The 1871 Atlantic hurricane season became the first of six seasons in which at least three hurricanes are known to have made landfall in the U.S. state of Florida. Records show that 1871 featured eight tropical cyclones, four of which intensified into hurricanes, while two of those strengthened into major hurricanes. 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. According to a study in 2004, 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 is possible. A later study in 2008 estimated that eight or more storms may have been missed prior to 1878.
Of the known 1871 cyclones, both the fifth and eighth cyclones were first documented in 1995 by meteorologists José Fernández-Partagás and Henry Díaz, who also proposed large changes to the known tracks of the third and fourth systems. Further analysis, by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project in 2008, extended the duration of both the third and seventh storms by one day each. A reanalysis authored by climate scientist Michael Chenoweth, published in 2014, found fifteen named storms, twelve of which became hurricanes; four attained major hurricane status. However, these results have yet to be officially accepted into the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT).
The season's first known was initially detected over the Straits of Florida on June 1. Back-to-back tropical storms made landfall in Texas, with the first causing four deaths and the second causing one death. No further known activity occurred for more than two months, until two consecutive hurricanes struck the Bahamas and Florida in mid to late August. Both became Category 3 hurricanes on the present-day Saffir–Simpson scale, while the first of the two, the season's third cyclone overall, became the most intense in the Atlantic basin that year and caused one death in South Carolina. The season's fourth cyclone killed at least 27 people in the Virgin Islands prior to striking the Bahamas and Florida. Later, the sixth and seventh systems both impacted the Gulf Coast of the United States and made landfall in Florida, with the latter producing high winds and rough seas in Texas and Louisiana, leading to at least two fatalities due to maritime incidents and about $5,000 (1871 USD) in damage in southeastern Louisiana alone. On October 13, the eighth and final cyclone of the season struck Nova Scotia before last being noted over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, drowning three people along the coast of the province and inflicting more than $16,000 in damage throughout Atlantic Canada. __TOC__
Season summary
HURDAT recognizes eight tropical cyclones for the 1871 season. Of the eight systems, six intensified into a hurricane, while two of those strengthened into a major hurricane. However, a 2004 study estimated that HURDAT excludes up to six cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and up to four per year between 1886 and 1910, while a 2008 study calculated that eight or more storms may have been missed before 1878. Three of these hurricanes made landfall in Florida, a feat that has only occurred in five other seasons, 1886, 1964, 2004, 2005, and 2024. José Fernández-Partagás and Henry F. Díaz added the fifth and eighth storms during their 1995 reanalysis and significantly modified the tracks of the third and fourth systems. In 2008, the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project did not increase or decrease the number of storms and only made significant changes to the third and the seventh systems in comparison to Fernández-Partagás and Díaz, extending the duration of both storms by one day. A reanalysis by climate researcher Michael Chenoweth, published in 2014, adds eight storms and removes one, the second system, for a total of fifteen cyclones, including twelve hurricanes, four of which become major hurricanes. Chenoweth's study utilizes a more extensive collection of newspapers and ship logs, as well as late 19th century weather maps for the first time, in comparison to previous reanalysis projects.Chenoweth (2014), p. 8681 However, Chenoweth's proposals have yet to be incorporated into HURDAT.
Seasonal activity began by June 1, when a brig encountered a tropical storm over the Straits of Florida. The storm moved west-northwestward to northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico, striking Texas on June 4, causing four deaths. June featured another tropical storm, which also made landfall in Texas, killing one person before dissipating on June 10. No further known activity occurred until August 14, when the third system was first detected northeast of the Bahamas. Becoming the most intense storm of the season, the cyclone peaked as a Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum atmospheric pressure of and struck the Bahamas and Florida around this intensity. One person drowned in South Carolina. Later in August, the season's fourth cyclone killed at least 27 people in the Virgin Islands prior to striking the Bahamas and Florida. One more storm formed in August, but it is not known to have made landfall. Two systems developed in September, both peaked as Category 1 hurricanes and impacted the Gulf Coast of the United States, the second of which, the season's seventh cyclone, produced high winds and rough seas in Texas and Louisiana, leading to seven fatalities due to maritime incidents and about $5,000 in damage in southeastern Louisiana alone. The eighth and final known storm existed in October, striking Nova Scotia as a Category 1 hurricane on October 13, hours before being last noted over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Atlantic Canada suffered more than $16,000 in damage, while the hurricane drowned three people in Nova Scotia. Collectively, the storms of the 1871 season caused more than 40 deaths and over $21,000 in damage.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 88, tied with the previous season for the second highest total of the decade, behind only 1878. ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have higher values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.
