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1893 Great Charleston hurricane
Surface weather analysis of the storm on October 13, 1893
Meteorological history
FormedSeptember 25, 1893 (1893-09-25)
DissipatedOctober 14, 1893 (1893-10-15)
Category 3 major hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds120 mph (195 km/h)
Lowest pressure954 mbar (hPa); 28.17 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities110
Damage>$1.1 million (1893 USD)
Areas affectedThe Bahamas, East Coast of the United States, New England, Eastern Canada
Part of the 1893 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1893 Great Charleston hurricane compounded the effects of the deadly Sea Islands hurricane in August and proceeded to impact areas as far north as Ontario. The ninth known tropical cyclone, ninth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the season,[nb 1] this system was first observed south of the Cabo Verde Islands on September 25. It moved westward and intensified into a hurricane on September 28, before turning northwestward on October 2. By then, the system strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane and likely peaked with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). The hurricane then moved west-northwestward for several days, beginning on October 6. After passing just north of the Abaco Islands on October 12, the storm curved northwestward and then north-northwestward, remaining closely offshore Florida and Georgia. The hurricane then turned northeastward, and on October 13, it made landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina, winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). Moving rapidly northward from North Carolina into eastern Canada, the system became extratropical over far southern Quebec on October 14 and dissipated over the northeastern portions of the province on the following day.

In the Bahamas, abnormally high tides inundated some streets on New Providence and nearby Hog Island, sweeping away the home of the assistant lighthouse keeper. The storm severely damaged pineapple cultivation facilities on Eleuthera and plantations on the Abaco Islands, where many other buildings were destroyed. In Florida, storm surge reached several feet above ground between Palm Beach and Jacksonville, while heavy rains fell, leading to flooding in a number of coastal communities. Coastal flooding impacted South Carolina from Georgetown southward, though the worst occurred between Winyah Bay and Murrells Inlet. The National Hurricane Center lists the combined death toll for Florida and South Carolina at 28. North Carolina reported extensive damage to crops, trees, homes, and shipping, as well as 22 fatalities. Many towns across Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Ontario experienced wind damage and some coastal and freshwater flooding. Two incarcerated people in Maryland died after a fire from a nearby building spread to their prison. Inside the Great Lakes, the storm capsized nearly 40 vessels, leading to a loss of 54 lives. Four other people died in Buffalo, New York. Overall, 110 deaths and more than $1.1 million (1893 USD) in damages are attributed to the storm.[nb 2]

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Meteorologist Charles J. Mitchell of the Weather Bureau noted in 1924 that this storm was first observed over the far eastern Atlantic at 11°0′N 26°0′W / 11.000°N 26.000°W / 11.000; -26.000 on September 25.[2] Consequently, the Atlantic hurricane database begins the track of this cyclone at 06:00 UTC on that day at 11°6′N 25°0′W / 11.100°N 25.000°W / 11.100; -25.000, approximately 275 mi (445 km) south-southwest of the westernmost islands of Cabo Verde. Initially a tropical storm, the system moved westward and intensified into a hurricane on September 28 and a Category 2 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale on October 1. By the following day, the cyclone began a northwestward motion. The hurricane is also estimated to have strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on October 2 and reaching maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) shortly thereafter. The hurricane then moved west-northwestward for several days, beginning on October 6. After passing just north of the Abaco Islands on October 12, the storm curved northwestward and then north-northwestward. Remaining closely offshore Florida and Georgia, the cyclone passed only about 25 mi (40 km) east of Ormond Beach in the former at 00:00 UTC on October 13.[3]

