1840–49 Atlantic hurricane seasons

Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	October 5 – October 14
Peak intensity	160 mph (260 km/h) (1-min)  938 mbar (hPa)

This article encompasses the 1840–49 Atlantic hurricane seasons. While data is not available for every storm that occurred, some parts of the coastline were populated enough to give data of hurricane occurrences. Each season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation in the Atlantic basin. Most tropical cyclone formation occurs between June 1 and November 30.

In the middle of June, a tropical storm passed west of Lake Charles, Louisiana accompanied by several days of heavy rain. Strong winds on June 21 damaged corn crops.

On an unspecified date in 1840, a hurricane reportedly caused severe flooding that destroyed entire villages at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Chenoweth (2006) lists a tropical storm at Galveston, Texas on September 17–18; it is not clear whether these events are related.

I. A strong tropical storm hit the Florida Panhandle on September 14.

II. An intense hurricane remained offshore of the Carolinas in early October. It moved northeastward, entraining cold air into its circulation. It became an extratropical storm, and hit New England on October 3. It led to a storm of snow and sleet in Connecticut, bringing drifts of up to 18 feet (5.5 m) of snow in some areas. The storm wrecked the Georges Bank fishing fleet which drowned 81 fishermen and knocked down trees, tore roofs off houses and forced boats to go up on shore. The storm also destroyed a saltworks factory along Cape Cod, sending the economy to a slump. In 1842, a monument was erected to remember the sailors and fishermen lost at sea to the "October Gale" of 1841.

III. In October, a hurricane hit Cuba, crossing near Havana. After crossing the island, it passed by the Florida Keys, bringing them heavy rain but remaining offshore.

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