Racer's hurricane
| Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Formed | September 28, 1837 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 9, 1837 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 940 mbar (hPa); 27.76 inHg |
| Fatalities | 105 |
| Damage | $200,000 (1837 USD) |
| Areas affected | Yucatán, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina |
| Part of the 1830-1839 Atlantic hurricane seasons | |
The 1837 Racer's Storm was one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in the 19th century, causing heavy damage to many cities on its 2,000+ mile path. The Racer's Storm was the 10th known tropical storm in the 1837 Atlantic hurricane season.
Meteorological history
The Racer's Storm, named after the British ship HMS Racer, was first observed in the Western Caribbean Sea near Jamaica on September 28. Likely having originated from a tropical wave, the hurricane moved to the west, and hit the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula days later. After crossing the peninsula, the hurricane reached the Gulf of Mexico. It journeyed westward, reaching winds of at least 115 mph (185 km/h), with the possibility it was a Category 4 or even a Category 5.
The Racer's Storm reached the western Gulf of Mexico, and hit extreme northeastern Mexico near Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on October 2. The hurricane nearly stalled over land, and drifted northwestward towards Brownsville, Texas. A high pressure system brought the storm to the northeast over the Gulf of Mexico, where it came close to Matagorda Bay on the 4th. This makes the Racer's Storm one of only three tropical systems to hit Texas and exit back into the Gulf of Mexico, the others being Tropical Storm Delia in 1973 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.
On October 5 the hurricane passed Galveston, Texas, and continued its northeast movement. The Racer's Storm made its third landfall near Venice, Louisiana on the night of the 6th, and moved eastward across Louisiana. From here, its history is unclear. Some historians track the hurricane to the northeast across Mississippi and Alabama, while others say the hurricane moved eastward, re-emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, and hit Pensacola on the 7th. Regardless, the hurricane was moving northeastward through Georgia.
The Racer's Storm moved offshore near Charleston, South Carolina on October 9 as a weakening tropical storm. It tracked northeastward, and made its final landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina that night. It crossed the Outer Banks and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean late on the 9th. After this the storm's history is unknown, but it likely became extratropical over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean as it went out to sea.
Impact
While no reports are available from the Yucatán Peninsula, the Racer's Storm was a very destructive hurricane throughout its 2,000-mile (3,200 km) path. First, when it stalled near Brownsville, it destroyed all of the ships in the Brazos Santiago harbor. In addition, the entire town of Brazos Santiago was destroyed from the storm's heavy winds and storm surge.
On Galveston Island, the storm brought a 6 to 7 feet (2.1 m) storm surge. That, in combination with the winds and rain, destroyed every house on the island with the exception of two. Many ships were destroyed there, with 2 people killed.
In southeastern Louisiana, the Racer's Storm caused immense structural damage, with $200,000 (1837 USD, $3.4 million 2005 USD) in railroad damage occurring. In New Orleans, Lake Ponchartrain rose eight feet above, with much of the city being flooded in 1 to 2 feet (0.61 m) of water.
Great cotton damage was seen across the Southeast, with the crop with the most damage being cotton.
The SS Home sank off the Outer Banks, killing 90 people from drowning.
This hurricane caused 105 deaths.