| 1853 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | August 5, 1853 |
| Last system dissipated | October 22, 1853 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Three |
| • Maximum winds | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 924mbar (hPa; 27.29inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 8 |
| Hurricanes | 4 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 40 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1851,1852,1853,1854,1855 | |
The1853 Atlantic hurricane season featured eight knowntropical cyclones, none of which madelandfall. Operationally, a ninth tropical storm was believed to have existed over theDominican Republic on November 26,[1] butHURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database – now excludes this system.[2] The first system, Tropical Storm One, was initially observed on August 5. The final storm, Hurricane Eight, was last observed on October 22. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. At two points during the season, pairs of tropical cyclones existed simultaneously. Four of the cyclones only have a single known point in their tracks due to a sparsity of data, so storm summaries for those systems are unavailable.
Of the season's eight tropical cyclones, four reached hurricane status. Furthermore, two of those four strengthened intomajor hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern-daySaffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. The strongest cyclone of the season, the third hurricane, peaked at Category 4 strength with 150 mph (240 km/h) winds. With a minimumbarometric pressure of 924 mbar (27.3 inHg), it was the most intense tropical cyclone recorded in the Atlantic basin until the1924 Cuba hurricane. The hurricane caused 40 fatalities after a brig went missing off the coast ofNorth Carolina. Despite remaining offshore, Tropical Storm Five brought very strong winds to the Mexican city ofVeracruz. Hurricane Eight brought strong winds and rough seas toNorth Florida andGeorgia, causing significant damage in the latter.
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 5 – August 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h)(1-min); |
The barqueW.B. Bowen encountered a gale with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) near 33.5°N, 69.2°W on August 5, which is located about 255 miles (410 km) east of Bermuda. This system would later be listed in HURDAT records as Tropical Storm One. However, due to heavy prevailing weather, further data on this storm is unavailable.[3]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 10 – August 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h)(1-min); |
A publication by meteorologistIvan R. Tannehill indicates that Tropical Storm Two was centered nearBarbados on August 10.[3] However, due its weak nature – maximum sustained winds were only 45 mph (75 km/h) – only a single data point is known of the storm's path.[2] Climate researcher Michael Chenoweth argued in a 2014 study that this system remained atropical wave.[4]
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | August 30 – September 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h)(1-min); 924 mbar (hPa) |
MeteorologistWilliam C. Redfield first observed the season's third tropical storm south ofCape Verde on August 30, which was the firstCape Verde-type hurricane ever recorded.[3] Initially, the storm moved west-northwestward and gradually strengthened, becoming a hurricane on September 1. Over the next two days, the hurricane intensified significantly and reached Category 2 strength early on September 2. The system strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane by September 3, attaining its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 924 mbar (27.3 inHg) was recorded by the barqueHermann soon thereafter. It was the most intense storm in the Atlantic until the1924 Cuba hurricane, aCategory 5 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 910 mbar (27 inHg).[5] While the1825 Santa Ana hurricane and the1846 Great Havana Hurricane may have been stronger,[6] they're discounted due theofficial database only dating back to1851.[2]
By September 5, the hurricane curved toward the northwest and began to weaken. Early on September 7, it turned northward and fell to Category 3 intensity, situated about 340 miles (550 km) east ofCharleston, South Carolina. The hurricane passed offshoreNorth Carolina later that day,[2] and its outerrainbands produced heavy rainfall along the state's southern coastlines.[7] The brigAlbermarle was lost at sea on September 7 with 40 of its crewmen missing; they were later presumed to have drowned.[8][9] The hurricane recurved east-northeastward and continued to deteriorate steadily, weakening to Category 1 status by September 9. The storm was last observed late on September 10, centered about 525 miles (845 km) north-northwest ofFlores Island in the Azores.[2]
Chenoweth concluded in a 2014 reanalysis study that "Space-time continuity and errors in press accounts indicate reports" regarding this storm were instead associated with the previous system. Thus, the study proposes the removal of this cyclone from HURDAT.[4]
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 8 – September 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h)(1-min); |
