The 1846 Havana hurricane (also known as the Great Havana hurricane of 1846, San Francisco de Borja hurricane and The Great Gale of 1846) was the most intense
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depen ...
in recorded history for 78 years and the first known
Category 5-strength hurricane to strike
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
. The first indications of the formation of a disturbance were first noted on 5 October in the
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...
, but little else was known until the storm approached Cuba on 10 October. There, it brought extreme winds and the lowest known
atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, ...
of the time – 938
mbar
The bar is a metric unit of pressure, but not part of the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as exactly equal to 100,000 Pa (100 kPa), or slightly less than the current average atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea lev ...
(27.70
inHg) – a record which remained unbroken until the development of
a later cyclone in 1924. It soon curved toward
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, where it maintained its intensity, continuing to rapidly hasten northward along the
East Coast of the United States to
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...
. It entered an
extratropical transition
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the weather over much of the Earth. Extratropical cyclones are capable of ...
while situated over
New York on 13 October, producing intense Category 2-force winds and unusually little precipitation. Eventually, the gale dissipated over
the Canadian Maritimes the following day as a markedly weaker storm.
In Cuba, the storm caused hundreds of deaths, capsized dozens of ships, obliterated buildings, uprooted trees, and ruined crops. Many towns were wholly destroyed or flattened and never recovered, while others disappeared entirely. Damage in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
was considerably better-chronicled despite being less severe. In
Key West, widespread destruction was noted, with 40 deaths, many vessels rendered unfit, and widespread structural damage, with several buildings swept off of their foundations and hundreds of others flattened. Few supplies arrived in the following days and relief efforts were gradual, with few resources within the town's vicinity. Along other sections of the
Southeastern U.S. coast, copious rainfall and moderate winds impacted agriculture, shipping, and residences. As the storm tracked along the
Middle-Atlantic coast, similar effects were reported: there, the gale inundated many areas, impeded communications, destroyed railroads and canals, and flattened structures. Despite extensive damage, only two deaths were recorded outside Cuba and Florida. Along its entire track, the hurricane caused $338,000 in losses and at least 164 deaths.
Unusual in many aspects, the 1846 Havana hurricane was the most intense of its time. Though
atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, ...
readings in Cuba reached as low as 916 mbar (27.06 inHg), the meteorological historian Jose Fernandez-Partagás re-evaluated several possible pressure records, concluding that the cyclone's minimum pressure was likely closer to 938 mbar (27.70 inHg); even so, it maintained the title of having the lowest recorded pressure measurement until
1924
Events
January
* January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after.
* January 20– 30 – Kuomintang in China holds ...
, 78 years later. Although no reliable wind measurements were available at the time, a separate study also estimated that it produced Category 5-strength winds, making it the first known storm to strike Cuba at such an intensity. As a result of the tropical cyclone's extreme intensity, ecological and geographical features were permanently altered in many areas.
Sand Key, which completely submerged during the course of the hurricane, wholly re-emerged by December of that year, albeit not in its original position; meanwhile, ecological damage remained evident for decades in Key West.
Meteorological history
The hurricane's origins can be traced to the central
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...
on 5 October.
[Chenoweth 2006, p. 234] The following day, its passage south of
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
was observed,
[Tannehill 1938, p. 156] and soon later, the hurricane transited across the
Cayman Islands, producing relatively high winds.
During the late evening of 10 October, winds began to increase on the island of
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, culminating the following morning; while the strongest winds were originally in the storm's northeastern sector, they were later noted in its northwest. Its
eye presumably passed slightly east of
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. while maintaining an
atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, ...
of 916
mbar
The bar is a metric unit of pressure, but not part of the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as exactly equal to 100,000 Pa (100 kPa), or slightly less than the current average atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea lev ...
(27.06
inHg).
[Ludlum 1963, p. 151] This was accompanied by Category 5-force winds on the modern-day
Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale,
[Landsea et al. 2012, p. 883] defined as 1-minute
maximum sustained wind
The maximum sustained wind associated with a tropical cyclone is a common
indicator of the intensity of the storm. Within a mature tropical cyclone, it is found within the eyewall at a distance defined as the radius of maximum wind, or RMW. Unl ...
s of at least 157 mph (252 km/h).
