1875 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1875 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1875 featured an inactive hurricane season. There were six storms of which one peaked as a tropical storm, four as hurricanes and one as a major hurricane (category 3+). However, due to scarce technology, only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, therefore, the actual total could be higher.
on August 19.
. On September 8, a hurricane was observed east of Barbados
, and it struck Barbados on September 9 causing wide destruction. The hurricane moved through the Caribbean
passing Haiti
and Jamaica
before the eye passed over Cuba
on the September 13. At Key West
, ships were driven ashore and then the storm veered westward toward Texas
. Although the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm while over Cuba, it restrengthened to a peak of 115 mph (185 km/h) in the Gulf of Mexico
. The hurricane directly hit Indianola, Texas
at that intensity on the September 16 with the eye passing over the town around midnight on September 17. The storm brought strong storm surge to the Texas coast, causing heavy damage and a total of 800 deaths. It then turned northeastward, dissipating over Mississippi
.
Three-quarters of the buildings in Indianola were washed away and the remaining structures were in a state of ruin. Approximately 300 of the dead are in Indianola. The storm was the first of two hurricanes to devastate Indianola, the other being the Indianola Hurricane of 1886
.
near modern-day Panama City
with winds of 60 mph (27 m/s). By early September 28, the storm had dissipated inland near the Florida
-Georgia
state line.
on October 7. It peaked as a 100 mph (45 m/s) category 2 hurricane. The hurricane safely bypassed Bermuda
and had dissipated by October 10.
with winds of 60 mph (27 m/s).
Hurricane One
The first hurricane of the 1875 season was first observed northeast of the Bahamas on August 16. Its intensity remained steady at 80 mph (36 m/s) throughout the storm's duration. Hurricane One apparently dissipated as it was paralleling Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
on August 19.
Hurricane Two
Another storm formed on September 1 near the coast of Africa, however, it was a tropical storm, unlike Hurricane One. Though by September 3, the storm strengthened into a hurricane. Hurricane Two simultaneously reached peak intensity with sustained winds at 80 mph (36 m/s). In addition, a minimum pressure of 982 mbar (hPa; 29.00 inHg) was observed a few days thereafter. This hurricane dissipated on September 10.Hurricane Three
On September 1, the first observation of the storm was made by a ship southwest of Cape VerdeCape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. On September 8, a hurricane was observed east of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, and it struck Barbados on September 9 causing wide destruction. The hurricane moved through the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
passing Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
before the eye passed over Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on the September 13. At Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
, ships were driven ashore and then the storm veered westward toward Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Although the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm while over Cuba, it restrengthened to a peak of 115 mph (185 km/h) in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. The hurricane directly hit Indianola, Texas
Indianola, Texas
Indianola is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The community, once the county seat of Calhoun County, is a part of the Victoria, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000, but on September 15 of that year, a...
at that intensity on the September 16 with the eye passing over the town around midnight on September 17. The storm brought strong storm surge to the Texas coast, causing heavy damage and a total of 800 deaths. It then turned northeastward, dissipating over Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Three-quarters of the buildings in Indianola were washed away and the remaining structures were in a state of ruin. Approximately 300 of the dead are in Indianola. The storm was the first of two hurricanes to devastate Indianola, the other being the Indianola Hurricane of 1886
Indianola Hurricane of 1886
The Indianola Hurricane of 1886 destroyed the town of Indianola, Texas. It was one of the most intense hurricanes ever to hit the United States.-Meteorological history:...
.
Tropical Storm Four
In addition to five hurricanes, there was a single tropical storm that formed in the west-central Gulf of Mexico on September 24. Tropical Storm Four curved gracefully east-northeastward and ultimately made landfall in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
near modern-day Panama City
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
with winds of 60 mph (27 m/s). By early September 28, the storm had dissipated inland near the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
state line.
Hurricane Five
Hurricane Five was discovered north of HispaniolaHispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
on October 7. It peaked as a 100 mph (45 m/s) category 2 hurricane. The hurricane safely bypassed Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and had dissipated by October 10.
Hurricane Six
The sixth and final hurricane of the season was discovered north of the western Bahamian Islands on October 12. It headed northward and attained hurricane status for several hours before later weakening back. The storm accelerated and made landfall on Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
with winds of 60 mph (27 m/s).