1886 Indianola hurricane

Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 1886 Hurricane Five 1886 Indianola hurricane track and surface analysis 1200Z 1886-08-20.jpg Map of isobars associated with the hurricane on August 20, near landfall on the United States Gulf Coast Contour map of the hurricane's isobars and trajectory 1886 08 12 1886 08 21 130 925 (estimated) 1886 178 3215000 ~ Lesser Antilles Dominican Republic Haiti Cuba Florida Texas Rappaport Edward N. Fernández-Partagás José Edward Rappaport The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996 NWS NHC 47 National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center 22 April 1997 28 May 1995 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadly.shtml? Appendix 1. Cyclones with 25+ Deaths https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml? 10 December 2024 1886 Atlantic hurricane season The 1886 Indianola hurricane was the most powerful Atlantic hurricane to hit the U.S. state of Texas, as measured by atmospheric pressure, causing numerous fatalities and severe damage, mostly around the town of Indianola. The fifth tropical cyclone and hurricane of the annual season, it developed near the Lesser Antilles on August 12 and tracked generally northwest, becoming a hurricane with winds of 100 mph (150 km/h) before striking Hispaniola three days later. The storm dropped heavy rain on the island, causing riparian flooding. Weakening over land, it turned west-northwest and then northwest, regaining intensity before crossing eastern Cuba on August 16. It caused moderate wind damage and 28 deaths on the island, brushing the Florida Keys with modest gales. Resuming a west-northwest course, it strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico, peaking with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) on August 19, just before moving ashore Texas. Statewide the storm killed 150 people and spread destruction well inland, with a 15 ft m on storm surge engulfing Indianola. At least 46 deaths were reported in Indianola. Hundreds of homes were dismantled there and in neighboring communities, in part due to a fire that ignited during the storm. Fierce winds snarled communication between towns, while felling buildings and trees. Corn, cotton, and fruit crops were heavily damaged, with up to 15% cotton losses in some areas. A few ships were disabled, resulting in at least five deaths. The storm dropped prolific rain as well, causing flash floods, notably in riparian areas, and ending a dry spell. Part of a severe storm series since 1875, the cyclone contributed to the end of Indianola as a town. It also impacted the history and economic development of Texas, with Galveston replacing Indianola as the main port in the state. Losses from the storm totaled about $3 million in contemporary USD. Meteorological history 1886 Indianola hurricane track.png new The storm formed about 205 mi (330 km) south-southeast of Barbados, the easternmost Caribbean island, on August 12, as shown by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project.A 2014 study by Michael Chenoweth began the storm a bit farther east, but its results have not yet been adopted into HURDAT.Chenoweth At that time, the hurricane databases (HURDAT) initiate a weak tropical storm. The cyclone moved northwest over the next three days and steadily intensified. It crossed the Windward Islands on August 13, becoming a minimal hurricane later that day;HURDAT records tropical cyclone tracks and intensities. weather forecasters first noted the storm on this date. Next day the ship Gertie M. Rickerson first sampled hurricane speeds,Signal Corps 1886a 214 at which time sustained winds in the storm reached 100 mph (155 km/h), or low-end Category 2 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale. A day later it struck Barahona, Dominican Republic, at the same intensity. Its ensuing path turned west-northwest across southern Haiti and then northwest toward southeastern Cuba. Weakening inland, it regained its peak winds over the Windward Passage and hit Cuba on August 16. The following day it resumed a west-northwest heading, reemerging offshore northern Cuba near Isabela de Sagua with winds of 65 mph (100 km/h).Chenoweth outlined a path farther north, grazing easternmost Cuba, and showed a tropical storm impacting the Dominican Republic.Chenoweth Once over the Straits of Florida it restrengthened, reattaining hurricane winds next day; then it reached the Gulf of Mexico. On August 19 it commenced