1893 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1893 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1893. The 1893 season was fairly active, with 12 tropical storms
forming, 10 of which became hurricanes. Of those, 5 became major hurricanes. This season proved to be a very deadly season, with two different hurricanes each causing over two thousand (2000) deaths in the United States; at the time, the season was the deadliest in U.S. history. The season was one of two on the record, along with the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season
, when 4 Atlantic hurricanes were active on the same day.
. The storm moved northeastward throughout its life, and hit the Florida Panhandle
on June 16 as a strong tropical storm. After weakening over the Southeastern United States
, the storm emerged over the Atlantic Ocean
near Norfolk, Virginia
. After briefly strengthening to a hurricane, the storm succumbed to cold water and shear and became extratropical on June 20.
north of Panama
on July 4. The storm intensified to a 95 mph (153 km/h) hurricane before hitting the northeast coast of Honduras
. It mainly retained its strength until it hit the northeastern coast of Belize
on July 6. Afterwards, it rapidly weakened over the Yucatán Peninsula
and dissipated on July 7. The storm sank several ships and reportedly caused a large loss of life. It has been paleotempestologically
traced in sediment near Gales Point
.
. While approaching Puerto Rico
on August 16, its winds increased to major hurricane status before landfall at Patillas. It crossed the island and exited near Isabela. There were heavy rains over the island of Puerto Rico and damages to the agricultural crops, especially coffee. In San Juan 2.36 inches of rain were reported. The eye remained over Puerto Rico for a period of seven hours. The lowest barometric pressure reading recorded in San Juan was 29.17 inches. Four deaths were reported. This was the first hurricane in Puerto Rico where flags were used to alert the public about the danger of an approaching hurricane; they were flown from government buildings.
Although landfall weakened the storm, the storm regained major hurricane status as it approached the Bahamas. It then re curved northward and hit Halifax, Nova Scotia as a non-tropical category 1. This hurricane was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
directly as an 85 mph (136.8 km/h) hurricane. It was one of 2 hurricanes to directly hit New York throughout the 19th century, with the other being the 1821 Norfolk and Long Island hurricane
. This storm was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
on August 15. After moving northwestward for a day, it moved northeastward and strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane. The storm hit the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland on August 18 as a 90 mph (145 km/h) hurricane, and dissipated the day after.
, formed near Cape Verde
on August 15. The storm moved generally westward for the first 11 days of its life, during which it strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane. As it approached the Bahamas, it moved more northwestward, paralleling the coast of Florida
. The storm hit near Savannah, Georgia
and was responsible for the deaths of 2000 people. It moved northeastward, and underwent extratropical transition on August 31. This hurricane was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
islands on August 20. It moved northwestward, reaching Category 2 hurricane strength on August 23. The hurricane maintained its strength until August 28, when cooler waters led the storm to extratropical transition. This storm was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
to a 95 mph (153 km/h) hurricane. It hit the southern coast of Louisiana
on September 7, and dissipated over northeastern Alabama
.
on September 25. It moved westward for the first 8 days of its life then it moved more northwestward. During this time it strengthened to a major hurricane, and it maintained its strength until landfall. As it bypassed the Bahamas, it moved more northward, and struck near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
on October 13 with winds around 120 mph (190 km/h). It moved through North Carolina
and the Appalachian Mountains
, becoming extratropical on October 14. It caused 28 deaths.
The hurricane had an estimated Accumulated Cyclone Energy
of 63.5, one of the highest of any historical Atlantic hurricane.
on October 20. After moving through Cuba
, it strengthened to a 60 mph (97 km/h) storm before it hit the Delmarva Peninsula
on October 23.
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...
forming, 10 of which became hurricanes. Of those, 5 became major hurricanes. This season proved to be a very deadly season, with two different hurricanes each causing over two thousand (2000) deaths in the United States; at the time, the season was the deadliest in U.S. history. The season was one of two on the record, along with the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season
1998 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1998, and lasted until November 30, 1998. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin; however, the season extended through December 1 as Hurricane Nicole remained...
, when 4 Atlantic hurricanes were active on the same day.
Hurricane One
The season began early with its first storm forming on June 12 in the Bay of CampecheBay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
. The storm moved northeastward throughout its life, and hit the Florida Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
on June 16 as a strong tropical storm. After weakening over the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
, the storm emerged over the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
near Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. After briefly strengthening to a hurricane, the storm succumbed to cold water and shear and became extratropical on June 20.
Hurricane Two
July continued the season's activity, with a tropical storm forming in the western Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
north of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
on July 4. The storm intensified to a 95 mph (153 km/h) hurricane before hitting the northeast coast of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. It mainly retained its strength until it hit the northeastern coast of Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
on July 6. Afterwards, it rapidly weakened over the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
and dissipated on July 7. The storm sank several ships and reportedly caused a large loss of life. It has been paleotempestologically
Paleotempestology
Paleotempestology is the study of past tropical cyclone activity by means of geological proxies as well as historical documentary records. The term was coined by Kerry Emanuel.-Sedimentary proxy records:...
traced in sediment near Gales Point
Gales Point
Gales Point is a village in the Belize District in the nation of Belize, Central America. The village is on a peninsula in the Southern Lagoon. In 2000 Gales Point had a population of about 500 people, most of whom subsist on fishing and farming....
