1887 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1887 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record at the time in terms of the number of known tropical storms that had formed, with 19. This total has since been equaled or surpassed multiple times. The 1887 season featured five off-season storms, with tropical activity occurring as early as May, and as late as December. It is also worthy of note that the volume of recorded activity was documented largely without the benefit of modern technology. Tropical cyclones during this era did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period may not be comprehensive. 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. Of the known 1887 cyclones, Tropical Storm One and Tropical Storm Three were first documented in 1996 by Jose Fernandez-Partagas and Henry Diaz. They also proposed large alterations to the known tracks of several of the other 1887 storms. Later re-analysis led to the known duration of Hurricane Six, and also that of Hurricane Fifteen, being increased.

Eleven of the season's nineteen known storms attained hurricane status. However, only two of these storms became major hurricanes, with sustained winds of over 111 mph (179 km/h); the strongest reached peak winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), with a minimum barometric pressure of 946 mbar off the East Coast of the United States in late August. Only a few of the storms during the 1887 season did not impact land, but there was a low number of deaths.

Tropical Storm One
On May 15, the steamship Orinoco, docked on Bermuda, reported gale-force winds and very heavy rainfall. Consequently, the track for this storm begins to the south-southeast of the fon that day. The Orinoco also recorded a barometric pressure of 997 mbar on May 16, the day the storm made its closest approach to Bermuda, leading the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project to estimate that the cyclone peaked with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). Initially, the system moved northwestward, until turning to the north by May 17. It is likely that the storm became extratropical on the following day. The remnants then turned northeastward over Atlantic Canada, crossing Nova Scotia and Newfoundland before dissipating on May 20. A reanalysis study authored by climate researcher Michael Chenoweth and published in 2014 considers this storm to have been a subtropical cyclone.

Tropical Storm Two
Based on data from the steamships Alvena, Athos, and Ponoma, another May storm formed south of Jamaica on May 17 and initially moved generally northwestward. After passing just west of Jamaica on the following day, the cyclone then turned northeast. The Alvena recorded a barometric pressure of 1002 mbar late on May 18, causing the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project to estimate that the storm peaked with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Early the next day, the cyclone made landfall in Cuba near Santa Cruz del Sur, several hours before emerging into the Atlantic. Throughout May 20, the storm crossed through the central Bahamas, passing near or over Exuma, Long Island, and Cat Island. The cyclone was last noted about halfway between Bermuda and the Bahamas on May 21. Impact in Cuba as a result of this storm was mainly limited to some heavy rainfall and squally conditions.

Chenoweth proposed moving the path of the storm slightly farther west over Cuba and the Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Three
Weather conditions in Cuba beginning on June 11 suggest that a tropical depression over the northwestward Caribbean on June 11. The depression passed just west of Cabo San Antonio early the following day while entering the Gulf of Mexico, where it quickly intensified into a tropical storm. However, it is estimated that the cyclone did not strengthen beyond winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) prior to making landfall near Pascagoula, Mississippi, early on June 14. The storm then dissipated later that day. Chenoweth extends the duration of this cyclone back to June 10, with it attaining tropical storm status by the next day. The study by Chenoweth also concludes that this storm did not make landfall and instead meandered around the central Gulf of Mexico until dissipating on June 15.

At the time, the storm was the earliest-forming third nameable storm in the Atlantic on record; this record has since been surpassed by 2016's Tropical Storm Colin and later by 2020's Tropical Storm Cristobal. Heavy rains fell over western Cuba, leading to flooding. Meteorologist Simón Sarasola reported in 1928 that this flooding caused crop damage and a loss of "some lives". Offshore Pensacola, Florida, the steamship Vidette began taking on water, necessitating that the crew be rescued by a tugboat.

Hurricane Four
On July 20 a tropical storm formed 150 miles southeast of Barbados. The next day it passed south of the island as a Category 1 hurricane and caused several vessels to be wrecked or to be run aground there. The hurricane continued westward into the Caribbean Sea, becoming a strong Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mi/h on July 22. Although the hurricane passed far to the south of Cuba, it caused several vessels to sink at Batabanó and brought heavy rain and flooding to the islands interior. Continuing westward, the hurricane passed over the eastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula before first turning northward and then northeasterly. It made landfall on the Florida Panhandle on the morning of July 27 as a Category 1 hurricane, with a wind speed of 85 mph (140 km/h). The storm continued northward, as a tropical storm, before dissipating late on July 28 near Augusta, Georgia. The storm and its remnants brought heavy rain to the Southeast, up to 8 inches in Cedar Keys and a maximum of 16.5 in at Union Point, Georgia. The cyclone caused extensive damage to the cotton crop throughout Georgia and Alabama.

The 2014 reanalysis study by Chenoweth suggested slower intensification, with the storm not reaching hurricane status until July 24. However, it became more intense, briefly becoming a Category 3 hurricane prior to landfall in the Florida Panhandle. Chenoweth also concluded that the cyclone moved slower inland and dissipated over southeast Georgia on July 29.

Tropical Storm Five
Although no observations related to this storm have been found prior to August 5, HURDAT begins the its track well east of the Windward Islands on July 30. Moving northwestward, the cyclone passed over or near Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on August 2 while entering the Caribbean. As the storm was located south of the Dominican Republic on August 5, the bark Florence, stationed at the Turks and Caicos Islands, recorded winds of 58 mph and a barometric pressure of 1001 mbar. Early the next day, the cyclone brushed Haiti's Tiburon Peninsula and then continued northwestward. The system dissipated near the western tip of Cuba on August 8.

Chenoweth proposes significant changes to the storm's track and duration, with the cyclone instead beginning as a tropical depression just east of the Leeward Islands on August 3. The storm remained just north of the Lesser and Greater Antilles until dissipating on August 7 over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Six
The season's first of two major hurricanes, both following a very similar Cape Verde-type hurricane path in mid-August, but remained offshore. Six formed on August 14 in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Six started moving toward the Carolina coast and moved far north and peaked as a 120 mi/h & 967 mbar major hurricane on August 20, when rapid weakening began. Six was declared extratropical two days later.

Chenoweth adds a tropical depression stage on August 14. His 2014 study also proposes that extratropical transition occurred several hours later than HURDAT suggests.

Hurricane Seven
The season's second of two major hurricanes, both following a very similar Cape Verde-type hurricane path in mid-August, but remained offshore. Seven formed from a depression on August 18 into Tropical Storm Seven and followed the same track as Six. Seven peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h) winds for three straight days as a major hurricane and rapid weakening began. Seven was declared extratropical on August 27.

The 2014 reanalysis study by Chenoweth concludes that this storm formed before the previous, with the track beginning on August 14. This cyclone moved generally west-northwestward across the Atlantic and attained hurricane status by the next day. After reaching the Bahamas on August 22, the storm then follows a similar path to that listed in HURDAT.

Hurricane Eight
A ship known as Inflexible first encountered this storm over the central Atlantic to the east-southeast of Bermuda on September 1. Moved northwestward, the cyclone became a hurricane on the following day. Turning northeastward, the storm likely intensified further, based on several ship reports, including the steamship Taormina recording a barometric pressure of 963 mbar. The Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project thus estimated that the cyclone became a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h), while Fernández-Partagás and Diaz suggested that it may have strengthened into a major hurricane. On September 4, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about halfway between Greenland and the Azores. Thereafter, the extratropical storm persisted until September 6, when it dissipated off the coast of Ireland.

Chenoweth traced this storm back to August 28, when it was located west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. The cyclone moved generally northwestward until September 2, at which time the storm curved north-northeastward while just east of Bermuda. Rapidly accelerating, the system became extratropical east of Ireland late on September 4.

Hurricane Nine
A hurricane, which was first observed on September 11 to the east of the Lesser Antilles, traversed the Caribbean Sea, remaining away from land until hitting extreme northeast Yucatán Peninsula on September 17. It moved across the Gulf of Mexico, and weakened slightly before landfall as it hit near Brownsville, Texas, on September 21 as an 85 mph (140 km/h) hurricane. The storm rapidly weakened over Texas and northeast Mexico, and dissipated on the 22nd.

Rainfall was reported at 8 inches at Brownsville, Texas and on September 21 and 2.26 in on September 22. Thirty-six hours of rainfall flooded low-lying areas and fourteen sailors were lost at sea.

Hurricane Ten
HURDAT initiates the track for this system over the central Atlantic to the northeast of the Leeward Islands late on September 14, slightly earlier than indicated by the Monthly Weather Review and the 1996 reanalysis by Fernández-Partagás and Diaz. The storm initially moved north-northwestward until turning north-northeastward on September 16, shortly before it intensified into a hurricane. As the cyclone passed just east of Newfoundland later on September 18, the steamship Marsala observed a barometric pressure of 983 mbar. Thus, the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project estimated that this storm peaked with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). However, the system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone several hours later.

In Newfoundland, an observer at St. John's reported heavy rains and gale-like conditions. Several maritime incidents occurred, including many vessels beached at Placentia and Portugal Cove, while "Bonavista presents a dreadful scene", according to The New York Times.

Chenoweth traces this storm back to September 12, when it was located about halfway between the Lesser Antilles and the Cabo Verde Islands. The storm attains hurricane status on September 14 and moves northwestward through the following day, by which time the it starts tracking northeastward. Consequently, the cyclone remained much farther east of Newfoundland.

Tropical Storm Eleven
Based on information from the Monthly Weather Review, a tropical storm was first noted over the northwestern Caribbean on October 6. Moving nearly due west, the system made landfall in Mexico near Punta Allen, Quintana Roo, with winds of 60 mph (9 km/h) early the next day. After weakening slightly, the storm emerged into the Bay of Campeche late on October 7 and soon re-strengthened back to sustained winds of 60 mph (9 km/h). Late on October 8, the cyclone struck Mexico again near Nautla, Veracruz, before rapidly dissipated by early on October 9. The 2014 study by Chenoweth proposes a much more southerly track, with the storm instead striking Belize or Guatemala as a minimal hurricane before dissipating over the latter on October 9.

Tropical Storm Twelve
The steamship Alvena first encountered this storm on October 8, with the track beginning near Inagua in the Bahamas. Because the Alvena recorded a barometric pressure of 994 mbar, the storm is estimated to have peaked with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). Moving north-northwestward, the cyclone passed over the eastern Bahamas before being last noted early on October 9 to the east of the Abaco Islands. Chenoweth reanalysis study concluded instead that the storm moved across Hispaniola and Cuba from October 7 to October 9, when it dissipated over the latter.

Hurricane Thirteen
A tropical storm was first seen on October 9 to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles. It moved westward to cross Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, before strengthening into a hurricane while south of Cuba on October 12. The hurricane maintained a peak wind speed of 85 mi/h for four days, from October 15 to October 19, whilst crossing the Gulf of Mexico. It struck the Louisiana coast near New Orleans on October 19 as a tropical storm. Considerable damage and some flooding were seen in New Orleans, trees were blown down in Algiers and there were significant amounts of crop damage in Abbeville and Iberville Parish. The storm swept across Georgia and the Carolinas before becoming dissipating at sea early on October 20.

Around October 14, a storm moved over Belize, causing moderate crop damage and disruption in the southern part of the country. Because the 13th storm of the season existed at the same time to its northeast, this system was not included, though further research is under way to determine if it was a new storm or a variation of the 13th storm of the season.

Hurricane Fourteen
The track for this storm begins on October 10 over the central Atlantic, far from any landmasses. However, on the following day, the steamers Aldanach and Ocean Prince encountered the storm, with the former reporting hurricane-force winds and a barometric pressure of 989 mbar. Consequently, the maximum sustained winds attained by this system is estimated to be 85 mph (140 km/h). By the following day, however, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone to the west of the Azores. Chenoweth proposes a much earlier origin of this storm, on October 2 as a tropical storm well west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. The storm initially moves westward across the Atlantic before presumably assuming a more northwestward motion.

Hurricane Fifteen
The RMS Moselle reported hurricane-force winds and barometric pressures as low as 975 mbar well east of the Lesser Antilles on October 16, one day after the track for this storm begins. Consequently, it is estimated that this cyclone attained Category 2 intensity and peaked with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) on October 16. Moving northwestward, the system likely weakened to a tropical storm on October 18 and then turned northeastward. Late the next day, the cyclone weakened to a tropical depression and promptly dissipated. Chenoweth initiates the track for this storm as a tropical depression on October 12 and also proposed adding an extratropical transition on October 20.

