Indianola Hurricane of 1886
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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.
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 the 13th. 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 the 19th, winds increased in Indianola, and on the 20th 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 | New Orleans" | 1915 | 931 mbar (hPa) |
| 10 | Carla | 1961 | 931 mbar (hPa) |
| Source: [U.S. National Hurricane Center] | |||
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
- redirect
External link
- [Indianola Hurricanes] from the Handbook of Texas Online
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