Despite the reading, a 1993 analysis by weather historian José Fernández-Partagás calculated a corrected sea-level pressure at 938 mbar (27.70 inHg); even so, the value maintained the hurricane as the most intense in recorded history.
[Partagás 1993, p. 1] It arrived at
Key West the morning of 11 October, soon after its departure from Cuba, with undiminished intensity.
The storm gradually meandered toward
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater ...
, and eventually arrived on that afternoon of 11 October, its effects persisting through the following morning.
[Ludlum 1963, p. 152] Winds, which initially swept northeasterly at
force 4 during the early evening, veered toward the southeast and peaked at force 8 the following morning. Weather historian
David Ludlum tracked the hurricane's path past
Cedar Key
Cedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 702 at the 2010 census. The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands near the mainland. Most of the developed area of the city has been on Way Key since the end of the 19th ...
, noting the disturbance's northeastward curve as it neared
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
.
[Ludlum 1963, p. 153]
Advancing northward over land, the once-powerful hurricane weakened, with somewhat higher atmospheric pressures and winds of less severity reported at
Charleston, South Carolina. Paralleling the coast while situated inland, it hastened quickly toward the north, swiftly passing through
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
and arriving in the
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...
region by 13 October.
Southeasterly gusts persisted as the storm continued its northerly progression inland along the course of the
East Coast of the United States. After reaching
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, in the early morning, it arrived near
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
by sunrise, and transited across
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
during the afternoon of 13 October. The storm likely underwent an
extratropical transition
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the weather over much of the Earth. Extratropical cyclones are capable of ...
by the time it arrived in
New York state, elongating linearly east-to-west.
[Ludlum 1963, p. 94] The gale's winds swept toward the southeast with a brief hiatus in the early evening. As it neared
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...
, it produced little precipitation yet intense gusts, which peaked at force 9-strength in the vicinity of
New Bedford, Massachusetts.
[Ludlum 1963, p. 95] The cyclone's diameter over New England, at its largest point, reached , accompanied by Category 2-force winds.
[Boose et al. 2001, p. 40] The system was last sighted on the morning of 14 October, rapidly weakening as it meandered into
the Canadian Maritimes.
Impact
In
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, the hurricane's impact was extremely severe: the storm destroyed nearly a hundred ships and likely killed hundreds of individuals across the island,
and also inflicted extensive crop damage and widespread flooding.
The hurricane capsized nearly all crafts docked at
Havana Harbor
Havana Harbor is the port of Havana, the capital of Cuba, and it is the main port in Cuba (not including Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, a territory on lease by the United States). Other port cities in Cuba include Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Manzanillo, ...
, and of the 104 boats in the harbor prior to the storm's arrival, only 12 remained after it subsided. Between 40 and 50 other cargo vessels were impaired, with significant structural damage in the city proper also observed.
Damage to houses, crops, and shipping was catastrophic throughout the island; the storm was reportedly the worst in Cuban history at the time,
[Schwartz 2007, p. 16] more severe even than an earlier hurricane in 1844.
Waves were high enough to reach the lanterns of the
Morro Castle lighthouse. While no concrete death toll was established, reports indicated the deaths of several dozen individuals during the entire course of the storm,
[Malcolm 2010, p. 3] while other records noted that hundreds of deaths had possibly occurred across the island.
Damage in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, however, was better-documented. There, the disturbance washed away the island of
Sand Key and resulted in the loss of many vessels in nearby
Key West harbor.
Its
storm surge scattered debris throughout the city and swept many structures afloat upon high waters.
In all, approximately $200,000 in damage and 40 deaths were reported,
representing four percent of the town's population.
Elsewhere in the state, damage remained severe, with abnormal storm tides and widespread property destruction noted.
Shipping and agriculture took the brunt of the storm's impact in other southeastern states;
there, it produced damage similar to that inflicted by an earlier 1824 hurricane.
Even farther north along the
Middle-Atlantic coast, copious rainfall and intense gusts were observed, especially in the
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...
region. Winds uprooted trees, cracked canals,
damaged railroads, and demolished factories.
Rainfall totals, however, were generally low, indicative of a dry gale.
