1900 Atlantic hurricane season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1900 Atlantic hurricane season featured the Galveston hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. A total of 10 tropical cyclones formed, seven of which intensified into a tropical storm. Three of those made landfall in the United States. The first system was initially observed over the central Atlantic Ocean on January 17, while the final storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 28. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Every storm of the season except the seventh system existed simultaneously with another tropical cyclone.
1900 Atlantic hurricane season | |
---|---|
Seasonal boundaries | |
First system formed | January 17, 1900 |
Last system dissipated | October 28, 1900 |
Strongest storm | |
Name | "Galveston" |
• Maximum winds | 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
• Lowest pressure | 936 mbar (hPa; 27.64 inHg) |
Seasonal statistics | |
Total depressions | 10 |
Total storms | 7 |
Hurricanes | 3 |
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
Total fatalities | 8,000-12,000 |
Total damage | At least $35.5 million (1900 USD) |
Related articles | |
Atlantic hurricane seasons 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902 |
Of the season's seven tropical storms, three reached hurricane status. Furthermore, two of those three strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. The strongest cyclone of the season, the first hurricane, peaked at Category 4 strength with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h). Upon striking Texas shortly after peak intensity, it produced a devastating storm surge in the Galveston area, with extensive damage and at least 8,000 fatalities. Nicknamed the "1900 Galveston hurricane", it remains the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. The hurricane overall caused about $35.5 million (1900 USD) in damage.[nb 1] Impact from other tropical cyclones was generally minor, though the remnants of Tropical Storm Five resulted in one death and at least $100,000 in damage in Atlantic Canada.