The 1892 Atlantic hurricane season included the last tropical cyclone on record to pass through the Cabo Verde Islands at hurricane intensity until 2015. A total of nine tropical storms developed, five of which strengthened into a hurricane, though none of them became a major hurricane. However, in the absence of modern satellite and other remote-sensing technologies, only storms that affected populated land areas or encountered ships at sea were recorded, so the actual total could be higher. An undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910 has been estimated. Three tropical storms made landfall on the United States.
Neither meteorologists José Fernández-Partagás and Henry F. Diaz in 1996 nor the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project in the early 21st century added or removed any storms during their reanalysis of the season, though the latter upgraded the eighth storm to a hurricane. A reanalysis study by climate researcher Michael Chenoweth, published in 2014, concluded that 11 cyclones formed in the Atlantic in 1892. Chenoweth proposed the removal of the ninth system from the official hurricane database (HURDAT) and the addition of three storms. However, the changes suggested in Chenoweth's study have yet to be included in HURDAT.
On June 9, the first storm of the season developed over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Striking Cuba and Florida, the cyclone dropped heavy precipitation in both regions. Flooding in the former rendered approximately $1.5 million (1892 USD) in damage and at least 16 deaths. Two other systems struck the United States in 1892, though neither caused much impact. In October, a hurricane passed near Tobago and moved across Venezuela, Colombia, Honduras, British Honduras, and Mexico, leaving damage in several regions and 17 fatalities, 16 of which occurred when a schooner capsized near Cabo Gracias a Dios. The ninth and final system was last noted on October 29. Collectively, the storms of the 1892 season inflicted at least 33 deaths and more than $1.5 million in damage. __TOC__
Season summary
The Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) officially recognizes that nine tropical cyclones formed during the 1892 season, five of which strengthened into a hurricane, but none of those intensified into a major hurricane. The Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project in the early 21st century did not add or remove any storms from the 1996 reanalysis of the season by meteorologists José Fernández-Partagás and Henry F. Diaz, although the former upgraded the eighth system from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane. However, a more recent reanalysis by climate researcher Michael Chenoweth, published in 2014, adds three storms and removes one – the ninth system – for a net gain of two cyclones, although these proposed changes have yet to be approved for inclusion to HURDAT. Chenoweth's study utilizes a more extensive collection of newspapers and ship logs, as well as late 19th century weather maps for the first time, in comparison to previous reanalysis projects. Chenoweth's proposals have yet to be incorporated into HURDAT, however.
The season's first known cyclone was initially detected over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on June 9. Striking Cuba and Florida, the storm caused about $1.5 million in damage and at least 16 deaths in the former.Fernández-Partagás (1996), p. 26. After this system was last noted offshore North Carolina on June 16, seasonal activity went dormant for nearly two months, until a steamship encountered the second cyclone on August 15.Fernández-Partagás (1996), p. 27. September featured the most activity, with four systems, two tropical storms and two Category 2 hurricanes on the present-day Saffir–Simpson scale that peaked with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). Three other cyclones formed in October, one tropical storm and two hurricanes. The season's seventh system moved on a low-latitude path that brought it over or near the Windward Islands, the ABC islands, and the Guajira Peninsula before turning northwestward and striking Nicaragua, British Honduras, and Mexico. Seventeen fatalities occurred, one on Trinidad and sixteen after a schooner capsized near Cabo Gracias a Dios. The season's ninth and final cyclone was last noted offshore the Northeastern United States on October 29.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 116, tied with the previous season for the fifth-highest total of the decade. ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have higher values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.
Systems
Tropical Storm One
The first tropical storm developed about 45 mi (70 km) south of Isla de la Juventud on June 9. Initially moving northwestward, the storm made landfall later that day on the south coast of Pinar del Río Province in Cuba. The storm recurved northward and entered the Gulf of Mexico early the following morning, where it intensified and peaked with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Around that time, it turned to the northeast and made landfall at 23:00 UTC on June 10 in northern Monroe County, Florida, at the same intensity. The cyclone crossed Florida and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean near modern-day Deerfield Beach early the following day. Thereafter, the system headed out to sea for a few days, before re-approaching the Southeastern United States. Late on June 16, it was last noted about south-southeast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina.
