Great Havana Hurricane of 1846
Encyclopedia
The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 was a powerful late season hurricane
that caused extensive damage and up to 255 deaths as it moved across Cuba
, Florida
, and the eastern United States
before dissipating over the Canadian Maritimes.
. It followed a typical track for an Atlantic hurricane in October, moving across southwestern Cuba
on October 11 with winds exceeding 215 km/h (133.6 mph) and central pressure of 940 mbar (27.8 inHg). It turned northward and struck the Florida Keys
as a very intense (possibly Category 5) hurricane, producing a minimum pressure of 938 mbar.
The storm then paralleled the Florida
west coast. Its exact track is unknown because no reports exist from Tampa
and Saint Augustine. Modern historians estimate the hurricane hit near Cedar Key during the early hours of October 12 and then moved rapidly to the northeast, remaining inland along the East Coast of the United States
. It returned to sea near Boston, Massachusetts on October 14, and likely became extratropical
in the following days.
) in damage.
was demolished and coastal villages were wiped out in a matter of hours. Some disputed reports say 600 people died; the official death toll in Cuba is 163.
and Key West
collapsed, drowning people whom had taken refuge in them. The large naval hospital in Key West was severely damaged, and 594 of the island's 600 buildings were either damaged or destroyed. A 5 feet (1.5 m) storm surge, combined with very strong winds of Category 4
to possibly Category 5
intensity caused about $200,000 dollars (1846 USD) in damage in Key West ($3.96 million 2005 USD). A total of 50 people were reported killed in Key West. The surge washed many corpses out of the cemetery that was located on the beach on the south side of the island. The following year the cemetery was moved to a higher point on the island near Solares Hill
. Other parts of the Florida Keys experienced storm surge of up to 12 ft (3.7 m), above most of the islands' highest points.
In Cedar Key
where landfall likely occurred, hundreds of oak trees were toppled and houses were gutted.
Reportedly, 40 people in mainland Florida
lost their lives.
, the storm was considered the worst hurricane since 1824, causing moderate structural damage. One marine casualty occurred there.
A schooner was lost in Charleston Harbor
. The city had minimal structural damage. As it passed, the hurricane's central pressure was less than 985 mbar (29.1 inHg), and rainfall reached 4.5 inches (114.3 mm). Tides were reportedly about 2 feet (61 cm) above normal.
to reach its highest level in 20 years as tides rose 6.9 feet (2.1 m) above normal.
One hundred yards of the Battery
was swept away by pounding surf. Widespread structural damage and heavy rainfall were experienced throughout the Northeastern United States
as the hurricane was winding down.
In Hartford, Connecticut
, hurricane-force winds destroyed a trestle bridge. Numerous apple orchards in Massachusetts
were reported ruined. No deaths are attributed to the hurricane's passage over New England
.
hurricane; however, confirming its intensity would require the accuracy of modern instruments. The earliest officially recorded Category 5 hurricane, the 1924 Cuba hurricane
did not occur for decades.
In Havana, Cuba, a pressure of 940 mbar (27.8 inHg) was recorded, but reports of wind speed at the time are only estimates.
One estimate shows a pressure of 902 mbar (26.6 inHg) as the storm crossed the Florida Keys
, which would make it the second-strongest U.S. hurricane landfall on record, behind only the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
, also in the Florida Keys. In addition, if the pressure estimate is accurate, the hurricane would be tied with Hurricane Katrina
as the sixth-most-intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, and easily the most intense hurricane of the 19th century. No Atlantic storm would officially reach or surpass 902 mbar (26.6 inHg) until the Labor Day storm in 1935, nearly 90 years later.
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...
that caused extensive damage and up to 255 deaths as it moved across 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...
, 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...
, and the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before dissipating over the Canadian Maritimes.
Meteorological history
First reported on October 6, the hurricane moved through the 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....
. It followed a typical track for an Atlantic hurricane in October, moving across southwestern 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 October 11 with winds exceeding 215 km/h (133.6 mph) and central pressure of 940 mbar (27.8 inHg). It turned northward and struck the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
as a very intense (possibly Category 5) hurricane, producing a minimum pressure of 938 mbar.
The storm then paralleled 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...
west coast. Its exact track is unknown because no reports exist from Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and Saint Augustine. Modern historians estimate the hurricane hit near Cedar Key during the early hours of October 12 and then moved rapidly to the northeast, remaining inland along the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. It returned to sea near Boston, Massachusetts on October 14, and likely became extratropical
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
in the following days.
