1837 Racer's Storm
Encyclopedia
The 1837 Racer's Storm was one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in the 19th century, causing heavy damage to many cities on its 2,000+ mile path. The Racer's Storm was the 10th known tropical storm in the 1837 Atlantic hurricane season.
near Jamaica
on September 28. Likely having originated from a tropical wave, the hurricane moved to the west, and hit the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula
days later. After crossing the peninsula, the hurricane reached the Gulf of Mexico
. It journeyed westward, reaching winds of at least 115 mi/h, with the possibility it was a Category 4 or even a Category 5.
The Racer's Storm reached the western Gulf of Mexico, and hit extreme northeastern Mexico
near Matamoros, Tamaulipas
, on October 2. The hurricane nearly stalled over land, and drifted northwestward towards Brownsville, Texas
. A high pressure system brought the storm to the northeast over the Gulf of Mexico, where it came close to Matagorda Bay
on the 4th. This makes the Racer's Storm one of only three tropical systems to hit Texas and exit back into the Gulf of Mexico, the others being Tropical Storm Delia in 1973 and Tropical Storm Allison
in 2001.
On October 5 the hurricane passed Galveston, Texas
, and continued its northeast movement. The Racer's Storm made its third landfall near Venice, Louisiana
on the night of the 6th, and moved eastward across Louisiana
. From here, its history is unclear. Some historians track the hurricane to the northeast across Mississippi and Alabama, while others say the hurricane moved eastward, re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, and hit Pensacola
on the 7th. Regardless, the hurricane was moving northeastward through Georgia
.
The Racer's Storm moved offshore near Charleston, South Carolina
on October 9 as a weakening tropical storm. It tracked northeastward, and made its final landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina
that night. It crossed the Outer Banks
and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean late on the 9th. After this the storm's history is unknown, but it likely became extratropical over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean as it went out to sea.
harbor. In addition, the entire town of Brazos Santiago was destroyed from the storm's heavy winds and storm surge.
On Galveston Island, the storm brought a 6 to 7 feet (2.1 m) storm surge. That, in combination with the winds and rain, destroyed every house on the island with the exception of two. Many ships were destroyed there, with 2 people killed.
In southeastern Louisiana, the Racer's Storm caused immense structural damage, with $200,000 (1837 USD, $3.4 million 2005 USD) in railroad damage occurring. In New Orleans, Lake Ponchartrain rose eight feet above, with much of the city being flooded in 1 to 2 foot (0.6096 m) of water.
The storm caused vast agricultural losses across the southeastern U.S., while cotton crops suffered most.
The SS Home
sank off the Outer Banks, drowning 90 people.
This hurricane caused 105 deaths.
Meteorological history
The Racer's Storm, named after the British ship , was first observed in the Western Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
near Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
on September 28. Likely having originated from a tropical wave, the hurricane moved to the west, and hit the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
days later. After crossing the peninsula, the hurricane reached the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. It journeyed westward, reaching winds of at least 115 mi/h, with the possibility it was a Category 4 or even a Category 5.
The Racer's Storm reached the western Gulf of Mexico, and hit extreme northeastern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
near Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, on October 2. The hurricane nearly stalled over land, and drifted northwestward towards Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
. A high pressure system brought the storm to the northeast over the Gulf of Mexico, where it came close to Matagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay is a large estuary bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately northeast of Corpus Christi, southeast of San Antonio, southwest of Houston, and southeast of Austin. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Peninsula and...
on the 4th. This makes the Racer's Storm one of only three tropical systems to hit Texas and exit back into the Gulf of Mexico, the others being Tropical Storm Delia in 1973 and Tropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Allison
Tropical Storm Allison was a tropical storm that devastated southeast Texas in June of the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season. The first storm of the season, Allison lasted an unusually long period of time for a June storm, remaining tropical or subtropical for 15 days...
in 2001.
On October 5 the hurricane passed Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, and continued its northeast movement. The Racer's Storm made its third landfall near Venice, Louisiana
Venice, Louisiana
Venice is an unincorporated community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is 130 km south of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River at . It is the last community down the Mississippi accessible by automobile, and is the southern terminus of the Great River Road...
on the night of the 6th, and moved eastward across Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. From here, its history is unclear. Some historians track the hurricane to the northeast across Mississippi and Alabama, while others say the hurricane moved eastward, re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, and hit Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
on the 7th. Regardless, the hurricane was moving northeastward through Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
The Racer's Storm moved offshore near Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
on October 9 as a weakening tropical storm. It tracked northeastward, and made its final landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
that night. It crossed the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean late on the 9th. After this the storm's history is unknown, but it likely became extratropical over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean as it went out to sea.
Impact
While no reports are available from the Yucatán Peninsula, the Racer's Storm was a very destructive hurricane throughout its 2000 miles (3,218.7 km) path. First, when it stalled near Brownsville, it destroyed all of the ships in the Brazos SantiagoBrazos Island
Brazos Island is a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Texas in the United States, south of the town of South Padre Island.-History:The island is also known as Brazos Santiago Island, a reference to the port of Brazos Santiago, the first Spanish settlement on the island. Later it became the Port...
harbor. In addition, the entire town of Brazos Santiago was destroyed from the storm's heavy winds and storm surge.
On Galveston Island, the storm brought a 6 to 7 feet (2.1 m) storm surge. That, in combination with the winds and rain, destroyed every house on the island with the exception of two. Many ships were destroyed there, with 2 people killed.
In southeastern Louisiana, the Racer's Storm caused immense structural damage, with $200,000 (1837 USD, $3.4 million 2005 USD) in railroad damage occurring. In New Orleans, Lake Ponchartrain rose eight feet above, with much of the city being flooded in 1 to 2 foot (0.6096 m) of water.
The storm caused vast agricultural losses across the southeastern U.S., while cotton crops suffered most.
The SS Home
SS Home
The SS Home was a steam packet ship built in 1836 and sunk in 1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.The Home was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of New York City, a ship of 537 tons , 220 feet long and with a beam of 22 feet , propelled by two paddle-wheels mounted amidship...
sank off the Outer Banks, drowning 90 people.
This hurricane caused 105 deaths.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricanes