1870 Atlantic hurricane season in Encyclopedia

The 1870 Atlantic hurricane season lasted from mid-summer to late-fall. Records show that in 1870 there were eleven cyclones. There was one tropical storm, all the others became hurricanes and two those hurricane became major hurricanes (category 3+). However, due to scarce technology and the fact that only storms that affected land or ships were recorded, the actual total could be higher. Most notably, Hurricane Six caused at least $12 million in damage and around 2,000 fatalities in Cuba and Florida.

Storms

Hurricane One

Hurricane One was discovered as it made landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi. It very quickly diminished over land.^[1]

Hurricane Two

Hurricane Two formed on August 30. The storm moved northwest towards the United States, before it peaked as a category 2 hurricane. The storm then curved back to the northeast. Two then paralleled the coast of Nova Scotia until it was last seen on September 4 near Newfoundland.^[1]

Tropical Storm Three

This storm was discovered near the Cape Verde islands on September 1. It headed to the west and would approach hurricane status. However, Tropical Storm Three was not upgraded to a hurricane and it would dissipate on September 4.^[1]

Hurricane Four

Hurricane Four was discovered a few hundred miles to the north of Puerto Rico on September 9. It later bypassed to the west of Bermuda as a category 3 hurricane. It had maintained this intensity until it began to pass south of Newfoundland. Four had weakened back to a category 2 hurricane at that time and it became extratropical on September 13.^[1]

Hurricane Five

Hurricane Five was discovered to the southwest of Bermuda on September 17. Five began to accelerate the further north it had moved. It had remained at sea during its entire duration and it became extratropical on September 20.^[1]

Hurricane Six

On October 5, a tropical storm developed south of Haiti. It moved west-northwest, becoming a hurricane south of Cuba on October 6. The hurricane rapidly strengthened to its peak of prior to hitting Matanzas, Cuba on October 7. After crossing the island, it moved slowly over the Florida Keys, causing an additional 1,200 deaths there. It moved out to sea, last being seen on October 14. The hurricane, known as the Hurricane of San Marcos or the Straits of Florida Hurricane, caused massive flooding in Cuba and south Florida, resulting in 2,000 casualties.

Damage was estimated at over $12 million (USD).^[1]^[2]

Hurricane Seven

Hurricane Seven was first discovered on October 7, located a few hundred miles west of Cape Verde. Seven was a category 1 hurricane that had apparently dissipated shortly thereafter it was discovered.^[1]

Hurricane Eight

Hurricane Eight was discovered more than 800 miles (1287 km) to the east of Bermuda. Eight, a category 1 hurricane, headed to the east-northeast toward the Azores. It dissipated before it was able to reach the islands.^[1]

Hurricane Nine

Hurricane Nine was discovered into the Caribbean on October 19. It later made a landfall in western Cuba Category 2 hurricane. Later on, it made landfall in Florida as a category 1 hurricane. Heading out to sea, it eventually dissipated on October 22.^[1] Hurricane Nine was responsible for 52 fatalities.

Hurricane Ten

A hurricane was discovered near Turks and Caicos Islands on October 23. Though it had apparently dissipated shortly thereafter.^[1]

Hurricane Eleven

Eleven was first discovered on October 30 in the western Caribbean as a tropical storm. It quickly strengthened into a hurricane before it made landfall in Belize. After emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane re-gained some strength but ultimately dissipated on November 3.^[1]