In all, the hurricane caused at least 164 deaths and $338,000 (1846
USD
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
) in damage throughout its path, although some reports indicated hundreds of additional deaths across the island of Cuba.
Caribbean Sea
![Habana ramon dela sagra](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Habana_ramon_dela_sagra.PNG)
Early in its development, the hurricane passed near the
Cayman Islands, inundating all of
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the territory's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles (1 ...
, with its worst effects concentrated at the localities of Savannah and Newlands, both under a
storm surge.
Although residential damage was minimal, many grasslands were destroyed.
[Williams 1992, p. 73]
Celebrations coinciding with the birthday of
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II ( es, Isabel II; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904), was Queen of Spain from 29 September 1833 until 30 September 1868.
Shortly before her birth, the King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a Pragmatic Sanction to ensure the successi ...
held in
Havana, Cuba, on 10 October were disrupted by heavy rains and strong winds, indicative of the hurricane's imminent arrival that evening.
[Pérez 2001, p. 67] Following the storm's
landfall
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
, the most severe damage as a result of the storm was observed from eastern regions of
Pinar del RÃo
Pinar del RÃo is the capital city of Pinar del RÃo Province, Cuba. With a population of 139,336 (2004) in a municipality of 190,332, it is the 10th-largest city in Cuba. Inhabitants of the area are called ''Pinareños''.
History
Pinar del RÃ ...
to western
Matanzas. Already soaked by weeks of constant rainfall, with swollen rivers, inundated roads, and spoiled tobacco crops,
[Pérez 2001, p. 69] existing problems were only further exacerbated; at
Paso Real de San Diego,
cassava
''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated ...
,
sweet potato, and other
vianda harvests were ruined. In Havana proper, waves battered ships seeking refuge in
the city's harbor, grounded, driven away, capsized, and smashed, with much of their cargo, composing of cartons of sugar, bales of tobacco, and fragments of hemp, barrels, and cases strewn along the shore and sea. In all, the gale destroyed or seriously damaged 105 commercial ships, 70 sloops, pilot boats, and military craft, as well as 111 other vessels at sea;
[Pérez 2001, p. 70] as a result, shortages of many essential goods occurred in inland provinces. Damage in Cuban port cities was only further aggravated by the amount of debris produced by the destruction of ships, warehouses, and docks, which were in turn blown into harborside structures by powerful gusts.
[Pérez 2001, p. 71]
Masonry buildings bore the brunt of the storm, with the recently overhauled Teatro Principal wholly obliterated,
the city gas plant rendered unusable after its smokestack crumpled, and numerous churches flattened.
Havana Cathedral experienced considerable damage to its roof, while the Montserrat Church was completely unroofed. The hurricane destroyed
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
es at
Jesus del Monte and
Guanabacoa
Guanabacoa is a colonial township in eastern Havana, Cuba, and one of the 15 municipalities (or boroughs) of the city. It is famous for its historical SanterÃa and is home to the first African Cabildo in Havana. Guanabacoa was briefly the capital ...
, while several hospitals, including the Real Hospital de San Lázaro, were also demolished, with its entrance wrecked, several wards and its infirmary building damaged, and its roofs crippled. Damage was so severe that some believed that the destruction was wrought by an earthquake. Residential damage was omnipresent, with 1,275 houses razed to the ground and another 1,040 damaged in Guanabacoa alone.
[Pérez 2001, p. 72] The storm covered streets with planks, tiles, and other debris, uprooted and defoliated palm trees, ruined gardens, and damaged balconies.
[Pérez 2001, p. 73] The massive
storm surge associated with the system annihilated and washed away most of the huts and houses of
Batabanó, with only 20 left standing. Food and water supplies were lost, while the retreating tides left behind inches of mud and mounds of debris in their wake.
