fbpx
Wikipedia

1961 Atlantic hurricane season

November 01, 2023

The 1961 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive Atlantic hurricane season, with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) total of 189. The season, however, was an average one in terms of named storms. The season featured eight hurricanes and a well above average number of five major hurricanes. It was previously thought that the season had a record-tying seven major hurricanes, before the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project downgraded two storms in 2019. Two Category 5 hurricanes were seen in 1961, making it one of only seven Atlantic hurricane seasons to feature multiple Category 5 hurricanes in one season. The season started on June 15, and ended on November 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first system, an operationally unclassified tropical depression, formed offshore east Central Florida on June 10, but dissipated a few days later. Next, Hurricane Anna developed in the eastern Caribbean Sea near the Windward Islands on July 20. It brought minor damage to the islands, as well as wind and flood impacts to Central America after striking Belize as a hurricane.[nb 1] Anna caused one death and about $300,000 (1961 USD)[nb 2] in damage. Activity went dormant for nearly a month and a half, until Hurricane Betsy developed on September 2. Betsy peaked as a Category 4 hurricane, but remained at sea and caused no impact.

1961 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedJune 10, 1961
Last system dissipatedNovember 20, 1961
Strongest storm
NameHattie
 • Maximum winds165 mph (270 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure914 mbar (hPa; 26.99 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions14
Total storms12
Hurricanes8
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)		5
Total fatalities437
Total damage$392.34 million (1961 USD)
Related articles
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963

One of the most significant storms of the season was Hurricane Carla, which peaked as a Category 4 hurricane, before striking Texas. Carla caused 43 deaths and approximately $325.74 million in damage. Hurricane Debbie was a Category 1 storm that existed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Early in its duration, unsettled weather from Debbie in Cape Verde resulted in a plane crash that killed 60 people. The extratropical remnants of Debbie then brushed Ireland, causing severe damage over the British Isles. The next storm, Hurricane Esther, threatened to strike New England as a major hurricane, but rapidly weakened and made landfall in Massachusetts as only a tropical storm. Impact was generally minor, with about $6 million in damage and seven deaths, all of which from a United States Navy plane crash. An unnamed tropical storm and Hurricane Frances caused minimal impact on land. In mid-October, Tropical Storm Gerda brought flooding to Jamaica and eastern Cuba, resulting in twelve deaths.

Another significant storm was Hurricane Hattie, a late-season Category 5 hurricane that struck Belize. Hattie caused 319 confirmed fatalities and about $60.3 million in damage. Destruction was so severe in Belize that the government had to relocate inland to a new city, Belmopan. In early November, the depression that would later strengthen into Hurricane Jenny brought light rainfall to Puerto Rico. The final storm, Tropical Storm Inga, dissipated on November 8, after causing no impact on land. On September 11, three hurricanes existed simultaneously – Betsy, Carla, and Debbie – the most on a single day in the Atlantic basin since 1893 and until 1998. Collectively, the storms of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season caused about $392.34 million in damage and at least 437 fatalities.

Season summary edit

Hurricane HattieHurricane EstherHurricane Debbie (1961)Hurricane CarlaHurricane Anna (1961)Saffir–Simpson scale
 
Radar image of Hurricane Carla from WSR-57 in Galveston, Texas

The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15.[1] It was an above average season in which twelve tropical storms formed; this was above the 1950–2000 average of 9.6 named storms.[2] Eight of these reached hurricane status, also above of the 1950–2000 average of 5.9.[3][2] Furthermore, five storms reached major hurricane status. It was originally believed that the season had seven major hurricanes, though later analysis resulted in a downgrade of two storms.[4] Of the five major hurricanes, two became Category 5 hurricanes. Four hurricanes and two tropical storms made landfall during the season,[3] causing 348 deaths and $391.6 million in damage.[5] Hurricane Debbie also caused damage and deaths, despite remaining offshore and then after becoming extratropical.

Tropical cyclogenesis began with an initially unclassified tropical depression, which developed on June 10.[6] More than a month later, Hurricane Anna formed on July 17 and dissipated on July 24. Thereafter, no other systems developed in July or the month of August.[3] A lack of cyclonic activity in the Atlantic basin in August is rare, with such phenomenon not occurring again until the 1997 and 2022 seasons.[7] The Atlantic basin remained dormant until Hurricane Betsy developed on September 2. During the next four days, two other tropical cyclones formed – Carla and Debbie. On September 11, the three storms – Betsy, Carla, and Debbie – existed simultaneously as hurricanes,[3] the most in a single day since 1893 and until 1998.[8] Esther, which developed on September 10, did not reach hurricane status until September 12. Later that day, a tropical storm that went unnamed formed over the Bahamas and moved across the East Coast of the United States for its brief duration.[3][9]

After Debbie became extratropical on September 14, another tropical cyclone developed over two weeks later, Hurricane Frances. Thereafter, tropical cyclogenesis slowed in October, which featured only three systems, a second previously unclassified tropical depression, Gerda, and Hattie. The latter was the strongest tropical cyclone of the season, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 914 mbar (27.0 inHg). After weakening slightly, Hattie struck Belize on October 31, before dissipating on November 1. Later that day, Hurricane Jenny developed northeast of Antigua. Jenny remained weak for much of its duration and became extratropical on November 8. The final system, Tropical Storm Inga, formed in the Gulf of Mexico on November 4. Four days later, Inga dissipated,[3] one week before the season officially ended.[1]

The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 189, one of the highest values recorded. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm strength.[4]

Systems edit

Hurricane Anna edit

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationJuly 17 – July 24
Peak intensity105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min);
976 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Anna (1961)

A tropical wave that emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa around mid-July developed about 575 mi (925 km) northeast of Cayenne, French Guiana, late on July 17.[6]: 2 [3] The depression moved west-northwestward and by the following day, it intensified into a Tropical Storm Anna. After passing just south of Grenada early on July 20, Anna entered the Caribbean Sea. Favorable environmental conditions allowed Anna to reach hurricane intensity late on July 20. The cyclone continued to slowly intensifying, reaching Category 2 intensity on July 22 and peaking with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h). However, the storm weakened slightly before making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Honduras near Barra Patuca, Gracias a Dios Department, with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). After re-emerging into the Caribbean, Anna weakened slightly further, striking Utila around 01:00 UTC on July 24 with winds of 75 mph (121 km/h). About nine hours later, the hurricane made landfall in Belize near Monkey River Town at the same intensity. Anna rapidly weakened over land and dissipated late on July 24.[3]

As a developing tropical cyclone over the Windward Islands, Anna produced strong winds on Grenada, though damage was limited to some crops, trees, and telephone poles.[10] Other islands experienced gusty winds, but no damage. Passing just north of Venezuela, the hurricane produced strong winds over the country, peaking as high as 70 mph (110 km/h).[11] Strong winds caused widespread damage in northern Honduras. Throughout the country, at least 36 homes were destroyed and 228 were damaged.[12] Severe damage in the Gracias a Dios Department left hundreds of people homeless.[13] Additionally, high winds toppled approximately 10,000 coconut trees.[12] Overall, Anna caused one fatality and $300,000 in damage, primarily in Central America.[14][13]

Hurricane Betsy edit

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationSeptember 2 – September 11
Peak intensity130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min);
945 mbar (hPa)

In early September, a tropical wave was noted in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).[14][15] On September 2, the disturbance was analyzed to have attained tropical storm strength, after nearby ship reports indicated strong winds associated with anomalously low barometric pressures.[14] Moving steadily northwestward, favorable conditions allowed Betsy to quickly intensify later that day.[3] Shortly after, a trough situated along 50°W steered Betsy to a more northerly course. Another low-pressure area later formed in the trough, perturbing the ridge to the north of Betsy for much of its initial stages, causing the hurricane's central pressure to rise,[14] despite an increase in sustained winds.[3] However, on September 5, a shortwave forced the low northeastward, allowing for Betsy to strengthen further.[14]

Early on September 6, Betsy attained Category 4 hurricane strength, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and a central pressure of 945 mbar (945 hPa; 27.9 inHg),[3] based on reconnaissance flights into the system.[6]: 15–16  However, as a result of missing the short wave itself, the hurricane later weakened and fell to Category 3 intensity while located about 440 miles (710 km) east-northeast of Bermuda. Betsy weakened further to Category 2 hurricane before becoming nearly stationary beginning on September 6.[14] Moving into higher latitudes, Betsy began to weaken, degenerating back to Category 1 hurricane intensity on late on September 8.[3] A separate, minor trough was later able to move the system northeastwards by the following day.[14] Betsy re-intensified into a Category 2 hurricane early on September 10, but transitioned into extratropical cyclone several hours later. The extratropical remnants continued northeastward and weakened, before executing a large loop over the far north Atlantic. The remnants dissipated well north of the Azores on September 16.[3]

Hurricane Carla edit

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationSeptember 3 – September 13
Peak intensity145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min);
927 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Carla
See also: Hurricane Carla tornado outbreak

