| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Damage from the hurricane. | |
| Formed | August 12, 1916 |
| Dissipated | August 19, 1916 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 135 mph (215 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 932 mbar (hPa; 27.52 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 24 direct |
| Damage | $28.6 million (1916 USD) |
| Areas affected | Martinique, Jamaica, Cuba, Texas |
| Part of the 1916 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The 1916 Texas Hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that struck the southern Texas (the landfall was south of Corpus Christi, Texas) coast in mid August 1916. The hurricane was the fourth hurricane and third major hurricane of an active 1916 Atlantic hurricane season. Forming on August 12, the storm crossed the Leeward Islands and Caribbean Sea before hitting south Texas on August 18. The 1916 storm was the strongest hurricane to hit the Texas coast since the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, and the hurricane caused 24 fatalities and left millions of dollars in damage.[1][2] The hurricane was also one of three hurricane to hit the Caribbean Island of Martinique during the 1916 season.[3]
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On August 12, a tropical storm formed east of the Leeward Islands and moved westward. At 1800 UTC, the storm rapidly reached hurricane strength before crossing over the Leeward Islands on the same day. On August 14, the hurricane then reached Category 2 strength as it moved west-northwest through the Caribbean sea. On the evening of August 15, the hurricane made landfall in Jamaica as a 105 mph (169 km/h) hurricane. Despite the landfall, however, the storm did not weaken as it winds strengthened to 110 mph (177 km/h). As the storm moved west-northwest, the storm reached Category 3 status as it passed over the Cayman Islands on August 16. As the storm approached the western tip of Cuba, it veered slightly southwestward and brushed the north tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, thus sparing western Cuba of a direct landfall. The hurricane made landfall on August 19 south of Corpus Christi, Texas as a Category 4 hurricane.[4] After making landfall, the hurricane quickly weakened to a tropical storm and later to a tropical depression before dissipating.[1]
At 7 am (CST), local weather officials issued hurricane warnings to coastal sections. Telegraphs of the warnings were then sent out to Cameron and Calhoun counties. Over 100 vehicles were used to transport residents to storm shelters.[2]
The Island of Martinique was brushed by the hurricane.[5] In Jamaica, the hurricane left 17 people dead and 25-27 million dollars (1916 USD) in damage.[6]
In Texas, tropical storm force winds of 64-70 mph were felt as the hurricane neared land. A gust of 90 mph (140 km/h) was reported at 6:50 pm (CST) as the hurricane made landfall. Rainfall totals from the hurricane was estimated at 1.58 inches (25.4 mm). The hurricane damaged some of the measuring equipment at the National Weather Service office. Offshore, a fishing boat sank, drowning two of its occupants. On land, five people perished during the storm; two from a house collapsing. In Corpus Christi, the hurricane destroyed several wharfs and salt cedars.[2] In Fort Brown, the flooding from the hurricane forced United States Army soldiers and National Guardsmen to seek refuge in city hall after their barracks were flooded.[7] The storm left $1.6 million dollars (1916 USD) in damage in Texas.[2] In all the hurricane left $28.6 million dollars (1916 USD, $521.7 million (2005 USD) and 24 people dead.