The hurricane then turned northeastward later on October 13 and at around 13:00 UTC, it made landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina, winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and an atmospheric pressure of 955 mbar (28.2 inHg).[3] Meteorologist Francis P. Ho estimated both figures in 1989, the latter based on a recorded atmospheric pressure of 959 mbar (28.3 inHg) and a maximum wind radius of 17 mi (27 km) and the sustained winds based on these calculations and the storm's latitude.[4] Moved rapidly northward through North Carolina and the Appalachian Mountains, the cyclone was still a Category 1 hurricane as it passed 60 mi (95 km) west of Washington, D.C. The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over far southern Quebec on October 14 after crossing Lake Ontario and continued northeastward until dissipating over the northeastern portions of the province on the following day.[3] Overall, the hurricane achieved an accumulated cyclone energy rating of 63.5,[nb 3] one of the highest values ever recorded.[5]

Impact

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Although the storm remained far away from the Lesser Antilles, Antigua reported sustained winds up to 27 mph (43 km/h).[6] In the Bahamas, abnormally high tides inundated some streets on New Providence and nearby Hog Island, sweeping away the home of the assistant lighthouse keeper. The storm severely damaged pineapple cultivation facilities on Eleuthera and plantations on the Abaco Islands, where many other buildings were destroyed.[2]

In Florida, storm surge reached several feet above ground between Palm Beach and Jacksonville, while heavy rains fell, leading to flooding in a number of coastal communities.[7] The highest known sustained windspeed in Florida was 78 mph (126 km/h) in Titusville.[6] Tides reached their highest heights in St. Augustine since 1824, while the Matanzas and San Sebastian rivers merged for the first time in 22 years. The hurricane reportedly downed all telegraph and telephone lines and flooded many homes.[8] Sustained winds in Jacksonville peaked at 48 mph (77 km/h),[9] and the St. Johns River crested at its highest height there in several years. Some cottages sustained damage in the city. In Georgia, although the "sea ran heaviest for years" at Savannah according to a report by the Weather Bureau, sustained winds there reached 40 mph (64 km/h) and only minor impact occurred.[8]

A 2006 reanalysis of cyclones in South Carolina concluded that the hurricane was likely compact. Therefore, Charleston probably experienced not much worse than tropical storm conditions,[10]: 73  with impact mainly limited to toppled power, telegraph, and telephone lines and downed trees blocking a road.[10]: 71  The Battery and some western parts of the city were inundated with about 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) of ocean water. Extensive storm surge damage occurred between South Island – at the south end of Winyah Bay – and Murrells Inlet.[10]: 73  Near the latter, the community of Magnolia Beach reported the loss of many coastal homes, while those that remained suffered substantial damage. Tides on Pawleys Island rose at least 5 ft (1.5 m), leaving about 2 ft (0.61 m) of water inside homes.[10]: 75  Storm surge and abnormally high tides in Georgetown, exceeded the heights of those measured in the August hurricane.[8] Consequently, the entire waterfront flooded and merchandise stored in warehouses were damaged.[11] Also in that city, sustained winds reached about 90 mph (140 km/h),[8] the highest recorded in South Carolina even though the storm struck the state as a Category 3 hurricane.[3] At least 15 deaths occurred in the state,[8] while the National Hurricane Center lists the combined toll for Florida and South Carolina at 28.[12] However, other sources note that 19 fatalities occurred along the coast of South Carolina.[10]: 73 [11]

North Carolina suffered "great destruction ... to forests, crops and property, and to shipping.", according to a 2000 report by National Weather Service meteorologist James E. Hudgins. Sustained winds in the state peaked at 93 mph (150 km/h) at Southport.[13] The Southport Leader noted that "from one of town to the one the harbor front presents a desolate appearance strewn as it with timber, boats, and the wreckage of wharves, fish houses, and other buildings." Although many other instances of damage occurred throughout the town, that newspaper estimated that only small monetary losses occurred overall.[14] Waves reached the then-record highest height in Wilmington, causing about $150,000 in damage to the waterfront.[13] Although sustained winds reached only 36 mph (58 km/h) in Raleigh, the atmospheric pressure fell to about 970.5 mbar (28.66 inHg), then the lowest ever recorded in North Carolina. Significant agricultural losses occurred in the vicinity of Raleigh, but many crops had already been harvested. The area also reported many downed trees and power lines and badly damaged some buildings.[15] A total of 22 fatalities were reported in North Carolina.[13]