[Pérez 2001, p. 74]
At
Caimito and
Rosario, warehouses, their contents, piers, and wharves were all driven out into the neighboring ocean, and both towns were entirely flattened. The hurricane destroyed all the piers and nearly every building in
Cabañas, and of the 23 houses built in
Cojimar, only seven weathered the storm. A majority of ships at Matanzas were destroyed, with numerous ships capsized or washed aground. Massive waves crashed ashore, crushing buildings and inundating low-lying areas in the city. Many wooden and stone buildings, already impaired by an earlier hurricane in 1844, were immediately destroyed by the surge's impact. Structures along the shoreline, in addition to towns along the courses of the
Yumurà and
San Juan rivers, were driven out to sea. More than forty deaths occurred in the first round of flooding brought by the storm. At
Güines
Güines is a municipality and town in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is located southeast of Havana, next to the Mayabeque River. It is the most populated town, but not the capital, of its province.
History
The city was founded in 1737 by t ...
, the tempest wrecked all of the town's residences, public buildings, and businesses, and over a hundred individuals died.
Among the losses were two distilleries, a packing plant, a lumbermill, and a warehouse, and countless other buildings, while at Pinar del RÃo, flooding along mountainsides and nearby rivers swamped the city and other nearby communities.
[Pérez 2001, p. 75]
![Havana, Morro Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Havana%2C_Morro_Castle.jpg)
Not a single residence remained undamaged after the hurricane's passage in
Bejucal
Bejucal is a municipality and town in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It was founded in 1713. It is well known as the terminal station of the first railroad built in Cuba and Latin America in 1837. It also hosts one of the most popular and tradit ...
,
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and town in the Artemisa Province of Cuba. It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. It was founded in 1802.
History
There are 39 schools in the town, ...
,
Santiago de Las Vegas, and
Mariel, and those that were not destroyed were unroofed.
Nueva Paz
Nueva Paz () is a municipality and town in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba.
It was founded in 1802.
Geography
The municipality is divided into 8 ''consejos populares'' (i.e. "people's councils): the town of Nueva Paz and the villages of Bagáez, J ...
suffered the loss of 110 homes, while
Madruga
Madruga () is a municipality and town in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is located in the eastern part of the province, between Matanzas and Güines. It was founded in 1803.
Geography
In 1940, the municipality was divided into the barrios ...
lost 100; only five remained standing at
Managua
)
, settlement_type = Capital city
, motto =
, image_map =
, mapsize =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Nicar ...
, and of the eight left at
Quivicán
Quivicán is a town and municipality in Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is located in the south west of the province, bordering the Gulf of Batabanó. The name is of Taino origin (spelled '' Quibicán''). It was founded in 1700.
Geography
The mu ...
, all were severely damaged. At
Jibacoa
Jibacoa, or more properly Playa Jibacoa, is a fishing village
A fishing village is a village, usually located near a fishing ground, with an economy based on catching fish and harvesting seafood. The continents and islands around the world h ...
, only 32 of the town's 82 residences survived the storm. The seaside town of
Guanabo
town in province is a beach town in the Ciudad de la Habana Province of Cuba. It is a ward (''consejo popular'') located within the municipality of Habana del Este halfway between the centre of Havana and Santa Cruz del Norte, at the mouth of the ...
was entirely lost, with floodwaters driving the town to sea and leaving its residents homeless. The hamlets of Mantilla, La Chorrera, and Paula disappeared entirely, while
Candelaria was washed away with the loss of all its structures, of which a majority collapsed under the strength of the storm's powerful winds before being driven out to sea. Most structures in
Cayajabos,
Boyeros
Boyeros ( es, oxherds) is one of the 15 municipalities or boroughs (''municipios'' in Spanish) in the city of Havana, Cuba. The municipality was created in 1976, and amalgamated the town of Santiago de Las Vegas. It lies on the south-west side of ...
, and
Aguacate were flattened, while the villages of
AlquÃzar
AlquÃzar () is a town and municipality in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.
History
The settlement was first mentioned in 1616, as a coffee plantation owned by ''Don Sancho de AlquÃzar'', who gives the name of the community. In 1826, a garrison ...
,
Güira de Melena, and Vereda Nueva essentially vanished after the storm passed through. Guatao was entirely destroyed, suffering the loss of its apparently indestructible church, while Quemado wholly vanished and only four houses endured the storm's impacts at San Antonio de los Baños.
