The unnamed hurricane of 1878
Oct 18, 1878 to Oct 25, 1878Peak 104 mph963 mb
The unnamed hurricane of 1878 passed within 50 miles of 177 counties in 11 states. It was strongest near Craven County, NC, as a Category 2 on October 23, 1878.
- Major hurricane
- Hurricane
- Tropical storm
- Post-tropical
Unnamed hurricane · 1878
How it happened
Follow the storm’s path, strength and milestones.
The storm
- Peak strength
- Category 2
- 104 mph, 90 kt
- Lowest pressure
- 963 mb
- Over the whole track
- Counties within 50 miles
- 177
- CT, DC, DE, FL, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
- Counties within 100 miles
- 290
- CT, DC, DE, FL, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA, WV
- Landfalls recorded
- 1
- Anywhere on the track
Every county it passed
Closest approach to each county boundary, with the storm’s strength at that moment.
| Lancaster County | PA | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Hertford County | NC | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Southampton County | VA | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Charles County | MD | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Charles City County | VA | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Wayne County | PA | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| York County | PA | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Craven County | NC | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Martin County | NC | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Sullivan County | NY | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Ulster County | NY | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Albany County | NY | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Carroll County | MD | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| King and Queen County | VA | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Carteret County | NC | 0.0 | Category 2 |
| Montgomery County | MD | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Greene County | NY | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Monroe County | FL | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Schuylkill County | PA | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Carbon County | PA | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Lebanon County | PA | 0.5 | Category 1 |
| Jones County | NC | 0.5 | Category 2 |
| Baltimore County | MD | 0.9 | Category 1 |
| Miami-Dade County | FL | 1.0 | Category 1 |
| King William County | VA | 1.6 | Category 2 |
| Berks County | PA | 1.9 | Category 1 |
| Fairfax County | VA | 2.5 | Category 1 |
| Prince George County | VA | 2.6 | Category 2 |
| Caroline County | VA | 2.7 | Category 2 |
| Beaufort County | NC | 3.0 | Category 2 |
| Delaware County | NY | 3.1 | Category 1 |
| Luzerne County | PA | 3.2 | Category 1 |
| Onslow County | NC | 3.3 | Category 2 |
| Monroe County | PA | 3.9 | Category 1 |
| Howard County | MD | 4.4 | Category 1 |
| Essex County | VA | 4.6 | Category 2 |
| Schoharie County | NY | 5.8 | Tropical storm |
| King George County | VA | 5.9 | Category 1 |
| Lehigh County | PA | 5.9 | Category 1 |
| Pamlico County | NC | 6.1 | Category 2 |
| New Kent County | VA | 6.2 | Category 2 |
| Arlington County | VA | 6.3 | Category 1 |
| District of Columbia | DC | 6.3 | Category 1 |
| Columbia County | NY | 6.4 | Tropical storm |
| Henrico County | VA | 6.8 | Category 2 |
| Pike County | PA | 7.0 | Category 1 |
| Falls Church city | VA | 7.0 | Category 1 |
| Lackawanna County | PA | 7.1 | Category 1 |
| Harford County | MD | 7.9 | Category 1 |
| Loudoun County | VA | 8.0 | Category 1 |
| Chesterfield County | VA | 8.0 | Category 2 |
