1898 Windward Islands hurricane
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Formed | September 5, 1898 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 20, 1898 |
| Highest winds |
1-minute sustained: 110 mph (175 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 965 mbar (hPa); 28.5 inHg |
| Fatalities | 300-400 |
| Damage | $2.5 million (1893 USD) |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Leeward Antilles, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada |
| Part of the 1898 Atlantic hurricane season | |
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.
Meteorological history
The storm developed in the south central Atlantic from an easterly wave out of Africa. 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.
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.
In Barbados, 83 deaths and 150 injuries were reported. About 5,062 houses were completely destroyed, while 2,359 others suffered damage. Between 40,000 and 45,000 people were left homeless. Many streets were left impassable for several days, especially to vehicles. Phone service was completely disrupted as nearly all the power poles on the island were downed. The sugarcane plantations on the island also suffered crippling damage. The hurricane was compared to the “Great Hurricane” of August 1831, in which roughly 1,500 people died and the island of Barbados was practically flattened.
Impact was also severe on Saint Vincent. The villages of Richmond and Wallibou were a "complete wreck", with no houses remaining. In Chateaubelair, many houses were demolished, while a few were still standing after the storm, albeit with severe damage. Forty-five deaths occurred in the village. Similar impact was reported in Cumberland, with one death. Only one house was not destroyed at Barrouallie. Thirty fatalities were reported, eleven of which occurred after a church which people sought refuge in was wrecked. In Layou, only the police barracks remained standing. Throughout Saint Vincent, many people suffered injuries. Numerous large trees were uprooted and weather instruments were destroyed on the island. Nearly a foot of rain fell in just 24 hours. Dozens of boats were lost in the harbors and out at sea. The confirmed death toll for Saint Vincent was about 300.
There was minimal damage in Grenadines, except for Bequia, which was severely effected. At Guadeloupe, the sloop Marie Stella capsized offshore Goyave, drowning nine people. An additional nine deaths occurred after a landslide in Trois-Rivières buried two homes. On St. Lucia, impact was mostly limited to rain and landslides.