rapid intensification, strengthening into a major hurricane.Category 3 or above on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Next day it curved northwest, peaking with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), or upper-end Category 4 status. At 13:00 UTC it hit the southern end of Matagorda Island, Texas, at a point 30 mi (50 km) southwest of Indianola.By sustained winds the storm tied the 1932 Freeport hurricane as the strongest Texas hurricane on record.Hurricane Carla - 50th Anniversary https://www.weather.gov/crp/hurricanecarla Corpus Christi, TX Weather Forecast Office National Weather Service 18 March 2026 Corpus Christi, Texas Scientists modeled a pressure of 925 mb inHg on at landfall, based on a barometer reading of 971 mb inHg on taken six hours later at the edge of the eye in San Antonio;Other sources list 29.03 inHg mb on flip.Roth 25Tannehill 159Chris Landsea Craig Anderson William Bredemeyer Noel Charles Michael Chenoweth 3 Christopher Landsea https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata_master.html#1886_5 Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT: 1886/05 Re-Analysis Project Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division Miami, Florida mdy this made it the most intense Texas hurricane on record.Meteorologist Ivan Ray Tannehill listed the storm as a "Great Hurricane", with a pressure of 28 inHg mb on or lower and heavy wind damage extending at least 50 to 100 mi km on outward;Tannehill 118 however, a 1989 study by Francis P. Ho noted a smaller-than-usual storm size, as shown by a narrow hurricane-force wind swath.Ho 111 Reanalysis derived the storm's winds from a blend of tidal and pressure data, along with a compact radius of maximum wind (RMW).Comments of and replies to the National Hurricane Center Best-Track Change Committee January 2003 https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/comments_jan2003.htm Hurricane Research Division Reanalysis Project Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory 3 March 2026 Miami January 2003 The storm quickly unraveled over land, losing hurricane force on August 21, and gently arced north-northwest. It vanished later that day over the Texas panhandle. Impact and aftermath In Hispaniola, the storm produced hurricane-force winds at Santo Domingo,Signal Corps 1886a 214 along with a pressure of 29.54 inHg mb on and copious rains that caused the Ozama River to overflow.Disasters at Sea September 6, 1886 https://www.proquest.com/docview/94454479 registration 6 March 2026 New York Times 35 10924 2 94454479 In Cuba, the storm claimed 28 lives,130th Anniversary of Indianola hurricane https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hurricane_blog/130th-anniversary-of-indianola-hurricane/ NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane Blog Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory 3 March 2026 Miami 20 August 2016 and losses totaled $100,000 in Sagua la Grande. A death and several injuries occurred in Santa Clara. Strong winds knocked down trees and chimneys across the island,A Cyclone in Cuba August 27, 1886 August 28, 1886 Havana New York City https://www.proquest.com/docview/94441989 registration 4 March 2026 New York Times 35 10917 1 94441989 along with some homes near Havana. The center of the storm passed over Isabela de Sagua, attended by a lull in the winds,Partagás Díaz 45 which peaked at 60 mi/h km/h on in Cárdenas. Ships over the Straits of Florida clocked winds of 75 to 80 mi/h km/h on.Signal Corps 1886a 214 The storm passed 25 mi (40 km) off the Dry Tortugas, the westernmost of the Florida Keys, generating winds of 48 mi/h km/h on in Key West,Signal Corps 1886a 214 but only slight damage.Dunn Miller 298 thumb|right|Ruins in Indianola after the hurricane In Texas, the storm wreaked property destruction in a number of coastal and inland towns, resulting in 150 deaths.Blake Landsea Gibney 7 At Indianola 46 deaths were confirmed, as only six homes endured unscathed.Ho 14 Winds leveled a Signal Corps office, killing an officer.Roth 24 A fire in the office spread,Signal Corps 1886a 210 consuming all but two buildings abutting the street. Tides on Matagorda Bay exceeded an 1875 storm, effacing 2 + 1/2 mi km on of track bed, impeding communication, and complicating rescue efforts.Damaged by Flood and Fire August 21, 1886 August 22, 1886 Victoria, Texas New York City https://www.proquest.com/docview/94464341 registration 4 March 2026 New York Times 35 10911 2 94464341 Storm