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The 1878 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from the summer through much of the fall. Records show that 1878 featured a relatively active hurricane season. A total of twelve storms were observed during the year. There were twelve tropical storms, eight hurricanes and two major hurricanes (Category 3+). However, in the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated.[1] Of the known 1878 cyclones, both Hurricane Three and Hurricane Four were first documented in 1995 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz, who also proposed large changes to the known tracks of Hurricanes Two, Seven and Eight.[2] Further analysis from 2000 onwards extended the duration of Hurricane Three by one day and identified major track changes for Hurricane Five.[3]
| 1878 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | July 1, 1878 |
| Last system dissipated | December 2, 1878 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Seven |
| • Maximum winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 938 mbar (hPa; 27.7 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 12 |
| Hurricanes | 10 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 108 |
| Total damage | $2 million (1878 USD) |
The Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT)[4] recognizes twelve tropical cyclones for 1878 in the Atlantic basin; two were tropical storms and ten were hurricanes. This season caused a total of 108 fatalities. The most notable hurricane of the season was Hurricane Eleven, known as the Gale of 1878, which caused at least 72 fatalities in Cuba and the United States.[5] The first storm of the season was Tropical Storm One, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on July 1. It impacted Florida and weakened to a tropical depression over land but regained some intensity when it emerged into the Atlantic. It brought high winds and heavy rainfall as far as North Carolina. Hurricane Two grew from a tropical storm near the Leeward Islands to impact Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane on August 18. Hurricane Three was a Category 1 hurricane that existed in the mid-Atlantic from August 19 to August 21, when it dissipated over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Hurricane Four was first seen near the Bahamas on August 25. It tracked northeast and passed within 90 miles of Bermuda before dissipating in the mid-Atlantic on August 30. Hurricane Five hit the Leeward Islands on September 2, then Haiti and passed north of Cuba. It made landfall on the Florida peninsula as a tropical storm, moved offshore, strengthened and made another landfall near Tampa before passing over St Augustine on September 11. The storm caused several ship wrecks along the east coast of Florida. Hurricane Six was a Category 2 hurricane that existed in the western Atlantic between September 12 and September 18. Hurricane Seven is the only known Category 4 hurricane of 1878. It made landfall on Haiti as a Category 1 hurricane and rapidly weakened to a tropical storm but regained hurricane strength in the Atlantic. After passing through the Bahamas it grew to a Category 2 hurricane. It continued to grow, becoming a Category 3 hurricane on September 30 and reaching Category 4 strength by October 8. Hurricane Eight grew from a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on October 9. It crossed over Florida and grew to a Category 1 hurricane as it tracked north off the US east coast. Hurricane Nine was a minimal Category 1 Hurricane that existed in the Atlantic between October 9 and October 16. Hurricane Ten also remained at sea throughout its entire duration between October 13 and October 19. Hurricane Eleven, or the Gale Of 1878, was the most destructive storm of the year. It first made landfall in Cuba at hurricane strength, then weakened before passing over Florida and the Bahamas. The storm again strengthened before making landfall in North Carolina. It dissipated over New York on October 24. Tropical Storm Twelve passed over the Lesser Antilles in late November before passing close to Puerto Rico and then dissipating near Jamaica on December 2.[4]
On July 1 a tropical storm developed in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast. It produced frequent rain, easterly wind, and diminishing pressure in Florida. The storm made landfall in Florida on July 2 with maximum sustained winds of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph); Punta Rassa, Florida, recorded a minimum pressure of 29.77 inches of mercury (1,008 mb) that afternoon. Key West, Florida, registered a wind of 36 miles per hour (58 km/h). The storm likely briefly weakened to a tropical depression over Florida but emerged into the Atlantic Ocean that afternoon and quickly regained tropical storm status. Rainy weather with frequent easterly gales extended northward through South Carolina.