A tropical depression developed from an area of squally weather embedded within the ITCZ in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 3.[16] Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened slowly while heading northwestward, and by September 4, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Carla.[3] About 24 hours later, Carla was upgraded to a hurricane.[3][17] Shortly thereafter, the storm curved northward while approaching the Yucatán Channel. Late on September 7, Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico while passing just northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula. The cyclone reached major hurricane intensity around 12:00 UTC on the next day. Resuming its northwestward course, Carla continued intensification and on September 11, it peaked as a Category 4 hurricane. Carla made landfall near Port O'Connor, Texas, with winds of 145 mph (233 km/h). It weakened quickly inland and was reduced to a tropical storm on September 12. Heading generally northward, Carla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 13, while centered over southern Oklahoma. However, the remnants continued generally northeastward and entered Canada on September 14, before dissipating near Cape Chidley early on September 16.[3]

While crossing the Yucatán Channel, the outer bands of Carla brought gusty winds and severe local flooding in western Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula.[14][18] Although initially considered a significant threat to Florida,[19] the storm brought only light winds and small amounts of precipitation, reaching no more than 3.15 in (80 mm).[18] In Texas, wind gusts as high as 170 mph (270 km/h) were observed in Port Lavaca. Additionally, several tornadoes spawned in the state caused notable impacts, with the most destructive tornado striking Galveston, Texas at F4 intensity, resulting in 200 buildings being severely damaged, of which 60-75 were destroyed, eight deaths and 200 injuries.[20] Throughout the state, Carla destroyed 1,915 homes, 568 farm buildings, and 415 other buildings. Additionally, 50,723 homes, 5,620 farm buildings, and 10,487 other buildings suffered damage. There were 34 fatalities and at least $300 million in losses in Texas alone. Several tornadoes also touched down in Louisiana, causing the destruction of 140 homes and 11 farms and other buildings, and major damage to 231 additional homes and 11 farm and other buildings. Minor to moderate damage was also reported to 748 homes and 75 farm and other buildings.[21] Six deaths and $25 million in losses in Louisiana were attributed to Carla.[22] Heavy rainfall occurred in several other states, especially in Kansas,[23] where flash flooding severely damaged crops and drowned five people.[24] Overall, Carla resulted in $325.74 million in losses and 46 fatalities.[22][24][25] In Canada, the remnants of Carla brought strong winds to Ontario and New Brunswick, though impact was primarily limited to power outages and falling trees and branches.[26]

Hurricane Debbie edit

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationSeptember 5 – September 16
Peak intensity90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min);
975 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Debbie (1961)

A tropical disturbance was first identified in late August over Central Africa.[27] The wave developed into a tropical depression just offshore Senegal around 12:00 UTC on September 5. It was estimated to have intensified into Tropical Storm Debbie early the next day. Several hours later, Debbie passed through the southern Cape Verde Islands as a strong tropical storm or minimal hurricane,[3] resulting in a plane crash that killed 60 people.[28] Once clear of the islands, data on the storm became sparse, and the status of Debbie was uncertain over the following several days as it tracked west-northwestward and later northward. It was not until a commercial airliner intercepted the storm on September 10 that its location was certain.[29] The following day, Debbie intensified and reached its peak intensity as a strong Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (140 km/h). The hurricane gradually slowed its forward motion and weakened.[3] By September 13, Debbie's motion became influenced by the westerlies, causing the system to accelerate east-northeastward.[29] The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone late on September 14 about 140 mi (225 km) west-southwest of Horta, Azores.[3]

The remnants of Debbie soon passed east-northeastward throughout the Azores and then curved northeastward. The system deepened slightly as it neared the British Isles, skirting the coast of Western Ireland on September 16.[3] In Ireland, Debbie brought record winds to much of the island, with a peak gust of 114 mph (183 km/h) measured just offshore.[30] Widespread wind damage and disruption occurred, downing tens of thousands of trees and power lines.[31][32] Countless structures sustained varying degrees of damage, with many smaller buildings destroyed.[33] Agriculture experienced extensive losses to barley, corn and wheat crops.[34] Throughout Ireland, Debbie killed 18 people, with 12 in the Republic of Ireland and six in Northern Ireland.[35] The storm also battered parts of Great Britain with winds in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h).[14]

Hurricane Esther edit

Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationSeptember 10 – September 26
Peak intensity160 mph (260 km/h) (1-min);
919 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Esther

On September 10, Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) III observed an area of disturbed weather well southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.[14] Later that day, a tropical depression developed about 510 miles (820 km) west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. Moving northwestward, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Esther on September 11, before reaching hurricane intensity on the following day. Early on September 13, Esther curved westward and deepened into a major hurricane. The storm remained a Category 3 hurricane for about four days and gradually moved in west-northwestward direction. Esther strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on September 16 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane on the following day with sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h).[3]

The storm curved north-northeastward on September 19, while offshore North Carolina. Esther began to weaken while approaching New England and fell to Category 2 intensity early on September 21. The storm turned eastward on the following day and gradually weakened to a tropical storm. It then executed a large cyclonic loop, until curving northward on September 25. Early on the following day, Esther made two landfalls in Massachusetts, first on Muskeget Island and then near South Yarmouth with winds of 60 mph (97 km/h). The storm then emerged over the Gulf of Maine and made landfall in Brunswick, Maine, around 11:00 UTC on September 26 with winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). Esther weakened to a tropical depression late on September 26 before weakening to a tropical depression and becoming extratropical over southeastern Quebec.[3] The remnants persisted for about 12 hours, before dissipating early on September 27.[3] Between North Carolina and New Jersey effects were primarily limited to strong winds and minor beach erosion and coastal flooding due to storm surge.[36] In New York, strong winds led to severe crop losses and over 300,000 power outages. High tides caused coastal flooding and damage a number of pleasure boats. Similar impact was reported in Massachusetts. Additionally, some areas observed more than 8 inches (200 mm) of rainfall, flooding basements, low-lying roads, and underpasses.[24] Overall, damage was minor, totaling about $6 million.[14] There were also seven deaths reported when United States Navy P5M aircraft crashed about 120 miles (190 km) north of Bermuda.[37]

Tropical Storm Six edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
   
DurationSeptember 12 – September 15
Peak intensity65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);
996 mbar (hPa)

TIROS III imagery indicated a vortex east of the Bahamas between September 9 and September 12.[9] A tropical depression formed at 12:00 UTC on September 12 near Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas,[3] after TIROS revealed a surface circulation.[9] The depression tracked northward and intensified into a tropical storm while located offshore North Carolina. Around 12:00 UTC September 14, it made landfall in the state near Topsail Beach, North Carolina, with winds of 45 mph (72 km/h). The storm curved accelerated northeastward and intensified despite mostly remaining over land, striking near the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula about nine hours later with winds of 50 mph (80 km/h). After re-emerging into the Atlantic late on September 14, the cyclone made landfall near Islip, New York, with peak winds of 65 mph (105 km/h) around 06:00 UTC on September 15, followed by another landfall near Guilford, Connecticut, about an hour later at the same intensity. The cyclone became extratropical over southern Maine around 12:00 UTC and quickly dissipated.[3]

Impact from the storm was generally minor. In Savannah, Georgia, the storm produced an F2 tornado that blew the roof off of a lumber company building. In North Carolina, 3.12 inches (79 mm) of precipitation fell at Williamston.[38] Strong winds lashed Rhode Island, with winds as high as 70 mph (110 km/h) in Point Judith. About 29,000 homes were left without electricity, while 1,200 lost telephone service. Hundreds of small crafts and a few ferries and barges were swamped or sank. Hurricane-force wind gusts in Massachusetts felled trees, electrical wires, and TV antennas. Some roads in the southeastern portion of the state were blocked by fallen trees. Similar impact was reported in Maine, where an F2 tornado/waterspout tracked 19.1 miles (30.7 km) from Beals through Roque Bluffs before dissipating in Dog Town just east of East Machias. Power lines were considerably damaged and numerous trees were knocked down, including two incidents where trees fell on and damaged homes. The tornado caused one injury when a man was hit by a flying wooden plank.[24]

Hurricane Frances edit

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationSeptember 30 – October 9
Peak intensity130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min);
948 mbar (hPa)

A westward-moving tropical wave organized into Tropical Storm Frances on September 30, east of the northern Lesser Antilles.[39][3] Six hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Frances. Heading westward, it crossed through the Leeward Islands and entered the Caribbean Sea on October 1.[3] Thereafter, the lack of divergence at high levels prevented significant strengthening for a few days.[39] While situated south of Puerto Rico on October 2, Frances curved northwestward.[3] The storm brought heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico, peaking at 10.15 inches (258 mm) in the Indiera Baja barrio of Maricao.[38] Considerable damage to roads and bridges occurred. However, due to swift evacuations of residents by the Civil Defense and American Red Cross, no fatalities were reported.[39]

Tracking to the northwest, Frances made landfall near Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, early on October 3 with winds of 60 mph (97 km/h). No impact was reported on the island. Later on October 3, Frances emerged into the Atlantic Ocean just southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Thereafter, the storm accelerated somewhat and resumed intensification, reaching hurricane status on October 4. Around that time, it curved northeastward and deepened further. Early on October 7, Frances attained its peak intensity with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 948 mbar (28.0 inHg).[3] The storm passed by Bermuda around that time, where it dropped 1.35 inches (34 mm) of precipitation.[38] Later on October 7, Frances re-curved to the north. Early on the following day, the storm became extratropical as it approached the Gulf of Maine. The remnants curved east-northeastward and struck Nova Scotia, before dissipating early on October 10.[3]

