1853 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1853 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| 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) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 8 |
| Hurricanes | 4 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
2 |
| Total fatalities | 40 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | August 30 – September 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min) 924 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | September 8 – September 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | September 26 – October 1 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | October 19 – October 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
The 1853 Atlantic hurricane season featured eight known tropical cyclones, none of which made landfall. Operationally, a ninth tropical storm was believed to have existed over the Dominican Republic on November 26, but HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database – now excludes this system. 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 into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–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 minimum barometric pressure of 924 mbar (27.3 inHg), it was the most intense tropical cyclone recorded in the Atlantic basin until the 1924 Cuba hurricane. The hurricane caused 40 fatalities after a brig went missing off the coast of North Carolina. Despite remaining offshore, Tropical Storm Five brought very strong winds to the Mexican city of Veracruz. Hurricane Eight brought strong winds and rough seas to North Florida and Georgia, causing significant damage in the latter.
Meteorologist William C. Redfield first observed the season's third tropical storm south of Cape Verde on August 30, which was the first Cape Verde-type hurricane ever recorded. 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 barque Hermann soon thereafter. It was the most intense storm in the Atlantic until the 1924 Cuba hurricane, a Category 5 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 910 mbar (27 inHg). The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 may have been stronger, though it is discounted because HURDAT records did not begin until the 1851 season.
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Wikipedia