Climate researcher Michael Chenoweth proposed a similar path and duration for this system, but adding a tropical depression stage at the beginning, with the cyclone not reaching tropical storm until June 10, when it was located near the Florida Keys. In Cuba, modest winds and heavy rainfall were reported from Santa Clara to Pinar del Río, with the worst impact conditions being experienced in Matanzas. There, the San Juan and Yumurí rivers overflowed, causing water to rise above most houses. Civil guards and troops assisted rescue work and evacuation of residents. Floodwaters swept away furniture in 325 houses, killed roughly 450 head of cattle, and carried off 600,000 bags of sugar in warehouses. The storm left at least 16 deaths and approximately $1.5 million in damage. The storm also brought winds and rains to Florida. In just a few hours, Hypoluxo recorded , while Titusville measured over a period lasting six days. In Jupiter, multiple trees were downed and severe damage was inflicted on crops.
Hurricane Two
On August 15, the steamship Francia encountered a tropical storm east of the northernmost Lesser Antilles. The storm initially moved westward but curved northwestward by the following day, causing it to remain north of the islands, although Saint Thomas and Tortola reported thunderstorms and heavy rains. A north-northwestward motion of the storm commenced by August 18, while the cyclone reached hurricane status on the next day. During this time, the steamship Duart Castle encountered the system; rough seas caused severe damage to the ship and shifted around its cargo, injuring six people.Fernández-Partagás (1996), p. 28. The storm passed west of Bermuda between August 19 and August 20. Winds remained just below tropical storm-force winds on the island; a church, many trees, and lime and orange crops suffered extensive damage, however. The system then curved northeastward, continuing in that direction until becoming extratropical near Sable Island on August 21. The extratropical storm hit Newfoundland, and completely lost its identity on August 24. In his 2014 study, Chenoweth extended the track back to August 14. The storm also became more intense than indicated by HURDAT, strengthening into a major hurricane.
Hurricane Three
The official track for this storm begins well southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands on September 3, one day before being encountered by a ship.Fernández-Partagás (1996), p. 29. Initially trekking west-northwestward, the system is estimated to have intensified into a hurricane on September 5. Strengthening further, the cyclone reached Category 2 intensity on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale on September 7, likely peaking with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). The storm moved in a large, mostly parabolic path across the Atlantic, turning north-northwestward on September 9, north-northeastward on September 11, and then northeastward on September 13. It is estimated that the cyclone weakened back to tropical storm intensity on September 14, a day before turning east-southeastward while well north of the Azores. The storm was last noted near the Galicia region of Spain on September 17. Chenoweth's study kept this system as a tropical storm until September 7, while also arguing that the cyclone did not strengthen beyond a minimal Category 1 hurricane. He also adds an extratropical transition on September 15.
Tropical Storm Four
The track for this storm begins over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on September 8, when The New York Times declared that "a general disturbance appears developing", with decreasing atmospheric pressures.Fernández-Partagás (1996), p. 30. Initially moving northwestward, the storm turned northeastward on September 10 and intensified to its estimated peak sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Early on September 12, the system made landfall near Golden Meadow, Louisiana, and then accelerated north-northeastward. The storm weakened inland and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 13 over Kentucky. Thereafter, the extratropical remnants of the storm crossed Ohio and eastern Canada, emerging into the Labrador Sea on September 16. By the following day, the extratropical cyclone dissipated near southern Greenland.
The New York Times noted that nearly all weather stations across the Gulf Coast of the United States reported rainfall in association with this storm. Pensacola, Florida, observed wind gusts up to , while the extratropical remnants of the storm produced an identical measurement in Cleveland, Ohio. According to Chenoweth's 2014 study, this cyclone instead developed near the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on September 10. Instead of making landfall in Louisiana, the system struck the western Florida Panhandle and quickly dissipated over Alabama.
Hurricane Five
Observations first indicate the presence of a tropical storm on September 12 about west-northwest of Dakar, Senegal. The storm moved west-northwestward through the Capo Verde Islands without making landfall and intensified into a hurricane on the following day roughly halfway between São Nicolau and Santiago. While crossing through the archipelago, storm surge and abnormally high tides caused several vessels to flounder. On land, the hurricane destroyed many dwellings, severely damaged plantations, and killed "a quantity of cattle", according to The Times. Aside from this system, Hurricane Fred in 2015 became the only other cyclone to pass through the Capo Verde Islands as a hurricane.