1898 Atlantic hurricane season
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 Season summary map |
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| First storm formed: | Aug. 2, 1898 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | Nov. 4, 1898 |
| Strongest storm: | #7 - 115 knots (135 mph) |
| Total storms: | 11 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 1 |
| Total damage: | $5.4 million (1898 USD) |
| Total fatalities: | 139 |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 |
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The 1898 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1898, and lasted until November 30, 1898. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
The 1898 season was a fairly active one, with 11 storms forming, 4 of which became hurricanes.
Contents |
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane One
The first storm of the season formed on August 2 east of Florida. It crossed the state, and strengthened in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico to an 80 mph (128 km/h) hurricane. It went into Alabama and dissipated on August 3, causing flooding and minor damage.
[edit] Hurricane Two
The next storm formed off the northern coast of Florida on August 30. It hit near the border of South Carolina and Georgia with 85 mph winds, and dissipated on September 1, causing $400,000 in damage (1898 dollars).
[edit] Hurricane Three
A hurricane was first observed on September 3 over the northeastern Atlantic, likely having existed for several days prior. It headed northeastward, and became extratropical on the 5th north of the Azores.
[edit] Hurricane Four
The next storm was the 1898 Windward Islands Hurricane, which formed on September 5 off the coast of Africa. It moved westward and hit the Lesser Antillies with 110 mph winds, where it caused heavy damage across the islands. The hurricane turned to the north, remaining a hurricane until becoming extratropical on the 19th near Newfoundland. The hurricane caused $2.5 million in damage and 86 deaths.
[edit] Tropical Storm Five
The fifth and sixth storms formed over the western Caribbean Sea on September 12 and September 20, respectively. Their tracks were very similar; they tracked northwestward, and hit the Yucatan Peninsula with 60 mph (97 km/h) winds. Later, they traveled north. The first hit Louisiana on the 20th with 60 mph (97 km/h) winds and dissipated over Illinois on the 22nd.
[edit] Tropical Storm Six
The second hit Texas on the 28th, and dissipated shortly thereafter.
[edit] Hurricane Seven
The seventh storm formed to the east of the Lesser Antilles on September 25 and traveled northwest, reaching 110 mph (177 km/h) winds but sparing the islands. On the 2nd, it hit Georgia with 135 mph winds, causing heavy damage amounting to around $2.5 million and 53 casualties. It dissipated after winding its way through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Southern Canada, part of Maine and Newfoundland on October 6.
[edit] Tropical Storms Eight and Ten
The 8th and 10th storms of the season took similar paths, forming in the Western Caribbean, crossing to the northeast across Cuba, and dissipating over the Bahamas. Their dates for formation were September 25 and October 21, respectively, and each dissipated within 4 days of forming.
[edit] Tropical Storm Eleven
The final storm of the season formed over the Northern Lesser Antilles on October 27 and took a nearly straight-lined path to the west, hitting the Yucatan Peninsula with 60 mph (97 km/h) winds, and disintegrated soon after on November 4.
