1883 Atlantic hurricane season

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1883 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Season summary map
First storm formed: August 18, 1883
Last storm dissipated: October 24, 1883
Strongest storm: #2, 3 - 110 knots (130 mph)
Total storms: 4
Major storms (Cat. 3+): 2
Total damage: Unknown
Total fatalities: 236
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1870s, 1880-82, 1883, 1884, 1885

The 1883 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1883, and lasted until November 30, 1883. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. Due to inactivity of the season, there was no storms in June, July and November. Tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable.

Contents

[edit] Season summary

The 1883 Atlantic hurricane season was a very inactive one with activity being confined from August 18 to October 24, well inside the hurricane season. Only four storms formed, three reaching hurricane strength and two reaching major hurricane status (Category 3+). Only one storm did not affect land, which was Hurricane One.

[edit] Storms

[edit] Hurricane One

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
1883 Atlantic hurricane 1 track.png
Duration August 18August 26
Intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min), Pressure unknown

The first storm of the season was first seen on August 18 in the tropical Atlantic. It moved to the west-northwest, becoming a hurricane before turning to the northeast. It moved past Newfoundland on August 26, causing 80 deaths from swells.

[edit] Hurricane Two

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
1883 Atlantic hurricane 2 track.png
Duration August 24September 2
Intensity 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min), ≤983 mbar (hPa)

The second storm followed a similar track to the first one. It was first identified as a hurricane on August 24 to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles. Resembling a Cape Verde-type hurricane, it moved to the northwest, and reached major hurricane status on the 28th. On the 29th, the hurricane peaked at 130 mph (210 km/h), but turned to the northeast where unfavorable conditions caused it to weaken. It passed south of the Canadian Maritimes, and became extratropical on August 30 to the east of Newfoundland. The extratropical storm persisted until September 2 when it lost its identity just west of Ireland.

[edit] Hurricane Three

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
1883 Atlantic hurricane 3 track.png
Duration September 4September 13
Intensity 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min), Pressure unknown

A major hurricane moved through the Lesser Antilles on September 4. It crossed Hispanola, weakening to a minimal hurricane. It restrengthened as it passed the Bahamas, and struck North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane on the 11th. It dissipated over Virginia on the 13th, after causing 156 deaths. The rains from this storm helped end a summer-long drought, though the sleek rails caused a train wreck, derailing 10 freight cars. Crop damage was little, but this was because the peanut crop had already failed from the lack of rain.

[edit] Tropical Storm Four

Tropical storm (SSHS)
1883 Atlantic hurricane 4 track.png
Duration October 22October 24
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), Pressure unknown

The 4th and final tropical storm of the season formed on October 22 over the Bahamas. It moved to the north, then turned to the northeast while off the North Carolina coastline. The storm peaked at 60 mph (97 km/h) on the 24th before becoming extratropical that night, but as an extratropical cyclone it strengthened to an 80 mph (130 km/h) storm.

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