Storm of October 1804

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Storm of October 1804
Type=hurricane
Year=1804
Basin=Atl
Formed=bef. October 8, 1804
Dissipated=aft. October 11, 1804 (extratropical after October 10, estimated)
1-min winds=100
Pressure=978
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=9 direct
Areas=Virginia, Mid-Atlantic States, New England, and southeastern Canada
Hurricane season=1804 Atlantic hurricane season

The Storm of October 1804, popularly known as the first reported "Snowicane", was a late-season major hurricane in the 1804 Atlantic hurricane season; it brought vast amounts of snow to New England as an extratropical storm in mid-October, and was the latter of the two tropical cyclones recorded that season.

It killed at least 9 people, and caused $100,000+ (1804 USD, $1.2 million 2005 USD) in damage across much of the Northeast Coast of the United States. In addition, several ships were wrecked in Boston's Harbor.

Meteorological history

Late in the 1804 Atlantic hurricane season, a major hurricane moved northwestward across the Western Atlantic. It passed by Virginia on October 8, with winds gusting at over 31 mph (50 km/h) reached as far as Norfolk.cite book|last=Snow|first=Edward|year=2003|title=Storms and Shipwrecks of New England|publisher=Commonwealth Editions|location=Beverly, Massachusetts|id=1-889833-57-6] The system hit near Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 9, and slowly curved east-northeastward, passing just north of New York City. After briefly passing through Connecticut and into Massachusetts, cool air was entrained in the circulation, and it became extratropical. It continued east as it passed through Boston into the Gulf of Maine. It was last mentioned two days later, on October 11, probably over Atlantic Canada. An estimated track of the storm can be viewed [http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_track.pdf here] .cite web|author=Roth, David and Cobb, Hugh|year=2006|title=Early Nineteenth Century|publisher=FSU|accessdate=December 6|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt1_other.pdf]

Impact

The tropical cyclone brought blankets of snow to anywhere between New York and Southern Canada when it became extratropical. The storm brought heavy rain across the Atlantic states and southern New England, until it became extratropical and brought snow instead, in some areas up to two to three feet (610-910 mm). This was the first observation of snow from a landfalling hurricane, but not the last; Hurricane Ginny of 1963 brought up to 18 inches (400 mm) of snow to portions of Maine. In addition to the immense amounts of snow, the Storm of October 1804 toppled fruit orchards everywhere. Thousands of fowl perished, and cattle and sheep died by the hundreds because of the frigid temperature. In total, the extratropical storm killed 9 people and caused at least $100,000 (1804 USD, $1.2 million (2005 USD) in damage.

outhern Mid-Atlantic States

A vessel, the "Rising Stakes", passed through the "dreadful squall" off of Cape Henry, but managed to escape without major damage.cite web|author=Roth, David and Cobb, Hugh|year=2006|title=Early Nineteenth Century|publisher=HPC|accessdate=May 17|accessyear=2006|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/vaerly19hur.htm] Many ships in Baltimore were beached after the rise and fall of the tide.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 1|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 20|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt1_ludlum.pdf] In Atlantic City, New Jersey, a ship was driven ashore.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 1|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 20|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt1_ludlum.pdf] In Trenton, a ferry capsized due to the high winds in the area.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 1|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 20|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt1_ludlum.pdf] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania stated that one new ship sunk–quite a loss of money.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 1|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 20|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt1_ludlum.pdf]

New York

New York City received the highest recorded amount of rain from the storm; the pressure dropped from 992.5 mbar to 977.6 mbar over night. Rainfall totals reached 2.77 inches (70 mm). Once the system had become extratropical, New York received large amounts of snow across the whole state. In Bemis, New York, in the western section of New York, snow and rain was reported to have fallen. Farther eastward, 18 inches (460 mm) of snow was received in Catskill Mountains.Fact|date=February 2007

outhern New England

In New Haven, Connecticut, a total rainfall accumulation of 3.66 inches (93 mm) was reported.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 2|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 22|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt2_ludlum.pdf] After becoming extratropical, Litchfield reported 3 inches (76 mm) of snow, while Goshen, reported one foot (305 mm). Rhode Island experienced stronger winds than ever remembered in Providence.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 2|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 22|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt2_ludlum.pdf]

In Massachusetts, 5-14 inches (127-356 mm) of snow was the average snowfall from the gale. But the Berkshire of Massachusetts reported two to three feet (610-910 mm) of snow. In Salem, 7 inches (178 mm) of rain was reported, more than ever before in a 24-hour period.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 2|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 22|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt2_ludlum.pdf] The Gale of October 1804 was the worst tropical cyclone to affect Salem;cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 2|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 22|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt2_ludlum.pdf] it is not known if that record has been lost. The roof of the South Church in Danvers, Massachusetts was lost. And in Peabody, Massachusetts, over 30,000 unfinished bricks were ruined. Many buildings in Boston, Massachusetts were destroyed, and one person died because of fallen roofs. Several ships in Boston's harbor were wrecked, causing loss of life. [cite web | title="Snow hurricane" hits Massachusetts | format=html | accessdate=2007-11-08 | url=http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=293]

Northern New England

In Concord, New Hampshire, two feet (610 mm) of snow was recorded. Western New Hampshire along the Connecticut River was blanketed with 18 inches (46 cm) of snow. As for the damage, Portsmouth only lost trees and fences to the storm.cite web|author=Elsner, James B.|year=2003|title=New England's Snow Hurricane of 1804-Oct.9-Pt. 2|publisher=FSU|accessdate=May 22|accessyear=2006|url=http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/storm2_pt2_ludlum.pdf] But Rye lost a person to the storm. A dead woman was found on the beach, with her child still in her hands.cite web|title=New Hampshire Hurricane Overview|publisher=NH Gov|accessdate=June 1|accessyear=2006|url=http://www.nhoem.state.nh.us/Mitigation/NH%20Hurricane%20Overview.htm#Hurricane%20of%201804.] Whether the child was dead or alive at the time is unknown. The "Vermont Journal" estimated 36 to 48 inches (910 to 120 mm) in areas around Windsor, Vermont, and the northern area of Vermont, Lunenburg, Vermont, reported only 20 inches (510 mm). Thomaston, Maine had a 60 acre (240,000 m²) lot of trees that was completely flattened by the time the storm had exited the area.cite book|last=Snow|first=Edward|year=2003|title=Storms and Shipwrecks of New England|publisher=Commonwealth Editions|location=Beverly, Massachusetts|id=1-889833-57-6]

Miscellanea

*The Old North Church in Boston lost its steeple. The replacement steeple — 15feet (5 m) shorter than the original — eventually fell victim to Hurricane Carol in 1954, 150 years later. The third and current steeple is a replica of the first. [cite web | title=The Paul Revere House | url=http://www.paulreverehouse.org/trail/freedom3.shtml | accessdate=2007-11-08 | format=html]

ee also

*List of New England hurricanes
*List of New Jersey hurricanes
*List of Canada hurricanes
*List of Atlantic hurricanes

External links

* [http://www.nhoem.state.nh.us/Mitigation/NH%20Hurricane%20Overview.htm#Hurricane%20of%201804 Information on the Storm's impact in New Hampshire]
* [http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=293 Mass moment's information on the storm]
* [http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jelsner/HHITProject/HHITyears/1804/ Damage and track estimate on the storm (#2)]

References