| 1852 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | August 19, 1852 |
| Last system dissipated | October 11, 1852 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | One |
| • Maximum winds | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 961mbar (hPa; 28.38inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 5 |
| Hurricanes | 5 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 1 |
| Total fatalities | 100+ direct |
| Total damage | $1 million (1852USD) |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1850,1851,1852,1853,1854 | |
The1852 Atlantic hurricane season was the first of only threeAtlantic hurricane seasons in which every knowntropical cyclone attained hurricane status, preceding1858 and1884.[1] Five tropical cyclones were reported during the season, which lasted from late August to the middle of October. These dates fall within the range of most Atlantic tropical cyclone activity, and none of the storms coexisted with another. Though there were officially five tropical cyclones in the season, hurricane scholar Michael Chenoweth assessed two of the cyclones as being the same storm.[2] There may have been other unconfirmed tropical cyclones during the season, as meteorologistChristopher Landsea estimated that up to six storms were missed each year from the official database. This is unusual due to tropical cyclones being smaller than average, sparse ship reports, and relatively unpopulated coastlines at the time.[3]
Every tropical cyclone of the season reached hurricane status, which are winds at or exceeding 74 mph (119 km/h). This has only occurred two other times, during the seasons of1858 and1884.[1] All five cyclones also affected land; the strongest was the first storm, which caused severe damage and loss of life when it madelandfall near the border betweenMississippi andAlabama. The second storm of the season struckPuerto Rico, where it caused over 100 deaths, primarily from flooding. In the middle of September, the third storm moved across Florida with strong wind gusts and light rainfall, and a week later the fourth storm passed over or north of theLesser andGreater Antilles. The last storm hit theFlorida Panhandle, though damage was less than expected.
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 19 – August 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h)(1-min); 961 mbar (hPa) |
The Great Mobile Hurricane of 1852 was the first tropical cyclone of the year. It was first observed on August 19 about 140 mi (225 km) north ofPuerto Rico. It moved on a west-northwest motion before passing through theBahamas as it attained hurricane status on August 20. After paralleling the northern coast ofCuba, the storm passed between theDry Tortugas andKey West, Florida on August 22, and two days later it is estimated the hurricane attained peak winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). The storm slowed on August 25 before turning northward, and early on August 26 it madelandfall nearPascagoula, Mississippi at peak strength, and the hurricane rapidly weakened to tropical storm status as it accelerated east-northeastward. On August 28 it emerged into the Atlantic Ocean fromSouth Carolina, and after turning to the northeast, it was last observed on August 30 about 130 mi (210 km) southeast ofCape Cod.[4]
In theFlorida Keys, rough waves forced several ships ashore, leaving some damaged.[5] Strong waves created four new channels in theChandeleur Islands, and the storm's passage also destroyed the island lighthouse; the three keepers were found three days later. Two schooners were also washed ashore alongCat Island.[6] The hurricane produced an estimatedstorm tide of 12 ft (3.7 m) inMobile, Alabama,[4] where strong winds damaged much of the city, leaving the majority of the houses destroyed. Trees were downed up to 30 mi (50 km) inland,[7] and coastal areas were flooded. Damage along the coastline was estimated at $1 million (1852 USD), and at least five people died.[8] While crossing the southeastern United States, the storm brought light rainfall but moderately strong winds; inCharleston, South Carolina, the storm destroyed several bridges and crop fields.[4][9]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 5 – September 6 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h)(1-min); |
Hurricane San Lorenzo of 1852
Early on September 5, a hurricane was first observed about 65 mi (105 km) southeast ofChristiansted in theDanish Virgin Islands.[1] One meteorologist assessed the hurricane as being located nearAntigua on September 3.[2] Tracking steadily west-northwestward, it quickly moved ashore nearPonce, Puerto Rico with winds estimated at 80 mph (130 km/h). After crossing southwestern Puerto Rico, the hurricane emerged into theMona Passage as a tropical storm. Late on September 5 it made landfall on easternDominican Republic; it quickly weakened over Hispaniola, dissipating on September 6 over the northwestern portion of the island.[1] An assessment by scholar Michael Chenoweth in 2006 indicated this storm was the same as the next hurricane, with it continuing northwestward and ultimately reaching theGulf of Mexico.[2] Due to not being considered the same cyclone in theofficial hurricane database,[1] this hurricane and the following hurricane are listed separately.[4] There, the passage of the storm caused severe flooding, which destroyed large quantities of crops and damaged several roads. Storm damage was heaviest betweenGuayanilla andMayagüez.[10] More than 100 people were killed in Puerto Rico,[11] many of whom died due to flooding.[10]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 9 – September 13 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h)(1-min); 985 mbar (hPa) |
