Hurricane One 1860 Atlantic hurricane season

the first known storm of season—which become strongest—is listed in hurricane database having formed on august 8 in eastern gulf of mexico, offshore west coast of florida peninsula, although possible hurricane related heavy gale encountered ship on august 5 during voyage havana, cuba new york city. cyclone drifted southwest 3 days, gradually intensifying attain strength corresponding category 3 major hurricane status on modern-day saffir-simpson hurricane scale. beginning on august 11, hurricane curved north, gained easterly component movement, , @ peak intensity maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) midday.

coming ashore @ oblique angle, storm crossed coast @ modern burrwood, louisiana, , traversed mississippi river delta. storm made landfall in mississippi between biloxi , pascagoula on august 12. hurricane weakened continued inland , turned toward east, deteriorating below tropical storm status while on southern georgia, although because hurricane database not utilize tropical depression status storms before 1871, listed maintaining tropical storm intensity crossed southeastern u.s.; august 14, had remerged western atlantic ocean. ship reports vicinity of system indicate regained strength once on open waters, although persisted couple more days before disappeared on records.

storm conditions battered new orleans, louisiana, on august 11, winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) , heavy rainfall. hurricane wrought great deal of damage throughout southeastern louisiana. @ least 35 40 people drowned when low-lying community @ eastern end of lake pontchartrain inundated flood waters depth of 12 feet (3.7 m), result of intense , persistent winds generating significant storm surge. reported in town there hardly house remaining . railroad wharf near lake largely destroyed, , settlement called milneburg flooded; residents rescued boat. in plaquemines parish, vast areas of land left underwater, hurricane severe since 1812. @ least 20 additional people drowned, although suspected since 200 fishermen along mississippi river have had extreme difficulty finding shelter amid rapidly rising waters, death toll substantially higher. storm flattened sugarcane fields across parish: knowing ones 2 thousand hogshead of sugar less made here , according post-storm account. monetary losses destruction totaled on $250,000. rice , corn crops ruined, , 300 head of cattle drowned in flood on cat island.

at la balize (now known pilottown), ominous weather conditions on night of august 9 preceded onset of gathering clouds , violent storm , characterized building seas , torrents of rain , wind such water driven under roof shingles, leaving not dry spot lay our heads . sea water swamped town overnight on august 10, , not until around noon when storm let , waters receded shift in winds. property damage widespread , many trees blown down. hurricane beached several watercraft, destroyed wharves, , inflicted losses can hardly estimated , judged @ $10,000. no lives lost in balize. further down storm s track, biloxi, mississippi, experienced gale beginning on morning of august 11 , lasting until next morning. tides ran 10 ft (3.0 m) above average @ biloxi, , in mobile, alabama, residents found wind-driven rain seeping through cracks , crevices not known before exist in dwellings waterproof ordinary showers . waters rose enough cause minor inundations, not @ same severity occurred in other areas. heavy storm conditions extended far east pensacola, florida, 3.03 in (77 mm) of rain fell, accompanied frequent thunder , lightning. overall death toll hurricane @ least 47.