1837 Racer's hurricane

Racer's Storm
Formed September 28, 1837 (1837-09-28)
Dissipated October 9, 1837 (1837-10-10)
Fatalities 105
Damage $200,000 (1837 USD)
Areas affected Yucatán, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina
Part of the 1837 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1837 Racer's hurricane was one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in the 19th century, causing heavy damage to many cities on its 2,000+ mile path. The Racer's Storm was the 10th known tropical storm in the 1837 Atlantic hurricane season.

Meteorological history

The Racer's Storm, named after the British ship HMS Racer, was first observed in the Western Caribbean near Jamaica on September 28. Likely having originated from a tropical wave, the hurricane moved to the west, and hit the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula days later. After crossing the peninsula, the hurricane reached the Gulf of Mexico. It journeyed westward, reaching winds of at least 115 mph (185 km/h), with the possibility it was a Category 4 or even a Category 5.

The Racer's Storm reached the western Gulf of Mexico, and hit extreme northeastern Mexico near Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on October 2. The hurricane nearly stalled over land, and drifted northwestward towards Brownsville, Texas. A high pressure system brought the storm to the northeast over the Gulf of Mexico, where it came close to Matagorda Bay on the 4th. This makes the Racer's Storm one of only three tropical systems to hit Texas and exit back into the Gulf of Mexico, the others being Tropical Storm Delia in 1973 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.

On October 5 the hurricane passed Galveston, Texas, and continued its northeast movement. The Racer's Storm made its third landfall near Venice, Louisiana on the night of the 6th, and moved eastward across Louisiana.[1] From here, its history is unclear. Some historians track the hurricane to the northeast across Mississippi and Alabama, while others say the hurricane moved eastward, re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, and hit Pensacola on the 7th. Regardless, the hurricane was moving northeastward through Georgia.

The Racer's Storm moved offshore near Charleston, South Carolina on October 9 as a weakening tropical storm. It tracked northeastward, and made its final landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina that night.[1] It crossed the Outer Banks and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean late on the 9th. After this the storm's history is unknown, but it likely became extratropical over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean as it went out to sea.

Impact

While no reports are available from the Yucatán Peninsula, the Racer's Storm was a very destructive hurricane throughout its 2,000-mile (3,200 km) path. First, when it stalled near Brownsville, it destroyed all of the ships in the Brazos Santiago harbor. In addition, the entire town of Brazos Santiago was destroyed from the storm's heavy winds and storm surge.[2]

On Galveston Island, the storm brought a 6 to 7 feet (2.1 m) storm surge. That, in combination with the winds and rain, destroyed every house on the island with the exception of two. Many ships were destroyed there, with 2 people killed. Floodwaters reached between fifteen and twenty miles inland.[3]

In southeastern Louisiana, the Racer's Storm caused immense structural damage, with $200,000 (1837 USD, $3.4 million 2005 USD) in railroad damage occurring. In New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain rose eight feet above, with much of the city being flooded in 1 to 2 feet (0.61 m) of water and all wharves along the Mississippi coast being washed away. The wooden lighthouse at Bayou St.John was swept away.[4]

The storm caused vast agricultural losses across the southeastern U.S., while cotton crops suffered most.

The passenger steamboat SS Home sank off the Outer Banks, drowning 90 of its passengers and crew. Two other ships, the 'Enterprise' and the 'Cumberland' are also known to have been lost off the Outer Banks.[5]

This hurricane caused a total of 105 deaths.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 David Roth and Hugh Cobb. "Virginia Hurricane History". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on January 8, 2008. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  2. ↑ David Roth (2010-02-04). "Texas Hurricane History" (PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  3. ↑ Roy Sylvan Dunn, "HURRICANES," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ybh01), accessed November 30, 2014. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  4. ↑ David M. Roth (2010-01-13). Louisiana Hurricane History (PDF). National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  5. ↑ Hudgins,James E. (2000). "Tropical cyclones affecting North Carolina since 1586 - An Historical Perspective" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  6. ↑ Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1996). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996: Cyclones with 25+ deaths". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-03-14.

External links

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