Indianola Hurricane of 1886

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Indianola hurricane of 1886

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)

The city of Indianola in 1875

Formed

August 12, 1886

Dissipated

August 21, 1886

Highest
winds

155 mph (250 km/h) (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

925 mbar (hPa; 27.33 inHg)

Fatalities

74+

Damage

Unknown

Areas
affected

Lesser Antilles, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Texas

Part of the
1886 Atlantic hurricane season

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.

1 Storm history
2 Impact
- 2.1 Non-Damaging Effects
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Storm history

Storm path

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.

**Most intense landfalling U.S. hurricanes**
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank	Hurricane	Season	Landfall pressure
1	"Labor Day"	1935	892 mbar (hPa)
2	Camille	1969	909 mbar (hPa)
3	Katrina	2005	920 mbar (hPa)
4	Andrew	1992	922 mbar (hPa)
5	"Indianola"	1886	925 mbar (hPa)
6	"Florida Keys"	1919	927 mbar (hPa)
7	"Okeechobee"	1928	929 mbar (hPa)
8	Donna	1960	930 mbar (hPa)
9	Carla	1961	931 mbar (hPa)
10	Hugo	1989	934 mbar (hPa)
Source: National Hurricane Center

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.