List of Atlantic hurricanes in the 18th century


The List of Atlantic hurricanes in the 18th century encompasses all known Atlantic tropical cyclones from 1700 to 1799. Although not all of the data for every storm that occurred are available, some parts of the coastline were populated enough to provide data of hurricane occurrences.

1700–1724

1725–1749

1750–1770

1770s

1780s

The 1780 Atlantic hurricane season was extraordinarily destructive and was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history with over 25,000 deaths. Four different hurricanes, three in October and one in June, caused at least 1,000 deaths each; this event has never been repeated and only in the 1893 and 2005 seasons were there two such hurricanes. The season also held the deadliest Atlantic tropical cyclone of all time.
Additionally, 1780 was a turning point in Caribbean habitation and trade, marking the end of a long period of economic boom that started in the early 1500s and marked the beginning of an economic decline for the region as news of the devastating hurricanes spread. Eight different storms battered the West Indies including three killer storms in the month of October alone. Tens of thousands were killed across the Caribbean onshore from storm surge, powerful winds and many thousands more killed offshore on sunken ships. The hurricanes struck the Caribbean in the midst of the American Revolutionary War as British and French navies were vying for control over the region and the hurricanes did considerable damage to both fleets wrecking numerous ships and drowning many.
YearDateLocationDeathsDamage/Notes
1780June 13Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic4000-5000San Antonio Hurricane of 1780 or The St. Lucia Hurricane of 1780. On June 13, a hurricane "caused deaths and losses" on Puerto Rico, after having also struck St. Lucia, where it killed around 4,000 to 5,000. It later went on to the Dominican Republic. See List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes.
1780August 24Louisiana25 The Louisiana Hurricane of 1780 New Orleans experienced a powerful hurricane on August 24, with winds gusting over 160 mph, completely destroying 39 of the 43 buildings in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Then, the eye passed over New Orleans that night, severely damaging structures in what is now known as the French Quarter, causing harvest-ruining crop damage, severe flooding, and tornadoes.
1780August 25St. KittsTropical storm or hurricane
1780October 1–5St. Lucia, Montego Bay Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas3,000The Savanna-la-Mar Hurricane of 1780 Early on, it sank the British transport ship Monarch, killing several hundred Spanish prisoners and the ship's entire crew. The hurricane began to move northwest towards Jamaica, where it destroyed the port and settlement of Savanna-la-Mar on October 3. As many of the town's residents gathered at the coast to see the large waves coming in, a 20-foot surge came in engulfed the onlookers, docked ships, and many of the town's buildings. In the nearby port village of Lucea, 400 people and all but two structures perished, with 360 people also killed in the nearby town of Montego Bay. It would go on to sink the British frigate Phoenix, the Monarch with its crew and several hundred Spanish prisoners onboard, and ships-of-the-line Victor, Barbadoes, and Scarborough and crippled many others. It continued its direction, and hit Cuba on October 4, followed by a pass over the Bahamas. See List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes.
1780October 10Lesser Antilles20,000 - 27,500Great Hurricane of 1780, San Calixto Hurricane of 1780, or Great Hurricane of the Antilles. This is the deadliest known hurricane on record in the Atlantic. The record still stands today. It killed over 20,000 people and estimates as high as 27,500 people. 4,000-5,000 people were killed on St. Eustatius, 9,000 people on Martinique, 1,000 people in St. Pierre which had all of its homes destroyed, and 4,326 people in Barbados. Many of the deaths were due to the storm surge. See List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes.
The hurricane destroyed the island of Barbados with winds possibly exceeding 320 km/h which would make it an extreme category 5 strength hurricane, leaving the island completely decimated with nearly all its buildings and plantations destroyed. The town of Bridgetown in Barbados was completely destroyed. The force of the winds was so intense that most of the island's trees were knocked down and the ones that remained standing had their bark stripped off. It also severely affected St. Vincent and Grenada. The hurricane then moved to Saint Lucia, Martinique, and St. Eustatius. Coming in the midst of the American Revolution, the storm caused heavy losses to British and French fleets in conflict in the area. The hurricane later passed near Puerto Rico and over the eastern portion of Hispaniola. There, it caused heavy damage near the coastlines and then sank 50 ships in Bermuda. It ultimately turned to the northeast without striking the United States.
1780October 18–21Cuba, Gulf of Mexico2000+Solano's Hurricane A powerful hurricane in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico struck a Spanish war fleet of 64 vessels under José Solano en route from Havana, Cuba to attack Pensacola, Florida, then the capital of British West Florida. The ships had 4,000 men aboard under the military command of Bernardo de Gálvez, and 2,000 died. The slow-moving hurricane was first noted near Jamaica on October 15. Progressing northwestwards it likely crossed the western end of Cuba, before shifting northeast-wards to Apalachee Bay. It struck Solano's fleet on October 20. See List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes.
1780October 23Barbados, St. LuciaLesser Antilles Hurricane
1780November 17New EnglandA tropical cyclone moved up the east coast of the United States, disrupting the British blockade of the New England states.
1781August 1JamaicaN/AMany ships washed ashore
1781August 23New Orleans, LouisianaN/AN/A
1781UnknownOffshore Florida2000See List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes.