Tropical Storm Gerda edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
   
DurationOctober 17 – October 20
Peak intensity70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min);
988 mbar (hPa)

A westward-moving tropical wave reached the central Caribbean by mid-October.[14] The wave crossed Jamaica, causing flooding that damaged roads and forced many to evacuate their homes in western Kingston. Five fatalities were reported in Jamaica.[40] Early on October 17, the wave developed into a tropical depression just southwest of Cape Cruz, Cuba. It continued northward and made another landfall near Santa Cruz del Sur several hours later.[3] The depression also brought heavy rainfall to eastern Cuba, which resulted in seven deaths.[14] After striking Cuba, the depression emerged into the Atlantic early on October 18 as it intensified into Tropical Storm Gerda.[3]

Moving across the Bahamas later on October 18, Gerda accelerated to the north-northeast. The storm curved northeastward on October 20, while peaking with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h).[3] However, a Texas Tower offshore Massachusetts observed hurricane-force winds.[14] At 00:00 UTC on October 20, Gerda transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while situated about 165 miles (265 km) southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.[3] Damage from the storm in New England was "about the same as that from a typical wintertime northeaster".[14] The remnants of Gerda moved northeastward and then to the east, before dissipating between Newfoundland and the Azores late on October 22.[3]

Hurricane Hattie edit

Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationOctober 27 – November 1
Peak intensity165 mph (270 km/h) (1-min);
914 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Hattie

In late October, an area of low pressure persisted in the western Caribbean Sea for several days.[41] Around 00:00 UTC on October 26, a tropical depression developed about 100 mi (160 km) northeast of Colón, Panama. Approximately 12 hours later, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Hattie. Moving towards the north and north-northeast, the storm quickly gained hurricane status early on October 28 and reached major hurricane intensity that same day. Hattie turned towards the west to the east of Jamaica and strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) on October 31. The storm then weakened to a Category 4 hurricane prior to landfall south of Belize City, British Honduras, with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h). Continuing southwest, the storm rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of Central America, dissipating on November 1.[3] It was originally thought that the remnants may have contributed to the development of Tropical Storm Simone in the eastern Pacific Ocean, but a 2019 reanalysis concluded that the remnants of Hattie instead became a Central American gyre.[6]

Hattie first affected regions in the southwestern Caribbean, producing hurricane-force winds and causing one death on San Andres Island.[14] It was initially forecast to continue north and strike Cuba, which prompted evacuations.[42] Little effects were reported as Hattie turned to the west, although rainfall reached 11.5 in (290 mm) on Grand Cayman.[41] The worst damage was in the country of Belize. The former capital, Belize City, was flooded by a powerful storm surge and high waves and affected by strong winds. The territory governor estimated 70% of the buildings in the city were damaged, which left over 10,000 people homeless.[43] The damage was severe enough that it prompted the government to relocate inland to a new city, Belmopan.[44] In the territory, Hattie left about $60 million in damage and caused 307 deaths.[14][45] The government estimated that Hattie was more damaging than a hurricane in 1931 that killed 2,000 people; the lower toll for Hattie was due to advance warning. Elsewhere in Central America, the hurricane killed 11 people in Guatemala and one in Honduras.[14]

Hurricane Jenny edit

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
   
DurationNovember 1 – November 10
Peak intensity80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min);
974 mbar (hPa)

A surface trough of low pressure developed in the eastern Caribbean Sea on October 30. The trough split, with the northern portion spawning a tropical depression near Antigua at 00:00 UTC on November 2.[3][46] The precursor to Jenny brought light rainfall to Puerto Rico, peaking at 4.97 inches (126 mm) in Río Blanco, Naguabo.[46] Moving northeastward ahead of an upper-level trough, the depression remained weak for over three days. On November 3, the system curved eastward, before briefly turning to the southeast on November 4. The depression tracked in a circular path during the next 24 hours, moving northeastward, north-northwestward, and then west-northward. Finally, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Jenny early on November 5.[3]

Jenny intensified further and reached hurricane status at 12:00 UTC on November 6. Later that day, the United States Weather Bureau began advisories and described Jenny as having "characteristic of many storms in the sub-tropics late in the hurricane season."[47] Around 18:00 UTC on November 6, Jenny attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 974 mbar (28.8 inHg). Thereafter, the storm briefly decelerated and weakened, falling to tropical storm intensity around midday on November 7. Jenny curved northeastward and continued to weaken, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone late on November 10 about 545 mi (875 km) east of Cape Race, Newfoundland.[3] The extratropical remnants continued to move northeastward and weakened before being absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone on the following day.[6]: 97 

Tropical Storm Inga edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
   
DurationNovember 4 – November 8
Peak intensity70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min);
997 mbar (hPa)

Early on November 4, the SS Navigator encountered a weather system in the Gulf of Mexico that produced northwesterly winds of 81 to 92 mph (130 to 148 km/h). Reconnaissance aircraft data indicated that Tropical Storm Inga developed at 00:00 UTC on November 4,[14] while located about 145 miles (235 km) northeast of Veracruz.[3] A strong high pressure system and a cold front entering the Gulf of Mexico from Texas caused the storm to move southward and then southeastward. Inga slowly strengthened and peaked as a 70 mph (110 km/h) tropical storm early on November 7. Thereafter, the storm became nearly stationary and began weakening.[14] By 12:00 UTC on November 8, Inga dissipated in the Bay of Campeche,[3] as reconnaissance aircraft found no closed circulation.[14]

Tropical Storm Twelve edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
   
DurationNovember 17 – November 20
Peak intensity60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min);
≤992 mbar (hPa)

A stationary front across the central Atlantic Ocean led to the development of a low pressure area by November 16, northeast of the Lesser Antilles. A day later, it is estimated that a tropical depression developed, although due to the system's large size, it was possible it was a subtropical cyclone. The depression moved northeastward and slowly intensified, based on observations from nearby ships. On November 19, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm. The storm strengthened to reach peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) on November 20. By that time, a cold front was approaching the storm, causing the storm to transition into an extratropical cyclone on November 21; later that day, the front absorbed the former tropical storm.[6]

Other storms edit

In addition to the twelve systems reaching at least tropical storm status, two other cyclones formed but remained at tropical depression intensity. The first such system, also the first tropical cyclone of the season, originated from a tropical wave about 35 mi (55 km) east of Palm Bay, Florida, on June 10. Moving quickly northeastward, the depression may have reached tropical storm intensity on June 12 but degenerated into a trough offshore New England on the next day.[6]: 108  On October 12, a trough developed into a tropical depression about halfway between Bermuda and North Carolina. This depression also moved quickly northeastward and merged with a frontal boundary by October 15.[6]: 109 

A report from Mexico indicates that a tropical depression formed off the west coasts of Tabasco and Coatzacoalcos. The depression significantly impacted the northern portions of Veracruz with heavy rainfall on June 30.[48] However, the Atlantic hurricane best track does not list this system as a tropical depression.[3]

Storm names edit

The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1961.[49] Storms were named Frances, Hattie, Inga and Jenny for the first time in 1961. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

  • Hattie
  • Inga
  • Jenny
  • Kara (unused)
  • Laurie (unused)
  • Martha (unused)
  • Netty (unused)
  • Orva (unused)
  • Peggy (unused)
  • Rhoda (unused)
  • Sadie (unused)
  • Tanya (unused)
  • Virgy (unused)
  • Wenda (unused)

Retirement edit

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

The names Carla and Hattie were later retired, replaced with Carol and Holly, respectively.[50]

Season effects edit

The following table lists all of the storms that have formed in the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s) (in parentheses), damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1961 USD.

