1877 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1877 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1877 there were eight cyclones. There was five tropical storms, three became hurricanes and one those hurricane became a major hurricane (category 3+). Most notably, Hurricane Four caused 84 fatalities in the United States
. However, due to scarce technology, only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, therefore, the actual total could be higher.
on August 1. It paralleled the eastern edge of the Bahamas, before it later paralleled the coast of the United States
. By August 2, the tropical storm was nearly a hurricane, though records show that winds never exceeded 70 mph (113 km/h). One gradually weakened as it headed generally north. Finally, Tropical Storm One made landfall in New Brunswick
as a 60 mph (96 km/h) tropical storm on August 5. Tropical Storm One dissipated as it emerged into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
coast. Simultaneously, it had also reached peak intensity as a 80 mph (129 km/h) hurricane. Hurricane Two veered generally eastward, avoiding landfall in Texas. However, on September 18 it made landfall in Louisiana
while at the same strength.
Hurricane Two ultimately made another landfall in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
on September 19. It quickly weakened back to a tropical storm while still in the state of Florida
. Two emerged into the Atlantic on September 20 after greatly weakening. The storm dissipated about 200 miles south of North Carolina
on September 21.
. It dissipated while just offshore of southern Newfoundland.
. It moved west at a low latitude, hugging the coast of South America
while strengthening. It crossed over northern Venezuela
on the 23rd, one of just a few tropical systems to hit that country. The hurricane turned northward, weakening to a minimal Category 1 storm. It crossed the Caribbean
and the Gulf of Mexico
, where it strengthened to a 115 mph (185 km/h) major hurricane just before landfall. It hit the Florida Panhandle
on the 3rd, and became extratropical over the Carolinas on the 4th. The storm caused heavy rain and destruction, resulting in 84 deaths.
on September 24. It tracked through the Bahamas over the next few days. Five than parallel the southeastern United States thereafter leaving the Bahamas. Tropical Storm Five reached peak intensity on September 28 when maximum sustained winds reached 60 mph. The tropical storm apparently dissipated on September 29.
islands. Six headed generally northward and did not strengthen. It became extratropical to the southeast of Cape Race
on October 16. The extratropical storm lasted until October 18.
as a 50 mph tropical storm. Tropical Storm Seven strengthened slightly to a 60 mph tropical storm, but it dissipated on October 28.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. However, due to scarce technology, only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, therefore, the actual total could be higher.
Tropical Storm One
Tropical Storm One was first observed to the north of Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
on August 1. It paralleled the eastern edge of the Bahamas, before it later paralleled the coast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. By August 2, the tropical storm was nearly a hurricane, though records show that winds never exceeded 70 mph (113 km/h). One gradually weakened as it headed generally north. Finally, Tropical Storm One made landfall in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
as a 60 mph (96 km/h) tropical storm on August 5. Tropical Storm One dissipated as it emerged into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Hurricane Two
Two formed as a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on September 14. It was upgraded to a hurricane on September 16 while it was within 120 miles (193 km) of the TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
coast. Simultaneously, it had also reached peak intensity as a 80 mph (129 km/h) hurricane. Hurricane Two veered generally eastward, avoiding landfall in Texas. However, on September 18 it made landfall in 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...
while at the same strength.
Hurricane Two ultimately made another landfall in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. As of 2005, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach was 19,992, and as of 2010, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach is 19,507 recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau...
on September 19. It quickly weakened back to a tropical storm while still in the state of 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...
. Two emerged into the Atlantic on September 20 after greatly weakening. The storm dissipated about 200 miles south of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
on September 21.
Hurricane Three
Hurricane Three was first discovered on September 16. It moved generally to the northwest for a few days. The hurricane passed safely to the northeast of Bermuda between September 18 and 19th. Three weakened to a tropical storm as it was accelerating toward Atlantic CanadaAtlantic 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...
. It dissipated while just offshore of southern Newfoundland.
Hurricane Four
On September 21, a tropical storm was first observed east of the Leeward IslandsLeeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
. It moved west at a low latitude, hugging the coast of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
while strengthening. It crossed over northern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on the 23rd, one of just a few tropical systems to hit that country. The hurricane turned northward, weakening to a minimal Category 1 storm. It crossed the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and 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...
, where it strengthened to a 115 mph (185 km/h) major hurricane just before landfall. It hit 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...
on the 3rd, and became extratropical over the Carolinas on the 4th. The storm caused heavy rain and destruction, resulting in 84 deaths.
Tropical Storm Five
Tropical Storm Five was first discovered north of HispaniolaHispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
on September 24. It tracked through the Bahamas over the next few days. Five than parallel the southeastern United States thereafter leaving the Bahamas. Tropical Storm Five reached peak intensity on September 28 when maximum sustained winds reached 60 mph. The tropical storm apparently dissipated on September 29.
Tropical Storm Six
Tropical Storm Six was discovered roughly half way between Bermuda and the 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...
islands. Six headed generally northward and did not strengthen. It became extratropical to the southeast of Cape Race
Cape Race
Cape Race is a point of land located at the southeastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. Its name is thought to come from the original Portuguese name for this cape, "Raso", or "bare"...
on October 16. The extratropical storm lasted until October 18.
Tropical Storm Seven
Tropical Storm Seven was first discovered on October 24 in the Gulf of Mexico. It paralleled the states of the Gulf Coast for a few days. However, Tropical Storm Seven ultimately made landfall near Cedar Key, FloridaCedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 790 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 958. The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands close to the mainland. Most of the developed area of the city has been on...
as a 50 mph tropical storm. Tropical Storm Seven strengthened slightly to a 60 mph tropical storm, but it dissipated on October 28.