Impact
The damage from the storm is mostly unknown but likely severe. Key West reportedly had $200,000 (1846 USDUnited States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) in damage.
Cuba
The hurricane wrecked 85 merchant ships with 30 feet (9.1 m) seas. Nearly every building in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
was demolished and coastal villages were wiped out in a matter of hours. Some disputed reports say 600 people died; the official death toll in Cuba is 163.
Florida
In the Florida Keys, 20 boats and ships were sunk,dismasted or grounded by the storm. The twin lighthouses at Sand KeySand Key Light
Sand Key Light is located six nautical miles southwest of Key West, Florida, between Sand Key Channel and Rock Key Channel, two of the channels into Key West. It is located on a reef that is intermittently covered by sand. At times the key has been substantial enough to have trees, and in 1900 nine...
and Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
collapsed, drowning people whom had taken refuge in them. The large naval hospital in Key West was severely damaged, and 594 of the island's 600 buildings were either damaged or destroyed. A 5 feet (1.5 m) storm surge, combined with very strong winds of Category 4
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
to possibly Category 5
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
intensity caused about $200,000 dollars (1846 USD) in damage in Key West ($3.96 million 2005 USD). A total of 50 people were reported killed in Key West. The surge washed many corpses out of the cemetery that was located on the beach on the south side of the island. The following year the cemetery was moved to a higher point on the island near Solares Hill
Solares Hill
Solares Hill is the name of the highest point of land on the island of Key West in the lower Florida Keys in Monroe County, Florida.The peak elevation of the hill is above sea level....
. Other parts of the Florida Keys experienced storm surge of up to 12 ft (3.7 m), above most of the islands' highest points.
In Cedar Key
Cedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 790 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 958. The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands close to the mainland. Most of the developed area of the city has been on...
where landfall likely occurred, hundreds of oak trees were toppled and houses were gutted.
Reportedly, 40 people in mainland 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...
lost their lives.
Southeast United States
In Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, 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...
, the storm was considered the worst hurricane since 1824, causing moderate structural damage. One marine casualty occurred there.
A schooner was lost in Charleston Harbor
Charleston Harbor
The Charleston Harbor is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean at Charleston, South Carolina. The inlet is formed by the junction of Ashley and Cooper rivers at . Morris and Sullivan's Island, shelter the entrance...
. The city had minimal structural damage. As it passed, the hurricane's central pressure was less than 985 mbar (29.1 inHg), and rainfall reached 4.5 inches (114.3 mm). Tides were reportedly about 2 feet (61 cm) above normal.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
The hurricane caused the Potomac RiverPotomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
to reach its highest level in 20 years as tides rose 6.9 feet (2.1 m) above normal.
One hundred yards of the Battery
Battery Park
Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
was swept away by pounding surf. Widespread structural damage and heavy rainfall were experienced throughout the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
as the hurricane was winding down.
In Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, hurricane-force winds destroyed a trestle bridge. Numerous apple orchards in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
were reported ruined. No deaths are attributed to the hurricane's passage over New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Strength
The Great Havana Hurricane was likely a Category 5Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane; however, confirming its intensity would require the accuracy of modern instruments. The earliest officially recorded Category 5 hurricane, the 1924 Cuba hurricane
1924 Cuba hurricane
The 1924 Cuba hurricane is the earliest officially classified Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. It formed on October 14 in the western Caribbean Sea, slowly organizing as it tracked northwestward. By October 16, it attained hurricane status to the east of the...
did not occur for decades.
In Havana, Cuba, a pressure of 940 mbar (27.8 inHg) was recorded, but reports of wind speed at the time are only estimates.
One estimate shows a pressure of 902 mbar (26.6 inHg) as the storm crossed the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
, which would make it the second-strongest U.S. hurricane landfall on record, behind only the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane was the strongest tropical cyclone of the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season, and one of the most intense hurricanes to make landfall in the United States in recorded history...
, also in the Florida Keys. In addition, if the pressure estimate is accurate, the hurricane would be tied with Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
as the sixth-most-intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, and easily the most intense hurricane of the 19th century. No Atlantic storm would officially reach or surpass 902 mbar (26.6 inHg) until the Labor Day storm in 1935, nearly 90 years later.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of New England hurricanes
- List of New Jersey hurricanes