The shipGilbert Gallatin encountered the fourth hurricane of the season on September 8, which was centered about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) east of the third hurricane. Sustained winds were initially observed to have reached 115 mph (185 km/h), indicative of a Category 3 hurricane. Several other ships reportedly encountered this storm as it tracked northeastward. With winds decreasing to 105 mph (165 km/h), it weakened to a Category 2 hurricane on September 10. The storm was last noted by the shipJosephine later that day, while located about 615 miles (990 km) north-northeast ofGraciosa in theAzores.[10]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 21 – September 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h)(1-min); |
Tropical Storm Five was reported to have existed on September 21 at 20°N, 95°W, which is located in theBay of Campeche. TheElize andCrichton encountered a heavy "norther" upon arriving at Veracruz, Veracruz on that day. Although it was centered offshore, very strong winds were reported in Veracruz, possibly induced by the funneling effect from theSierra Madre Oriental. Further information of this tropical storm is sparse.[10]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 26 – October 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h)(1-min); |
The sixth hurricane of the season was first observed as a tropical storm to the southeast ofBermuda on September 26.[10] Initially, the storm headed north-northwestward, before curving north-northeastward on September 27, while bypassing Bermuda. Later that day, the storm strengthened into a hurricane.[2] ThebrigSamuel and Edward encountered the hurricane on September 2, reporting winds of 80 mph (130 km/h); this was the maximum sustained wind speed associated with the storm. Thereafter, the storm executed a cyclonic loop, which lasted until September 30.[11][2] It curved northeastward on October 1 and was last noted at 0600 UTC, while located about 590 miles (950 km) northeast of Bermuda.[2]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 28 – September 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h)(1-min); |
Two separate reports by meteorologists Ivan R. Tannehill and Edward B. Garriott indicate that the seventh tropical storm of the season existed at 15°N, 37°W on September 28, which is located west of Cape Verde. Observations noted that maximum sustained winds reached 60 mph (95 km/h). With only a single data point, no further information is available on this storm.[11]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 19 – October 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h)(1-min); 996 mbar (hPa) |
ThebarqueEdward reported a hurricane about 50 miles (80 km) north ofGrand Bahama on October 19. Several other ships encountered the storm between October 19 and October 20.[11] It moved slowly north-northwestward and gradually strengthened. On October 20, the storm reached maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), making it a Category 2 hurricane.[2] Additionally, ships reported a minimum barometric pressure of 996 mbar (29.4 inHg).[1] After weakening back to a Category 1 hurricane on October 21, the storm veered east-northeastward, avoiding a landfall in theSoutheastern United States. It was last noted on October 22, while centered about 80 miles (130 km) east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.[2]
Strong winds, combined with tides inJacksonville, Florida, pushed water over wharfs and onto Bay Street.William Gaston Captain Thomas E. Shaw reported that the gale atBrunswick, Georgia caused significant damage to the town. An engine-house belonging to the Brunswick Railroad Company was flattened, as was a large cotton shed, a blacksmith shop, and a new frame house, and a number of other buildings were damaged. The new railroad wharf was washed away and its remains were floating in the harbor. Offshore, there were numerous shipwrecks, including the schoonersW. Mercer,G. W. Pickering,Mary Ann, and theSteamer Planter. Additionally, the schoonerJames House reported "a perfect hurricane".[12]
This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1853 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 1853 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 (USD) | Deaths | Ref(s). | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | August 5 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | Unknown | None | None | None | |||
| Two | August 10 | Tropical storm | 45 (75) | Unknown | Barbados | Unknown | None | |||
| Three | August 30 – September 10 | Category 4 hurricane | 150 (240) | 924 | North Carolina | Unknown | 40 | [8] | ||
| Four | September 8–10 | Category 3 hurricane | 115 (185) | Unknown | None | None | None | |||
| Five | September 21 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | Unknown | Veracruz | Unknown | None | |||
| Six | September 26 – October 1 | Category 1 hurricane | 80 (130) | Unknown | Bermuda | Unknown | None | |||
| Seven | September 28 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | Unknown | None | None | None | |||
| Eight | October 19–22 | Category 2 hurricane | 105 (165) | 996 | Southeastern United States | Unknown | None | |||
| Season aggregates | ||||||||||
| 8 systems | August 5 – October 22 | 150 (240) | 924 | Unknown | 40 | |||||
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.