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Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 1888
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In mid to late August, 1888, a major Atlantic hurricane tracked from the Lucayan Archipelago to the Mississippi River Delta, causing significant flooding and wind damage. Known as the 1888 Florida–Louisiana hurricane, it was the third tropical cyclone and second hurricane of the 1888 Atlantic hurricane season. First sighted north-northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands on August 14, it moved west-northwest, reaching hurricane intensity and making several landfalls in the Bahamas over the next few days. In the island chain, the hurricane caused some damage to shipping, vegetation, and fences, drowning a few people. The storm then peaked with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h)—equal to high-end Category 3 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale—before hitting South Florida near present-day Miami Beach on August 16. Large and intense, it delivered a massive storm surge, fierce winds, and heavy downpours, but did mostly minimal damage, as few people lived in the area then. Areas northward on the peninsula logged winds up to hurricane intensity, with fruit groves, communications, and boats damaged.
 Surface weather analysis of the storm over Louisiana on August 20 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 14, 1888 |
| Extratropical | August 22, 1888 |
| Dissipated | August 24, 1888 |
| Category 3 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 125 mph (205 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | ≤967 mbar (hPa); ≤28.56 inHg (lowest directly measured) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 29 direct (+1 indirect) |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | |
Part of the 1888 Atlantic hurricane season | |
The cyclone crossed the southern peninsula, reaching the Gulf of Mexico as a weaker hurricane on August 17. Re-intensifying over water, the hurricane attained a secondary peak of 110 mph (175 km/h) on August 18 and curled northward, hitting Louisiana at that intensity a day later. Between there and the Florida panhandle, heavy rains, storm surge, and high tides inflicted widespread destruction. Near landfall the storm ravaged crops, abraded wharves, marooned vessels, snarled rail traffic, and unroofed or blew down buildings; the worst storm in Louisiana since the late 1830s, it caused 18 deaths there. Curving northeast, it tracked into New England on August 22 before becoming extratropical. Its rainbands generated gales there and in the nearby Mid-Atlantic states, downing loose objects and wires. Heavy rains washed out rail and road networks, but a tornado outbreak did most of the destruction, taking 12 lives. Several significant twisters, bearing winds of at least F2 intensity on the Fujita scale, formed over Maryland and Delaware, one of which killed 10 people.
Meteorological history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionBy 12:00 UTC on August 14, a weak tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) formed about 100 mi (160 km) north-northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands, an island chain in the southeastern Lucayan Archipelago.[1] (Operationally, the United States Army Signal Corps, then responsible for weather forecasting, did not warn of the system until August 16, when observations first incepted a low-pressure area off the coast of South Florida.[2]) Upon formation, the cyclone moved west-northwest toward the Bahamas and steadily strengthened. As a strong tropical storm, the cyclone made its first landfall on the northern tip of San Salvador Island, known as Watlings Island until 1925. It first attained hurricane intensity on August 15, exactly a day after formation. Continuing west-northwestward, it hit Cat Island and northern Exuma with winds of 80–90 mph (130–150 km/h). Afterward, it strengthened further to the equivalent of a modern Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale, with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). Early on August 16, the center[a] of the cyclone passed 20 mi (30 km) south of the Bahamian capital Nassau and then made a fourth landfall on the northern portion of Andros, crossing the island in fewer than six hours. It soon became a major hurricane—Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale—with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). By 12:00 UTC it peaked with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) off southeastern Florida, nearing the Gulf Stream.[1]
_weather_map_2,_August_19,_1888.jpg)
