| First storm formed | June 21, 1867 |
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| Last storm dissipated | October 31, 1867 |
| Strongest storm | Hurricane Nine – 952 mbar (hPa) (28.12 inHg), 130 mph (205 km/h) |
| Total storms | 9 |
| Hurricanes | 6 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 811+ |
| Total damage | At least $1 million (1867 USD) |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869. |
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The 1867 Atlantic hurricane season was the period in 1867 during which several tropical cyclones developed in Atlantic basin. A total of nine known tropical systems developed during the season, with the earliest forming on June 21, and the last dissipating on October 31. These dates closely delimit the modern-day hurricane season in the Atlantic. On two occasions during the season, two tropical cyclones simultaneously existed with one another; the first time on August 2, and the second on October 9.
The strongest storm of the season was a hurricane that developed in the Central Atlantic, and moved west to impact the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles. The storm system was a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, meaning the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 111-130 mph (178-209 km/h). This was the costliest, and deadliest, storm of the season, causing at least $1 million (1867 USD) in damage, and at least 800 deaths across the Caribbean Sea. It ruined Puerto Rico's agriculture, which subsequently led to economic failure on the island.
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| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | June 21 – June 23 | ||
| Intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
On the morning of June 21, a tropical storm formed approximately 65 mi (105 km) east northeast of Daytona Beach, Florida. Initially below hurricane strength with a maximum sustained wind speed of 60 mph (97 km/h), the tropical storm moved almost due north, while strengthening steadily. By the early hours of June 22, the system had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane, while moving slowly east northeastward. Hours later, the hurricane made landfall near the city of Charleston, South Carolina, with peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). Weakening steadily, the system's last known location was near Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 23.
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | July 28 – August 3 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), 969 mbar (hPa) | ||
During the last days of July, a hurricane was reported about 375 mi (600 km) east-northeast of Dominica. Tracking generally northwestward, the storm changed little in intensity until located to the north of Grand Turk. From there, it proceeded northwestward, and intensified to near Category 1 hurricane status. As it moved to the southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, the storm attained its peak intensity of 100 mph (160 km/h); shortly thereafter, it commenced re-curving to the north.[1] Resuming a more northeasterly track, the cyclone began to go undergo a weakening trend, and once again became a Category 1 storm. Further weakening occurred while the hurricane was located to the west of Sable Island. The storm was last reported to the southeast of Cape Race on the island of Newfoundland. It caused two deaths off the United States East Coast before dissipating the same day (August 3).[2] As the storm passed by the Mid-Atlantic, a ship encountered the storm in the pre-dawn hours of August 2 (2:00 am), about 140 mi (230 km) east of Norfolk, Virginia; a pressure reading of 28.6 inHg (970 mbar) was recorded two hours later. Around 4:00 am the same day, the brig "Chanticleer", located near the lower Delaware coast, recorded a strong gust of wind. A little after dawn, gusts over hurricane strength were being recorded at the same location. The "Oak Ridge" passed directly through the eye of the hurricane, reporting winds first from the east southeast, turning calm for short while, before a wind from the west blew. Another ship located just south of Montauk point reported hurricane force winds for three hours, and the barometer fell 14 mbar (0.41 inHg) in an hour and a half.[3]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | August 2 – August 2 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Early on August 2, a hurricane developed over the central Caribbean Sea. The storm reached an estimated peak intensity of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it a Category 2 hurricane. The report of the hurricane was based on observations from the ship Suwanee, with no other reports available.
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | August 31 – September 3 | ||
| Intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Late on August 31, a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) was reported over the Central Atlantic. Moving generally north to north-northeast, the storm gained no intensity over the next day or so as it passed between the United States East Coast and Bermuda. Late on September 2, the storm retained tropical storm status as it paralleled the coast of Washington, D.C. Retracing to the east at an increasing forward speed, the storm system held its intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) for the rest of its existence. Observations from the ship Helen R. Cooper confirm that this storm was in fact a hurricane.
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 8 – September 8 | ||
| Intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Early on September 4, a tropical cyclone formed several hundred miles to the east of the Leeward Islands. The storm's recorded wind speeds reached no more than 60 mph (97 km/h), and there were no further reports of it on subsequent days.
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 29 – October 1 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Late on September 29, a Category 1 hurricane formed several hundred miles north of the Bahamas. Tracking to the north, the storm system gained very little strength while passing several hundred miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia. It reportedly attained Category 2 hurricane status while located approximately 100 mi (160 km) to the east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with winds peaking at 100 mph (160 km/h). Spinning to the north-northeast, the hurricane eventually entered a weakning phase, and its last reported location was approximately 285 mi (459 km) northeast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. This hurricane never made landfall.[1]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | October 2 – October 9 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
Late on October 2, a hurricane formed in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of northeastern Mexico. Holding its intensity, the storm system paralleled the Texas coastline, causing "many" deaths. A storm tide value of 7 feet (2.1 m) was reported in Ludlum (1963), and it is possible that Brownsville, Texas was in the western eyewall of the hurricane at the storms closest approach.[4] Turning towards Louisiana, the storm made landfall on the state with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), a Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Moving to the west and weakening, the storm made landfall on the state of Florida during the day on October 6. Holding its strength while crossing the Sunshine state, the tropical storm re-emerged into Atlantic waters. Taking a slight turn to the north, it dissipated off the coast of North Carolina on October 9.[1]
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | October 9 – October 9 | ||
| Intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), Unknown | ||
During the morning hours of October 9, a tropical storm formed in the vicinity of the British Virgin Islands. With winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), the storm had reached its peak, and consequently, and dissipated the same day.
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | October 27 – October 31 | ||
| Intensity | 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min), 952 mbar (hPa) | ||
On October 27, a tropical storm formed in the Central Atlantic. Moving west, Nine became a hurricane the next day, and a major category 3 hurricane on October 29. A landfall on Sombrero Island occurred in the morning hours of the same day, and the storm reached its peak intensity of 125 mph (205 km/h) with a pressure of 952 mbar (28.1 inHg) shortly before a second landfall on St. Thomas.[1] 80 ships were destroyed by Nine in the area of St. Thomas, including the RMS Rhone. On the island, the hurricane caused approximately 600 deaths. The storm then moved towards Puerto Rico as a weak category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm has been called "one of the most intense hurricanes to hit the island". A death toll of 211 was reported on Puerto Rico. The effects of the storm on the island's agriculture were ruinous, ultimately leading to a great economic crisis. After re-emerging over water on October 30, Nine crossed the Dominican Republic as a tropical storm, and then passed through Haiti, where it dissipated.
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