Saffir–Simpson scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
1961 Atlantic hurricane season statistics
Storm
name 		Dates active Storm category
at peak intensity 		Max 1-min
wind
mph (km/h) 		Min.
press.
(mbar) 		Areas affected Damage
(USD) 		Deaths Ref(s)
Depression June 10 – 12 Tropical depression 35 (55) Unknown None None None
Anna July 20 – 24 Category 2 hurricane 105 (165) 976 Windward Islands, Colombia, Venezuela, Central America, Jamaica $300,000 1
Betsy September 2 – 11 Category 4 hurricane 130 (215) 945 None None None
Carla September 3 – 13 Category 4 hurricane 145 (230) 927 Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, Central United States, Eastern Canada $325.74 million 43
Debbie September 6 – 16 Category 1 hurricane 90 (150) 975 Cape Verde, Azores, Ireland, United Kingdom, Norway, Soviet Union Unknown 60
Esther September 10 – 26 Category 5 hurricane 160 (260) 919 North Carolina, Virginia, New England, Mid-Atlantic, Atlantic Canada $6 million 0 (7)
Six September 12 – 15 Tropical storm 65 (100) 996 The Bahamas, East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Canada Minimal None
Frances September 30 – October 9 Category 4 hurricane 130 (215) 948 Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Maine, Atlantic Canada Unknown None
Depression October 12 – 14 Tropical depression 35 (55) Unknown None None None
Gerda October 16 – 20 Tropical storm 70 (110) 988 Jamaica, Cuba, The Bahamas, New England, Atlantic Canada Unknown 7
Hattie October 27 – November 1 Category 5 hurricane 165 (270) 914 Central America (Belize) $60.3 million 319
Jenny November 1 – 10 Category 1 hurricane 80 (130) 974 Puerto Rico, Leeward Islands None None
Inga November 4 – 8 Tropical storm 70 (110) 997 Mexico None None
Twelve November 17 – 20 Tropical storm 60 (95) 992 None None None
Season aggregates
14 systems June 10 – November 20   165 (270) 914 $392.34 million 448 (7)  

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Prior to its independence in 1981, Belize was known as British Honduras
  2. ^ All damage figures are in 1961 United States dollar, unless otherwise noted

References edit

  1. ^ a b E. V. W. Jones (June 11, 1961). "Scientists Preparing To Break 'Cane's Back". Miami Herald. p. 20-A. Retrieved February 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b Philip J. Klotzbach; William M. Gray (December 8, 2006). (Report). Boulder, Colorado: Colorado State University. Archived from the original on December 18, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT. Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. March 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Gordon E. Dunn (March 1962). The Hurricane Season of 1961 (PDF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
    • Luther Hodges (1961). (PDF). United States Department of Commerce (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. pp. 99–101, 103. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
    • Luther Hodges. (PDF). United States Department of Commerce (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
    • "Gale Killed Fifteen". Irish Independent. September 18, 1961. p. 3.  – via Irish Newspaper Archives (subscription required)
    • (PDF) (Report). Met Éireann. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
    • Patrick J. Imhof (September 13, 2005). (PDF) (Report). Pensacola, Florida. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
    • "Floods Fatal To 5 Jamaicans". Savannah Morning News. Kingston, Jamaica. Associated Press. October 20, 1961. p. 5. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
    • "Belize Marked 45th Anniversary of Deadly Hurricane Hattie". Belize National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) (Press release). NEMO Press Officer. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Christopher W. Landsea; Sandy Delgado (2019). "1961 Atlantic Hurricane Database Reanalysis" (PDF). Miami, Florida: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Matthew Cappuci (August 25, 2022). "August may pass without a single named tropical storm in the Atlantic". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Christopher W. Landsea. . Hurricane Research Division (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Richard Fay (August 1962). Northbound Tropical Cyclone. United States Weather Bureau (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  10. ^ "Anna Should Miss Jamaica". The Daily Gleaner. 1961.
  11. ^ Ralph L. Higgs (August 4, 1961). Report on Hurricane Anna – July 20, 1961. U.S. Weather Bureau Office San Juan, Puerto Rico (Report). San Juan, Puerto Rico: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Hurricane Center. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Etat; Gordon E. Dunn (August 4, 1961). Report on Hurricane Anna. U.S. Weather Bureau Office Miami, Florida (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Hurricane Center. p. 11. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Miami Gets Pelted With Short Storms". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Hurricane Center. 1961. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Gordon E. Dunn (March 1962). The Hurricane Season of 1961 (PDF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  15. ^ Hurricane Betsy, September 2-11, 1961 (PDF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  16. ^ ECH (September 21, 1961). Carla Preliminary Report. United States Weather Bureau (Report). New Orleans, Louisiana: National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  17. ^ ECH (September 21, 1961). Carla Preliminary Report (GIF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). New Orleans, Louisiana: National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 14. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Hurricane Whips Cuba; Winds Batter Key West". The Miami News. September 7, 1961. p. 72. Retrieved February 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  19. ^ Conner (September 7, 1961). Hurricane Advisory Number 15 Carla. Weather Bureau Office New Orleans, Louisiana (Report). National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  20. ^ Robert Orton (September 16, 1961). Hurricane Carla in Texas September 8 to 13th, 1961. Weather Bureau Office Galveston, Texas (Report). National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 1. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  21. ^ Robert Orton (September 18, 1961). List of known dead in Texas from Hurricane Carla as of September 18th. Weather Bureau Office Galveston, Texas (Report). National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  22. ^ a b Hurricane Carla: September 4–14, 1961 (A Preliminary Report). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. September 18, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  23. ^ Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Midwest (Report). College Park, Maryland: Weather Prediction Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  24. ^ a b c d Luther Hodges (1961). (PDF). United States Department of Commerce (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. pp. 99–101, 103. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  25. ^ Luther Hodges. (PDF). United States Department of Commerce (Report). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  26. ^ 1961-Carla (Report). Fredericton, New Brunswick: Environment Canada. November 5, 2009. from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  27. ^ C. O. Erickson (February 1963). An Incipient Hurricane Near The West African Coast (PDF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. pp. 61–68. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  28. ^ (PDF) (Report). Met Éireann. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  29. ^ a b Hurricane Debbie — September 7–15, 1961 Preliminary Report (PDF). National Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1961. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  30. ^ "Repairing Hurricane Damage". Connacht Sentinel. September 19, 1961. p. 10.  – via Irish Newspaper Archives (subscription required)
  31. ^ "Storm Reports From The Areas". Anglo-Celt. September 23, 1961. p. 9.  – via Irish Newspaper Archives (subscription required)
  32. ^ "The Storm Made Much Work". Ulster Herald. September 23, 1961. p. 7.  – via Irish Newspaper Archives (subscription required)
  33. ^ J. G. Gruickshank; N. Stephens; L. J. Symons (January 1962). "Report of the Hurricane in Ireland on Saturday, 16 September, 1961". The Irish Naturalists' Journal. 14 (1): 4–12. JSTOR 25534822.
  34. ^ "Crop Losses". Irish Farmers Journal. September 23, 1961. p. 1.  – via Irish Newspaper Archives (subscription required)
  35. ^ "Gale Killed Fifteen". Irish Independent. September 18, 1961. p. 3.  – via Irish Newspaper Archives (subscription required)
  36. ^ Hurricane Esther — September 12–26, 1961 Preliminary Report (PDF). National Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  37. ^ Patrick J. Imhof (September 13, 2005). (PDF) (Report). Pensacola, Florida. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  38. ^ a b c Roth, David M (January 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  39. ^ a b c Hurricane Frances, Sept. 30 – Oct. 9, 1961 (PDF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  40. ^ "Floods Fatal To 5 Jamaicans". Savannah Morning News. Kingston, Jamaica. Associated Press. October 20, 1961. p. 5B. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  41. ^ a b (PDF). National Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1961. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  42. ^ "'Cane Hattie Threatens Western Cuba, Florida". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press. October 30, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  43. ^ "Hattie's Toll is 62: Martial Law Declared". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. United Press International. November 2, 1961. pp. 1A, 2A. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  44. ^ "Hurricane 'Edith' Deepens Rapidly". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. Associated Press. September 7, 1971. pp. 1A, 4A. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  45. ^ . Belize National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) (Press release). NEMO Press Officer. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  46. ^ a b David M. Roth (October 16, 2008). Hurricane Jenny – October 30 November 2, 1961. Weather Prediction Center (Report). College Park, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  47. ^ Hurricane Jenny, November 6-8, 1961 (PDF). United States Weather Bureau (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  48. ^ Humberto Bravo Alavarez; Rodolfo Sosa Echeverria; Pablo Sanchez Alavarez; Arturo Butron Silva (June 22, 2006). Riesgo Quimico Asociado a Fenominos Hidrometeorologicos en el Estado de Verzacruz (PDF). Inundaciones 2005 en el Estado de Veracruz (Report) (in Spanish). Universidad Veracruzana. p. 317. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  49. ^ "Go Blame An Ill Wind". The Miami News. June 9, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  50. ^ Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names. National Hurricane Center (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2014.

