********************************************************************************
1874/01: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b). Track
unaltered from Neumann et al. (1993). Inland decay model of Kaplan
and DeMaria (1995) utilized for inland winds over Texas. The best
track provided appears to describe the full life cycle of this tropical
cyclone (from its formation as a tropical storm until its dissipation
below tropical depression strength).
********************************************************************************
1874/02: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b). Track
unaltered from Neumann et al. (1993). Storm is determined to have reached
hurricane status based upon a report from "a sailing vessel".
********************************************************************************
1874/03: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b), who made
large alterations to the track shown in Neumann et al. (1993). These
track changes are found to be reasonable. Pressure reading of 980 mb
not in storm's center (on 18 UTC, 7th of September) suggests winds of
at least 73 kt from the northern wind-pressure relationship - 70 kt
chosen for best track as it is determined that the storm had already
undergone extratropical transition by this point. Storm determined to
have reached hurricane status based upon several ship observations.
********************************************************************************
1874/04: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b). Track
unaltered from Neumann et al. (1993). Inland decay model of Kaplan and
DeMaria (1995) utilized for inland winds over Mexico and Texas. The best
track provided appears to describe the full life cycle of this tropical
cyclone (from its formation as a tropical storm until its dissipation
below tropical depression strength).
1874/04 - 2003 REVISION:
04905 09/02/1874 M= 6 4 SNBR= 154 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
04905 09/02/1874 M= 6 4 SNBR= 157 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
***
04910 09/02*204 946 40 0*207 950 40 0*212 953 40 0*215 956 40 0
04915 09/03*220 959 40 0*224 962 40 0*229 965 40 0*234 968 40 0
04920 09/04*239 970 50 0*244 971 50 0*250 976 50 0*255 978 50 0
04920 09/04*239 971 50 0*244 974 50 0*250 976 50 0*255 978 50 0
*** ***
04925 09/05*261 980 40 0*267 981 40 0*273 982 30 0*278 983 30 0
04930 09/06*283 984 30 0*288 985 30 0*292 985 30 0*297 985 30 0
04935 09/07*303 985 30 0*310 984 30 0*317 984 30 0*325 983 30 0
04940 TS
Track slightly adjusted to provide for a more realistic motion.
********************************************************************************
1874/05: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b). Track
unaltered from Neumann et al. (1993).
********************************************************************************
1874/06: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b), who made
reasonable small alterations to the track shown in Neumann et al. (1993).
Inland decay model of Kaplan and DeMaria (1995) utilized for inland winds
over Mexico, Florida and the eastern United States. A pressure reading
of 996 mb not in the storm's center (at 06 UTC, September 28th) suggests
winds of at least 53 kt from the Gulf of Mexico wind-pressure
relationship - 60 kt chosen for best track. A central pressure of 984 mb
suggests 71 kt using the subtropical latitude wind-pressure relationship
- 70 kt chosen for best track. A central pressure of 987 mb suggests 67 kt
using the subtropical latitude wind-pressure relationship - 70 kt chosen
for best track. A central pressure of 980 mb suggests 73 kt using the
northern wind-pressure relationship - 60 kt chosen as it is determined that
the storm transitioned to extratropical. The storm is determined to have
reached hurricane force from the 984 mb central pressure and reports from
the ship "Emma D. Finney". The best track provided appears to describe
the full life cycle of this tropical cyclone (from its formation as a
tropical storm to its peak as a hurricane until its dissipation as an
extratropical storm).