Southeastern United States
![1846 hurricane Key West, Florida map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/1846_hurricane_Key_West%2C_Florida_map.png)
The impacts of the hurricane were extreme throughout the state of
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, especially in the
Florida Keys. High winds washed away two lighthouses near
Key West, resulting in the deaths of all 6 people at
Sand Key Light
Sand Key Light is a lighthouse southwest of Key West, Florida, between Sand Key Channel and Rock Key Channel, two of the channels into Key West, on a reef intermittently covered by sand. At times the key has been substantial enough to have trees, ...
and 14 individuals at the
Key West Lighthouse
The Key West Lighthouse is located in Key West, Florida. The first Key West lighthouse was a tower completed in 1825. It had 15 lamps in reflectors.
History
The first keeper, Michael Mabrity, died in 1832, and his widow, Barbara, became ...
;
although keeper
Barbara Mabrity Barbara (Estacholy) Mabrity (1782–1867) was an American lighthouse keeper.
Barbara Mabrity was born in Florida, her father Francesco (Staccioli/Stacoli) Estacholy arrived from Italy as part of the 1768 Turnbull Venture to Florida. Barbara (Estach ...
survived, seven of her children died while taking refuge there during the hurricane.
[De Wire 1995, p. 124] The -
storm surge in Key West proper swept through downtown and forced many to abandon their homes; many attempted to flee to higher ground ("the highest piece of land — seventeen feet high, with waves threatening to push them off"
) but were still killed or injured. All wharves and warehouses in the town suffered some degree of damage, and of the approximately six hundred residences on the key, only six endured the storm's fury successfully, with the others unroofed or flattened by intense winds.
Fort Zachary Taylor
The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, better known simply as Fort Taylor (or Fort Zach to locals), is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida. ...
, partially obliterated by the hurricane, endured over $200,000 in damage, while the nearby customs-house was also harmed. Uprooted trees and debris from destroyed houses rendered roads impassable. The storm also changed the landscape within the vicinity, washing away Sand Key entirety.
However, the island quickly resurfaced by that December, albeit west of its original position.
[Malcolm 2010, p. 10] Every vessel at local harbor sustained serious damage; in addition, some 20 vessels were unaccounted for, and at least 40 deaths were documented,
though another source suggested 50 lives were lost out at sea.
[Barnes 2007, p. 60] An additional twelve died inland as a result death by being impaled, crushed, or drowned.
[Malcolm 2010, p. 9]
Powerful winds and the storm's massive flood tide washed lumber and casks aboard ships. Massive pieces of timber, hurled across town, cracked walls and inflicted significant damage. Floodwaters deep submerged already debris-clogged streets, with inundation as deep as in the key's northeastern sector. There, the Lafayette Salt Company was swept away along with two military cemeteries. Floodwaters exhumed many skeletons and coffins in those graveyards, dispersing them across local forests.
In downtown, both the
Episcopal and
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
chapels collapsed, and warehouses were moderately damaged.
The town's new stone marine hospital, struck by the remnants of a wharf and a large raft, was nearly completely destroyed by the storm's intense winds. Lumber, crowbars, and cannon carriages from the construction site of Fort Zachary Taylor were scattered throughout the streets. High waters floated a camp stable from its initial location, floating its horses and mules to safety. Four drowning deaths were chronicled at the fort, all having been swept away from the fort.
[Malcolm 2010, p. 8] Several wooden buildings along the shoreline, not tethered to the ground, drifted out to sea upon high waters due to the sheer force of the hurricane's gusts.
[Malcolm 2010, p. 14] Other notable maritime losses were also noted nearby, with the deaths of three on the ''Lafayette'', which capsized offshore, one fatality each upon the ''Exchange'' and ''Frankford'', and 19 casualties on the ''Villa Nueva''; in addition, several other abandoned vessels were driven aground, apparently without any loss of life.
The storm's path of devastation extended northward through the state. In
Manatee County
Manatee County is a county in the Central Florida portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 US Census, the population was 399,710. Manatee County is part of the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county s ...
, a plantation owner and his horse drowned attempting to cross the elevated waters of the
Little Manatee River
The Little Manatee River flows , from east of Fort Lonesome, Florida South of Hwy 674 and Earl Reynolds Rd In Hillsborough County through southern Hillsborough County, Florida including towns such as Sun City, Florida, and Gulf City, Florida ...