About seven hours later, it struck the coast of South Florida, just north of present-day Miami Beach, at the same intensity.[3] Observations were scarce near the inner core of the cyclone, but a tidal gauge sampled a storm surge of 14 ft (4.3 m), leading the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project to assign a central pressure estimate of 945 mb (27.9 inHg).[4][5][b] After striking what is now part of the Miami metropolitan area, the cyclone weakened as it traversed the Everglades, passing well to the south of Lake Okeechobee. Early on August 17, the cyclone reached the coast of Southwest Florida in the Cape Coral–Matlacha area and entered the Gulf of Mexico near Cayo Costa as a minimal hurricane. Restrengthening, it turned west, and attained a secondary peak of 110 mph (175 km/h) a day later. Nearing the middle Gulf Coast of the United States, it maintained force and veered northward. On August 19, it made landfall just south of Cocodrie in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, at the same intensity, with a barometric reading of 967 mb (28.6 inHg).[c][6] Moving inland, it gradually inclined to the northeast, accelerated, and slowly degenerated into a strong tropical storm by 18:00 UTC on August 20. Crossing western Mississippi, it followed the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys; it reached the Mid-Atlantic region and southern New England on August 22. At 12:00 UTC that day it became extratropical about 80 mi (130 km) south of Bar Harbor, Maine, and was last noted northeast of the Newfoundland Colony a few days later.[1]
Impact
| Impacts by region | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Deaths | Injuries | Locale | Deaths | Injuries | Damages | Source |
| Caribbean and Bahamas |
Bahamas | 2 | |||||
| United States | Louisiana | 2 | |||||
| Pennsylvania | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 4 | ? | |||||
The Bahamas and Florida
As the hurricane passed through the Bahaman archipelago, it damaged fruit trees, crops, and fences, especially on the Abaco Islands, Harbour Island, and New Providence. Hurricane conditions buffeted Nassau for eight hours, slightly damaging shipping.[10][11] Citywide the storm felled some trees and their branches.[12] A few people drowned at Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera,[13] where coconut palms were badly damaged. A pair of ships grounded on the Abaco Islands.[14]
In South Florida, the hurricane affected few people, striking a portion of the coast that was largely unpopulated at the time, but caused "widespread" damage, according to hurricane historian Jay Barnes; meteorologist Grady Norton dubbed the storm a "Great Hurricane", denoting size and overall effects.[15][d] A weather station at Miami observed hurricane-force winds of unknown strength,[20] though the highest winds recorded in the state reached 75 mph (121 km/h) at Sebastian Inlet.[21] Other wind readings were 60 mph (97 km/h) at Jupiter Inlet,[2] along with 44 mph (71 km/h) in Titusville.[22] The strong winds wrecked small watercraft, fruit crops, trees, and telegraph lines, with a loss of several thousand dollars.[21] The storm also dropped locally heavy rainfall over the peninsula, peaking at 2.02 in (51 mm) in Jupiter.[2] Farther north, Fort Meade tallied 1.31 in (33 mm), along with a barometric low of 1,002 mb (29.6 inHg).[3] Light rain fell over the Big Bend as well, soaking the town of Cedar Key.[21] At Fort Myers the rain fell in "immense quantities", according to a press report. The storm was heralded by flocks of low-flying frigatebirds,[23] along with high tides near the coast.[21]
In northwestern Florida winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) battered Pensacola, causing little structural damage. High tides on Pensacola Bay damaged several wharves, bathhouses, and a mill.[24][2]
Alabama and Mississippi
Farther west, other communities suffered even more severe damage due to waves and storm surge. In Alabama the Mobile River overflowed, giving Mobile one of its worst floods on record. Up to 3 ft (0.91 m) of water covered the waterfront and spread up to three blocks inland, entering buildings in the "lower portions of the city", according to press reports. Nearby railroads were flooded, disrupting train service for some days.[24][25] Winds of 57 mph (92 km/h), attended by torrential rains, topped trees, blew down fences, knocked down telegraph wires, and unroofed some homes, but did minor damage overall. Up to 1⁄2 ft (0.15 m) of water submerged wholesale stores, forcing merchants to salvage their goods by boat or raft; the New York Times stated that only four other floods to date were as severe.[26] At Point Clear waves eroded a hotel annex and overtopped a pavilion, 40 ft (12 m) above high tide.[27]
