.8 mm), but low winds.
Michael Chenoweth and Christopher Landsea
estimated that if the storm hit today, it would cause around $500 million in damage.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
hurricane. It is the only known tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
to impact California as a hurricane, although other systems impacted California as tropical storms.
Meteorological history
Late in September, a hurricane formed in the East Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Unlike most east Pacific storms, this one accelerated towards the north-northeast. On October 2, it neared Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
while weakening due to cool water and strong wind shear. It just missed making landfall, while it turned to the west-northwest. It approached Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
and dissipated. There is some uncertainty to this reconstructed path.
Impact
In San Diego, the rain was very heavy, and the property damage was great; many homes lost their roofs, while a few homes even collapsed. In addition, trees were uprooted, and fences destroyed. A recently constructed windmill was also blown away completely. Three schooners, the Plutus, the Lovely Flora, and the X.L. were blown ashore, though only the X.L. suffered major damage.Rainfall in San Pedro was also heavy, but high winds were not reported. Parts of the embankment in the city were washed away, causing only around $100 ($ today) in damage. The yacht Medora was washed ashore. Many reports claimed that the yacht was irreparable, but it was later claimed that the damage wasn't actually that great and could be repaired. A barge was destroyed, as was a large portion of the San Pedro wharf.
El Monte was buffeted by high winds, damaging corn crops and trees. Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Visalia
Visalia, California
Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
noted large amounts of rain, as much as 7 inches (177.8 mm), but low winds.
Michael Chenoweth and Christopher Landsea
Christopher Landsea
Christopher W. Landsea is an American meteorologist, formerly a research meteorologist with Hurricane Research Division of Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory at NOAA, and now the Science and Operations Officer at the National Hurricane Center...
estimated that if the storm hit today, it would cause around $500 million in damage.
Rediscovery
Using newspaper accounts, two researchers with NOAA, Christopher Landsea and Michael Chenoweth, reconstructed this hurricane. Its strong winds were mentioned in the folklore of the region.See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of California hurricanes