1874/06 - 2003 REVISION:
04870 09/25/1874 M= 7 6 SNBR= 156 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
04870 09/25/1874 M= 7 6 SNBR= 159 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=1
***
04875 09/25*175 864 40 0*181 871 40 0*185 875 50 0*190 880 50 0
04875 09/25*175 864 40 0*181 871 40 0*185 875 50 0*190 880 40 0
**
04880 09/26*196 884 40 0*204 886 40 0*212 888 40 0*222 885 40 0
04880 09/26*196 884 40 0*204 886 30 0*212 888 30 0*222 885 40 0
** **
04885 09/27*232 880 50 0*241 875 50 0*252 865 60 0*268 851 60 0
04885 09/27*232 880 50 0*242 875 50 0*252 865 60 0*268 851 60 0
***
04890 09/28*282 836 70 0*295 825 60 0*310 810 70 0*324 801 70 984
04890 09/28*282 836 70 0*298 823 60 0*314 810 70 0*328 800 80 981
*** *** *** *** *** ** ***
04895 09/29*339 795 70 987*354 789 60 0*368 780 50 0*389 760 50 0
04895 09/29*340 790 70 0*352 780 60 0*368 770 50 0*389 755 50 0
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
04900 09/30*409 736 60 0*427 716 60 0E443 700 60 0E460 680 60 980
04905 10/01E480 655 50 0E500 630 50 0* 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0
04910 HRAFL1 SC1 NC1
U.S. Hurricane Landfall Data
----------------------------
#/Date Time Lat Lon Max Saffir- Central States
Winds Simpson Pressure Affected
6-10/28/1874 0400Z 29.1N 82.8W 70kt 1 (985mb) AFL1
6-10/28/1874 0300Z 29.1N 82.9W 70kt 1 (985mb) AFL1
**** ****
6-10/28/1874 1900Z 32.6N 80.0W 70kt 1 984mb SC1,NC1
6-10/28/1874 1800Z 32.8N 80.0W 80kt 1 981mb SC1,NC1
**** **** ** ***
Unrealistically small weakening indicated in original HURDAT while passing
over the Yucatan of Mexico. Inland decay model of Kaplan and DeMaria (1995)
utilized for inland winds over Mexico. Winds reduced accordingly on the 25th
and 26th.
Recent research by Prof. Cary Mock of the University of South Carolina
that there was a measurement of 981 mb from Georgetown which does appear
to be a central pressure value. (The hurricane appears to have maintained
intensity or slightly intensified between Charleston (984 mb) and
Georgetown (981 mb).) 981 mb suggest winds of 74 kt from the subtropical
wind-pressure relationship - 80 kt chosen for best track in part based upon
destruction that occurred in Charleston. The track is adjusted slightly to
the east at and after landfall to accommodate this new data (included in
full below):
Sept. 28, 1874, from the weather diary of Alexander Glennie at Georgetown, SC.
Wind strength was recorded in a numerical scale from 1-6, with 1 indicating a
very light breeze and 6 indicating a violent storm. Total precipitation at
Georgetown was 1.5 inches, which suggests it didn't receive the brunt of the
rainfall.
* Morning and Forenoon (probably sunrise, as the temperature observation is
at sunrise): 72 F, SE wind at 5, Rain, Gale
* Noon and Afternoon (temperature reading is at 2 pm): 73 F, E wind at 6,
heavy Gale Rain; wind changed 3 pm to W.. Bar [barometer] at 3 pm 28.96
* Evening and Night (temperature reading is at 9 pm): 65 F, SW 3.
The News and Courier, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1874, p. 1.
THE GREAT GALE OF 1874
A MEMORABLE DAY-FULL DETAILS OF THE AWFUL STORM.
The long immunity which Charleston has enjoyed from disastrous
gales was interrupted yesterday by a disaster which has probably destroyed
over a quarter of a million dollars' worth of property. In the early part
of the present month everybody was on the lookout for the equinoctial
storm, because there exists a kind of tradition that severe and disastrous
equinoxes occur once in every twenty years, and it is just twenty years
since the destructive gale of 1854. But when the 21st of the month had
passed without bringing the disagreeable visitor people began to think
that Charleston would after all escape the dreadful infliction. For over
a fortnight the wind had been blowing steadily from the east, and at times
the weather had assumed a threatening aspect, but not sufficiently so to
warrant the apprehension of a gale. On Sunday evening at a late hour it
began to blow stiffly in puffs and to rain, and by daylight the wind had
increased considerably, blowing from the east and southeast. The steamer
Dictator, which arrived in the morning, reported heavy weather at sea, but
the captain failed to observe any indications of the coming blow. About
half-past six or seven o'clock in the morning the wind grew stronger, with
heavy squalls and severe puffs, which created general apprehensions. At
eight o'clock it was evident that
THE GALE WAS UPON US.
The sea was heaving and tossing in the harbor, and the rapidly
encroaching tide began to flood the wharves and streets. The squalls kept
constantly increasing in strength, and the masters of vessels in port
began to look anxiously to their moorings. At nine o'clock the tide had
risen so high that it covered all the wharves on the eastern front of the
city and flooded the streets to the depth of several feet. Many of the
wharves were washed up, and several vessels parted from their moorings and
were driven on shore.
