The Great Mobile Hurricane of 1852

Early on the morning of Wednesday, August 25, 1852, the wind at Mobile began blowing strongly from the northeast and a steady rain began to fall. It was the first sign that there was a serious hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of the city.

As the Great Mobile Hurricane of 1852 came ashore near Pascagoula MS, the wind continued to blow, shifting around to the southeast as the hurricane passed to the southwest. The southeast wind pushed waters up into Mobile Bay, causing the worst flooding the port city had ever seen.

Water, Front and Commerce Streets were submerged to a depth of ten to twelve feet. Water reportedly filled shops and offices along Government Street, Dauphin Street and St. Frances Street up to Royal. The wind would continue through the overnight hours and into early Thursday morning, keeping water levels high.

Widespread wind damage to structures and trees occurred. 13.20 inches of rain fell in Pensacola, with much more rain blowing out of the rain gauge. The observer estimated that 18 inches of rain had fallen during the passage of the slow moving storm.

The storm continued its destructive rampage away from the coast, dumping flooding rains across southern Alabama and into Georgia. Several bridges were washed out in and around Columbus and Augusta, Georgia.

Category: Alabama's Weather