External links edit

  • Monthly Weather Review

November 01, 2023
1961, atlantic, hurricane, season, hyperactive, atlantic, hurricane, season, with, accumulated, cyclone, energy, total, season, however, average, terms, named, storms, season, featured, eight, hurricanes, well, above, average, number, five, major, hurricanes, . The 1961 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive Atlantic hurricane season with an accumulated cyclone energy ACE total of 189 The season however was an average one in terms of named storms The season featured eight hurricanes and a well above average number of five major hurricanes It was previously thought that the season had a record tying seven major hurricanes before the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project downgraded two storms in 2019 Two Category 5 hurricanes were seen in 1961 making it one of only seven Atlantic hurricane seasons to feature multiple Category 5 hurricanes in one season The season started on June 15 and ended on November 15 These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin The first system an operationally unclassified tropical depression formed offshore east Central Florida on June 10 but dissipated a few days later Next Hurricane Anna developed in the eastern Caribbean Sea near the Windward Islands on July 20 It brought minor damage to the islands as well as wind and flood impacts to Central America after striking Belize as a hurricane nb 1 Anna caused one death and about 300 000 1961 USD nb 2 in damage Activity went dormant for nearly a month and a half until Hurricane Betsy developed on September 2 Betsy peaked as a Category 4 hurricane but remained at sea and caused no impact 1961 Atlantic hurricane seasonSeason summary mapSeasonal boundariesFirst system formedJune 10 1961Last system dissipatedNovember 20 1961Strongest stormNameHattie Maximum winds165 mph 270 km h 1 minute sustained Lowest pressure914 mbar hPa 26 99 inHg Seasonal statisticsTotal depressions14Total storms12Hurricanes8Major hurricanes Cat 3 5Total fatalities437Total damage 392 34 million 1961 USD Related articles1961 Pacific hurricane season 1961 Pacific typhoon season 1961 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonAtlantic hurricane seasons1959 1960 1961 1962 1963One of the most significant storms of the season was Hurricane Carla which peaked as a Category 4 hurricane before striking Texas Carla caused 43 deaths and approximately 325 74 million in damage Hurricane Debbie was a Category 1 storm that existed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean Early in its duration unsettled weather from Debbie in Cape Verde resulted in a plane crash that killed 60 people The extratropical remnants of Debbie then brushed Ireland causing severe damage over the British Isles The next storm Hurricane Esther threatened to strike New England as a major hurricane but rapidly weakened and made landfall in Massachusetts as only a tropical storm Impact was generally minor with about 6 million in damage and seven deaths all of which from a United States Navy plane crash An unnamed tropical storm and Hurricane Frances caused minimal impact on land In mid October Tropical Storm Gerda brought flooding to Jamaica and eastern Cuba resulting in twelve deaths Another significant storm was Hurricane Hattie a late season Category 5 hurricane that struck Belize Hattie caused 319 confirmed fatalities and about 60 3 million in damage Destruction was so severe in Belize that the government had to relocate inland to a new city Belmopan In early November the depression that would later strengthen into Hurricane Jenny brought light rainfall to Puerto Rico The final storm Tropical Storm Inga dissipated on November 8 after causing no impact on land On September 11 three hurricanes existed simultaneously Betsy Carla and Debbie the most on a single day in the Atlantic basin since 1893 and until 1998 Collectively the storms of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season caused about 392 34 million in damage and at least 437 fatalities Contents 1 Season summary 2 Systems 2 1 Hurricane Anna 2 2 Hurricane Betsy 2 3 Hurricane Carla 2 4 Hurricane Debbie 2 5 Hurricane Esther 2 6 Tropical Storm Six 2 7 Hurricane Frances 2 8 Tropical Storm Gerda 2 9 Hurricane Hattie 2 10 Hurricane Jenny 2 11 Tropical Storm Inga 2 12 Tropical Storm Twelve 2 13 Other storms 3 Storm names 3 1 Retirement 4 Season effects 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksSeason summary edit nbsp Radar image of Hurricane Carla from WSR 57 in Galveston TexasThe Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15 1 It was an above average season in which twelve tropical storms formed this was above the 1950 2000 average of 9 6 named storms 2 Eight of these reached hurricane status also above of the 1950 2000 average of 5 9 3 2 Furthermore five storms reached major hurricane status It was originally believed that the season had seven major hurricanes though later analysis resulted in a downgrade of two storms 4 Of the five major hurricanes two became Category 5 hurricanes Four hurricanes and two tropical storms made landfall during the season 3 causing 348 deaths and 391 6 million in damage 5 Hurricane Debbie also caused damage and deaths despite remaining offshore and then after becoming extratropical Tropical cyclogenesis began with an initially unclassified tropical depression which developed on June 10 6 More than a month later Hurricane Anna formed on July 17 and dissipated on July 24 Thereafter no other systems developed in July or the month of August 3 A lack of cyclonic activity in the Atlantic basin in August is rare with such phenomenon not occurring again until the 1997 and 2022 seasons 7 The Atlantic basin remained dormant until Hurricane Betsy developed on September 2 During the next four days two other tropical cyclones formed Carla and Debbie On September 11 the three storms Betsy Carla and Debbie existed simultaneously as hurricanes 3 the most in a single day since 1893 and until 1998 8 Esther which developed on September 10 did not reach hurricane status until September 12 Later that day a tropical storm that went unnamed formed over the Bahamas and moved across the East Coast of the United States for its brief duration 3 9 After Debbie became extratropical on September 14 another tropical cyclone developed over two weeks later Hurricane Frances Thereafter tropical cyclogenesis slowed in October which featured only three systems a second previously unclassified tropical depression Gerda and Hattie The latter was the strongest tropical cyclone of the season peaking with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph 266 km h and a minimum barometric pressure of 914 mbar 27 0 inHg After weakening slightly Hattie struck Belize on October 31 before dissipating on November 1 Later that day Hurricane Jenny developed northeast of Antigua Jenny remained weak for much of its duration and became extratropical on November 8 The final system Tropical Storm Inga formed in the Gulf of Mexico on November 4 Four days later Inga dissipated 3 one week before the season officially ended 1 The season s activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy ACE rating of 189 one of the highest values recorded ACE is broadly speaking a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed so storms that last a long time as well as particularly strong hurricanes have high ACEs It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 39 mph 63 km h which is the threshold for tropical storm strength 4 Systems editHurricane Anna edit Category 2 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationJuly 17 July 24Peak intensity105 mph 165 km h 1 min 976 mbar hPa Main article Hurricane Anna 1961 A tropical wave that emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa around mid July developed about 575 mi 925 km northeast of Cayenne French Guiana late on July 17 6 2 3 The depression moved west northwestward and by the following day it intensified into a Tropical Storm Anna After passing just south of Grenada early on July 20 Anna entered the Caribbean Sea Favorable environmental conditions allowed Anna to reach hurricane intensity late on July 20 The cyclone continued to slowly intensifying reaching Category 2 intensity on July 22 and peaking with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph 169 km h However the storm weakened slightly before making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Honduras near Barra Patuca Gracias a Dios Department with winds of 80 mph 130 km h After re emerging into the Caribbean Anna weakened slightly further striking Utila around 01 00 UTC on July 24 with winds of 75 mph 121 km h About nine hours later the hurricane made landfall in Belize near Monkey River Town at the same intensity Anna rapidly weakened over land and dissipated late on July 24 3 As a developing tropical cyclone over the Windward Islands Anna produced strong winds on Grenada though damage was limited to some crops trees and telephone poles 10 Other islands experienced gusty winds but no damage Passing just north of Venezuela the hurricane produced strong winds over the country peaking as high as 70 mph 110 km h 11 Strong winds caused widespread damage in northern Honduras Throughout the country at least 36 homes were destroyed and 228 were damaged 12 Severe damage in the Gracias a Dios Department left hundreds of people homeless 13 Additionally high winds toppled approximately 10 000 coconut trees 12 Overall Anna caused one fatality and 300 000 in damage primarily in Central America 14 13 Hurricane Betsy edit Category 4 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationSeptember 2 September 11Peak intensity130 mph 215 km h 1 min 945 mbar hPa In early September a tropical wave was noted in the Intertropical Convergence Zone ITCZ 14 15 On September 2 the disturbance was analyzed to have attained tropical storm strength after nearby ship reports indicated strong winds associated with anomalously low barometric pressures 14 Moving steadily northwestward favorable conditions allowed Betsy to quickly intensify later that day 3 Shortly after a trough situated along 50 W steered Betsy to a more northerly course Another low pressure area later formed in the trough perturbing the ridge to the north of Betsy for much of its initial stages causing the hurricane s central pressure to rise 14 despite an increase in sustained winds 3 However on September 5 a shortwave forced the low northeastward allowing for Betsy to strengthen further 14 Early on September 6 Betsy attained Category 4 hurricane strength peaking with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph 210 km h and a central pressure of 945 mbar 945 hPa 27 9 inHg 3 based on reconnaissance flights into the system 6 15 16 However as a result of missing the short wave itself the hurricane later weakened and fell to Category 3 intensity while located about 440 miles 710 km east northeast of Bermuda Betsy weakened further to Category 2 hurricane before becoming nearly stationary beginning on September 6 14 Moving into higher latitudes Betsy began to weaken degenerating back to Category 1 hurricane intensity on late on September 8 3 A separate minor trough was later able to move the system northeastwards by the following day 14 Betsy re intensified into a Category 2 hurricane early on September 10 but transitioned into extratropical cyclone several hours later The extratropical remnants continued northeastward and weakened before