THE SCENE FROM THE WHARVES
at this time was terrific. In every direction drift wood, bales of
cotton, wrecked boats and debris were being tossed about. The wind,
whistling through the rigging of the shipping, made melancholy music, and
the blinding rain falling in torrents rendered efforts to save anything
almost useless. The tide rose to a great height, in many instances
lifting the flooring from the piers and rendering it extremely hazardous
for anybody to stand in the vicinity. The sea in the harbor rolled
mountain high, and the waves dashed over the piers in huge rollers. At
Accommodation wharf a bark was driven from her moorings high up on the
landing into the wharf office of Campbell Wylly & Co., but was blown off a
gain when the wind shifted. So great was the force of the wind that the
bowsprit of the vessel entered the second story of the building, which was
of brick, and cut it completely in two, making a clean split. At the
wharf of the Sullivan's Island steamers the waves washed clear over the
wood work, and the anxious crowd who had gathered there to hear tidings
from friends on the Island were fairly driven back by the blinding rain
and rapidly rising waters. East Bay and Calhoun street were flooded with
water to such a depth as to
FLOAT THE CARS
of the Enterprise Railway from the track. All the wharves above Market
street were more or less damaged, but those below that point suffered the
most. At Vanderhorst wharf, a large flat loaded with phosphate rock
intended for the ship Border Chieftain parted the fastenings, and was
blown into three sloops in the dock, sinking them almost immediately. The
flat was then lifted by the waves and thrown transversely across the dock,
making a complete bridge between the two piers. The British bark
Beltiate, which had lately arrived from Liverpool and was anchored in the
stream, was blown from her moorings despite two heavy anchors held by
seventy-five and forty-five feet of iron chain and dragged into the dock
between Boyce and Atlantic wharf. The wharf on the extreme southern limit
of the eastern water front was completely washed away, and the piers
immediately adjoining on the north, at which were moored the steamers City
Point and Dictator, were also badly damaged. The work of destruction
continued without interruption until about half-past twelve, when
THE WIND MODULATED
for a short time, and then shifted around to the south and west, when it
again blew with full force for about an hour, tearing the slate and tin
from the roofs of many buildings and blowing down trees and fences in
every direction. The change in the direction of the wind, however, had
the effect of turning the tide, and in an incredible short time the waters
began to fall, and people began to breathe easier. As soon as the wind
shifted the rain ceased to fall, and the streets, which had up to this
time been dangerous to pedestrians on account of the falling shingles,
signs, and fences, were now crowded with people who had come out to view
the effects of the storm.
********************************************************************************
1874/07: No major changes from Partagas and Diaz (1995b), who made
large alterations to the track shown in Neumann et al. (1993). These
track changes appear to be reasonable. Inland decay model of Kaplan
and DeMaria (1995) utilized for inland winds over Jamaica and Cuba.
Used an accelerated decay rate over Cuba to take into account the
enhanced topography. The storm is determined to have reached
hurricane force based upon description of severe damage in Jamaica.
1874/07 - 2003 REVISION:
05020 10/31/1874 M= 5 7 SNBR= 157 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
05020 10/31/1874 M= 5 7 SNBR= 160 NOT NAMED XING=1 SSS=0
***
05025 10/31*135 784 40 0*141 783 40 0*147 781 50 0*151 781 50 0
05030 11/01*157 779 60 0*160 778 60 0*164 776 70 0*171 775 80 0
05030 11/01*157 779 60 0*160 778 60 0*164 776 70 0*171 774 80 0
***
05035 11/02*177 771 90 0*184 770 70 0*191 766 60 0*199 761 50 0
05035 11/02*177 772 90 0*184 770 70 0*191 766 60 0*199 761 60 0
*** **
05040 11/03*205 758 50 0*210 754 50 0*215 750 60 0*222 744 60 0
05045 11/04*231 739 70 0*237 734 70 0*245 730 70 0*255 725 70 0
05050 HR
Track slightly adjusted to provide for a more realistic motion. Winds
brought up to 60 kt at 18Z on the 2nd, since the storm had not yet made
landfall in Cuba.
********************************************************************************