In Mississippi minimal damage occurred along the sound between Ocean Springs and Bay St. Louis. At Pass Christian winds blew at 60 mph (97 km/h), felling bathhouses, trees, and a bowling alley. A man drowned in an effort to save a boat.[28] At Biloxi the sea gutted a 1-mile (1.6 km) road segment, a breakwater near the lighthouse, and most of the wharves, leaving wreckage on the shore. Tides there rose 8 ft (2.4 m),[29] the highest in five years,[30] shattering the sloop Sadie and the catboat Ida.[31] At Bay St. Louis the storm tumbled large oaks and ripped up shrubbery.[29] At Mississippi City the storm destroyed all but three out of 20 piers and bathhouses. The schooners Maxie, Frank Cuzzie, and Nellie S. washed ashore, as did the catboat Corinne. Winds splintered a tall pine tree 30 ft (9.1 m) above ground as well, piercing a nearby roof.[32] Inland, near Jackson, hurricane winds felled up to a third of the timber. City sidewalks were littered with limbs and branches.[26] At Centreville trees, especially oaks, crushed many homes.[33] In Vicksburg winds crested at 44 mph (71 km/h) and pressures dipped to 29.35 inHg (994 mb).[11] Washouts there did some damage to roads, but general impacts were negligible. Statewide the storm badly hit corn and cotton crops as well.[34]
The storm generated copious rains over interior Alabama and Mississippi,[26] holding up train service by undermining railroads.[25]
Louisiana
In Louisiana the storm was the "severest and most extensive" since Racer's hurricane in 1837, according to a source quoted by meteorologist David Roth.[35] The worst damage affected the Mississippi River Delta, just east of the eye, where storm surge several feet deep left "almost total destruction" of rice fields for 20 mi (30 km), local reporters said;[28] after the storm, growers estimated that 30–60% of the rice crop was damaged, with virtually all cropland south of Baton Rouge being impacted.[36] A railroad at Manchac was flooded for 5 mi (10 km), and severe damage to farms began south of Hammond.[26] A storm surge of 12 to 15 ft (3.7 to 4.6 m) enveloped the land, leaving 700 people homeless.[37] 10 lives were lost south of Houma, where dead horses and livestock littered the wetlands.[38] Waves tumbled over the Chandeleur Islands, stranding the fishing smack Rosa Delustra and drowning several cows; three crew members were rescued.[31] Storm tides inundated the coastal marshes near Morgan City, ruining oyster beds. Last Island was 7 ft (2.1 m) underwater, and all cattle there were drowned. Several ships were dismasted there, and locals deemed the storm worse than in 1856.[39][40]
Widespread rains totaled 3–4 in (76–102 mm) in south-central Louisiana, peaking at 14.14 in (359 mm) in Maurepas and flooding Mandeville.[35] In New Orleans up to 8.9 in (230 mm) of rain fell, setting a then daily record and swamping most of the city;[35] rainwater carried off planks, signs, and debris.[28] Dairy farmers near New Orleans lost much livestock, and in the city 75 families were famished; several bridges there were destroyed as well.[29][36] On the Mississippi River 80 full coal boats and barges were sunk, as were a coke boat and other vessels.[28] A woman in New Orleans reportedly drowned.[29] Winds topped out at 90 mph (140 km/h) there,[35] unroofing a number of buildings. Fences, chimneys, and trees were leveled.[26] The storm tore up enclosures, allowing cattle to escape.[29] A fallen brick wall fatally crushed an infant.[36] In Lafourche Parish the oldest residents could not recall a more destructive storm.[41] Along Bayou Teche the storm flattened sheds, cabins, sugarcane, and sugar houses, while ravaging many communities.[28] At Franklin it leveled and unroofed many homes,[35] among them 18 dwellings.[28] In Morgan City it nearly wrecked a few churches,[35] while partly or totally unroofing scores of homes; there it also tore 50 buildings off their foundations and destroyed the floating elevator George Gilchrist.[28] A mill was badly damaged, and a Masonic Hall was tossed against a house. The steamers Lone Star, Anna Maria, and Samuel were sunk as well.[42]
At Three Islands a fallen timber fatally crushed a man bearing a pair of children.[43] At Baton Rouge debris impeded pedestrians. The front gallery of the Louisiana School for the Deaf (then the Institute for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind) was "almost a complete wreck", roofing was torn off other sections of the building, and a few walls were cracked, according to local news. Rainwater soaked the interior of the building as well.[44]
The storm, followed by daily rains, reported the Lafourche correspondent, left the roads "in almost an impassable condition. In some instances the abutting owners have had to open up new roads through their yards or fields."
