The 1932 Atlantic hurricane season featured several powerful storms, including the Cuba hurricane, which remains the deadliest tropical cyclone in the history of Cuba and among the most intense to strike the island nation. It was a relatively active season, with fifteen known storms, six hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.[nb 1] However, tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. The Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project discovered four new tropical cyclones, all of which were tropical storms, that occurred during the year.[2] Two storms attained Category5 intensity, the first known occurrence in which multiple Category5 hurricanes formed in the same year. The season's first cyclone developed on May5, while the last remaining system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by November13.
The strongest storm of the season was the Cuba hurricane, which heavily impacted portions of northern Colombia, the Netherlands Antilles, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas in November, leaving at least 3,144fatalities and $44million (1932USD) in damage,[nb 2] the vast majority of which occurred in Cuba. In early September, the Bahamas hurricane devastated portions of the island nation as a Category5 hurricane, resulting in at least 16deaths. Another destructive storm was the Freeport hurricane, which caused 40deaths and about $7.5million in damage in Texas in August. The San Ciprian hurricane also wreaked havoc on the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic in late September, with damage totaling approximately $35.8million and the death toll reaching 272. Collectively, the tropical cyclones during the 1932 season caused around $87.57million in damage and at least 3,473fatalities.
Season summary
Tropical cyclogenesis began in early May, with a system developing over the central Caribbean Sea on May5. The storm made landfall in the Dominican Republic, before becoming extratropical offshore the East Coast of the United States on May10. However, the season went dormant for about three months until the next system, the Freeport hurricane, formed over the southern Gulf of Mexico on August12. Two other storms originated in the month of August – the Florida–Alabama and Bahamas hurricanes. September was the most active month, with a total of six tropical cyclones developing, five tropical storms and one hurricane, the San Ciprián hurricane. Four more tropical cyclone formed in October, including three tropical storms and a hurricane, the Cuba hurricane, though much of its duration was in November. The season's final tropical cyclone, a hurricane, developed well east of the Windward Islands on November3 and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone southwest of the Azores on November10.[3]
A total of fifteen tropical cyclones developed, the most since 1916. Six of the systems strengthened into a hurricane, while four reached major hurricane status, which is Category3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale.[1] Two cyclones intensified into Category5 hurricanes,[3] making the season the first of only seven featuring multiple Category5 storms, the other years being 1933, 1961, 2005, 2007, 2017, and 2019.[4] The Bahamas hurricane became the first of four tropical cyclones to have struck the Bahamas at Category5 intensity, later followed by the Cuba–Brownsville hurricane in 1933, Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and Hurricane Dorian in 2019.[5] Additionally, the Cuba hurricane remains among the most intense tropical systems to strike that country.[6] Most of the storms also impacted land, with several causing devastating effects.[2] Overall, the tropical cyclones of the season collectively resulted in at least $87.57million in damage and approximately 3,473deaths.[7]
The season's total activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 170, the highest value since 1926,[1] and well above the 1931–1943 average of 91.2.[8] ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of 39mph (63km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.[1]
A tropical depression formed on May5 in the south-central Caribbean Sea. Moving slowly northeast, the system became a tropical storm the next day and gradually strengthened before making landfall just west of Baní in the Dominican Republic's modern-day Peravia Province with winds of 45mph (72km/h) on May7. Within six hours, the storm emerged into the western Atlantic on May8 and continued to strengthen. The system reached its peak intensity of 65mph (105km/h) on May9 while centered south-southwest of Bermuda. The diffuse system later transitioned into an extratropical cyclone the same day, later dissipating on May11 well to the northwest of Bermuda after merging with a frontal boundary.[2][3] Heavy rainfall was reported in far eastern Cuba and the Dominican Republic, with the latter recording over 6in (150mm) of precipitation in 12hours.[9]
A tropical disturbance developed into a tropical storm in the southern Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatán Peninsula early on August12. Moving north-northwestward, the cyclone strengthened into a hurricane by early the next day. Thereafter, the storm rapidly intensified,[3] becoming a Category 4 hurricane early on August13. Strengthening slightly further, the compact hurricane attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds estimated at 150mph (240km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 935mbar (27.6inHg) shortly before making landfall near Freeport, Texas, at 04:00UTC on August13.[2] The cyclone then rapidly weakened, falling below major hurricane intensity just eight hours later and to tropical storm intensity about fourteen hours after landfall. On August15, the system deteriorated to a tropical depression, before dissipating over the Texas Panhandle around 18:00UTC.[3]
