On 10/7/2024 6:24 PM, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
> I'm actually concerned. Milton quickly increased to a Cat 5. It doesn't
> get worse than that.

There is "a precedent", but it was only a Cat. 2 in 1867!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1867_Atlantic_hurricane_season

Hurricane Seven
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)

Duration October 2 – October 9
Peak intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min);
969 mbar (hPa)
The Galveston Hurricane of 1867

Late on October 2, a hurricane formed in the Gulf of Mexico, off the
coast of northeastern Mexico. Holding its intensity, the storm system
paralleled the Texas coastline, causing "many" deaths. A storm tide
value of 7 feet (2.1 m) was reported in Ludlum (1963), and it is
possible that Brownsville, Texas, was in the western eyewall of the
hurricane at the storms closest approach.[3] Turning towards Louisiana,
the storm made landfall on the state with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), a
Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Moving to the east and
weakening, the storm made landfall on the state of Florida during the
day on October 6. Holding its strength while crossing the Sunshine
state, the tropical storm re-emerged into Atlantic waters. Taking a
slight turn to the north, it dissipated off the coast of North Carolina
on October 9.[5]

The hurricane struck Texas, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, and
devastated Brownsville, Matamoros, and Bagdad. Because of the
devastating effects in these three, state authorities sought help from
the governors of Nuevo León and Coahuila. The governor of Nuevo León
authorized the state to send over 100 bushels of corn; Coahuila's sent
500 loads of flour. Relief was also sent from Veracruz in two vessels.
Agriculturalists in Matamoros were allowed to send their goods to
Monterrey for storage. The entire population of Bagdad fled, while
Matamoros was left nearly in ruins. The official death toll in the area
was unknown, but local accounts stated there were at least 26 dead.
Entire families disappeared from the area too.[9]

Most buildings in Brazos Santiago were leveled. Clarksville, two miles
inland, was also devastated and shortly later abandoned.[10] Galveston,
already in the midst of a yellow fever epidemic, was flooded by a storm
surge. The mainland rail bridge, a hotel and hundreds of homes in the
city were washed away. Twelve schooners and a river steamboat were
wrecked in the bay there and wharves destroyed.[11] On October 3 high
seas and heavy rains flooded New Orleans. Bath houses and a saw mill
there were blown away. Houses were also swept away at Milneberg and at
Pilottown, Louisiana. The Ship Shoal Light was damaged while the Shell
Keys lighthouse was destroyed and its keeper killed. High winds and
heavy rainfall continued across southeast Louisiana until October 6,
inflicting damage on crops.

https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/history/index.html

Year: 1867

Date(s): 7-8 October

Principle Affected Area(s): Florida Coastal Waters - tropical storm

Landfall Point(s): Near Cedar Key?

Remarks: Partagas and Diaz/HURDAT, Storm 6, 1867. Storm passed offshore
from Apalachee Bay to Jacksonville-St. Augustine. Vessels offshore
experienced a gale.

Summary: Likely a redevelopment or extratropical development as the
storm moved offshore. HURDAT’s maintenance of a tropical storm over the
coastal waters appears warranted, however it was likely below tropical
storm intensity over the land areas.