INDIANOLA HURRICANE OF 1886

The 'Indianola Hurricane of 1886' destroyed the town of Indianola, Texas. It was one of the most intense hurricanes ever to hit the United States.

Contents

Storm history

Impact

Non-Damaging Effects

See also

External link

Storm history

The storm began east of the Lesser Antilles on August 12. The tropical storm moved northwestward through the islands, reaching hurricane strength on August 13. It hit the Dominican Republic as a Category 2 hurricane, weakened a bit, and hit southeastern Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm weakened over land.
When the tropical storm reached the favorable Gulf of Mexico waters on the August 18, it again strengthened. As the hurricane approached the coast of Texas, it rapidly intensified to a 155 mph (250 km/h) hurricane. At the time, it was the strongest hurricane ever recorded (the first reported, and confirmed, Category 5 hurricane would be in 1928). On August 19, winds increased in Indianola, and, on the August 20, it made landfall as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane. Pressure at landfall is estimated to be 925 mbar, which would make it the fifth strongest hurricane known to have hit the United States. The hurricane dissipated over Texas on the 21st.

Impact

The hurricane obliterated the town that was only just recovering from a powerful 1875 hurricane on the same location. This storm caused fewer fatalities however (46 in Indianola, compared to 400 in the 1875 storm) than the 1875 storm, largely because the storm struck during the day and residents had time to take shelter. Indianola's residents relocated farther inland after the storm. The old town's ruins sit just offshore under 15 feet of water in Matagorda Bay.
The hurricane killed 28 in Cuba to bring the total death toll to at least 74.
The hurricane also ended a severe drought in Texas.

Non-Damaging Effects

The Indianola Hurricane also ended the rivalry between Galveston and Indianola as the chief port of Texas. With the complete destruction of Indianola and the unwillingness of the former residents to rebuild close to shore, Galveston became the most important Texan port for the time.

See also

★ List of notable tropical cyclones

★ List of notable Atlantic hurricanes

★ Galveston Hurricane of 1900

External link

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