Official warning on the storm began just four hours prior to the storm's landfall in Texas, forcing many people evacuating inland to abandon their cars in high winds and heavy rains.[10] In Galveston, power to electrical and phone service was cut off, temporarily reducing communications. The passage between Galveston Island and mainland Texas was flooded, briefly isolating Galveston. Heavy rains occurred, and a foot of rain fell as the storm moved north towards the coast.[10][11] A total of 40people were killed by the hurricane. The greatest single death toll for any town was seven in West Columbia, where sustained winds over 100mph (160km/h) flattened several homes. Two neighborhoods that had been constructed for oil industry workers there were nearly destroyed by the high tides and storm surge. Angleton, Freeport, and Galveston suffered extensive wind damage, while the inland towns of Brazoria, West Columbia, Damon and Needville, all in the path of the eye, were also devastated. Damages associated with the hurricane were estimated to total to $7.5million.[10]
A tropical disturbance was first identified southeast of Puerto Rico on August24.[2] Moving northwestward, the disturbance developed into a tropical depression two days later north of Hispaniola. Slowly moving towards the west-northwest, it intensified into a tropical storm late on August27. The storm made landfall on the north end of Key Largo, Florida, with sustained winds of 65mph (105km/h) around 04:00UTC on August30, before striking the mainland south of Homestead. After crossing the Florida peninsula and entering the Gulf of Mexico, the system reached its peak intensity as a Category1hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85mph (137km/h), before subsequently making its final landfall just east Mississippi–Alabama state line on September1 at the same intensity. Over land, the hurricane weakened, and after becoming an extratropical cyclone over northwestern Mississippi on September2,[3] the storm merged with another extratropical system over Quebec on September4.[2]
At the storm's landfall in southern Florida, heavy rains and strong winds caused extensive damage to crops, particularly to avocado and citrus.[2] A fire in Hollywood that firefighters were unable to extinguish due to winds damaging equipment led to approximately $20,000 in damage.[12] As the strengthening hurricane moved northwestwards through the Gulf of Mexico, it generated strong surf that caused severe damage to coastal areas across western Florida,[2][13] before making its second landfall, where it produced hurricane-force winds across a wide swath of the coast. In and around Pensacola, the hurricane caused about $100,000 in damage, including impacts to buildings, homes, waterfront properties, power lines, and cotton crops. Agricultural lands in coastal regions of Mississippi and Alabama were damaged by strong winds and heavy rain.[2] Storm surge also submerged portions of Bayou La Batre and Mobile in Alabama, with about $105,000 in damage in the latter.[14] The hurricane caused one death and about $229,000 in total damages across its path.[2][12][15]
A tropical depression was first detected north of the Virgin Islands late on August30. Moving towards the west-northwest, the depression steadily intensified, reaching tropical storm strength and later hurricane strength on September2, as it passed near the Turks and Caicos Islands. After reaching hurricane intensity, the hurricane began to rapidly intensify, becoming a major hurricane on September4. The intensifying hurricane moved through the Bahamas and reached its peak intensity as a Category5hurricane, the first of the season, with maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h) at 18:00UTC on September5. Shortly thereafter, the hurricane struck the Abaco Islands. Curving north-northeastward, the cyclone slowly weakened, falling to Category4 intensity by late on September6. The storm continued weakening as it accelerated northeastward, bypassing New England before becoming extratropical about 150mi (240km) south of Cape Sable Island on September9. The extratropical cyclone brushed Newfoundland and traversed across Iceland and later dissipated just offshore Russia's Kola Peninsula on September17.[3]
The hurricane caused extensive devastation across much of the Bahamas, where it killed 16people and injured an additional 300people.[2] Strong winds destroyed numerous homes and hampered water and food supplies. The large hurricane also generated a strong storm surge which inundated the Abaco Islands.[16] The Abaco Islands were the worst impacted area, where the severity of damage indicated that sustained wind speeds exceeded 150mph (240km/h).[17] At Hope Town, the hurricane demolished 83homes, severely damaged 63others, and damaged 40others to a lesser degree. Strong winds also destroyed all churches and public buildings in the community. Similarly, all buildings – including churches, government buildings, and schools – and homes were demolished on Green Turtle Cay. Only six homes remained standing in Coopers Town and just four others withstood the hurricane at Great Guana Cay. The hurricane also completely destroyed the Bluff Point community. Most homes in Marsh Harbour were severely damaged, while the cyclone destroyed 12other homes and all schools in the town.[18] Effects in the United States were much less severe, due to the distance of the hurricane. However, strong gales still swept through much of New England.[17] In Atlantic Canada, the storm caused 14 or 15deaths, all related to maritime incidents. On land, wind gusts reached 81mph (130km/h) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Some homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, while approximately 10percent of apple crops in Annapolis Valley were lost.[19]
On September4, an area of low pressure developed from a stationary front approximately 740mi (1,190km) south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland.[2][3] At the time, a warm front and cold front were connected to the system, but further observations revealed minimal temperature deviations. The following day, the disturbance appeared to have acquired subtropical characteristics, but became tropical after observations showed that winds associated with the storm were near the center.[2] The system peaked as a strong tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70mph (110km/h) on September5.[3] The storm later weakened and was absorbed by a frontal boundary at 18:00UTC on September7 roughly 165mi (265km) southeast of Cape Race.[2][3]
