1876 Atlantic hurricane season
1876 Atlantic hurricane season
| First storm formed |
Before September 9, 1876 |
| Last storm dissipated |
October 23, 1876 |
| Strongest storm |
#2 – 100 knots (115 mph) |
| Total storms |
5 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+) |
2 |
| Total damage |
Unknown |
| Total fatalities |
19 |
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878 |
The 1876 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1876 featured an inactive hurricane season. There was five tropical storms, four became hurricanes and one those hurricane became a major hurricane (category 3+). However, due to scarce technology, only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, therefore, the actual total could be higher.
Storms
Hurricane One
Hurricane One was discovered on September 9, located roughly halfway between Bermuda and Nova Scotia. The hurricane was not strengthening and began to gradually weaken as it moved to the south of Newfoundland. One had weakened to a tropical storm and later became extratropical on September 11. [1]
San Felipe Hurricane
A hurricane first observed east of the Windward Islands on September 12 hit the islands that night. It strengthened to become a Category 3 hurricane, and hit Puerto Rico at that intensity on the 13th. It crossed over Hispaniola and Cuba before turning northward, avoiding Florida on the way. The weakened tropical storm headed towards the Carolinas, where it strengthened to a minimal hurricane before hitting near Wilmington, North Carolina on the 17th. It continued through the interior of the United States, dissipating on the 19th near Cape Cod. There were 19 deaths reported, but historians suspected the Spanish Government withheld actual damage and death toll data. The storm was remembered as the "San Felipe Hurricane" because it struck on September 13, the feast day of Saint Philip. [1] Exactly 52 years later, Puerto Rico was struck by Hurricane San Felipe Segundo.
Tropical Storm Three
The only tropical storm of the season was discovered on September 16. Tropical Storm Three headed north, maintained its strength as a 60 mph tropical storm as it passed well to the east of Bermuda. Three had apparently dissipated on September 18.[1]
Hurricane Four
A tropical storm was first observed on September 28 just to the east of the Leeward Islands. It later strengthened into a hurricane as it passed near the Netherlands Antilles. Four later peak as a category 2 hurricane before making landfall in Nicaragua. The storm reached the Pacific Ocean before it dissipated on October 5. [1]
Hurricane Five
A tropical storm was discovered north of Panama on October 12. It moved very slowly as it trekked generally northward. Five became a hurricane on October 15 and reached peak intensity as 120 mph category 3 hurricane just before landfall in central Cuba on October 19. The hurricane also crossed Florida later that day, emerging into the Atlantic by the following day. In addition, Hurricane Five passed north of Bermuda before dissipating on October 23. [1]
Reference