.
To the north at
Fort Brooke
Fort Brooke was a historical military post established at the mouth of the Hillsborough River in present-day Tampa, Florida in 1824. Its original purpose was to serve as a check on and trading post for the native Seminoles who had been confined ...
, high winds felled several oak trees on the grounds of a local military installation,
wholly uprooting several others. Along
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater ...
, winds obliterated several houses and flattened fences.
To the northeast at
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
, the storm was more severe, with the hurricane's winds having been "beyond anything in the recollection of ... the oldest inhabitant
f the town" Storm tides exceeded the previously recorded
high water mark
A high water mark is a point that represents the maximum rise of a body of water over land. Such a mark is often the result of a flood, but high water marks may reflect an all-time high, an annual high (highest level to which water rose that ...
by , inundating numerous wharves and businesses along the path of Bay Street. By the time the storm's fury abated, the storm tossed wharves out to sea, wrecked structures along the
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River ( es, RÃo San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
, and rendered nearby saw mills' lumber worthless.
Even along other, farther north, portions of the southeastern coast, the gale remained intense. At
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later t ...
, one fatality occurred at sea, and damage to fences, roofs, and trees was minor despite high winds,
with debris from the remnants of
chinaberry trees littering the streets of the city. A schooner capsized at Union Wharf, and farther down the coast at
Tybee Island
Tybee Island is a city and a barrier island located in Chatham County, Georgia, 18 miles (29 km) east of Savannah, United States. Though the name "Tybee Island" is used for both the island and the city, geographically they are not identica ...
, another craft was washed aground. Within the vicinity of
Darien, Georgia
Darien () is a city in and the county seat of McIntosh County, Georgia, United States. It lies on Georgia's coast at the mouth of the Altamaha River, approximately south of Savannah, and is part of the Brunswick, Georgia Metropolitan Statisti ...
, the gale's high tides swamped rice fields, also impeding the impending harvest along the
Savannah River in
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
.
[Fraser 2009, p. 119] Although little rain fell farther north at
Charleston, with merely measured, gusts leveled wharves, uprooted trees, prostrated fences, and unroofed buildings. Despite copious rainfall measurements at
Columbia, which received of rainfall, damage was minimal and, for the most part, restricted to crops.
The vessel ''Mutual Safety'' departed Charleston in the mid-afternoon of 10 October,
[Fraser 2009, p. 118] but soon encountered the storm and experienced severe damage. In an effort to save the vessel's passengers, it was deliberately run ashore near Jacksonville, Florida, without the loss of any passengers on board; however, the steamer itself was not salvageable. A dozen ships beached or capsized in Charleston's harbors, with many wharves demolished along the city's shoreline. The western part of Tradd Street, especially near Chisolm's Mill and South Bay's sidewalk, eroded as a result of wind and water, which also fractured the South Bay and East Battery walls. Gusts unroofed the Trinity Church along Hasell Street; the roof itself landed in an adjacent graveyard.
Despite extensive damage, only one death was noted in the city, that of a slave whose boat floundered at sea.
[Fraser 2009, p. 120] Unexpectedly low storm tides of at
Georgetown, South Carolina and
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States.
With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is t ...
inflicted no noteworthy damage. In general, however, the hurricane was reportedly the most severe since
1824 along the southeastern seaboard.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
![1846 Emmons Agricultural Map of New York State - Geographicus - NewYork-emmons-1846](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/1846_Emmons_Agricultural_Map_of_New_York_State_-_Geographicus_-_NewYork-emmons-1846.jpg)
Not a single wharf at
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
escaped the hurricane's
storm surge, which inundated the length of
Pratt Street
Pratt Street is a major street in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It forms a one-way pair of streets with Lombard Street that run west–east through downtown Baltimore. For most of their route, Pratt Street is one-way in an eastbound di ...
along the shore; meanwhile, the
Potomac River
The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augu ...
at
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, and
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of downtown Washington, D.C.
In 2020, the population was 159,467. ...
, attained its highest level in 20 years,
with the latter two cities plagued by
surface runoff on 13 October, following the storm's passage. The
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal and occasionally called the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland. It replaced the Potomac Canal, ...
also bore the brunt of the storm's impact, having been swamped by potent rainfall as well.