| Stafford County | VA | 8.1 | Category 1 |
| Prince William County | VA | 8.4 | Category 1 |
| Washington County | NC | 8.7 | Category 2 |
| Franklin city | VA | 8.8 | Category 2 |
| Hopewell city | VA | 9.2 | Category 2 |
| Surry County | VA | 9.4 | Category 2 |
| Pitt County | NC | 9.6 | Category 2 |
| Bertie County | NC | 9.8 | Category 2 |
| Northampton County | NC | 9.8 | Category 2 |
| Isle of Wight County | VA | 10.1 | Category 2 |
| James City County | VA | 10.2 | Category 2 |
| Fairfax city | VA | 10.2 | Category 1 |
| Susquehanna County | PA | 10.3 | Category 1 |
| Baltimore city | MD | 10.7 | Category 1 |
| Prince George's County | MD | 10.9 | Category 1 |
| Alexandria city | VA | 11.7 | Category 1 |
| Sussex County | VA | 11.8 | Category 2 |
| Gates County | NC | 11.9 | Category 2 |
| Frederick County | MD | 12.3 | Category 1 |
| Hanover County | VA | 13.1 | Category 2 |
| Suffolk city | VA | 14.3 | Category 2 |
| Westmoreland County | VA | 14.3 | Category 2 |
| Richmond County | VA | 14.3 | Category 2 |
| Halifax County | NC | 14.3 | Category 2 |
| Dauphin County | PA | 14.5 | Category 1 |
| Colonial Heights city | VA | 15.1 | Category 2 |
| Petersburg city | VA | 16.5 | Category 2 |
| St. Mary's County | MD | 16.5 | Category 1 |
| Anne Arundel County | MD | 17.5 | Category 1 |
| Chowan County | NC | 17.9 | Category 2 |
| Spotsylvania County | VA | 17.9 | Category 1 |
| Fredericksburg city | VA | 18.6 | Category 1 |
| Columbia County | PA | 18.6 | Category 1 |
| Richmond city | VA | 18.7 | Category 2 |
| York County | VA | 18.9 | Category 2 |
| Adams County | PA | 18.9 | Category 1 |
| Wyoming County | PA | 19.2 | Category 1 |
| Manassas Park city | VA | 19.8 | Category 1 |
| Williamsburg city | VA | 20.0 | Category 2 |
| Hyde County | NC | 20.3 | Category 2 |
| Lenoir County | NC | 20.4 | Category 2 |
| Broward County | FL | 20.4 | Category 1 |
| Dinwiddie County | VA | 20.6 | Category 2 |
| Pender County | NC | 20.6 | Category 2 |
| Dutchess County | NY | 20.6 | Tropical storm |
| Greensville County | VA | 20.8 | Category 2 |
| Fauquier County | VA | 21.0 | Category 1 |
| Northampton County | PA | 21.0 | Category 1 |
| Cecil County | MD | 21.0 | Category 1 |
| Chester County | PA | 21.2 | Category 1 |
| Manassas city | VA | 21.2 | Category 1 |
| Northumberland County | PA | 21.3 | Category 1 |
| Edgecombe County | NC | 21.3 | Category 2 |
| Gloucester County | VA | 22.4 | Category 2 |
| Orange County | NY | 22.9 | Category 1 |
| Middlesex County | VA | 24.0 | Category 2 |
| Broome County | NY | 24.6 | Category 1 |
| Perquimans County | NC | 24.8 | Category 2 |
| Culpeper County | VA | 25.1 | Category 1 |
| Emporia city | VA | 25.4 | Category 2 |
| Palm Beach County | FL | 25.7 | Category 1 |
| Greene County | NC | 26.9 | Category 2 |
| Calvert County | MD | 26.9 | Category 1 |
| Northumberland County | VA | 27.6 | Category 2 |
| Montgomery County | NY | 27.9 | Tropical storm |
| Cumberland County | PA | 28.1 | Category 1 |
| Lancaster County | VA | 28.3 | Category 2 |
| Montgomery County | PA | 29.0 | Category 1 |
| Newport News city | VA | 29.5 | Category 2 |
| Orange County | VA | 29.7 | Category 1 |
| Otsego County | NY | 30.1 | Tropical storm |
| Goochland County | VA | 30.3 | Category 2 |
| Warren County | NJ | 30.4 | Category 1 |
| Sussex County | NJ | 30.6 | Category 1 |
| New Hanover County | NC | 30.8 | Category 2 |
| Amelia County | VA | 30.9 | Category 2 |
| Louisa County | VA | 31.1 | Category 2 |
| Montour County | PA | 31.4 | Category 1 |
| Bucks County | PA | 32.1 | Category 1 |
| Duplin County | NC | 32.8 | Category 2 |
| Perry County | PA | 32.9 | Category 1 |
