1871 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1875 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1871 featured an inactive hurricane season. There were two tropical storms, six became hurricanes and of those two storms became major hurricanes (category 3+). However, due to scarce technology, only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, therefore, the actual total could be higher.
as a strong, 50 mph (80.5 km/h) tropical storm. The storm traversed through the Gulf of Mexico
before making landfall
near Houston, Texas
as a tropical storm on June 4, where the minimum pressure of 999 mbar
was measured. Eventually the storm dissipated in present-day Oklahoma.
almost immediately after the previous storm. Tropical Storm Two moved northwest and then north, eventually hitting Houston, Texas. Tropical Storm Two was nearly identical to Tropical Storm One in terms of wind speed and point of landfall.
, the season's first major hurricane was spotted as a Category 1 hurricane northeast of The Bahamas
. Hurricane Three continued on a westward track, eventually becoming a major hurricane east of the Abaco Islands
. The hurricane maintained its intensity up until landfall in Florida
on August 16 with winds of 120 mph (193.1 km/h). After moving through Florida, Georgia
, and South Carolina
, the storm emerged in the Atlantic Ocean
as a tropical storm. The storm made a loop, taking it back ashore and making landfall in Georgia on August 22 before dissipating the next day.
. The system progressed on a WNW track and steadily intensified, becoming a major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles
. As a major hurricane, it made landfall on the northern parts of the Lesser Antilles including the Virgin Islands
at peak intensity with winds of up to 120 mph (193.1 km/h). Hurricane Four then weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, maintaining this strength while making a second and third landfall in The Bahamas and Florida, respectively. The storm weakened over Florida before entering the Gulf of Mexico and making a fourth and final landfall on the Florida Panhandle
as a tropical storm. The storm then moved north and east over land, weakening into a tropical depression before strengthening back into a tropical storm after re-emerging off South Carolina into the Atlantic. The storm was last sighted east of Cape Cod
, leaving behind 27 dead.
. Hurricane Five maintained this intensity until it was last observed south of Nova Scotia
. It is possible if the storm made landfall on Nova Scotia and it is also possible that the storm formed before August 30.
.
as a tropical storm. It continued moving in a northeast direction, paralleling the Texas coast and strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane while doing so. Hurricane Seven then nearly made landfall on the Mississippi Delta
. Hurricane Seven finally made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a strong tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (31 m/s). After re-entering the Atlantic Ocean, the storm was last sighted east of Cape Hatteras.
Tropical Storm One
The first storm of the hurricane season was first observed south of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
as a strong, 50 mph (80.5 km/h) tropical storm. The storm traversed through 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...
before making 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...
near Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
as a tropical storm on June 4, where the minimum pressure of 999 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
was measured. Eventually the storm dissipated in present-day Oklahoma.
Tropical Storm Two
Tropical Storm Two was first sighted north of the Yucatan PeninsulaYucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
almost immediately after the previous storm. Tropical Storm Two moved northwest and then north, eventually hitting Houston, Texas. Tropical Storm Two was nearly identical to Tropical Storm One in terms of wind speed and point of landfall.
Hurricane Three
After a little more than 2 months without a tropical cycloneTropical 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...
, the season's first major hurricane was spotted as a Category 1 hurricane northeast of The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
. Hurricane Three continued on a westward track, eventually becoming a major hurricane east of the Abaco Islands
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
. The hurricane maintained its intensity up until landfall in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on August 16 with winds of 120 mph (193.1 km/h). After moving through Florida, 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...
, and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, the storm emerged in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
as a tropical storm. The storm made a loop, taking it back ashore and making landfall in Georgia on August 22 before dissipating the next day.
Hurricane Four
The fourth storm of the year developed west of Cape VerdeCape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. The system progressed on a WNW track and steadily intensified, becoming a major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. As a major hurricane, it made landfall on the northern parts of the Lesser Antilles including the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
at peak intensity with winds of up to 120 mph (193.1 km/h). Hurricane Four then weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, maintaining this strength while making a second and third landfall in The Bahamas and Florida, respectively. The storm weakened over Florida before entering the Gulf of Mexico and making a fourth and final landfall on 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...
as a tropical storm. The storm then moved north and east over land, weakening into a tropical depression before strengthening back into a tropical storm after re-emerging off South Carolina into the Atlantic. The storm was last sighted east 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...
, leaving behind 27 dead.
Hurricane Five
The only storm of the year not to make landfall, Hurricane Five was first observed as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph (160.9 km/h) north of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Hurricane Five maintained this intensity until it was last observed south of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. It is possible if the storm made landfall on Nova Scotia and it is also possible that the storm formed before August 30.
Hurricane Six
Hurricane Six formed near the geographic center of the Gulf of Mexico on September 5. The next day, it made landfall in Florida as a Category 1. Still continuing to the northeast, it was last sighted south of Cape HatterasCape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
.
Hurricane Seven
Hurricane Seven was first sighted in the Bay of CampecheBay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
as a tropical storm. It continued moving in a northeast direction, paralleling the Texas coast and strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane while doing so. Hurricane Seven then nearly made landfall on the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
. Hurricane Seven finally made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a strong tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (31 m/s). After re-entering the Atlantic Ocean, the storm was last sighted east of Cape Hatteras.