San Calixto: The Great Hurricane of 1780

[abajan]

Many, if not most, people here in Barbados erroneously believe that once October arrives, there’s no need to worry about hurricanes impacting the island. Lest we forget: On this date 230 years ago, the deadliest hurricane on record in the Atlantic began its rampage through the West Indies.

Read more at the following links:

• http://www.cdera.org/cunews/news/saint_lucia/article_1314.php
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hurricane_of_1780

[FireRat]

If there existed a Category 6.......this sucker would have earned it. 1780 was perhaps the worst season of all time where at least 2 top-end storms including this beast made landfalls killing so many.

[SouthDadeFish]

The 1780 Atlantic Hurricane Season was the deadliest on record, due to three strong hurricanes in October.

[Ptarmigan]

October 1780 is the deadliest month for hurricane season. The Great 1780 Hurricane killed 22,000 to 30,000 people, the deadliest hurricane on record. More so than Mitch and Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

[CrazyC83]

Gusts to 200 mph (175 kt) would normally occur in a storm with an intensity around 140 kt. It is probable based on that the intensity was around 145-150 kt in the islands since the highest winds could have been offshore.

Based on location and timing, a WILD GUESS for the pressure is around 915mb.

[Ptarmigan]

Gusts to 200 mph (175 kt) would normally occur in a storm with an intensity around 140 kt. It is probable based on that the intensity was around 145-150 kt in the islands since the highest winds could have been offshore.

Based on location and timing, a WILD GUESS for the pressure is around 915mb.

My thinking too. I am also thinking it was a rather large storm.

[FireRat]

Considering all the forts were destroyed and torn up to their foundations and how trees were stripped of bark (like in intense tornadoes), this storm's sustained winds might have been at around 200 mph. Maybe even the record holder for intensity of all time, man I wish they had barometric readings from that one!!

[weatherwindow]

yeah...calixto was a remarkable juxtaposition of very intense storm, approaching from an unusual direction(for early october) and the most unfortunate concentration of potential victims in and about the windwards/leewards...50% of deaths were combatants either shipboard or ashore associated with the royal and french navies....mind-boggling storm, missing nary a possible target and a late season from hell....rich

[FireRat]

personally, I find this hurricane the most fascinating of them all despite being so antique. It must have been something to behold from outer space...well for aliens.

Seriously, that hurricane is amazing and rightfully earns the name "The Great Hurricane", the one and only, king cane. Weather conditions had to be insane to have produced such a CV beast in October

[neospaceblue]

Considering that this occured in the 1780s, where there was no modern technology to predict that this was going to happen and structures not built to modern standards, this could have been a Category 4 for all we know. My personal guess for intensity is 130-135 knots through the islands and 920-930 range for pressure.

[CrazyC83]

Tree damage would be the same in 1780 as it is in 2010 though. There are no difference in building standards for nature over the past 230 years.

[FireRat]

And all the forts were destroyed to their foundations. Imagine the fort St. Marcos in St. Augustine Florida torn to its foundation by a hurricane for an example...WOW.! Incredible punch.

[abajan]

Tree damage would be the same in 1780 as it is in 2010 though. There are no difference in building standards for nature over the past 230 years.

Good point. There is little doubt in my mind that that hurricane had to be well into Cat 5 territory.
In my earlier post, it was mentioned that many Barbadians (also called Bajans) think hurricanes don’t strike here in October. They also believe we are too far east and south to be hit by a Cat 5 — part of the reasoning being that such canes need time to develop. But many here often state with fervor: “God is a Bajan!” because we are so seldom affected by storms as a whole and tend to forget our history. Well, data strongly suggests that the hurricane of August 10, 1831 was another Cat 5.