| Brunswick County | VA | 33.2 | Category 2 |
| Tyrrell County | NC | 33.3 | Category 2 |
| Pasquotank County | NC | 33.5 | Category 2 |
| Chesapeake city | VA | 33.7 | Category 2 |
| Camden County | NC | 33.8 | Category 2 |
| Powhatan County | VA | 33.9 | Category 2 |
| Washington County | MD | 34.4 | Category 1 |
| Jefferson County | WV | 34.9 | Category 1 |
| Clarke County | VA | 34.9 | Category 1 |
| Sullivan County | PA | 35.4 | Category 1 |
| Portsmouth city | VA | 36.1 | Category 2 |
| Mathews County | VA | 36.1 | Category 2 |
| Franklin County | PA | 36.4 | Category 1 |
| Wilson County | NC | 37.4 | Category 2 |
| Litchfield County | CT | 37.6 | Tropical storm |
| Nash County | NC | 37.7 | Category 2 |
| Chenango County | NY | 37.7 | Category 1 |
| Hampton city | VA | 37.7 | Category 2 |
| Kent County | MD | 37.9 | Category 1 |
| Bradford County | PA | 38.4 | Category 1 |
| Martin County | FL | 39.0 | Category 1 |
| Brunswick County | NC | 39.5 | Category 2 |
| Nottoway County | VA | 39.8 | Category 2 |
| Poquoson city | VA | 40.4 | Category 2 |
| Queen Anne's County | MD | 41.1 | Category 1 |
| Lycoming County | PA | 41.1 | Category 1 |
| Norfolk city | VA | 41.2 | Category 2 |
| Hunterdon County | NJ | 42.6 | Category 1 |
| Snyder County | PA | 43.0 | Category 1 |
| Juniata County | PA | 43.0 | Category 1 |
| Warren County | VA | 43.2 | Category 1 |
| Wayne County | NC | 43.3 | Category 2 |
| New Castle County | DE | 43.8 | Category 1 |
| Union County | PA | 44.3 | Category 1 |
| Rappahannock County | VA | 44.8 | Category 1 |
| Currituck County | NC | 45.1 | Category 2 |
| Dorchester County | MD | 45.2 | Category 1 |
| Delaware County | PA | 45.8 | Category 1 |
| Talbot County | MD | 46.4 | Category 1 |
| Berkeley County | WV | 46.4 | Category 1 |
| Virginia Beach city | VA | 46.6 | Category 2 |
| Morris County | NJ | 47.0 | Category 1 |
| Frederick County | VA | 48.3 | Category 1 |
| Herkimer County | NY | 48.3 | Tropical storm |
| Warren County | NC | 49.4 | Category 2 |
| Tioga County | NY | 50.1 | Category 1 |
| Madison County | VA | 50.3 | Category 1 |
| Collier County | FL | 50.4 | Category 1 |
| Fluvanna County | VA | 50.7 | Category 2 |
| Passaic County | NJ | 51.1 | Category 1 |
| Putnam County | NY | 51.4 | Category 1 |
| Winchester city | VA | 51.8 | Category 1 |
| St. Lucie County | FL | 52.0 | Category 1 |
| Lunenburg County | VA | 53.2 | Category 2 |
| Mecklenburg County | VA | 53.2 | Category 2 |
| Cumberland County | VA | 53.9 | Category 2 |
| Franklin County | NC | 54.3 | Category 2 |
| Dare County | NC | 55.4 | Category 2 |
| Salem County | NJ | 55.7 | Category 1 |
| Fairfield County | CT | 56.0 | Tropical storm |
| Gloucester County | NJ | 56.2 | Category 1 |
| Philadelphia County | PA | 56.3 | Category 1 |
| Columbus County | NC | 56.3 | Category 2 |
| Somerset County | NJ | 56.8 | Category 1 |
| Bladen County | NC | 57.6 | Category 2 |
| Sampson County | NC | 57.8 | Category 2 |
| Rockland County | NY | 58.0 | Category 1 |
| Kent County | DE | 58.1 | Category 1 |
| Westchester County | NY | 58.1 | Category 1 |
| Shenandoah County | VA | 59.2 | Category 1 |
| Somerset County | MD | 59.3 | Category 2 |
| Northampton County | VA | 59.4 | Category 2 |
| Accomack County | VA | 59.6 | Category 2 |
| Caroline County | MD | 59.7 | Category 1 |
| Mercer County | NJ | 59.9 | Category 1 |
| Madison County | NY | 60.2 | Category 1 |
| Mifflin County | PA | 60.3 | Category 1 |
| Johnston County | NC | 60.3 | Category 2 |
| Bergen County | NJ | 60.4 | Category 1 |
| Page County | VA | 60.6 | Category 1 |
| Albemarle County | VA | 60.7 | Category 1 |
| Morgan County | WV | 61.4 | Category 1 |
| Greene County | VA | 62.0 | Category 1 |
