1870 Atlantic hurricane season

1870 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
First storm formed July 30, 1870
Last storm dissipated November 3, 1870
Strongest storm Hurricane Four – – 948 mbar (hPa) (28.01 inHg), 125 mph (205 km/h)
Total storms 11
Hurricanes 10
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 2
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872

The 1870 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1870 there were eleven cyclones. There was one tropical storm, all the others became hurricanes and two those hurricane became major hurricanes (category 3+). However, due to scarce technology and the fact that only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, the actual total could be higher. Most notably, Hurricane Six caused at least $12 million in damage and around 2,000 fatalities in Cuba and Florida.

Contents

Storms

Hurricane One

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 30 – July 30
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane One was discovered as it made landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi. It very quickly diminished over land.[1]

Hurricane Two

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 30 – September 4
Intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane Two formed on August 30. The storm moved northwest towards the United States, before it peaked as a category 2 hurricane. The storm then curved back to the northeast. Two then paralleled the coast of Nova Scotia until it was last seen on September 4 near Newfoundland.[1]

Tropical Storm Three

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration September 1 – September 4
Intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  1004 mbar (hPa)

This storm was discovered near the Cape Verde islands on September 1. It headed to the west and would approach hurricane status. However, Tropical Storm Three was not upgraded to a hurricane and it would dissipate on September 4.[1]

Hurricane Four

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 9 – September 13
Intensity 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min),  948 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Four was discovered a few hundred miles to the north of Puerto Rico on September 9. It later bypassed to the west of Bermuda as a category 3 hurricane. It had maintained this intensity until it began to pass south of Newfoundland. Four had weakened back to a category 2 hurricane at that time and it became extratropical on September 13.[1]

Hurricane Five

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 17 – September 20
Intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min),  969 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Five was discovered to the southwest of Bermuda on September 17. Five began to accelerate the further north it had moved. It had remained at sea during its entire duration and it became extratropical on September 20.[1]

Hurricane Six

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 5 – October 14
Intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min),  959 mbar (hPa)

On October 5, a tropical storm developed south of Haiti. It moved west-northwest, becoming a hurricane south of Cuba on October 6. The hurricane rapidly strengthened to its peak of 115 mph (185 km/h) prior to hitting Matanzas, Cuba on October 7. After crossing the island, it moved slowly over the Florida Keys, causing an additional 1,200 deaths there. It moved out to sea, last being seen on October 14. The hurricane, known as the Hurricane of San Marcos or the Straits of Florida Hurricane, caused massive flooding in Cuba and south Florida, resulting in 2,000 casualties.

Damage was estimated at over $12 million (USD).[1][2]

Hurricane Seven

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 7 – October 7
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane Seven was first discovered on October 7, located a few hundred miles west of Cape Verde. Seven was a category 1 hurricane that had apparently dissipated shortly thereafter it was discovered.[1]

Hurricane Eight

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 9 – October 11
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane Eight was discovered more than 800 miles (1287 km) to the east of Bermuda. Eight, a category 1 hurricane, headed to the east-northeast toward the Azores. It dissipated before it was able to reach the islands.[1]

Hurricane Nine

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 19 – October 22
Intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane Nine was discovered into the Caribbean on October 19. It later made a landfall in western Cuba Category 2 hurricane. Later on, it made landfall in Florida as a category 1 hurricane. Heading out to sea, it eventually dissipated on October 22.[1] Hurricane Nine was responsible for 52 fatalities.

Hurricane Ten

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 23 – October 23
Intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

A hurricane was discovered near Turks and Caicos Islands on October 23. Though it had apparently dissipated shortly thereafter.[1]

Hurricane Eleven

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 30 – November 3
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Eleven was first discovered on October 30 in the western Caribbean as a tropical storm. It quickly strengthened into a hurricane before it made landfall in Belize. After emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane re-gained some strengthen but ultimately dissipated on November 3.[1]

See also

Reference

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Easy to read HURDAT 2008". National Hurricane Center. 2008. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easyread-2009.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  2. ^ Bezanilla, Alejandro (August 2000). "History: The Hurricane of Matanzas". Cuban Meteorological Society. http://www.met.inf.cu/sometcuba/boletin/v06_n02/english/history1.htm. Retrieved 23 February 2010.