1782JulyHavana, Cuba
1782September 16Central Atlantic coast3,000The Central Atlantic hurricane of 1782 was a hurricane that hit the fleet of Admiral Thomas Graves as it sailed across the North Atlantic in September 1782. It is believed to have killed some 3,000 people. See List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes.
1783September 19North CarolinaN/A3 ships sunk
1783October 7–9South Carolina, North Carolina, VirginiaN/AThe Charleston Hurricane of 1783 Charleston saw excessive rain and wind with the cyclone. Strongest reported tropical storm in Charleston since 1752. Winds shifted from northwest to northeast as the storm passed offshore. Extensive damage was also seen in North Carolina. Richmond saw violent northeast gusts for 24 hours, but no damage. Norfolk and Portsmouth reported a "25-foot tide" which caused damage.
1783October 18–19New Jersey, Rhode Island, ConnecticutHeavy rains and winds in New Brunswick, NJ and New Haven, CT. Brought snowfall to western Connecticut and Vermont.
1784JuneFlorida Straits
1784July 30Jamaica9"Captain Cox got in here from St. Ann's the 30th ult. but a few hours before a most violent hurricane came on, which began about 8 at night, and at nine the brig parted her cables and was drove on shore. Captain Rice, in a brig from Salem, and a ship belonging to Bristol, are also on shore. The ship Britannia, of between 4 and 500 tons rode it out—In consequence of the calamity occasioned by this hurricane, it is expected the ports of this island will be opened for six months. Captain Rice, with six of his people, taking to their boat, were lost. It is said, he had between 4 and 5000 dollars with him. Scarce a vessel in the harbour of Kingston but was either lost or drove on shore. St. Thomas's in the east has received the greatest damage. Scare a house or plantation but has suffered. Captain Gray in a brig belonging to Salem, lay at Morant Bay, have heard nothing from him in particular; but the report is, that every vessel that lay there, except one ship, is either lost or drove on shore. No perfect account of the damage is yet come to hand."
1784UnknownCuraçaoN/AMany ships damaged or destroyed
1785August 24–29St. Croix, Greater Antilles including Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Havana Cuba142Heavy damaged sustained in Havana. 4 ships sunk in harbor.
1785September 1Delaware181One of the few hurricanes on record in the state. It wrecked the ship Faithful Steward.
1785September 23–24Mid-Atlantic statesN/AThe Equinoctial Storm. Impacted the coastline shortly after the Sept 23 equinox. Led to the "highest tide ever before known in Norfolk." It struck the lower Chesapeake Bay. Portsmouth experienced a strong northeast to northwest gale for 3 days. The storm in Virginia was noted in both the Virginia Gazette of October 1 and the New Jersey Gazette of October 1. The Annual Register the next year reported that several ships had been driven ashore by the tide and the wind, with a total damage estimated at around £30,000. The two parallel track storms of 1785 led to the building of the lighthouse in Cape Henry which opened seven years later in 1792.
1785September 25Puerto RicoN/ASan Lupo Hurricane of 1785 devastated agricultural fields. Governor Juan Dabán visited the islands affected area to inspect and help with the damages; it was the first time a governor of Puerto Rico did that after a hurricane.
1786September 2Barbados"Several"Several houses destroyed
1786October 5Eastern VirginiaN/AHeavy rainfall accompanied the storm. According to George Washington, tides were "occasionally high" at Mount Vernon, with "high freshes." James Madison at Montpelier saw the Rapidan River overflow its banks. The center may have passed very near his location, as the winds shifted from southeast to southwest.
1786October 20Jamaica7N/A
1787September 2–4Belize, Veracruz, Mexico100It has been identified as 'Event 6' in Belizean sedimentary records by McCloskey and Keller. Two articles in the Georgia State Gazette or Independent Register provide a vivid and detailed description of the storm in Belize, with estimates of more than 100 casualties and more than 500 houses destroyed. Several injuries were caused by this hurricane in Veracruz.
1787September 19Georgia, South Carolina23A storm moved just offshore the Georgia and South Carolina coastline to lead to a storm surge that caused 23 people to perish, as well as flooding and crop damage between Savannah and Georgetown.
1787September 23Honduras100N/A
1787October 24St. Croix, TortolaN/A"Savannah, November 22. By Captain McLean, who arrived here on Saturday last from the Windward Islands, we have advice, that a hurricane happened there on the 24th of last month; he was then off St. Eustatia, and afterwards went into the Danish Island of St. John, where he learnt that all the shipping at St. Croix were driven ashore, except one brig that foundered at her anchors; that a great many houses and other buildings were thrown down, and numbers of lives lost; and that the sugar canes had suffered much. He also heard that the hurricane had done considerable damage at Tortola, and thinks it must have been severely felt at St. Christopher's."
1788July 22–24Mid-Atlantic StatesN/AGeorge Washington's Hurricane. George Washington reported from Mount Vernon a "very high northeast wind" the previous night, which sank ships and blew down trees. A "more violent and severe a hurricane than for many years." Madison at Montpelier reports a "great wind and rain." According to the Philadelphia Independent Gazette on August 8, the storm in Norfolk began from the northeast at 5 p.m. on the 23rd, then blew a "perfect hurricane" from the south at 12:30 a.m. The tide was lower than in 1785. Alexandria also saw the winds switch from east-northeast to south, which caused the highest known tide in the Potomac.
1788JulyMississippiN/ALandfalling hurricane in Mississippi caused the Mississippi river to flood in July 1788.
1788August 14–19Martinique, Dominica, Bahamas, New England600-700Hurricane San Roque of 1788. Details given in an article on pages 2 and 3 of The Georgia State Gazette, or Independent Register. ,November 8, 1788.
1789August 19New Jersey, New EnglandN/AHeavy damage

1790s