Indianola Hurricane (1886)
| Category 4 hurricane ( SSHWS ) | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Emergence | August 12, 1886 | |
| resolution | August 21, 1886 | |
|
Peak wind speed |
|
|
| Lowest air pressure | 925 mbar ( hPa ; 27.3 inHg ) | |
| dead | 74+ | |
| Property damage | Unknown | |
|
Affected areas |
Lesser Antilles , Dominican Republic , Cuba , Texas | |
| Season overview: 1886 Atlantic hurricane season |
||
The Indianola Hurricane from 1886 destroyed the city of Indianola in Texas (USA). It was one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States.
The course of the storm
The storm was discovered south of the Lesser Antilles on August 12th . The tropical storm moved northwest through the archipelago and reached hurricane status on August 13th. It initially hit the Dominican Republic and Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane . Overland this weakened somewhat. When the tropical storm finally reached the Gulf of Mexico on August 18 , it began to gain strength again and was now approaching the coast of Texas. Within a short time the hurricane reached a speed of 250 km / h and was thus the strongest hurricane ever recorded. On the 19th the first gusts of wind came up in Indianola. Finally, on the 20th, the hurricane, now classified as Category 4, hit the city. The air pressure when it hit the land was estimated at around 925 mbar, which made "Indianola" the fifth strongest hurricane that had ever struck the USA. On the 21st, the hurricane finally dissolved over Texas.
The consequences
| rank | hurricane | season | Air pressure (in mbar ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labor day | 1935 | 892 |
| 2 | Camille | 1969 | 900 |
| 3 | Irma | 2017 | 914 |
| 4th | Katrina | 2005 | 920 |
| 5 | Andrew | 1992 | 922 |
| 6th | Indianola | 1886 | 925 |
| 7th | Florida Keys | 1919 | 927 |
| 8th | Okeechobee | 1928 | 929 |
| 9 | Miami | 1926 | 930 |
| 10 | donna | 1960 | 932 |
| Source: HURDAT, Hurricane Research Division | |||
The city of Indianola, which was still recovering from a strong hurricane in 1875, reported 46 deaths (compared to 400 deaths in the storm in 1875). The relatively small number of victims was due to the fact that the storm hit the city during the day and so the residents had time to seek protection. After the storm, residents continued to be resettled inland. The ruins of the old town are now 5 meters deep in Matagorda Bay .
In Cuba, the hurricane killed another 28 people, putting the death toll at at least 74.
The hurricane also ended a serious drought in Texas.
- ^ National Hurricane Center: Atlantic hurricane best track (Hurdat) ( English ) Hurricane Research Division. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. April 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ↑ National Hurricane Center: Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description) ( English ) United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. February 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2016.