1854 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1854 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | June 25, 1854 |
| Last system dissipated | October 22, 1854 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Three |
| • Maximum winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.7 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 5 |
| Hurricanes | 3 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
1 |
| Total fatalities | 30+ direct |
| Total damage | $20,000 (1854 USD) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | June 25 – June 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 982 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | August 23 – August 23 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | September 7 – September 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min) 938 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | September 18 – September 20 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 965 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | October 20 – October 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) |
The 1854 Atlantic hurricane season featured five known tropical cyclones, three of which made landfall in the United States. At one time, another was believed to have existed near Galveston, Texas in September, but HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database – now excludes this system. The first system, Hurricane One, was initially observed on June 25. The final storm, Hurricane Five, was last observed on October 22. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. No tropical cyclones during this season existed simultaneously. One tropical cyclone has a single known point in its track due to a sparsity of data.
Of the season's five tropical cyclones, three reached hurricane status. Furthermore, one of those strengthened into a major hurricane, which is 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 3 strength with 125 mph (205 km/h) winds. After making landfall near the Georgia-South Carolina border, the storm caused 26 fatalities and extensive damage in the area. Hurricane Four caused four deaths and approximately $20,000 (1854 USD) in damage after striking the coast of Texas. Hurricane One also caused moderate damage in Texas.
The season's activity was reflected with a low accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 31. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
A tropical storm was first observed in the Gulf of Mexico on June 25, while located about 240 miles (390 km) south-southwest of Marsh Island, Louisiana. It headed westward and strengthened into a hurricane about 12 hours later. Peaking with maximum sustained winds 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 982 mbar (29.0 inHg), the storm maintained this intensity until making landfall in South Padre Island, Texas at 1200 UTC on June 26. It quickly weakened inland and fell to tropical storm strength about six hours later. The system continued in a west-northwestward direction over northern Mexico, until dissipating in a rural area of Coahuila on June 27.
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Wikipedia