The Times-Democrat announced that "everything was blown away" and "general destruction" pervaded the countryside.[39][40] All homes on the Caillou and Timbalier islands were wrecked.[45] At New Iberia the storm mangled shade trees and metal roofs, while sinking three boats.[46] In Pointe Coupee Parish the storm was the severest since 1879, with reports of forests being "knocked pell mell".[47] At Winchester a house collapsed, killing two men,[30] and at Jackson aged trees that endured previous tempests for half a century were tossed several yards.[48] A few passengers aboard the ship New Camelia drowned, and a clerk aboard the steamboat Warren was fatally injured after losing his step.[30] Houma, St. James, Plaquemine, Donaldsonville, Convent, and Tigerville (now Gibson) incurred severe wind damage. At Grand Coteau the storm mostly ruined fruit crops, while tearing apart several churches and homes. Additionally, it sank the three steamers Laura, Keokuk, and W. G. Little, while uprooting many trees. Across southeastern Louisiana cotton and corn crops were wiped out. Areawide losses reached $2.7 million.[35]
Elsewhere
As it moved over land, the cyclone dumped heavy rains in the Mississippi Valley. Memphis, Tennessee, measured 4.48 in (114 mm) on August 20, and eastern Arkansas also saw prolific rains. Observers noted that "Every stream is a raging torrent" and that rain had fallen for three days since August 17. The rains deluged vast tracts of land: cotton plantations within 100 mi (160 km) of Memphis were likened to "lakes" by witnesses.[26] At Wheeling, West Virginia, 6 in (150 mm) fell overnight on August 20–21, causing $1 million in flood damage. Half a dozen bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were carried off, one of which severed public utilities, cutting electricity, water, and gas to 15,000 people. At Elm Grove all houses were engulfed by floodwaters, and at Sistersville 200 Republican State Convention delegates were left isolated.[28] In the Mid-Atlantic region and southern New England, the storm produced gale-force winds and heavy rainfall, washing out numerous railroad bridges and tracks. Strong winds reached 38 mph (61 km/h) in Norfolk, Virginia, and 44 mph (71 km/h) in New Haven, Connecticut. The winds blew down awnings, signs, and tree branches. In Pennsylvania Raccoon Creek overflowed, seeping into Burgettstown. Floods shut down several mills at McKeesport, where one person drowned, and forced many people to leave Greensburg.[49] At Uniontown, Washington, and Altoona, rivers rose higher than in more than 50 years. Appreciable floods took place on the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Youghiogheny rivers. At Reading the Schuylkill River rose more than at any time since the 1869 Saxby Gale.[50] At Nyack, New York, raging waters snagged a long sidewalk, moving newly-laid flagstones downstream,[49] and Central Park collected rainfall of 4.19 in (106 mm), setting a then 24-hour record.[50] In Delaware and Maryland, the cyclone spawned numerous tornadoes—five of which were retroactively rated F2 or stronger by tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis—that killed at least a dozen people. Part of a severe weather event, the tornadoes belonged to two persistent families, one of which tracked 80–90 mi (130–145 km) between Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, Delaware. Grazulis called the episode "one of the worst" outbreaks to hit Chesapeake Bay, documenting 15 or more waterspouts and funnel clouds.[e][52][53]
Tornado outbreak
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | ? | ? | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991.[54][f] 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.[58][g] Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from Grazulis.
| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Time (UTC) | Path length | Width[i] | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | Seabrook to Glendale to Millersville | Prince George, Anne Arundel | MD | 19:00–? | 10 mi (16 km) | Unknown | |
| A tornado formed north of Washington, D.C., coursing northeast through the Springfield–Glendale area, near Bowie, and Millersville. It destroyed or severely damaged a church, homes, barns, a railroad station, and a blacksmith's shop, injuring five people. It also downed several hundred trees, including big oaks; smashed a car; uplifted a schoolhouse 15 ft (4.6 m) off its foundation; and hurled a horse and buggy 50 ft (15 m). One of the injured may have died.[52][68][49] | |||||||
| F2 | Jacobsville to North Point | Anne Arundel | MD | 19:45–? | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 70 yd (64 m) | |
| Another F2 tornado ripped apart, unroofed, or otherwise damaged a dozen homes, tossing horses and carriages 100 yd (91 m). Crossing the Patapsco River, it wrecked a clubhouse at North Point, lofting a pair of oxen and an oxcart. It also destroyed an orchard and left a scow on a wharf. 15 injuries occurred. On the river four or more multiple-vortex waterspouts developed, flipping boats. The funnels appeared to be "a cloud of dust filled with shingles", like a "smoke from a forest fire", according to onlookers. The waterspouts later continued over Chesapeake Bay, passing near Pooles Island.[52][69][49] | |||||||
| F2 | Still Pond | Kent | MD | 20:30–? | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | |
| 11 deaths – A third tornado caused a large, two-story cannery to collapse, killing 10 people under mounds of debris. It also destroyed a number of homes, killing an eleventh person. In all it injured 40 people and is Maryland's second-deadliest tornado on record, after an F3 that killed 17 in La Plata on November 9, 1926. Severe winds also unroofed homes in the Worton–Rock Creek area, with several injuries.[70][71][72][49] | |||||||
| F2 | Cecilton (MD) to N of Odessa (DE) to Port Penn (DE) to Reedy Island (DE) | Kent, New Castle (DE) | MD, DE | 21:00–? | 15 mi (24 km) | Unknown | |
| A family of two or three tornadoes destroyed a barn and a pair of homes, while unroofing other barns. It also savaged peach orchards; wrecked a church, a wheelwright shop, and sheds; splintered trees; knocked down chimneys; killed cattle; and laid low cornfields.[52][50][49] | |||||||
| F2 | SSW of Wilmington | New Castle (DE) | DE | 23:20–? | 5 mi (8.0 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | $60,000 |
| 1+ death –[52][50] | |||||||
| FU | Round Bay | Anne Arundel | MD | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| [49] | |||||||
See also
- Hurricane Betsy – Another major hurricane that hit both Louisiana and South Florida
Notes
- No details are available about this report. Researcher Michael Chenoweth discounted it, classing the storm as a Category 1 at landfall.[6][7] A study by meteorologist Gordon Dunn and coauthor Banner I. Miller in 1960 ranked the storm as "Minimal" in Florida, with winds of 74–100 mph (120–160 km/h).[8]
- A marine barometer in Atchafalaya Bay recorded this pressure.[9]
- Saffir–Simpson rankings were given United States storms beginning in 1975,[16] first on the basis of pressure,[17] then on wind alone since the late 1980s;[16] informal metrics gauged intensity prior. A "Great Hurricane" contained winds over 125 mph (200 km/h) and spread hurricane-force winds over 100 miles (160 km) or more, while also generating high tides, low pressures, extensive damage, and casualties.[18] A "Major" hurricane featured winds of 101–135 mph (163–217 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 28.01 to 29.00 inHg (949 to 982 mb); an "Extreme" hurricane, at least 136 mph (219 km/h)—roughly equivalent to Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson scale—and 28.00 inHg (948 mb) or lower.[19]
- An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.[51]
- Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.[55] Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.[56] Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.[57]
- The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.[59][60] Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.[61] While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,[62] Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;[63] nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.[64]
- All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency.
- The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.[65] Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi (0.80 km) is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.[66][67]
