A Reassessment of Historical Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Activity, 1700–1855

Abstract

The chronological table of Atlantic basin tropical cyclones produced by Andres Poey in 1855 is the foundation stone for present-day knowledge of historical Atlantic tropical cyclone activity. Subsequent researchers have used his table and built upon it, rejecting some of his entries, modifying others, and accepting the rest. A re-analysis of the 1700-1855 portion of Poey's original published list was made using historical newspaper accounts, weather diaries, and ships' logbooks. Of the 348 separate entries in Poey's original list, 149 were rejected and 198 accepted. Due to errors in dating and location, and the linking of separate entries as parts of the same storm, only 170 of the 198 accepted entries are unique storms. Thirteen undated storms of the remaining 170 are now dated. The authorities cited by Poey vary in their reliability. Of those cited 10 or more times, there was an average of one incorrect citation for every 3.1 correct citations. The most and least reliable authorities used by Poey are identified. An updated corrected chronology from all published sources is presented and includes 383 unique storms through 1855.