Strong winds in Virginia partially deroofed homes and downed several trees in Richmond. Two trains struck fallen trees between Richmond and Danville.[16] Heavy rainfall caused the Roanoke River to rise to its highest level within the memory of residents and expand to a width of about 0.75 mi (1.21 km). At the West End, several families evacuated from a row of cottages after their floodwaters began entering the first floors. Overall, 40 homes in the West End suffered flood damage. Near Elliston, approximately 1,000 ft (300 m) of Norfolk and Western Railway was washed out.[17] Stone Gap observed 2.98 in (76 mm) during the course of one day, the highest 24-hour total in the month of October at that location. Many residences within the city washed away. The storm destroyed barns and outhouses and toppled many electrical lines in Petersburg. High tides destroyed the wharves at Alexandria, causing about $25,000 in damage, and capsized the Edward Ewing. Gale-force winds downed trees, limbs, and a church wall in Washington, D.C. The toppling of the church wall resulted in about $3,000 in damage. Four vessels suffered damage or capsized. The Potomac River rose to 6 ft (1.8 m) above high tide, submerging the Anacostia Bridge. Henry B. Brown, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, suffered a serious injury after a plate glass window shattered at his house. Winds also downed a number of trees and limbs throughout the city.[16]

In Maryland, a fire ignited at the electrical plant in Baltimore when a downed wire made contact with a wooden section of the building, ultimately destroying the structure facility for a loss of about $125,000. Two prisoners died after the fire spread to the jail. Along the coast, tides swept away several bridges and wharves.[8] Winds downed fences and partly deroofed some residences in Bladensburg,[16] while Cumberland,[18] Solomons and Woodstock also experienced severe property damage.[8] Well east of Cumberland, a train ran into a section of track where a landslide had occurred. Initial reports indicated that two engineers died as a result of this incident, but both survived.[19] In Delaware, the Christina River overflowed at Wilmington, flooding southern parts of the city. Residents in that section of Wilmington had to be rescued from the second floors of their homes.[20] Several Pennsylvania towns reported downed trees, unroofed dwellings, disrupted telegraph service, and delayed traffic on railroads, including in Bethlehem, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Chester, Columbia, Easton, Erie, Harrisburg, Huntingdon, Kilmer, Lewisburg, Mifflintown, Norristown, Pine Grove, Pittsburgh, Reading, Stroudsburg, West Chester, and Westtown. Philadelphia observed sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) and gusts of 60 mph (97 km/h), causing minor damage. In New Jersey, the storm washed out several parts of the West Jersey Railroad, downed many telegraph wires, and beached several vessels.[8] The hurricane downed nearly all telegraph and telephone wires at Asbury Park.[21] Many wires fell in Jersey City area, where the hurricane also toppled a number of signs and trees and capsized many vessels, including yachts at Greenville Shore.[22]

In New York, sustained winds reached 47 mph (76 km/h) in New York City, cutting off communications by telegraph and telephone. Stormy conditions left the streets mostly deserted.[23] Waves swept away parts of the beach accessways at Coney Island. The storm downed several trees and fences and destroyed a few homes in Brooklyn.[24] The Monthly Weather Review of October 1893 noted, however, that within the state, the cyclone "did little damage except in the western portion and on the lakes."[8] Strong winds in the region prevented many people from standing, downed many lines, unroofed a number of structures, and destroyed four cottages and a railroad depot in Buffalo, causing three deaths.[25] Hundreds of signs and trees were knocked over, while the storm blew around approximately 400,000 to 500,000 ft (120,000 to 150,000 m) of lumber.[26] A large retort house at a gas company completely collapsed, leaving at least $20,000 in damage.[27] The center crossed Lake Ontario, sinking 10 ships and stranding 29 others, leading to the loss of 54 lives and about $700,000 in damage. Another person died after being blown into the Niagara River.[25] Winds also downed some trees and wires in New England.[8]