executing a large loop over the far north Atlantic The remnants dissipated well north of the Azores on September 16 3 Hurricane Carla edit Category 4 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationSeptember 3 September 13Peak intensity145 mph 230 km h 1 min 927 mbar hPa Main article Hurricane Carla See also Hurricane Carla tornado outbreak A tropical depression developed from an area of squally weather embedded within the ITCZ in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 3 16 Initially a tropical depression it strengthened slowly while heading northwestward and by September 4 the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Carla 3 About 24 hours later Carla was upgraded to a hurricane 3 17 Shortly thereafter the storm curved northward while approaching the Yucatan Channel Late on September 7 Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico while passing just northeast of the Yucatan Peninsula The cyclone reached major hurricane intensity around 12 00 UTC on the next day Resuming its northwestward course Carla continued intensification and on September 11 it peaked as a Category 4 hurricane Carla made landfall near Port O Connor Texas with winds of 145 mph 233 km h It weakened quickly inland and was reduced to a tropical storm on September 12 Heading generally northward Carla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 13 while centered over southern Oklahoma However the remnants continued generally northeastward and entered Canada on September 14 before dissipating near Cape Chidley early on September 16 3 While crossing the Yucatan Channel the outer bands of Carla brought gusty winds and severe local flooding in western Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula 14 18 Although initially considered a significant threat to Florida 19 the storm brought only light winds and small amounts of precipitation reaching no more than 3 15 in 80 mm 18 In Texas wind gusts as high as 170 mph 270 km h were observed in Port Lavaca Additionally several tornadoes spawned in the state caused notable impacts with the most destructive tornado striking Galveston Texas at F4 intensity resulting in 200 buildings being severely damaged of which 60 75 were destroyed eight deaths and 200 injuries 20 Throughout the state Carla destroyed 1 915 homes 568 farm buildings and 415 other buildings Additionally 50 723 homes 5 620 farm buildings and 10 487 other buildings suffered damage There were 34 fatalities and at least 300 million in losses in Texas alone Several tornadoes also touched down in Louisiana causing the destruction of 140 homes and 11 farms and other buildings and major damage to 231 additional homes and 11 farm and other buildings Minor to moderate damage was also reported to 748 homes and 75 farm and other buildings 21 Six deaths and 25 million in losses in Louisiana were attributed to Carla 22 Heavy rainfall occurred in several other states especially in Kansas 23 where flash flooding severely damaged crops and drowned five people 24 Overall Carla resulted in 325 74 million in losses and 46 fatalities 22 24 25 In Canada the remnants of Carla brought strong winds to Ontario and New Brunswick though impact was primarily limited to power outages and falling trees and branches 26 Hurricane Debbie edit Category 1 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationSeptember 5 September 16Peak intensity90 mph 150 km h 1 min 975 mbar hPa Main article Hurricane Debbie 1961 A tropical disturbance was first identified in late August over Central Africa 27 The wave developed into a tropical depression just offshore Senegal around 12 00 UTC on September 5 It was estimated to have intensified into Tropical Storm Debbie early the next day Several hours later Debbie passed through the southern Cape Verde Islands as a strong tropical storm or minimal hurricane 3 resulting in a plane crash that killed 60 people 28 Once clear of the islands data on the storm became sparse and the status of Debbie was uncertain over the following several days as it tracked west northwestward and later northward It was not until a commercial airliner intercepted the storm on September 10 that its location was certain 29 The following day Debbie intensified and reached its peak intensity as a strong Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph 140 km h The hurricane gradually slowed its forward motion and weakened 3 By September 13 Debbie s motion became influenced by the westerlies causing the system to accelerate east northeastward 29 The storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone late on September 14 about 140 mi 225 km west southwest of Horta Azores 3 The remnants of Debbie soon passed east northeastward throughout the Azores and then curved northeastward The system deepened slightly as it neared the British Isles skirting the coast of Western Ireland on September 16 3 In Ireland Debbie brought record winds to much of the island with a peak gust of 114 mph 183 km h measured just offshore 30 Widespread wind damage and disruption occurred downing tens of thousands of trees and power lines 31 32 Countless structures sustained varying degrees of damage with many smaller buildings destroyed 33 Agriculture experienced extensive losses to barley corn and wheat crops 34 Throughout Ireland Debbie killed 18 people with 12 in the Republic of Ireland and six in Northern Ireland 35 The storm also battered parts of Great Britain with winds in excess of 100 mph 160 km h 14 Hurricane Esther edit Category 5 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationSeptember 10 September 26Peak intensity160 mph 260 km h 1 min 919 mbar hPa Main article Hurricane Esther On September 10 Television Infrared Observation Satellite TIROS III observed an area of disturbed weather well southwest of the Cape Verde Islands 14 Later that day a tropical depression developed about 510 miles 820 km west southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands Moving northwestward the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Esther on September 11 before reaching hurricane intensity on the following day Early on September 13 Esther curved westward and deepened into a major hurricane The storm remained a Category 3 hurricane for about four days and gradually moved in west northwestward direction Esther strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on September 16 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane on the following day with sustained winds of 160 mph 260 km h 3 The storm curved north northeastward on September 19 while offshore North Carolina Esther began to weaken while approaching New England and fell to Category 2 intensity early on September 21 The storm turned eastward on the following day and gradually weakened to a tropical storm It then executed a large cyclonic loop until curving northward on September 25 Early on the following day Esther made two landfalls in Massachusetts first on Muskeget Island and then near South Yarmouth with winds of 60 mph 97 km h The storm then emerged over the Gulf of Maine and made landfall in Brunswick Maine around 11 00 UTC on September 26 with winds of 40 mph 64 km h Esther weakened to a tropical depression late on September 26 before weakening to a tropical depression and becoming extratropical over southeastern Quebec 3 The remnants persisted for about 12 hours before dissipating early on September 27 3 Between North Carolina and New Jersey effects were primarily limited to strong winds and minor beach erosion and coastal flooding due to storm surge 36 In New York strong winds led to severe crop losses and over 300 000 power outages High tides caused coastal flooding and damage a number of pleasure boats Similar impact was reported in Massachusetts Additionally some areas observed more than 8 inches 200 mm of rainfall flooding basements low lying roads and underpasses 24 Overall damage was minor totaling about 6 million 14 There were also seven deaths reported when United States Navy P5M aircraft crashed about 120 miles 190 km north of Bermuda 37 Tropical Storm Six edit Tropical storm SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationSeptember 12 September 15Peak intensity65 mph 100 km h 1 min 996 mbar hPa TIROS III imagery indicated a vortex east of the Bahamas between September 9 and September 12 9 A tropical depression formed at 12 00 UTC on September 12 near Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas 3 after TIROS revealed a surface circulation 9 The depression tracked northward and intensified into a tropical storm while located offshore North Carolina Around 12 00 UTC September 14 it made landfall in the state near Topsail Beach North Carolina with winds of 45 mph 72 km h The storm curved accelerated northeastward and intensified despite mostly remaining over land striking near the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula about nine hours later with winds of 50 mph 80 km h After re emerging into the Atlantic late on September 14 the cyclone made landfall near Islip New York with peak winds of 65 mph 105 km h around 06 00 UTC on September 15 followed by another landfall near Guilford Connecticut about an hour later at the same intensity The cyclone became extratropical over southern Maine around 12 00 UTC and quickly dissipated 3 Impact from the storm was generally minor In Savannah Georgia the storm produced an F2 tornado that blew the roof off of a lumber company building In North Carolina 3 12 inches 79 mm of precipitation fell at Williamston 38 Strong winds lashed Rhode Island with winds as high as 70 mph 110 km h in Point Judith About 29 000 homes were left without electricity while 1 200 lost telephone service Hundreds of small crafts and a few ferries and barges were swamped or sank Hurricane force wind gusts in Massachusetts felled trees electrical wires and TV antennas Some roads in the southeastern portion of the state were blocked by fallen trees Similar impact was reported in Maine where an F2 tornado waterspout tracked 19 1 miles 30 7 km from Beals through Roque Bluffs before dissipating in Dog Town just east of East Machias Power lines were considerably damaged and numerous trees were knocked down including two incidents where trees fell on and damaged homes The tornado caused one injury when a man was hit by a flying wooden plank 24 Hurricane Frances edit Category 4 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationSeptember 30 October 9Peak intensity130 mph 215 km h 1 min 948 mbar hPa A westward moving tropical wave organized into Tropical Storm Frances on September 30 east of the northern Lesser Antilles 39 3 Six hours later the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Frances Heading westward it crossed through the Leeward Islands and entered the Caribbean Sea on October 1 3 Thereafter the lack of divergence at high levels prevented significant strengthening for a few days 39 While situated south of Puerto Rico on October 2 Frances curved northwestward 3 The storm brought heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico peaking at 10 15 inches 258 mm in the Indiera Baja barrio of Maricao 38 Considerable damage to roads and bridges occurred However due to swift evacuations of residents by the Civil Defense and American Red Cross no fatalities were reported 39 Tracking to the northwest Frances made landfall near Punta Cana Dominican Republic early on October 3 with winds of 60 mph 97 km h No impact was reported on the island Later on October 3 Frances emerged into the