1898 Windward Islands Hurricane
Encyclopedia
The Windward Islands Hurricane was a strong, destructive hurricane that raged through the eastern Caribbean islands in the early part of September during the 1898 Atlantic hurricane season
. Between 300 and 400 people are believed to have died in the storm. Damage on Barbados
and St. Vincent
was catastrophic.
. The storm steadily strengthened and reached the Windward Islands
as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale. The hurricane roared directly over Barbados with sustained winds in excess of 100 mph. The effect was devastating. The hurricane maintained intensity and actually strengthened to near-major hurricane force. It turned slowly north, passing close to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Martinique
. Exiting the islands, still a Category 2 storm, it continued north and then curved northeast near Bermuda
. The storm finally became extratropical before crossing Newfoundland, having maintained hurricane strength for 13 consecutive days.
, 83 people died and over 5,000 houses were completely destroyed. Up to 45,000 people were left homeless. The streets were left impassable for months. Phone service was completely disrupted as nearly all the power poles on the island were downed. The sugarcane
plantation
s on the island also suffered crippling damage. The hurricane brought back memories of the “Great Hurricane” of August 1831, in which roughly 1,500 people died and the island of Barbados was practically flattened.
1898 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1898 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1898. The season was a fairly active one, with 11 storms forming, 5 of which became hurricanes.-Hurricane One:...
. Between 300 and 400 people are believed to have died in the storm. Damage on Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
was catastrophic.
Meteorological history
The storm developed in the south central Atlantic from an easterly wave out of AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The storm steadily strengthened and reached the Windward Islands
Windward Islands
The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...
as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale. The hurricane roared directly over Barbados with sustained winds in excess of 100 mph. The effect was devastating. The hurricane maintained intensity and actually strengthened to near-major hurricane force. It turned slowly north, passing close to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
. Exiting the islands, still a Category 2 storm, it continued north and then curved northeast near Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. The storm finally became extratropical before crossing Newfoundland, having maintained hurricane strength for 13 consecutive days.
Impact
The storm caused devastating damage throughout the eastern Caribbean islands. Barbados and St. Vincent sustained the most damage. The number of dead is unknown but the best estimate is between 300-400 people lost. No damage figures exist but the destruction was very heavy and widespread in many places. Estimates run in the millions of dollars, uninflated.Barbados
In BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, 83 people died and over 5,000 houses were completely destroyed. Up to 45,000 people were left homeless. The streets were left impassable for months. Phone service was completely disrupted as nearly all the power poles on the island were downed. The sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s on the island also suffered crippling damage. The hurricane brought back memories of the “Great Hurricane” of August 1831, in which roughly 1,500 people died and the island of Barbados was practically flattened.