A hurricane was located in the centralGulf of Mexico on September 9,[1] potentially the same hurricane as the previous storm.[2] It tracked generally eastward toward the coast of Florida, with its hurricane intensity estimation based on two ship reports. At about 00:00 UTC on September 12, it moved ashore nearClearwater, Florida, as a minimal hurricane, with an estimatedminimum barometric central pressure of 985 mbar (29.1 inHg). Accelerating east-northeastward while crossing the state, the cyclone emerged into the Atlantic Ocean as a weakened tropical storm before regaining hurricane status on September 13. Later that day, it was last observed about 250 mi (400 km) east-southeast ofCape Hatteras.[1]
A post inFort Meade, Florida, reported at least 0.55 in (14 mm) of rainfall during the storm's passage. The hurricane was considered "violent", and gusts were estimated to have reached hurricane force.[4] Rough seas and strong easterly winds beached a vessel nearSt. Augustine.[12][13]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 22 – September 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 90 mph (150 km/h)(1-min); |
On September 22, a tropical storm was located about 200 mi (320 km) east ofGuadeloupe. With a steady west-northwest path, the storm moved across the northernLesser Antilles on September 23, during which it intensified into a hurricane. It passed a short distance north ofPuerto Rico and theDominican Republic as it reached its peak intensity of 90 mph (150 km). Late on September 26 the hurricane turned northwestward, bringing it through theTurks and Caicos Islands and easternBahamas. Recurving north-northeastward, the cyclone moved into open waters, and was last classified as a tropical cyclone on September 30 about 390 mi (630 km) east ofCape Hatteras.[1] However, one hurricane researcher assessed the hurricane as lasting until October 3, with the cyclone turning eastward and dissipating near theAzores.[2]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 6 – October 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h)(1-min); 965 mbar (hPa) |
A moderately strong hurricane with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) was first spotted on October 6 east ofJamaica. Passing a short distance south of the island, the hurricane tracked northwestward and brushed theYucatán Peninsula before turning north-northeastward into theGulf of Mexico.[1] Late on October 9, it made landfall a short distance east ofApalachicola, Florida, at peak winds with an estimated pressure of 965 mbar (28.5 inHg).[14] Rapidly weakening to tropical storm status, the cyclone continued northeastward and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina on October 11. Later that day, it was last observed about 250 mi (400 km) southeast of Cape Cod.[1]
Heavy damage was reported in Jamaica. Upon making landfall in Florida, the hurricane produced a 7 ft (2.1 m)storm tide, and inGeorgia, hurricane-force winds extended into the southwestern portion of the state,[4] while tropical storm force winds occurred along the coastline. In the state, moderate winds damaged trees and roofs, though the destruction was less than anticipated.[12]
This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1852 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their duration (within the basin), names, areas affected, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm wasextratropical, awave, or alow, and all of the damage figures are in 1852 USD.
| Saffir–Simpson scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 |
| Storm name | Dates active | Stormcategory at peak intensity | Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) | Min. press. (mbar) | Areas affected | Damage (US$) | Deaths | Ref(s). | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | August 19–30 | Category 3 hurricane | 115 (185) | 961 | Turks and Caicos Islands,Bahamas,Florida,Gulf Coast of the United States (Mississippi),Southeastern United States | $1 million | Unknown | [8] | ||
| Two | September 5–6 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | Unknown | Puerto Rico,Hispaniola (theDominican Republic) | Unknown | >100 | [11] | ||
| Three | September 9–13 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | 985 | Florida | Unknown | None | |||
| Four | September 22–30 | Category 1 hurricane | 90 (150) | Unknown | Lesser Antilles, Bahamas | Unknown | None | |||
| Five | October 6–11 | Category 2 hurricane | 105 (165) | 965 | Jamaica, Southeastern United States (Florida) | Unknown | None | |||
| Season aggregates | ||||||||||
| 5 systems | August 19 – October 11 | 115 (185) | 961 | >$1 million | >100 | |||||
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
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