Atlantic Ocean just southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands Thereafter the storm accelerated somewhat and resumed intensification reaching hurricane status on October 4 Around that time it curved northeastward and deepened further Early on October 7 Frances attained its peak intensity with winds of 130 mph 210 km h and a minimum barometric pressure of 948 mbar 28 0 inHg 3 The storm passed by Bermuda around that time where it dropped 1 35 inches 34 mm of precipitation 38 Later on October 7 Frances re curved to the north Early on the following day the storm became extratropical as it approached the Gulf of Maine The remnants curved east northeastward and struck Nova Scotia before dissipating early on October 10 3 Tropical Storm Gerda edit Tropical storm SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationOctober 17 October 20Peak intensity70 mph 110 km h 1 min 988 mbar hPa A westward moving tropical wave reached the central Caribbean by mid October 14 The wave crossed Jamaica causing flooding that damaged roads and forced many to evacuate their homes in western Kingston Five fatalities were reported in Jamaica 40 Early on October 17 the wave developed into a tropical depression just southwest of Cape Cruz Cuba It continued northward and made another landfall near Santa Cruz del Sur several hours later 3 The depression also brought heavy rainfall to eastern Cuba which resulted in seven deaths 14 After striking Cuba the depression emerged into the Atlantic early on October 18 as it intensified into Tropical Storm Gerda 3 Moving across the Bahamas later on October 18 Gerda accelerated to the north northeast The storm curved northeastward on October 20 while peaking with winds of 70 mph 110 km h 3 However a Texas Tower offshore Massachusetts observed hurricane force winds 14 At 00 00 UTC on October 20 Gerda transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while situated about 165 miles 265 km southeast of Nantucket Massachusetts 3 Damage from the storm in New England was about the same as that from a typical wintertime northeaster 14 The remnants of Gerda moved northeastward and then to the east before dissipating between Newfoundland and the Azores late on October 22 3 Hurricane Hattie edit Category 5 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationOctober 27 November 1Peak intensity165 mph 270 km h 1 min 914 mbar hPa Main article Hurricane Hattie In late October an area of low pressure persisted in the western Caribbean Sea for several days 41 Around 00 00 UTC on October 26 a tropical depression developed about 100 mi 160 km northeast of Colon Panama Approximately 12 hours later the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Hattie Moving towards the north and north northeast the storm quickly gained hurricane status early on October 28 and reached major hurricane intensity that same day Hattie turned towards the west to the east of Jamaica and strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph 266 km h on October 31 The storm then weakened to a Category 4 hurricane prior to landfall south of Belize City British Honduras with winds of 150 mph 240 km h Continuing southwest the storm rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of Central America dissipating on November 1 3 It was originally thought that the remnants may have contributed to the development of Tropical Storm Simone in the eastern Pacific Ocean but a 2019 reanalysis concluded that the remnants of Hattie instead became a Central American gyre 6 Hattie first affected regions in the southwestern Caribbean producing hurricane force winds and causing one death on San Andres Island 14 It was initially forecast to continue north and strike Cuba which prompted evacuations 42 Little effects were reported as Hattie turned to the west although rainfall reached 11 5 in 290 mm on Grand Cayman 41 The worst damage was in the country of Belize The former capital Belize City was flooded by a powerful storm surge and high waves and affected by strong winds The territory governor estimated 70 of the buildings in the city were damaged which left over 10 000 people homeless 43 The damage was severe enough that it prompted the government to relocate inland to a new city Belmopan 44 In the territory Hattie left about 60 million in damage and caused 307 deaths 14 45 The government estimated that Hattie was more damaging than a hurricane in 1931 that killed 2 000 people the lower toll for Hattie was due to advance warning Elsewhere in Central America the hurricane killed 11 people in Guatemala and one in Honduras 14 Hurricane Jenny edit Category 1 hurricane SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationNovember 1 November 10Peak intensity80 mph 130 km h 1 min 974 mbar hPa A surface trough of low pressure developed in the eastern Caribbean Sea on October 30 The trough split with the northern portion spawning a tropical depression near Antigua at 00 00 UTC on November 2 3 46 The precursor to Jenny brought light rainfall to Puerto Rico peaking at 4 97 inches 126 mm in Rio Blanco Naguabo 46 Moving northeastward ahead of an upper level trough the depression remained weak for over three days On November 3 the system curved eastward before briefly turning to the southeast on November 4 The depression tracked in a circular path during the next 24 hours moving northeastward north northwestward and then west northward Finally the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Jenny early on November 5 3 Jenny intensified further and reached hurricane status at 12 00 UTC on November 6 Later that day the United States Weather Bureau began advisories and described Jenny as having characteristic of many storms in the sub tropics late in the hurricane season 47 Around 18 00 UTC on November 6 Jenny attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph 130 km h and a minimum barometric pressure of 974 mbar 28 8 inHg Thereafter the storm briefly decelerated and weakened falling to tropical storm intensity around midday on November 7 Jenny curved northeastward and continued to weaken transitioning into an extratropical cyclone late on November 10 about 545 mi 875 km east of Cape Race Newfoundland 3 The extratropical remnants continued to move northeastward and weakened before being absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone on the following day 6 97 Tropical Storm Inga edit Tropical storm SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationNovember 4 November 8Peak intensity70 mph 110 km h 1 min 997 mbar hPa Early on November 4 the SS Navigator encountered a weather system in the Gulf of Mexico that produced northwesterly winds of 81 to 92 mph 130 to 148 km h Reconnaissance aircraft data indicated that Tropical Storm Inga developed at 00 00 UTC on November 4 14 while located about 145 miles 235 km northeast of Veracruz 3 A strong high pressure system and a cold front entering the Gulf of Mexico from Texas caused the storm to move southward and then southeastward Inga slowly strengthened and peaked as a 70 mph 110 km h tropical storm early on November 7 Thereafter the storm became nearly stationary and began weakening 14 By 12 00 UTC on November 8 Inga dissipated in the Bay of Campeche 3 as reconnaissance aircraft found no closed circulation 14 Tropical Storm Twelve edit Tropical storm SSHWS nbsp nbsp DurationNovember 17 November 20Peak intensity60 mph 95 km h 1 min 992 mbar hPa A stationary front across the central Atlantic Ocean led to the development of a low pressure area by November 16 northeast of the Lesser Antilles A day later it is estimated that a tropical depression developed although due to the system s large size it was possible it was a subtropical cyclone The depression moved northeastward and slowly intensified based on observations from nearby ships On November 19 the depression strengthened into a tropical storm The storm strengthened to reach peak winds of 60 mph 97 km h on November 20 By that time a cold front was approaching the storm causing the storm to transition into an extratropical cyclone on November 21 later that day the front absorbed the former tropical storm 6 Other storms edit In addition to the twelve systems reaching at least tropical storm status two other cyclones formed but remained at tropical depression intensity The first such system also the first tropical cyclone of the season originated from a tropical wave about 35 mi 55 km east of Palm Bay Florida on June 10 Moving quickly northeastward the depression may have reached tropical storm intensity on June 12 but degenerated into a trough offshore New England on the next day 6 108 On October 12 a trough developed into a tropical depression about halfway between Bermuda and North Carolina This depression also moved quickly northeastward and merged with a frontal boundary by October 15 6 109 A report from Mexico indicates that a tropical depression formed off the west coasts of Tabasco and Coatzacoalcos The depression significantly impacted the northern portions of Veracruz with heavy rainfall on June 30 48 However the Atlantic hurricane best track does not list this system as a tropical depression 3 Storm names editThe following names were used for named storms tropical storms and hurricanes that formed in the North Atlantic in 1961 49 Storms were named Frances Hattie Inga and Jenny for the first time in 1961 Names that were not assigned are marked in gray Anna Betsy Carla Debbie Esther Frances Gerda Hattie Inga Jenny Kara unused Laurie unused Martha unused Netty unused Orva unused Peggy unused Rhoda unused Sadie unused Tanya unused Virgy unused Wenda unused Retirement edit See also List of retired Atlantic hurricane names The names Carla and Hattie were later retired replaced with Carol and Holly respectively 50 Season effects editThe following table lists all of the storms that have formed in the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season It includes their duration names landfall s in parentheses damages and death totals Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident but were still related to that storm Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical a wave or a low and all of the damage figures are in 1961 USD Saffir Simpson scaleTD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C51961 Atlantic hurricane season statistics Stormname Dates active Storm categoryat peak intensity Max 1 minwindmph km h Min press mbar Areas affected Damage USD Deaths Ref s Depression June 10 12 Tropical depression 35 55 Unknown None None NoneAnna July 20 24 Category 2 hurricane 105 165 976 Windward Islands Colombia Venezuela Central America Jamaica 300 000 1Betsy September 2 11 Category 4 hurricane 130 215 945 None None NoneCarla September 3 13 Category 4 hurricane 145 230 927 Central America Yucatan Peninsula Central United States Eastern Canada 325 74 million 43Debbie September 6 16 Category 1 hurricane 90 150 975 Cape Verde Azores Ireland United Kingdom Norway Soviet Union Unknown 60Esther September 10 26 Category 5 hurricane 160 260 919 North Carolina Virginia New England Mid Atlantic Atlantic Canada 6 million 0 7 Six September 12 15 Tropical storm 65 100 996 The Bahamas East Coast of the United States Atlantic Canada Minimal NoneFrances September 30 October 9 Category 4 hurricane 130 215 948 Lesser Antilles Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Bermuda Maine Atlantic Canada Unknown NoneDepression October 12 14 Tropical depression 35 55 Unknown None None NoneGerda October 16 20 Tropical