The extratropical remnants of the hurricane entered Canada on October 14, first crossing the province of Ontario.[3] Wind gusts reached about 60 mph (97 km/h) in Niagara Falls, levelling trees, fences, and telegraph and telephone wires.[28] Toronto observed more than 3 in (76 mm) of rain in a 24-hour period. Telegraph communications experienced significant interruptions. Some vessels capsized, including six yachts at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, and many others were driven ashore.[29] In Hamilton, several homes flooded and three yachts capsized. About 100 barrels were swept off a dock in the nearby city of Burlington.[30] The barge Hecla went ashore at Wellington for a loss of approximately $75,000. Farther east, the storm downed trees and fences and disrupted shipping somewhat in Kingston.[28]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A major hurricane is a storm that ranks as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[1]
  2. ^ All damage figures are in 1893 USD, unless otherwise noted
  3. ^ Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have higher values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b North Atlantic Hurricane Basin (1851-2022) Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT. Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Partagás, José Fernández; Diaz, Henry F. (1996). Year 1893 (PDF). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Landsea, Christopher W.; et al. (May 2015). Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT. Hurricane Research Division (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Great Hurricane of 1893" (PDF). The Weekly Gazette. Bucklesberry, Back in the Day. La Grange, North Carolina. October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  6. ^ a b 1887 Storm 5 (.XLS). Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Barnes, Jay (2007). Florida's Hurricane History. University of North Carolina Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0807858097. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wind". Monthly Weather Review. 21 (10): 288–289. October 1893. Bibcode:1893MWRv...21..288.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1893)21[288:W]2.0.CO;2. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Sandrik, Al; Landsea, Christopher W. (May 2003). Chronological Listing of Tropical Cyclones affecting North Florida and Coastal Georgia 1565-1899. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e Mayes, Douglas Owens (2006). A Reanalysis of Five 19th Century South Carolina Major Hurricanes Using Local Data Sources (PDF) (Thesis). University of South Carolina. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Terrible Story of Devastation and Death". The Record-Union. Sacramento, California. October 16, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ Rappaport, Edward N.; Partagás, José Fernández; Beven, Jack (April 22, 1997). "Appendix 1. Cyclones with 25+ Deaths". The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Hudgins, James E. (2000). Tropical cyclones affecting North Carolina since 1586: an historical perspective (Report). Blacksburg, Virginia: National Weather Service. p. 20. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "A Fearful Storm". The Southport Leader. October 19, 1893. p. 4. Retrieved November 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  15. ^ "The Worst in Years". The Public Ledger. Oxford, North Carolina. October 20, 1893. p. 6. Retrieved November 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  16. ^ a b c Roth, David; Cobb, Hugh (July 16, 2001). "Late Nineteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes". Virginia Hurricane History (Report). Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "The Roanoke on a Rampage". The Roanoke Times. October 14, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  18. ^ "The Storm in Maryland". The Jersey City News. October 14, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  19. ^ "Express Train Badly Wrecked". The Jersey City News. October 14, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  20. ^ "People Taken From Windows". The Boston Globe. October 15, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  21. ^ "The Storm at Asbury Park". The Jersey City News. October 14, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  22. ^ "Storm Havoc". The Jersey City News. October 14, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  23. ^ "New York's Storm". Anderson Weekly Democrat. Anderson, Indiana. October 20, 1893. p. 10. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  24. ^ "A Big Storm". The Standard Union. Brooklyn, New York. October 14, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  25. ^ a b "The Great Storm of 1893 and the Schooner Riverside" (PDF). Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. 2010. pp. 220–221. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  26. ^ "In a General Way". The Buffalo Courier. October 15, 1893. p. 5. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  27. ^ "A Narrow Escape". The Buffalo Courier. October 15, 1893. p. 5. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  28. ^ a b "The Storm in Ontario". The Montreal Daily Star. October 16, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  29. ^ "In The East". The Winnipeg Daily Tribune. October 16, 1893. p. 4. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  30. ^ "Went to the Bottom". The Winnipeg Daily Tribune. October 16, 1893. p. 4. Retrieved November 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
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