[Schwartz 2007, p. 61] Low-lying areas along the
Delaware River, including
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The city is located six miles (10 km) south of Wilmington and is situated on the Delaware River. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 5,285.
History
New Castl ...
, experienced storm tides not seen since the
1775 Newfoundland hurricane
The 1775 Newfoundland hurricane, also known as the Independence Hurricane, was a hurricane that struck the Thirteen Colonies and the Colony of Newfoundland in August and September, 1775, at the outset of the American War of Independence. It is be ...
. The floodwaters were high enough to even extinguish a fire in a stationary
locomotive which had been impeded by the gale's rainfall. The local
Episcopal Church's steeple was tossed away by forceful gusts. To the north at
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
, the tempest was the most intense in 30 years, with its high tides engulfing every wharf in the city; a total of of rain was measured at
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a private, non-profit, 515-bed teaching hospital located in Center City Philadelphia and is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Founded on May 11, 1751, by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, Pennsyl ...
. Despite widespread destruction along the Delaware River, damage to buildings in Philadelphia proper was less severe.
Heavy rainfall was also generated throughout western portions of the state.
In neighboring
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, considerable damage to structures, timber, land, and livestock was observed, with winds toppling several buildings and trees; widespread rainfall, meanwhile, flooded salt marshes, also drowning cattle and sheep.
High winds tangled poles and wires, in turn interrupting
telegraphic communications along the Washington-Baltimore-New York corridor.
Damage was similarly severe in
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...
, despite the storm's
transition into a weaker extratropical cyclone. Despite being significantly farther east from
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, the storm produced severe impacts in the area. Significant damage was observed, with the waters of
Upper New York Bay
New York Harbor is at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into New York Bay near the East River tidal estuary, and then into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. It is one of the largest natural harbors in t ...
crashing over the
Battery Park
The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, is a public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City facing New York Harbor. It is bounded by Battery Place on the north, State Street on the east, New York Harbor to ...
sea wall, washing away of its length.
Gusts caved in chimneys, uprooted trees, and sank several canal boats at the city's wharves.
At
Buffalo, a rupture along the
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...
interrupted nearby traffic, and to the east in
Dansville, copious rainfall was also recorded. Approximately of rain accompanied low
atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, ...
readings throughout a wide area, with winds along the gale's eastern fringes, especially at
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer mont ...
, remaining intense. In New England, it was generally considered to be the most severe storm since a previous disturbance in October 1841, despite having produced minimal rainfall totals throughout the region, including at
New Bedford
New Bedford (Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. Up through the 17th century, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native American pe ...
. Gusts felled trees paralleling both sides of a roadway from
Springfield to
Amherst. Nearby at
Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engla ...
, winds flattened several factories, and also overturned a substantial number trees in the outskirts of
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
.
A newly built brick residence's walls in the southern end of the city collapsed; on the other side of the city, a sawing and planing mill was razed to the ground.
Within the proximity of Boston at the towns of
Canton and
Southborough, winds obliterated two factories. High winds at
Grafton collapsed the railroad sheds under the ownership of the
Providence and Worcester Railroad
The Providence and Worcester Railroad is a Class II railroad operating of tracks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, as well as New York via trackage rights. The company was founded in 1844 to build a railroad between Providence, ...
.
Malden endured the loss of a mansion which was still under construction, and several smaller buildings were also blown down there and at
Monson. Winds upturned trees and toppled fences at
Northampton, and nearby at
Palmer
Palmer may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Palmer (pilgrim), a medieval European pilgrim to the Holy Land
* Palmer (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Palmer (surname), including a list of people and ...
, a school building was crumbled into pieces by intense winds. At Springfield, winds unroofed a repair facility at a local railroad depot and a house at the
town armory. Gusts destroyed railroad sheds and factories in
Stoughton and Worcester as well, and at
Wilmington, winds crumbled a house into pieces.
Slightly to the south in
Norwich, Connecticut, fallen trees obstructed railroad tracks, and at
Hartford
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...
, a railroad bridge was thrown farther upstream along the
Connecticut River.
