16th Century

November 1527: There is record of a hurricane destroying a merchant fleet on Galveston Island. Up to 200 lives were taken by the storm. This is the first record known of a hurricane along the Texas coastline and also one of the most unusual...it struck during the month of November; only one other hurricane has ever struck during November (1839).

1553: A fleet of 20 ships of the New Spain Flota, loaded with silver and gold along the Texas coast, were struck by a hurricane. The three heaviest vessels sunk early in the storm. Most of the others were either scattered widely across the Western Gulf of Mexico, grounded, or capsized just offshore Padre Island. Only 300 of the original 2000 crew made it ashore on the four remaining ships.

Unfortunately, the natives to the area known as the Karankawa had a hostile relationship with the Spaniards. Thus a battle ensued between the survivors and the tribe and the Europeans tried valiantly to fight their way south into what is today known as Mexico. Only two of the original 2000 ever lived long enough to tell of their ordeal.

Early November 1590: A hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico caused one of the worst maritime disasters in the history of this region. Over 1000 people lost their lives at sea while aboard ship. 

September 12th, 1600: Offshore of Mexico, a hurricane caused 60 people to perish at sea.

August 30th, 1615: The ship San Miguel sunk in a storm off the Mexican coastline. No belongings aboard ship or passengers were able to be saved.

October 21st, 1631: A hurricane moved through the Gulf of Mexico, taking over 300 lives at sea.

September 4th, 1766: Hurricane hits Galveston. A mission named San Augustine de Ahumado, located in what is now considered Chambers County, was destroyed. Storm surges of 7 feet flooded the area. A richly-laden treasure fleet of 5 galleons en route from Vera Cruz to Havana was driven ashore and had to wait many weeks for assistance to come. Fortunately, much of the treasure and people aboard were saved.

1791: A hurricane struck the Lower Coast. Padre Island and mainland nearby were submerged. A herd of 50,000 cattle belonging to a Spanish cattle baron drowned in the storm surge (Ellis 21).

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* Author's current affiliation: NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction - Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, Camp Springs, Maryland