1776 Pointe-à-Pitre hurricane
| Deadliest Atlantic hurricanes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Fatalities |
| 1 | ? "Great Hurricane" | 1780 | 22,000–27,501 |
| 2 | 5 Mitch | 1998 | 11,374+ |
| 3 | 2 Fifi | 1974 | 8,210–10,000 |
| 4 | 4 "Galveston" | 1900 | 8,000–12,000 |
| 5 | 4 Flora | 1963 | 7,193 |
| 6 | ? "Pointe-à-Pitre" | 1776 | 6,000+ |
| 7 | 5 "Okeechobee" | 1928 | 4,112+ |
| 8 | ? "Newfoundland" | 1775 | 4,000–4,163 |
| 9 | 3 "Monterrey" | 1909 | 4,000 |
| 10 | 4 "San Ciriaco" | 1899 | 3,855 |
The 1776 Pointe-à-Pitre hurricane was at one point the deadliest North Atlantic hurricane on record. Although its intensity and complete track is unknown, it is known that the storm struck Guadeloupe on September 6, 1776 near Pointe-à-Pitre, which is currently the largest city on the island.[1] An analysis by hurricane scholar Michael Chenoweth indicated the tropical cyclone was of at least hurricane strength, or with maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 km/h). The same analysis indicated the storm also affected Antigua and Martinique early in its duration, and later it struck Louisiana on September 12.[2]
At least 6,000 fatalities occurred on Guadeloupe, which was a higher death toll than any known hurricane before it.[1] The storm struck a large convoy of French and Dutch merchant ships, sinking or running aground 60% of the vessels. The ships were transporting goods to Europe.[3] A hurricane four years later significantly surpassed the death toll of the 1776 storm with a total of 22,000 fatalities. The 1776 hurricane is currently the seventh deadliest Atlantic hurricane.[1] Subsequent impact is unknown, although a Louisiana tropical cyclone climatology lists only one hurricane affecting the state in 1776; it was listed as striking New Orleans and causing "some damage".[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Edward N. Rappaport, Jose Fernandez-Partagas, and Jack Beven (1997). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Michael Chenoweth (2006). "A Re-assessment of Historical Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Activity, 1700-1855" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
- ^ David Longshore (2008). Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones. Checkmark Books. p. 297. ISBN 0-8160-7409-7.
- ^ David Roth (2003). "Louisiana Hurricane History: 16th Century" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
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