On July 3, easterly gales and rainy weather prevailed along the Atlantic coast as far north as Cape Hatteras. Smithville, North Carolina, registered a maximum wind of 38 miles per hour (61 km/h) from the east. The tropical storm exited the coastal region on the afternoon of July 3, and no further records are currently known.[4]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 8 – August 19 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min); |
A tropical storm was discovered in the vicinity of the Leeward Islands on August 8. It moved to the west across the Caribbean Sea and then to the northwest. By the time that it entered the Gulf of Mexico, the system had intensified into a hurricane. The storm moved west across the Gulf of Mexico, and maintained hurricane status until making landfall in Mexico on August 18. The hurricane had dissipated over Mexico by the next day.[4]
A Category One hurricane was first observed in the mid-Atlantic, north-east of Bermuda, on August 19. It moved to the north, toward Atlantic Canada. The hurricane grazed Nova Scotia shortly before it reached peak intensity. Sustained winds at peak intensity were 90 mph (140 km/h) while the minimum central pressure was at 963 mbar, the most intense on record for a category 1 hurricane. It then grazed Newfoundland before it became extratropical in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on August 21.[4]
A tropical storm was discovered in the vicinity of the Bahamas on August 25. It moved to the northeast early in its duration. By August 27 it strengthened into a hurricane. After this it steadily got stronger as it moved toward Bermuda. On August 28 it had been upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane. Near peak intensity it passed within 90 miles (140 km) of Bermuda. At peak intensity, the maximum sustained wind was 100 mph (160 km/h) and the pressure was 972 mbar. The intensity of the storm barely leveled off over the next two days. The cyclone was last seen on August 30.[4]
The track for this system begins about 180 mi (290 km) north of Suriname on September 1,[6] the same day that Trinidad first reported stormy conditions.[2] It moved to the west-northwest, becoming a hurricane on September 2 before passing between Trinidad and Tobago. Trekking northwestward across the Caribbean, striking southern Haiti and far southeastern Cuba on September 4 as a hurricane, briefly weakening to a tropical storm between both landfalls. The hurricane quickly weakened to a tropical storm again and moved parallel to the north coast of Cuba. By September 7, the cyclone emerged into the Straits of Florida and moved northward, striking near Duck Key, Florida, around 21:00 UTC and then mainland Monroe County early the next day. The system then curved northwestward and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico early on September 9. Significant intensification ensued as the storm recurved northeastward, with the cyclone estimated to have become a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg) prior to striking near Bayport, Florida, at 11:00 UTC on September 10. The system weakened to a tropical storm early the next day, but became a Category 1 hurricane again upon emerging into the Atlantic near St. Augustine. Curving north-northeastward, the storm made its final landfall near Edisto Beach, South Carolina, around 12:00 UTC on September 12. By early the next day, the system became an extratropical cyclone over West Virginia, before dissipating several hours later over Ontario.[6]
Trinidad recorded 7 in (180 mm) of rain and sustained winds of 81 mph (130 km/h) at Port of Spain.[2][7] The storm destroyed some homes, warehouses, bridges, wharves, and roadways and toppled many trees, a few of which damaged a post office and bank.[8] Nearly all cocoa crops were lost. Extensive impacts occurred in Haiti, especially in the southern parts of the country. At Jacmel, a river rose significantly, sweeping homes and about 500,000 lb (230,000 kg) of wood, causing about $60,000 in damage. Cavaillon and Les Cayes also suffered especially hard.[9] The former "exists no longer", according to communications received by the Reading Times and Dispatch.[8] In Les Cayes, the hurricane destroyed 434 homes and a bridge, military facility, courthouse, schoolhouse, and prison.[9] Multiple sources note that hundreds of deaths occurred in the Caribbean,[10][11] particularly in Haiti.[12] In Central Florida, the cyclone flooded the area near Fort Basinger, including the Kissimmee River valley, in present-day Okeechobee County.[13] Very heavy rainfall along its path affected the Florida peninsula.[10] Several ships to be wrecked along the east coast of Florida between Cape Canaveral and Amelia Island.[14] The Keowee Courier noted that "Dispatches from various points in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and as far North as Canada, give accounts of destructive gales ... causing extensive damage to railroads, canals, and other property, and in some instances loss of life."[15] The hurricane caused at least nine deaths, though some reports suggest more were likely.[12] In Ontario, where it had been raining since September 10, the extratropical system claimed at least four lives.[16]