surge rose 15 ft m on, carrying boats up to 5 mi km on ashore.Roth 24 Winds topped the 1875 storm but lasted shorter,Roth 26 though wind and surge combined to level the town,Frantz Helen B. July 19, 2023 Indianola Hurricanes 18 March 2026 Texas State Historical Association https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/indianola-hurricanes Handbook of Texas Online along with all homes except a lifesaving station on upper Matagorda Island.Ho 14 The surge moved homes off their foundations, leaving few fit for habitation. Storm debris, human bodies, and animal carcasses littered the landscape.Signal Corps 1886a 211 Almost all sheep and cattle perished on Matagorda Island.Ho 108 The storm leveled the nearby village of Quintana—at the Brazos River mouth—as well,Roth 25 besides 15 homes at Lavaca,Ho 110 and the Matagorda Island Light lay 4 ft m on underwater at its base.Roth 24 left In Galveston tides overshot the 1875 storm, undermining streets, railways, bridges, culverts, outbuildings, tanks, several hundred homes, and resorts, such as the Beach Hotel and plaza. Hotel and waterfront losses totaled $500,000 (equivalent to $US-GDP 0.5 1886 1 million in US-GDPUS-GDP). Caged animals at the hotel drowned, but a pair of Mexican lions broke loose and were shot. The schooner J. W. Perry lost two of its crew, a few of whom floated ashore barely alive.The Texas Storm August 22, 1886 August 23, 1886 Galveston, Texas New York City https://www.proquest.com/docview/94382799 registration 4 March 2026 New York Times 35 10912 1 94382799 On the Livonia Perkins, which capsized, three more died; one crew member swam about 10 mi km on to safety. Strong winds knocked down wires and trees on Galveston Island, disrupting communication.Roth 25 In all, 300 homes on the beach were destroyed and 1,000 others rendered uninhabitable.Ho 111 On the mainland Buffalo Bayou overflowed,Signal Corps 1886a 211 rising 5 to 6 ft m on above normal at Houston.Roth 25 At Corpus Christi winds reached an estimated 75 mi/h km/h on, flattening a railroad office, a church, large trees, outbuildings, and fences. On Harbor Island water lay 6 ft m on deep, forcing 100 railroad workers to depart. Seven drownings were reported. Offshore winds blew water out of Corpus Christi Bay for a few hours, stranding vessels.Roth 25 16 homes floated off their foundations at Rockport, where the storm also tore apart six or seven houses, a cistern factory, and a temperance hall.Roth 25 Many interior locales in South Texas deemed the storm their worst to date. Many homes lost their roofs in Goliad. Much cotton, corn, and fruit damage was reported in La Grange, Weimar, and Bexar County, where a church was torn apart. Homes in Beeville sustained damage,Roth 25 such as torn-off roofs, and crop damage occurred. Cuero was badly damaged, and homes were leveled in Edna.Roth 25 At Floresville the storm razed 10 homes, and an overflowing stream carried away a couple, one of whom drowned. At New Braunfels the storm wrecked a freight depot.Roth 25 Losses up to $15,000 occurred in Seguin, where a church tower was downed and several buildings were severely damaged or destroyed. Fallen trees killed a person and badly injured two others at Sutherland Springs, where cotton crops were "whipped into shreds". The storm wrecked homes, fences, and trees at Luling, with a 15% cotton loss at Hempstead. San Antonio losses reached $21 2 million,Roth 25 including flooded basements. Rainfall amounted to 4.4 in mm on, and small hail fell,Signal Corps 1886a 211 with peak winds of 60 mi/h km/h on.Signal Corps 1886b 223 In Victoria the storm destroyed or damaged most of the buildings. An estimated 75 houses were destroyed and another 118 were damaged. The town's jail and high school were both damaged while the freight station, Masonic hall, and "colored" section of town were "almost literally swept from the earth". A freight train was overturned. Winds razed a few churches, badly damaged six others,Roth 25 and tore the roofs off two of them, while toppling steeples. The storm uprooted most vegetation, and several injuries ensued from flying debris or collapsed buildings. Fallen telegraph wires severed contact with the outside world. No deaths were reported in the town, but the initial damages were estimated at $100,000 and the citizens of the town declared the hurricane "the most terrible storm ever known in Victoria". Due to torrential rain, the storm ended an ongoing drought, relieving dehydrated residents.Roth 25 thumb|left|Remains