| Buckingham County | VA | 62.1 | Category 2 |
| Prince Edward County | VA | 62.3 | Category 2 |
| Cortland County | NY | 63.1 | Category 1 |
| Oneida County | NY | 64.7 | Category 1 |
| Camden County | NJ | 65.0 | Category 1 |
| Indian River County | FL | 65.1 | Category 1 |
| Clinton County | PA | 65.2 | Category 1 |
| Centre County | PA | 65.2 | Category 1 |
| Fulton County | PA | 65.2 | Category 1 |
| Huntingdon County | PA | 65.5 | Category 1 |
| Hampshire County | WV | 65.6 | Category 1 |
| Essex County | NJ | 67.8 | Category 1 |
| Burlington County | NJ | 67.9 | Category 1 |
| Cumberland County | NJ | 68.5 | Category 1 |
| Wicomico County | MD | 68.7 | Category 1 |
| Chemung County | NY | 69.0 | Category 1 |
| Hendry County | FL | 69.0 | Category 1 |
| Vance County | NC | 69.4 | Category 2 |
| Tompkins County | NY | 70.3 | Category 1 |
| Hardy County | WV | 70.5 | Category 1 |
| Tioga County | PA | 70.5 | Category 1 |
| Union County | NJ | 70.6 | Category 1 |
| Wake County | NC | 70.8 | Category 2 |
| Middlesex County | NJ | 71.0 | Category 1 |
| New Haven County | CT | 71.2 | Tropical storm |
| Rockingham County | VA | 71.4 | Category 1 |
| Charlottesville city | VA | 72.4 | Category 2 |
| Horry County | SC | 74.5 | Category 2 |
| Allegany County | MD | 74.9 | Category 1 |
| Sussex County | DE | 75.0 | Category 1 |
| Charlotte County | VA | 76.3 | Category 2 |
| Okeechobee County | FL | 77.2 | Category 1 |
| Brevard County | FL | 78.9 | Category 1 |
| Granville County | NC | 78.9 | Category 2 |
| Cumberland County | NC | 79.2 | Category 2 |
| Bedford County | PA | 79.6 | Category 1 |
| Hudson County | NJ | 80.2 | Category 1 |
| Monmouth County | NJ | 80.2 | Category 1 |
| Worcester County | MD | 80.8 | Category 2 |
| Schuyler County | NY | 81.3 | Category 1 |
| Bronx County | NY | 81.7 | Category 1 |
| Appomattox County | VA | 82.1 | Category 2 |
| New York County | NY | 82.8 | Category 1 |
| Halifax County | VA | 83.0 | Category 2 |
| Onondaga County | NY | 83.2 | Category 1 |
| Nelson County | VA | 83.3 | Category 2 |
| Harnett County | NC | 83.7 | Category 2 |
| Richmond County | NY | 84.6 | Category 1 |
| Glades County | FL | 85.7 | Category 1 |
| Atlantic County | NJ | 86.2 | Category 1 |
| Mineral County | WV | 86.3 | Category 1 |
| Ocean County | NJ | 86.3 | Category 1 |
| Augusta County | VA | 87.4 | Category 1 |
| Cayuga County | NY | 87.4 | Category 1 |
| Steuben County | NY | 87.8 | Category 1 |
| Queens County | NY | 87.8 | Category 1 |
| Kings County | NY | 89.1 | Category 1 |
| Harrisonburg city | VA | 89.9 | Category 1 |
| Nassau County | NY | 90.4 | Category 1 |
| Blair County | PA | 92.5 | Category 1 |
| Highlands County | FL | 94.3 | Category 1 |
| Durham County | NC | 94.4 | Category 2 |
| Waynesboro city | VA | 94.6 | Category 2 |
| Seneca County | NY | 94.7 | Category 1 |
| Suffolk County | NY | 94.8 | Category 1 |
| Campbell County | VA | 95.3 | Category 2 |
| Robeson County | NC | 95.7 | Category 2 |
| Grant County | WV | 96.8 | Category 1 |
| Georgetown County | SC | 97.0 | Category 2 |
| Person County | NC | 97.5 | Category 2 |
| Amherst County | VA | 97.9 | Category 2 |
| Lewis County | NY | 98.3 | Tropical storm |
| Cape May County | NJ | 98.4 | Category 1 |
| Osceola County | FL | 99.3 | Category 1 |
| Somerset County | PA | 99.4 | Category 1 |
Distances are measured from hourly positions interpolated between the National Hurricane Center’s six-hourly fixes to each county boundary. Strength is shown only where the storm was still tropical. Methodology.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2. Storm totals cover the Atlantic and Northeast and Central Pacific basins.