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | September 12 – September 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min); |
A Category One hurricane was first discovered over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the east of the Windward Islands on September 11. After several days it grew to a Category 2 hurricane with winds peaking at 100 mph (160 km/h).The minimum pressure is unknown. It dissipated on September 18 about 350 miles (560 km) to the south-southeast on Bermuda.[citation needed]
A tropical storm was first observed in the central Caribbean on September 24. It moved to the north, strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall in Haiti. It quickly weakened to a tropical storm while passing roughly 11 miles (18 km) to the west of Port-au-Prince. An American brigantine was wrecked at Tiburon with all hands lost.[12] The storm rapidly regained hurricane status after emerging into the Atlantic. It passed through the eastern Bahamas shortly before it was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane. Again it gradually strengthened, becoming a Category 3 hurricane by September 30 and a Category 4 hurricane by October 2. It continued to the northeast and moved away from land. The cyclone also maintained major hurricane status at a high latitude, roughly at 47.5N, but weakened somewhat before it was last seen on October 8.
A tropical storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico on October 9. It moved across Florida, and after tracking near the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, it strengthened to a hurricane. The storm brought heavy wind and rain to New England, causing 27 deaths.[5]
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | October 9 – October 15 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min); |
A tropical storm was first discovered on October 9 in the mid-Atlantic. It strengthened into a minimal hurricane before it dissipated at sea on October 16.[4] It is likely that Hurricane Eight and Hurricane Nine merged into a single, large extratropical storm on October 16.[3]
Hurricane Ten was a major hurricane that remained at sea during its entire duration. It was first discovered while a tropical storm of October 13. Over the next two days it strengthened slightly. By October 15 it became a hurricane and a Category 2 hurricane by the next day. It had also become a Category 3 hurricane on October 17. It attained peak intensity on October 18, sustained winds reached 120 mph (190 km/h). The hurricane weakened slightly before it was last seen on October 19.
The Gale of 1878
On October 18 a tropical storm formed west of Jamaica. As it neared landfall in Cuba, it strengthened to a 100 mph (160 km/h) hurricane, but weakened while crossing the island. It passed over southeast Florida and the Bahamas, strengthening to a 100 mph (160 km/h) hurricane again before hitting North Carolina between Wilmington and Morehead City.[17] The hurricane raced across the interior of the United States, becoming extratropical on the 24th over New York. The hurricane caused over $2 million in damage, and at least 72 casualties.[5] These included 19 people killed when a ship, the A.S.Davis, was driven ashore at Virginia Beach. In total, the hurricane was responsible for 22 shipwrecks.[11] Among these was the steamer City of Houston which was lost on Frying Pan Shoals.[14]
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 | |
| Duration | November 25 – December 2 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min); |
1878 San Rufo Tropical Storm
A tropical storm was first discovered on November 25 some 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. On November 28 and 29 it passed over much of the northern Lesser Antilles. The storm then passed near the southern coast of Puerto Rico and its effects were felt in southeastern and southern Puerto Rico. It was first known tropical storm to impact Puerto Rico in November. Sustained winds of 70+mph.[18] Later on it continued into the Caribbean and dissipated on December 2 while a few hundred miles south of Jamaica.
This is the earliest known tropical cyclone to exist in the month of December on record, though most of its life spanned in November.
Climate researcher Michael Chenoweth proposed five other storms not currently listed in HURDAT:[19]
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