of a store in Indianola Many of Indianola's residents relocated farther inland after the storm. Five weeks later, in September 1886, another hurricane hit the Texas coast between Brownsville and Corpus Christi. Indianola was again flooded by rainwater and storm surge from Matagorda Bay. The remaining residents were evacuated. Following this storm the post office at Indianola was shut down, marking the official abandonment of the town, to be replaced by Galveston as the main Texas port. The storm ended the rivalry between Galveston and Indianola as the chief port of Texas. With the abandonment of Indianola and the unwillingness of the former residents to rebuild close to shore, Galveston became the most important Texan port until the catastrophic damage wrought there by the 1900 Galveston hurricane led to the rise of Houston as a major port on the Texan coast.Roth 24–6A Brief History of Indianola, Texas https://www.indianolatx.com/history.html Indianola, Texas: Queen City of the West 18 March 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20070614012226/https://www.indianolatx.com/history.html 14 June 2007 See also Tropical cyclones 1942 Matagorda hurricane – Affected nearly the same area 1945 Texas hurricane – Paralleled the coast nearby Hurricane Carla – The second-most-intense Texas hurricane List of Texas hurricanes (pre-1900) Notes References Citations 2 Sources Areas of Low Pressure August 1886 Washington, D.C. https://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/014/mwr-014-08-0207b.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20170303133048/https://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/014/mwr-014-08-0207b.pdf 3 March 2017 Monthly Weather Review 14 8 207–218 10.1175/1520-0493(1886)14[207b:AP]2.0.CO;2 free 1886MWRv...14R.207. 3 March 2026 American Meteorological Society Signal Corps 1886a Blake Eric Landsea Christopher W. Gibney Ethan J. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010 (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) August 2011 September 2, 2012 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf NWS NHC-6 NOAA Technical Memorandum National Hurricane Center Miami Blake Landsea Gibney Chenoweth Michael https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/27/23/jcli-d-13-00771.1.xml?tab_body=supplementary-materials A New Compilation of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1851–98 Journal of Climate December 2014 27 12 8674–8685 10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00771.1 American Meteorological Society 2014JCli...27.8674C free 10 August 2025 subscription Chenoweth Dunn Gordon Miller Banner I. 1960 Atlantic Hurricanes https://archive.org/details/atlantichurrican0000unse registration 60-10630 Louisiana State University Press Internet Archive Dunn Miller Francis P. Ho Extreme Hurricanes in the Nineteenth Century Technical Report 43A NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS Hydro https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/7224 National Weather Service March 1989 128–31 February 25, 2025 Silver Spring, Maryland Ho Partagás José Fernández Díaz Henry F. 1996a Year 1886 https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/Partagas/1884-1886/1886a.pdf A Reconstruction of Historical Tropical Cyclone Frequency in the Atlantic from Documentary and other Historical Sources, Part III: 1881-1890 https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/Partagas/part3.htm Climate Diagnostics Center Hurricane Research Division 18 August 2025 Partagás Díaz Roth David Texas Hurricane History 17 January 2010 Camp Springs, Maryland https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf 3 March 2026 National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center Roth Tannehill I. R. Ivan Ray Tannehill 1952 1938 Hurricanes: Their Nature and History Princeton University Press Princeton, New Jersey 8th https://archive.org/details/hurricanes0000ivan/ registration 3024697 Internet Archive Tannehill Winds August 1886 10.1175/1520-0493(1886)14[223:W]2.0.CO;2 Monthly Weather Review 14 8 223–228 free 1886MWRv...14..223. American Meteorological Society Signal Corps 1886b Category:Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes Category:Hurricanes in Texas Category:Spanish colonial period of Cuba Indianola Hurricane, 1886 Category:1886 in Cuba Category:Hurricanes in Cuba Category:1886 natural disasters Category:Meteorological events in 1886 Category:1886 in Texas Category:August 1886 in the United States