storm 70 110 988 Jamaica Cuba The Bahamas New England Atlantic Canada Unknown 7Hattie October 27 November 1 Category 5 hurricane 165 270 914 Central America Belize 60 3 million 319Jenny November 1 10 Category 1 hurricane 80 130 974 Puerto Rico Leeward Islands None NoneInga November 4 8 Tropical storm 70 110 997 Mexico None NoneTwelve November 17 20 Tropical storm 60 95 992 None None NoneSeason aggregates14 systems June 10 November 20 165 270 914 392 34 million 448 7 See also edit nbsp Tropical cyclones portal1961 Pacific hurricane season 1961 Pacific typhoon season 1961 North Indian Ocean cyclone season Australian region cyclone seasons 1960 61 1961 62 South Pacific cyclone seasons 1960 61 1961 62 South West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons 1960 61 1961 62Notes edit Prior to its independence in 1981 Belize was known as British Honduras All damage figures are in 1961 United States dollar unless otherwise notedReferences edit a b E V W Jones June 11 1961 Scientists Preparing To Break Cane s Back Miami Herald p 20 A Retrieved February 18 2021 via Newspapers com nbsp a b Philip J Klotzbach William M Gray December 8 2006 Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and U S Landfall Strike Probability for 2007 Report Boulder Colorado Colorado State University Archived from the original on December 18 2006 Retrieved March 28 2014 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap Atlantic hurricane best track HURDAT version 2 Database United States National Hurricane Center April 5 2023 Retrieved October 31 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain a b Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT Hurricane Research Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Report National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration March 2011 Retrieved March 6 2012 Gordon E Dunn March 1962 The Hurricane Season of 1961 PDF United States Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Retrieved January 31 2014 Luther Hodges 1961 Storm Data And Unusual Weather Phenomena September 1961 PDF United States Department of Commerce Report Asheville North Carolina National Climatic Data Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pp 99 101 103 Archived from the original PDF on February 1 2014 Retrieved February 1 2014 Luther Hodges Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena December 1961 PDF United States Department of Commerce Report Asheville North Carolina National Climatic Data Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration p 120 Archived from the original PDF on February 1 2014 Retrieved February 1 2014 Gale Killed Fifteen Irish Independent September 18 1961 p 3 via Irish Newspaper Archives subscription required Exceptional Weather Events Hurricane Debbie PDF Report Met Eireann 2012 Archived from the original PDF on November 12 2013 Retrieved March 28 2014 Patrick J Imhof September 13 2005 Rescue at Sea PDF Report Pensacola Florida pp 4 6 Archived from the original PDF on February 4 2012 Retrieved March 28 2014 Floods Fatal To 5 Jamaicans Savannah Morning News Kingston Jamaica Associated Press October 20 1961 p 5 Retrieved August 18 2013 Belize Marked 45th Anniversary of Deadly Hurricane Hattie Belize National Emergency Management Organization NEMO Press release NEMO Press Officer November 2 2006 Archived from the original on December 3 2012 Retrieved December 3 2012 a b c d e f g h Christopher W Landsea Sandy Delgado 2019 1961 Atlantic Hurricane Database Reanalysis PDF Miami Florida Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Retrieved May 3 2021 Matthew Cappuci August 25 2022 August may pass without a single named tropical storm in the Atlantic The Washington Post Retrieved August 28 2022 Christopher W Landsea Subject E18 What was the largest number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean at the same time Hurricane Research Division Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Archived from the original on July 1 2017 Retrieved August 31 2021 a b c Richard Fay August 1962 Northbound Tropical Cyclone United States Weather Bureau Report National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved August 31 2021 Anna Should Miss Jamaica The Daily Gleaner 1961 Ralph L Higgs August 4 1961 Report on Hurricane Anna July 20 1961 U S Weather Bureau Office San Juan Puerto Rico Report San Juan Puerto Rico National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hurricane Center p 2 Retrieved December 2 2013 a b Etat Gordon E Dunn August 4 1961 Report on Hurricane Anna U S Weather Bureau Office Miami Florida Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hurricane Center p 11 Retrieved December 3 2013 a b Miami Gets Pelted With Short Storms National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hurricane Center 1961 Retrieved December 3 2013 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Gordon E Dunn March 1962 The Hurricane Season of 1961 PDF United States Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Retrieved January 31 2014 Hurricane Betsy September 2 11 1961 PDF United States Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved February 1 2014 ECH September 21 1961 Carla Preliminary Report United States Weather Bureau Report New Orleans Louisiana National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration p 12 Retrieved February 1 2014 ECH September 21 1961 Carla Preliminary Report GIF United States Weather Bureau Report New Orleans Louisiana National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration p 14 Retrieved February 1 2014 a b Hurricane Whips Cuba Winds Batter Key West The Miami News September 7 1961 p 72 Retrieved February 7 2021 via Newspapers com nbsp Conner September 7 1961 Hurricane Advisory Number 15 Carla Weather Bureau Office New Orleans Louisiana Report National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved February 1 2014 Robert Orton September 16 1961 Hurricane Carla in Texas September 8 to 13th 1961 Weather Bureau Office Galveston Texas Report National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration p 1 Retrieved January 11 2013 Robert Orton September 18 1961 List of known dead in Texas from Hurricane Carla as of September 18th Weather Bureau Office Galveston Texas Report National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved February 1 2014 a b Hurricane Carla September 4 14 1961 A Preliminary Report United States Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 18 1961 p 2 Retrieved February 1 2014 Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Midwest Report College Park Maryland Weather Prediction Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013 Retrieved February 1 2014 a b c d Luther Hodges 1961 Storm Data And Unusual Weather Phenomena September 1961 PDF United States Department of Commerce Report Asheville North Carolina National Climatic Data Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pp 99 101 103 Archived from the original PDF on February 1 2014 Retrieved February 1 2014 Luther Hodges Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena December 1961 PDF United States Department of Commerce Report Asheville North Carolina National Climatic Data Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration p 120 Archived from the original PDF on February 1 2014 Retrieved February 1 2014 1961 Carla Report Fredericton New Brunswick Environment Canada November 5 2009 Archived from the original on July 3 2013 Retrieved April 3 2014 C O Erickson February 1963 An Incipient Hurricane Near The West African Coast PDF Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pp 61 68 Retrieved August 31 2021 Exceptional Weather Events Hurricane Debbie PDF Report Met Eireann 2012 Archived from the original PDF on November 12 2013 Retrieved March 28 2014 a b Hurricane Debbie September 7 15 1961 Preliminary Report PDF National Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1961 Retrieved February 5 2014 Repairing Hurricane Damage Connacht Sentinel September 19 1961 p 10 via Irish Newspaper Archives subscription required Storm Reports From The Areas Anglo Celt September 23 1961 p 9 via Irish Newspaper Archives subscription required The Storm Made Much Work Ulster Herald September 23 1961 p 7 via Irish Newspaper Archives subscription required J G Gruickshank N Stephens L J Symons January 1962 Report of the Hurricane in Ireland on Saturday 16 September 1961 The Irish Naturalists Journal 14 1 4 12 JSTOR 25534822 Crop Losses Irish Farmers Journal September 23 1961 p 1 via Irish Newspaper Archives subscription required Gale Killed Fifteen Irish Independent September 18 1961 p 3 via Irish Newspaper Archives subscription required Hurricane Esther September 12 26 1961 Preliminary Report PDF National Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1961 p 4 Retrieved March 28 2014 Patrick J Imhof September 13 2005 Rescue at Sea PDF Report Pensacola Florida pp 4 6 Archived from the original PDF on February 4 2012 Retrieved March 28 2014 a b c Roth David M January 3 2023 Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data United States Weather Prediction Center Retrieved January 6 2023 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain a b c Hurricane Frances Sept 30 Oct 9 1961 PDF United States Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved August 31 2021 Floods Fatal To 5 Jamaicans Savannah Morning News Kingston Jamaica Associated Press October 20 1961 p 5B Retrieved August 18 2013 a b Hurricane Esther October 27 31 1961 Preliminary Report PDF National Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1961 p 4 Archived from the original PDF on April 29 2017 Retrieved August 31 2021 Cane Hattie Threatens Western Cuba Florida The Palm Beach Post West Palm Beach Florida Associated Press October 30 1961 p 1 Retrieved February 6 2021 via Newspapers com nbsp Hattie s Toll is 62 Martial Law Declared St Petersburg Times St Petersburg Florida United Press International November 2 1961 pp 1A 2A Retrieved March 28 2014 Hurricane Edith Deepens Rapidly Sarasota Herald Tribune Sarasota Florida Associated Press September 7 1971 pp 1A 4A Retrieved March 28 2014 Belize Marked 45th Anniversary of Deadly Hurricane Hattie Belize National Emergency Management Organization NEMO Press release NEMO Press Officer November 2 2006 Archived from the original on July 23 2012 Retrieved December 3 2012 a b David M Roth October 16 2008 Hurricane Jenny October 30 November 2 1961 Weather Prediction Center Report College Park Maryland National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved March 28 2014 Hurricane Jenny November 6 8 1961 PDF United States Weather Bureau Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved March 28 2014 Humberto Bravo Alavarez Rodolfo Sosa Echeverria Pablo Sanchez Alavarez Arturo Butron Silva June 22 2006 Riesgo Quimico Asociado a Fenominos Hidrometeorologicos en el Estado de Verzacruz PDF Inundaciones 2005 en el Estado de Veracruz Report in Spanish Universidad Veracruzana p 317 Retrieved March 28 2014 Go Blame An Ill Wind The Miami News June 9 1961 p 1 Retrieved February 6 2021 via Newspapers com nbsp Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names National Hurricane Center Report Miami Florida National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 11 2013 Retrieved March 28 2014 External links editMonthly Weather Review Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1961 Atlantic hurricane season amp oldid 1160010529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.