1868 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1868 Atlantic hurricane season was among the quietest on record, with only four tropical cyclone
s recorded. Only three seasons had fewer storms than in 1868, and seven had the same number of storms. Initially, there were no known storms during the season, although a re-analysis
confirmed the activity. All tropical activity occurred within a 45 day span. There may have been other unconfirmed tropical cyclones during the season. Meteorologist Christopher Landsea
estimates up to six storms were missed from the official database, due to small tropical cyclone size, sparse ship reports, and relatively unpopulated coastlines.
Only one of the storms, the second, made landfall
, doing so near Apalachicola, Florida
. It produced heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the southeastern United States
, although there was no severe damage associated with the storm. The first hurricane killed two people when a ship passed through its winds for 14 hours. The third hurricane, located in the western Caribbean Sea
, did not affect land, although two ships experienced its strong winds. The final hurricane lasted three days across the western Atlantic, forcing one ship to halt its voyage due to storm damage.
. A nearby ship estimated winds of 80 mph (130 km), indicating the presence of the hurricane. It moved northward initially, passing about 220 mi (355 km) west of Bermuda on September 4. Thereafter, the hurricane turned toward the northeast, and the ship "John Richardson" encountered gale
force winds on September 5, resulting in a wreck of its cargo. On September 6, it was estimated to have reached peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), based on observations from the ship with the call sign "Greenock". The hurricane lashed the ship with strong winds for 14 hours, killing the captain and one crewman. At the time, it was about 400 mi (640 km) southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Turning to the northeast, the hurricane passed south of Newfoundland before last being observed on September 7.
suffered $5,000 in damage due to the storm (1868 USD, $81,000 2010 USD). The storm accelerated northeastward and struck near Apalachicola, Florida
late on October 4.
As the storm crossed over the Florida panhandle
and southeastern Georgia
, the winds weakened to 45 mph (72.4 km/h), although it still produced heavy rainfall and gusty winds in Savannah, Georgia
. No severe damage was reported in the city. The tropical storm continued northeastward, emerging into the western Atlantic and paralleling the coastlines of the Carolinas just offshore. Several ships reported strong winds and rough seas. On October 6, the storm restrengthened to its peak intensity before becoming an extratropical cyclone
about 200 mi (320 km) southeast of Cape Cod
; however, one meteorologist assessed it as acquiring extratropical characteristics after it exited Georgia into the western Atlantic. As an extratropical storm, it reached winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), based on a ship report south of Atlantic Canada
. Late on October 7, the storm was last observed to the south of Newfoundland. The storm was the only one in the season not to attain hurricane status.
, about halfway between Honduras
and Jamaica
. Its intensity, based on a ship report, was estimated at 105 mph (165 km/h). The hurricane moved slowly west-northwestward, and another ship experienced its strong winds on October 7. There were no further observations, so its complete track is unknown.
off the coast of New England
. It never affected land.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s recorded. Only three seasons had fewer storms than in 1868, and seven had the same number of storms. Initially, there were no known storms during the season, although a re-analysis
Atlantic hurricane reanalysis
Atlantic hurricane reanalysis is an ongoing project within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which seeks to correct and add new information about past Atlantic tropical cyclones...
confirmed the activity. All tropical activity occurred within a 45 day span. There may have been other unconfirmed tropical cyclones during the season. Meteorologist Christopher Landsea
Christopher Landsea
Christopher W. Landsea is an American meteorologist, formerly a research meteorologist with Hurricane Research Division of Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory at NOAA, and now the Science and Operations Officer at the National Hurricane Center...
estimates up to six storms were missed from the official database, due to small tropical cyclone size, sparse ship reports, and relatively unpopulated coastlines.
Only one of the storms, the second, made landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
, doing so near Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola is a city in Franklin County, Florida, on US 98 about southwest of Tallahassee. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimated the city's population at 2,340...
. It produced heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, although there was no severe damage associated with the storm. The first hurricane killed two people when a ship passed through its winds for 14 hours. The third hurricane, located in the western Caribbean Sea
Caribbean 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....
, did not affect land, although two ships experienced its strong winds. The final hurricane lasted three days across the western Atlantic, forcing one ship to halt its voyage due to storm damage.
Hurricane One
The first known tropical cyclone of the season was observed on September 3, about halfway between the Bahamas and BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. A nearby ship estimated winds of 80 mph (130 km), indicating the presence of the hurricane. It moved northward initially, passing about 220 mi (355 km) west of Bermuda on September 4. Thereafter, the hurricane turned toward the northeast, and the ship "John Richardson" encountered gale
Gale
A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots of sustained surface winds. Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are...
force winds on September 5, resulting in a wreck of its cargo. On September 6, it was estimated to have reached peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), based on observations from the ship with the call sign "Greenock". The hurricane lashed the ship with strong winds for 14 hours, killing the captain and one crewman. At the time, it was about 400 mi (640 km) southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Turning to the northeast, the hurricane passed south of Newfoundland before last being observed on September 7.
Tropical Storm Two
A ship sunk in the western Gulf of Mexico on October 1, which was the first indication of the second tropical cyclone of the season. The storm moved slowly northeastward toward the southeastern Louisiana coastline, intensifying to its estimated peak winds of 70 mph (115 km/h). On October 4, it passed near or over southeastern Louisiana, producing heavy rain and gusty winds in New Orleans. Flooding was observed in portions of the city, and the West Rigolets Lighthouse on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
suffered $5,000 in damage due to the storm (1868 USD, $81,000 2010 USD). The storm accelerated northeastward and struck near Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola is a city in Franklin County, Florida, on US 98 about southwest of Tallahassee. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimated the city's population at 2,340...
late on October 4.
As the storm crossed over the Florida panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
and southeastern 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 winds weakened to 45 mph (72.4 km/h), although it still produced heavy rainfall and gusty winds in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. No severe damage was reported in the city. The tropical storm continued northeastward, emerging into the western Atlantic and paralleling the coastlines of the Carolinas just offshore. Several ships reported strong winds and rough seas. On October 6, the storm restrengthened to its peak intensity before becoming an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
about 200 mi (320 km) southeast of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
; however, one meteorologist assessed it as acquiring extratropical characteristics after it exited Georgia into the western Atlantic. As an extratropical storm, it reached winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), based on a ship report south of Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. Late on October 7, the storm was last observed to the south of Newfoundland. The storm was the only one in the season not to attain hurricane status.
Hurricane Three
As the previous storm was moving along the coastline of the southeastern United States, a new hurricane was 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....
, about halfway between Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and 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...
. Its intensity, based on a ship report, was estimated at 105 mph (165 km/h). The hurricane moved slowly west-northwestward, and another ship experienced its strong winds on October 7. There were no further observations, so its complete track is unknown.
Hurricane Four
The final known hurricane of the season was observed on October 15, to the northeast of the central Bahamas. The ship "Jim Cow", en route from New York to Panama, suffered heavy damage from the storm, so much that it could not complete its voyage. Moving generally northeastward, the hurricane was estimated to have reached peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), based on ship reports. On October 17 the cyclone was absorbed by a rapidly intensifying extratropical cycloneExtratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
off the coast of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. It never affected land.