1840s Atlantic hurricane seasons
The 1840s Atlantic hurricane seasons were unevenly documented, but several storms clearly affected the Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and eastern United States. Most storms form between June and November, and many events were recorded only in local reports. Here are some of the more notable storms from the decade, summarized for easier understanding:
- October Gale of 1841: A powerful hurricane moved from the Caribbean toward the U.S. East Coast, stayed offshore of the Carolinas, and turned into an extratropical storm before hitting New England around October 3. It brought heavy snow and sleet to Connecticut, caused dory and fishing fleet losses, and damaged coastal towns. The event also affected ships and settlements along the Northeast.
- Key West Hurricane of 1841: This storm formed in the Caribbean, crossed Cuba, and swept through the Florida Keys (October 18–21). It eroded parts of Key West, damaged the Sand Key Light, and wrecked several ships before heading toward Bermuda.
- 1842 North Carolina hurricanes: Two major storms hit near Portsmouth, North Carolina, in July and August (July 10–14 and August 24). They capsized ships, drowned livestock, and destroyed homes in coastal areas around Ocracoke.
- Antje’s Hurricane (1842): A westward-moving cyclone that began near the Leeward Islands and crossed the Florida Keys in early September, then moved across the Gulf of Mexico toward Mexico. It damaged lighthouses at Sand Key and followed an unusual path for the time.
- Galveston hurricane (1842): A strong tropical storm struck Galveston later in September, bringing significant effects to the Texas coast and nearby waters.
- Gulf to Bermuda Hurricane (1842): A hurricane that passed by Galveston around early October, then continued northeast, causing flooding around Florida’s Big Bend and later reaching Bermuda.
- Madeira to Iberia storm (1842): A cyclone formed southwest of Madeira, passed the island, and moved northeast toward the Iberian Peninsula, striking southern Spain on October 29. It was notable for its unusually long and far-reaching track.
- Port Leon hurricane (1843): A major Gulf of Mexico hurricane (September 13–15) struck Port Leon, Florida, destroying the town with flooding and storm surge. The destruction led residents to relocate the town to Newport, Florida, several miles away, and the storm continued northward toward Maryland.
- Matamoros hurricane (1844): A major hurricane (August 4–5) moved through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Rio Grande valley, causing many deaths and extensive property damage. It left the region with notable destruction along the river mouths.
- Cuban hurricane (1844): A hurricane originated near Barbados and hit Cuba (late September to early October), causing many deaths and widespread damage in Cuban towns, with effects felt along the U.S. coast though mostly offshore.
- Great Havana Hurricane (1846): A powerful hurricane, likely Category 5, moved through the Caribbean and western Cuba (October 5–15), causing hundreds of deaths and massive destruction. It struck the Florida Keys, including destroying the old Key West Lighthouse and other structures, and caused widespread damage up the Florida coast into Georgia and the Carolinas.
- Hatteras Inlets hurricane (1846): A slow-moving storm offshore of Cape Hatteras (September 5–11) pushed water into Pamlico Sound, eventually creating two new inlets, Hatteras Inlet and Oregon Inlet, in its wake.
- September tropical storm near South Carolina (1846): A tropical storm touched the South Carolina coast, contributing to coastal weather disruption that season.
- Great Tampa Bay hurricanes (1848): Two major hurricanes struck the Tampa Bay area (September 23–28 and October 5–15). The first caused severe damage to Tampa Bay and surrounding coast, with tides and winds altering the coastline and destroying structures. The second brushed the region, with additional impacts along Florida’s coast and into nearby waters. Tampa Bay’s barometer readings and high surge indicated a powerful storm, and a new waterway near Sarasota—New Pass—formed as a result of the event.
- The 1848 August event and related storms: Additional tropical activity in August and September affected the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, contributing to a pattern of frequent Gulf storms during the decade.
- New England hurricane (1849): A hurricane formed off the southeastern U.S. coast and moved northeast, making landfall in Massachusetts in early October. It caused significant fatalities and damage, including dozens of deaths in the Northeast.
Notes:
- Records from the 1840s are incomplete, and many storms are known only from scattered reports, ships logs, and coastal records. The decade includes a mix of Caribbean, Gulf Coast, Florida, and Atlantic-influenced storms, with several notable events that illustrate the varied paths and impacts of early Atlantic hurricanes.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:33 (CET).