Further railroad damage was noted to property owned by the
Winchester and Potomac,
Baltimore and Ohio
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier railroad and the oldest railroad in the United States, with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of ...
, and other railroads throughout the region. Nearly all key bridges managed by those railroads were washed away, with many other track segments covered in debris.
In all, the hurricane caused at least 164 deaths.
Aftermath and records
![Sand Key, Florida map pre-1846](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Sand_Key%2C_Florida_map_pre-1846.png)
Immediately following the storm's end, the
U.S. Army Quartermaster permitted homeless citizens to rest in its local barracks. Food, water, and supplies were lacking, with most having been washed away, rendered unusable, or become inedible due to the storm's salty
storm surge. The ''Morriss captain obtained supplies from a damaged vessel, sending them to a local Methodist minister. Efforts to reconstruct and recover from the disaster were not immediate due to the lack of available resources. With the loss of area lighthouses, local waters were difficult to navigate, with one shipwreck occurring as a result west of Key West; in response, a staff was placed at the former location of the now-destroyed
Key West Lighthouse
The Key West Lighthouse is located in Key West, Florida. The first Key West lighthouse was a tower completed in 1825. It had 15 lamps in reflectors.
History
The first keeper, Michael Mabrity, died in 1832, and his widow, Barbara, became ...
. Many vessels were also lost near Sand Key Light,
and decades later, the tower, poorly maintained due to a lack of government funding, continued to deteriorate.
The 1846 hurricane resulted in a variety of both geological, geographical, and ecological alterations. In
Key West, the local salt pond shifted from its original position, becoming a hindrance to local residents and requiring it to be filled up; eventually, the tourist district of Key West emerged over the former site of the salt pond. By December 1846,
Sand Key, which was inundated during the hurricane, resurfaced from the waters of the Atlantic. However, it was situated approximately west of its location prior to the hurricane, and even months later, the lighthouse remained under of seawater.
Years afterward, greenery on the key was sparse, and little native vegetation existed. Signs of ecological damage remained even in the early 1880s, evidenced by the presence of
rushes among the leaves of trees and bushes.
[Malcolm 2010, p. 11]
The 1846 Havana hurricane was likely of Category 5 intensity, the earliest known
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depen ...
of its strength to strike
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
.
In 1993, the weather historian Jose Fernandez-Partagás analyzed an anomalous
atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, ...
of 916
mbar
The bar is a metric unit of pressure, but not part of the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as exactly equal to 100,000 Pa (100 kPa), or slightly less than the current average atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea lev ...
(27.06
inHg) measured at Havana upon the vessel ''Thames'', deeming it to be abnormally low and evaluating its true value to be closer to 938 mbar (27.70 inHg), making the hurricane the most intense in recorded history at the time.
The exceptionally low pressure reading in Cuba surpassed a previous record of 948 mbar (28.00 inHg) set by an 1844 storm, with the new record eventually exceeded by the
1924 Cuba hurricane
The 1924 Cuba hurricane is the earliest officially classified Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale (SSHS), as well as the first Atlantic hurricane with sustained wind speeds of at least 135, 140, and 145 knots (155, 160, ...
, which featured a manually recorded pressure reading of 932 mbar (27.52 inHg).
[Partagás 1993, p. 4]
See also
*
List of Florida hurricanes (pre-1900)
*
List of New England hurricanes
A New England hurricane is a tropical cyclone originating in the Atlantic Ocean that affects the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine in the United States.
Since record keeping began for s ...
Notes
Footnotes
Citations
References
*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Havana 1846
1846
Events
January–March
* January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom.
* January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway's bridge, over the Venetian Lagoon between ...
1840s Atlantic hurricane seasons
1846
Events
January–March
* January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom.
* January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway's bridge, over the Venetian Lagoon between ...
1846
Events
January–March
* January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom.
* January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway's bridge, over the Venetian Lagoon between ...
1846
Events
January–March
* January 5 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Country with the United Kingdom.
* January 13 – The Milan–Venice railway's bridge, over the Venetian Lagoon between ...
Spanish colonial period of Cuba
Hurricane, 1846
Hurricane
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
Havana hurricane
1846 natural disasters
1846 meteorology