.
Hurricane Three
The third storm of the season, known as the San Roque Hurricane, formed on August 13 east of the Lesser Antilles. It steadily strengthened to a hurricane while moving over the Leeward IslandsLeeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
. While approaching Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
on August 16, its winds increased to major hurricane status before landfall at Patillas. It crossed the island and exited near Isabela. There were heavy rains over the island of Puerto Rico and damages to the agricultural crops, especially coffee. In San Juan 2.36 inches of rain were reported. The eye remained over Puerto Rico for a period of seven hours. The lowest barometric pressure reading recorded in San Juan was 29.17 inches. Four deaths were reported. This was the first hurricane in Puerto Rico where flags were used to alert the public about the danger of an approaching hurricane; they were flown from government buildings.
Although landfall weakened the storm, the storm regained major hurricane status as it approached the Bahamas. It then re curved northward and hit Halifax, Nova Scotia as a non-tropical category 1. This hurricane was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
Hurricane Four
The 4th storm of the season began its life in the Central Tropical Atlantic on August 15. The storm moved west-northwestward for the first week of its life, while strengthening on the way. As it reached Category 3 strength, it moved more northwestward. Cooler waters weakened the storm, but it managed to hit New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
directly as an 85 mph (136.8 km/h) hurricane. It was one of 2 hurricanes to directly hit New York throughout the 19th century, with the other being the 1821 Norfolk and Long Island hurricane
1821 Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane
The 1821 Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane was one of four known tropical cyclones that have made landfall in New York City. Another, even more intense hurricane struck the region in pre-Columbian times and was detected by paleotempestological research...
. This storm was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
Hurricane Five
The 5th storm of the season started east of BermudaBermuda
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...
on August 15. After moving northwestward for a day, it moved northeastward and strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane. The storm hit the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland on August 18 as a 90 mph (145 km/h) hurricane, and dissipated the day after.
Hurricane Six
The 6th storm of the season, known as the 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane1893 Sea Islands Hurricane
On August 27, 1893 a major hurricane which came to be known as the Sea Islands Hurricane struck the United States near Savannah, Georgia. It was one of two deadly hurricanes during the 1893 Atlantic hurricane season; the storm killed an estimated 1,000–2,000 people, mostly from storm surge...
, formed near Cape Verde
Cape 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 August 15. The storm moved generally westward for the first 11 days of its life, during which it strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane. As it approached the Bahamas, it moved more northwestward, paralleling the coast of 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...
. The storm hit near Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
and was responsible for the deaths of 2000 people. It moved northeastward, and underwent extratropical transition on August 31. This hurricane was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
Hurricane Seven
The 7th storm of the season formed near the 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...
islands on August 20. It moved northwestward, reaching Category 2 hurricane strength on August 23. The hurricane maintained its strength until August 28, when cooler waters led the storm to extratropical transition. This storm was one of four active hurricanes on August 22.
Hurricane Eight
The 8th storm of the season formed in the western Caribbean Sea on September 4. After hitting the Yucatán Peninsula, it strengthened in the Gulf of MexicoGulf 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...
to a 95 mph (153 km/h) hurricane. It hit the southern coast of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
on September 7, and dissipated over northeastern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Hurricane Nine
The 9th storm of the season was known as the Charleston Hurricane. It formed 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 25. It moved westward for the first 8 days of its life then it moved more northwestward. During this time it strengthened to a major hurricane, and it maintained its strength until landfall. As it bypassed the Bahamas, it moved more northward, and struck near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
on October 13 with winds around 120 mph (190 km/h). It moved through North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
, becoming extratropical on October 14. It caused 28 deaths.
The hurricane had an estimated Accumulated Cyclone Energy
Accumulated cyclone energy
Accumulated cyclone energy is a measure used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to express the activity of individual tropical cyclones and entire tropical cyclone seasons, particularly the North Atlantic hurricane season. It uses an approximation of the energy used by a...
of 63.5, one of the highest of any historical Atlantic hurricane.
Hurricane Ten
The 10th storm of the season, known as the Cheniere Caminada Hurricane began on September 27 in the western Caribbean Sea. After hitting the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane, it moved through the Gulf of Mexico. As it approached the southeast coast of Louisiana, it rapidly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane, and hit land on October 2. It moved through Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas before dissipating at sea. This storm was one of the first hurricanes to officially receive a Category 4 designation on the modern Saffir-Simpson scale. It killed 2000 people and caused around $5 million (1893 dollars) in damage.Tropical Storm Eleven
The 11th storm of the season formed just south of the Isle of YouthIsle of Youth
Isla de la Juventud is the second-largest Cuban island and the seventh-largest island in the West Indies . The island has an area and is 100 km south of the island of Cuba, across the Gulf of Batabanó...
on October 20. After moving through 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...
, it strengthened to a 60 mph (97 km/h) storm before it hit the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
on October 23.
Tropical Storm Twelve
The 12th and final storm of the season formed northeast of the Bahamas on November 5. The storm moved northwestward, almost hitting North Carolina as a strong tropical storm, but went out to sea, becoming extratropical on November 10.See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons