1858 San Diego hurricane
The 1858 San Diego hurricane was a very rare hurricane that impacted Southern California. It is the only known tropical cyclone to directly impact California as a hurricane, although other systems have impacted California as tropical storms. The storm caused considerable damage to many homes and other structures in southern California, mainly around San Diego.[2] A later estimate indicated that if a similar storm happened in 2004, it would have caused $500 million (2004 USD) in damage.
 Surface weather analysis and track of the storm approaching California | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 1858 |
| Dissipated | October 2, 1858 |
| Category 1 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 994 mbar (hPa); 29.35 inHg (corrected sea level) |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | Unknown |
| Fatalities | Unknown |
| Injuries | Unknown |
| Damage | $100.00 (1858 USD) |
| Areas affected | Southern California, northwestern Mexico |
| [1] | |
Part of the pre-1900 Pacific hurricane seasons | |
Meteorological history
In late September 1858, a hurricane formed over the eastern Pacific Ocean, concurrent with a moderate El Niño event spanning 1857–58.[3][4] Unlike most east Pacific storms, this one accelerated toward the north-northeast. On October 2, it neared Southern California while weakening, due to cool sea surface temperatures and strong wind shear. The hurricane just missed making landfall, while turning to the west-northwest. The storm approached Santa Catalina Island in the Channel Islands and dissipated later on that day. There is some uncertainty to this reconstructed path.[1]
Impact
In San Diego, heavy rain fell, and property damage was significant; many homes lost their roofs, and a few even collapsed. In addition, trees were uprooted, and fences destroyed. A recently constructed windmill was also blown away completely. Three schooners, the Plutus, the Lovely Flora, and the X.L., were blown ashore, although only the X.L. suffered major damage.[1]
Rainfall in San Pedro was also heavy, but high winds were not reported. Parts of the embankment in the city were washed away, causing only around US$100 ($3,100.02 in 2019) in damage. The yacht Medora was washed ashore. Many reports claimed that the yacht was irreparable, but it was later claimed that the damage was not serious and could be repaired. A barge was destroyed, as was a large portion of the San Pedro wharf.[1]
El Monte was buffeted by high winds, damaging corn crops and trees. Los Angeles and Visalia noted large amounts of rain, as much as 7 inches (180 mm), but wind strength as low.[1]
Two researchers with NOAA, Michael Chenoweth and Christopher Landsea reconstructed the path of the hurricane using accounts from newspapers of the strong winds. They estimated that if a similar storm were to have hit in 2004, it would have caused around US$500 million in damage.[5]
Records
The hurricane was the only hurricane in recorded history known to impact California.[6] Due to the cold water California Current tropical cyclones typically weaken, diminishing the storms' strength below the tropical storm level.[7]
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of California hurricanes
- 1939 California tropical storm – made landfall in California as a tropical storm.
- Hurricane Hilary (2023) – impacted California as a tropical storm after making landfall in Baja California.
References
- Chenoweth, Michael; Landsea, Christopher (2004). "The San Diego Hurricane of 2 October 1858" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 85 (11): 1689–1697. Bibcode:2004BAMS...85.1689C. doi:10.1175/BAMS-85-11-1689.
- "Remembering the San Diego Hurricane of 1858 | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- Quinn, W. H.; Neal, V. T. (1992). "The Historical record of El Niño events in Climate since AD 1500" (.TXT). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- Patzert, Bill (October 17, 2012). "Could a Hurricane Ever Strike Southern California?". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- Chenoweth, Michael; Landsea, Chris (2005-01-11). The San Diego Hurricane of October 2, 1858. AMS Forum: Living in the Coastal Zone, 11 January 2005. Retrieved from http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/presentations/ams-sandiego.ppt#14.
- "Hurricane or tropical storm in California? It's not impossible". The Mercury News. 2022-09-09. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
- Chenoweth, Michael (27 June 2004). "The San Diego Hurricane of 2 October 1858" (PDF). American Meteor. 1 (1): 9.