Tropical Storm Sixteen
The track for this cyclone begins on October 29 over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Around 01:00 UTC the next day, the storm made landfall near Tarpon Springs, Florida, with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). Later on October 30, the system emerged into the Atlantic near Daytona and soon began to strengthen. The steamship Edith Godden recorded a barometric pressure of 993 mbar on October 31. Consequently, the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project estimated that the system peaked with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) while situated just offshore North Carolina. However, by late on October 31, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, which strengthened to hurricane-equivalent intensity as it passed about halfway between Bermuda and New England. The extratropical storm then traversed the Atlantic, striking southwestern England before dissipating over northwestern France on November 6. In his 2014 study, Chenoweth argues that this storm was never tropical and that the strong winds occurred due to a pressure gradient.

The Monthly Weather Review attributed rainfall across the Gulf Coast of the United States since October 24 to this system. In Florida, Fort Meade recorded light rainfall and falling barometric pressures. Strong winds impacted coastal North Carolina, reaching up to 70 mph (110 km/h) at Kitty Hawk. Consequently, many telegraph poles fell throughout the Outer Banks. Farther inland, Lenoir and Raleigh recorded heavy rains and some snow. Strong winds also impacted coastal Virginia, with a 5-minute sustained wind speed of 78 mph at Cape Henry. At least four ships sank. The Carrie Holmes alone led to a $7,000 loss upon being beached during the storm. Additionally, two people drowned after the schooner Manantico capsized. Farther north, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, reported sustained winds of 52 mph.

Hurricane Seventeen
HURDAT initiates the track for this storm on November 26, one day before being encountered by the steamship Claribel near Fortune Island in the Bahamas. The storm executed a small cyclonic loop just north of the eastern Bahamas early in its duration and strengthened into a hurricane early on November 29. However, while moving northeastward and away from the Bahamas on December 1, the cyclone weakened to a tropical storm. Three days later, the system was last noted well east-northeast of Bermuda. The 2014 reanalysis by Chenoweth traces this storm back to a tropical depression over the southwestern Caribbean on November 21. For several days, the system moved slowly and erratically around the central Caribbean until crossing Haiti between November 27 and November 28. Rather than execute a cyclonic loop, the cyclone then moves generally northeastward until becoming extratropical on December 2, although the remnants persisted until dissipating about halfway between the Azores and Greenland on December 11.

Hurricane Eighteen
The track for this storm begins on December 4 to the east of the northernmost Lesser Antilles, based on weather conditions in Cuba. Initially moving west-northwestward, the storm turned northeastward on December 6. By the following day, several ships encountered the cyclone, including the Kate Fawcett, which recorded sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), indicating that the storm became a hurricane. The system curved east-northeastward early on December 8, several hours before it became extratropical west of the Azores. Chenoweth's reanalysis study proposes the removal of this storm from HURDAT on the grounds of "Insufficient supporting evidence from other neighboring data sources".

Heavy gales impacted Cuba, particularly at Baracoa. There, large waves swept away almost 300 huts and homes. However, The New York Times attributed the wave action to a norther that had been impacting the area since the beginning of December.

Tropical Storm Nineteen
Weather conditions over the Caribbean and observations from a steamer suggest that the presence of a tropical storm just east-southeast of Barbados on December 7. Shortly after, the storm passed south of the island and then moved near or over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines later that day. Around December 9, the cyclone peaked with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). The storm curved west-southwestward and moved in that direction for the rest of its duration, brushing the Guajira Peninsula early the next day and then making landfall near Tortuguero, Costa Rica, late on December 12. Thereafter, the cyclone quickly weakened to a tropical depression and then dissipated.

When the system formed on December 7, it made 1887 the year with the most off-season storms (five). At the time, Nineteen was the only tropical storm to pass over Costa Rica on record. In 2016, Hurricane Otto passed over Costa Rica as a minimal hurricane. However, prior to doing this Otto made landfall in extreme southern Nicaragua. Nineteen was the only tropical storm to make landfall until Tropical Storm Bonnie in 2022, which made landfall barely south of the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border. According to Chenoweth, this system may not have existed, noting "No evidence in logbooks in Lesser Antilles or newspaper accounts; cold air surge into Panama". The storm wrecked approximately 70 vessels across the Caribbean, causing 15 deaths due to drowning, though the Monthly Weather Review described the weather conditions as a "norther".