Systems Tropical Storm One
The brig Nellie Ware encountered a tropical storm over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on June 1.Fernández-Partagás (1995), p. 9. Consequently, HURDAT started tracking the storm on that day at 00:00 UTC about 60 mi (95 km) east-southeast of Key West, Florida. For the next 12 hours, the system moved westward over the Straits of Florida between Cuba and the lower Florida Keys. Entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, the cyclone turned to the northwest and strengthened. While located west-northwest of the Dry Tortugas, it attained peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) early on June 2. Afterward, the system gradually turned west-northwestward. As the cyclone neared the Texas coast, its course shifted to the northwest. At 07:00 UTC on June 4, the storm made landfall over San Luis Pass, 50 mi (80 km) south-southeast of Houston, at peak intensity. After landfall, the storm curved northward over East Texas and dissipated over eastern Oklahoma late on June 5.
Chenoweth's study delayed genesis by a day and a half, treating this and the next storm as one cyclone that hit Galveston, Texas, twice, first as a low-end hurricane. Looping inland between Matagorda and Galveston Bays, it weakened to a depression before reemerging offshore. Restrengthening, it sidewinded northeastward, striking Galveston as a strong tropical storm and Louisiana as a minimal hurricane, the latter at its peak of 80 mph (130 km/h). It then crossed southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and northwestern Alabama, dissipating a few days later than officially indicated.Chenoweth (2014), Supplementary Materials
A weather station in Galveston recorded peak winds of and a total of of rain during the passage of the storm, of which fell in a fourteen-minute time span on June 4. Another source indicated of rainfall took place, including a twenty-four-hour record of on June 4. Additionally, a barometer in the area sampled a minimum peripheral pressure of . Storm surge flooded and eroded Galveston Island, causing washouts of railroad beds and structures. One vessel, the steamship Alabama, was beached at Galveston, while another, the Virginia Dare, grounded on an offshore sandbar there. Four drownings occurred at Galveston. Gale-force winds also affected Port Aransas; very high tides occurred there and at Indianola, flooding low ground at the latter place. Extremely heavy rains associated with this cyclone also caused flooding in New Orleans, which was reportedly "submerged", according to meteorologist David Roth. The New York Times on June 6 reported that floodwaters covered , approximately 500 blocks in all.
Tropical Storm Two
At 00:00 UTC on June 8, the second tropical storm of the season developed 155 mi (250 km) north-northwest of Progreso, Yucatán, three days after the previous system dissipated. Taking a steady course to the northwest, the cyclone closely followed its predecessor, threatening Southeast Texas. Early on June 9, the system peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h) and turned north-northwestward. At 17:00 UTC, the cyclone made landfall near present-day Jamaica Beach, 15 mi (25 km) west-southwest of Galveston, at peak intensity. After landfall, the system headed northward over the western part of Galveston Bay. Late on June 10, the cyclone dissipated over East Texas, just south of the Texas–Oklahoma border. Chenoweth's reanalysis tentatively determined that this storm and the preceding system were a single hurricane.
As it affected Galveston, the storm destroyed a church and many houses. Storm surge occurred on the island for the second time in a week, as floodwaters engulfed the eastern section of Galveston Island. Several ships wrecked as well, and some sailing ships were deemed lost at sea. A cotton steamship, the Mollie Hambleton, sank while at anchor. One person died at Refugio, when winds unroofed a church. Storm surge-related flooding was minimal at Indianola. Strong gales affected coastal Louisiana and neared hurricane intensity at Lake Charles, downing fruit trees. Torrential rain damaged corn and cotton crops, and numerous cattle drowned. A tornado struck Chatawa, Mississippi, destroying a schoolhouse and trees.
Hurricane Three