louisiana hurricane major hurricane struck new_orleans louisiana war worst storm early history new_orleans likely hurricane closest landfall known affect city observed eastern caribbean_sea august tropical disturbance later affected jamaica tropical storm entering gulf_of_mexico intensified hurricane winds estimated mph circulation affected areas florida panhandle worst effects new_orleans area deaths drowning meteorological history august tropical disturbance entered caribbean_sea south antigua believed strong tropical wave moving westward developed tropical storm august based ship observations region day passed south jamaica later turned northwest ongoing war british blockade american ships caused lack observations region result storm track uncertain believed system entered gulf_of_mexico august day ship reported hurricane force winds moving northward hurricane turned northwest coast louisiana assessed storm making landfall august isle west new_orleans research paper estimated hurricane moved ashore southeast new_orleans modern research suggests storm equivalent major hurricane category saffir simpson hurricane scale winds mph landfall passed southwest city closest major hurricane new_orleans wind diameter average slightly average forward speed normal movement hurricane likely maintained strength making landfall time affected new_orleans hurricane gradually weakened land passing near louisiana mississippi august heavy rainfall reported eastern ohio beginning august potentially remnants storm merging cold effect storm moving caribbean_sea produced rough seas heavy rainfall jamaica gusty winds damaged crops including corn storm moved ashore louisiana outer rain bands produced gale force winds heavy damage pensacola spanish west florida offshore claimed spain year strong winds washed boats ashore hurricane conditions began new_orleans local time august southeastern louisiana fort philip sustained heavy damage flooded soldiers fort drowned rumor storm british took fort philip causing panic midst war british fleet scattered region british ships damaged new_orleans hurricane damaged ships boats washed ashore uss louisiana cutter commissioned wrecked hurricane port new_orleans entire crew captain killed debris bodies ships dispersed lake coastline uss lost mast offshore storm people died ship storm produced heavy rainfall powerful storm surge flooding deep reported new_orleans portions parish parish people drowned heavy damage sugar crops system new_orleans heavily damaged strong waves washed mississippi_river high winds damaged buildings new_orleans destroyed trees blown city market house wrecked despite described damage estimated million usd deaths northwest near mississippi storm winds strong knock trees barometric pressure mbar inhg observation later corrected mbar inhg account elevation air temperature centuries hurricane oceans rose wetlands new_orleans diminished elevation dropped increased threat city significant hurricane strike hurricane worst case scenario new_orleans stronger larger hurricane caused damage storm struck researcher estimated hurricane louisiana hurricanes comparable hurricane hurricane katrina
1812 Louisiana hurricane