1854 Atlantic hurricane season

1854 Atlantic hurricane season
First storm formed August 19, 1854
Last storm dissipated October 11, 1854
Strongest storm #3 – – 938 mbar (hPa) (27.71 inHg), 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total storms 5
Hurricanes 3
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 1
Total fatalities 30+ direct
Total damage $20,000 (1854 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856

The 1854 Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth Atlantic hurricane season that was officially recorded. During the season, three known hurricanes formed; all hit land. Also, during the season, two tropical storms were recorded, of which one was located only once. The season was relatively deadly and damaging; at least 30 people died and $20,000 (1854 USD) was caused.

The season's activity was reflected with a low cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 31.[1] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones are excluded from the total.[2]

Contents

Storms

Hurricane One

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration June 24 – June 27
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

During the night of June 24, a tropical storm was found south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It became a hurricane the next morning after 12 hours of being tracked. The hurricane, now heading due west toward the US-Mexico border. If the hurricane had kept on going, it would have made landfall near Brownsville, Texas. Instead, the hurricane shirted slightly north and made landfall near Harlingen, Texas during near noon of June 26. The storm quickly weakened over Texas and eventually dissipated over the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains of Mexico.

Tropical Storm Two

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration Before August 24 – After August 24
Intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

On August 24 after two months of inactivity, a tropical storm was found by ship reports to the northeast of Bermuda. After this sighting, the storm was never found and this is the only report on the system[3].

Hurricane Three

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration June 10 – June 12
Intensity 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min),  938 mbar (hPa)

During the evening of September 6, a category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) was sighted just north of the Bahamas. The hurricane continued northwestward as it slightly weakened. It made landfall just south of the Florida-Georgia border during the afternoon of September 8. The hurricane steadily weakened after landfall as it recurved into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, emerging just south of Chesapeake Bay. After entering the waters of the North Atlantic, it moved away from any landmasses as it regained hurricane strength on September 10 and reached a secondary peak of 105 mph (165 km/h) or a category 2 hurricane on September 11. The hurricane weakened slightly before becoming extratropical on September 12. The hurricane was the strongest storm of the season and caused 26 deaths. The storm caused large damage from Florida to New York[4].

Hurricane Four

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 15 – September 20
Intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

On September 17, category 2 hurricane was found southeast of Galveston, Texas. The hurricane continued to the northwest and made landfall during the afternoon of the next day with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) near Freeport, Texas. It quickly weakened over land and dissipated on September 20. This hurricane caused the capsizing of many small vessels along with two steamers, the Nick Hill and Kate Ward sank near Galveston. This storm killed at least four and did at least $20,000 (1854 USD, $487 thousand 2012 USD).[5]

Tropical Storm Five

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration October 19 – October 22
Intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

On October 19, a moderate tropical storm was found due west of Miami, Florida. It continued northward while continuing to strengthen. The center of circulation (the center of the storm) just missed Bermuda during the afternoon of October 21. The storm became extratropical with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) after slightly weakening. The storm caused no reports of damages or deaths in Bermuda.

References

  1. ^ Hurricane Research Division (March 2011). "Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Comparison_of_Original_and_Revised_HURDAT_mar11.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
  2. ^ David Levinson (2008-08-20). "2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones". National Climatic Data Center. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
  3. ^ NOAA (Unknown). "UNISYS Hurricane Tracking Data for Tropical Storm #2". http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/1854/2/track.dat. Retrieved 2008-10-13. 
  4. ^ NOAA (Unknown). "Virginia Hurricane History 1850-1899". http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/valate19hur.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-11. 
  5. ^ David Roth (Unknown). "Texas Hurricane History 1851-1900". Archived from the original on 2008-05-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20080507003313/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/txlate19hur.php. Retrieved 2008-10-21.