A tropical storm formed in the Bay of Campeche on September9. Moving slowly northwards, the storm reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 60mph (95km/h) while located south of the Mississippi River Delta.[3] Beginning on September14, the storm began to accelerate as it turned towards the northeast. Around 04:00UTC on September15, the cyclone made landfall in St. Marks, Florida, at peak intensity. The storm crossed the state quickly and briefly entered Georgia before emerging into the Atlantic less than eight hours after landfall. However, the system soon transitioned into an extratropical cyclone a short distance east of Sapelo Island around 12:00UTC on September15. The extratropical cyclone quickly accelerated parallel to the United States East Coast,[3] before being absorbed by another extratropical system over Quebec.[2]
The storm's quick passage over the Florida peninsula left relatively minor damage.[2] A train crossed over a washout on its railroad, causing it to derail.[20] In Apalachicola, there was considerable damage to crops, and torrential rains caused $2,000 in damages.[2] Electric power in the city was also disabled, and some buildings suffered structural damage, totaling to $8,000 in damages.[15]Tallahassee observed 5.61in (142mm) of precipitation. In Georgia, Thomasville and Valdosta experienced "high winds and considerable rainfall," according to the Tallahassee Democrat.[21] A few weather stations along the East Coast of the United States recorded sustained tropical storm force winds, including Hatteras, North Carolina; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and New York City, New York.[2] There were scattered reports of wind damage across Atlantic Canada, including the toppling of telephone and electrical wires, and the deroofing of buildings and homes. In Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley lost approximately 75% of its apple crops. The storm also left maritime impacts, damaging or destroying docks, wharves, and boats. At least one death occurred in Canada, while eight other people went missing along with their vessel.[22]
On September16, a tropical storm with winds of 40mph (64km/h) developed out of a frontal boundary about 860mi (1,385km) southwest of the northwesternmost islands of the Azores.[2][3] Moving slowly towards the northwest,[3] gales were reported by ships in the region as the cyclone slowly intensified.[2] On September20, the storm began to move towards the southwest. The system reached peak intensity on September21, with winds of 65mph (105km/h), before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone about halfway between Bermuda and Nova Scotia as it recurved northwards on September23. The extratropical cyclone later made landfall on Nova Scotia the following day, before dissipating over southern Greenland on September26.[3] Sustained winds in Atlantic Canada peaked at 29mph (47km/h) on Resolution Island in Nunavut.[2]
Another tropical depression was first identified on September18 in the Bay of Campeche.[2] Moving quickly towards the north-northeast, the depression intensified to a tropical storm and reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65mph (105km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 998mbar (29.5inHg) early the next day. The storm subsequently made landfall near Morgan City, Louisiana, at 19:00UTC on September19. Weakening over land, the tropical storm degenerated to a tropical depression at 12:00UTC on September20, before becoming extratropical the next day just west of Louisville, Kentucky,[3] and later dissipating after it was absorbed by an approaching frontal system over southern Ohio late on September21.[2]
Since the storm made landfall in a sparsely populated region of Louisiana, only minimal damage was reported. Prior to the storm's landfall, however, hedge selling of cotton were offset in late dealings caused by fears of the storm's potential impact.[23] Tropical storm-force winds damaged some fishing shacks in southwestern Louisiana.[24] A tornado was reported in West Baton Rouge Parish, blowing down sugarcane along a path 8mi (13km) long.[15] Another tornado in Gulfport, Mississippi, damaged half a dozen homes and injured three people.[24] Farther inland, heavy rains associated with the system were reported, peaking at 3.01in (76mm) in Vicksburg.[2]
On September25, ships first noted a tropical storm east of the Leeward Islands. The storm quickly intensified as it moved towards the west due to a nearby high pressure system,[2] reaching hurricane strength at 12:00UTC that day. As it approached Puerto Rico, the hurricane continued to rapidly intensify, before reaching its peak intensity as a Category4 hurricane with winds of 145mph (233km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943mbar (27.8inHg) on September27, before making landfall near Ceiba, Puerto Rico, at 03:00UTC. The hurricane slightly weakened over the island, and after crossing the Mona Passage, made a second landfall in southern areas of the Dominican Republic as a Category2 hurricane. Its passage of Hispaniola significantly weakened the hurricane, downgrading it to tropical strength on September28. After brushing Jamaica to the south, the storm remained weak as it traversed the Caribbean. The cyclone made landfall in British Honduras between Hopkins and Placencia with winds of 45mph (72km/h) late on October1. Thereafter, the storm quickly weakened and dissipated over southeastern Mexico on October3.[3]
Possible due to the storm's small size, sustained wind speeds reached only 60mph (97km/h) on Saint Croix and Saint Thomas, while Saint Barthélemy experienced sustained winds between 60 and 85mph (97 and 137km/h).[2] On Saint Thomas, winds downed wires and trees and damaged homes. The storm also capsized ships in Saint Thomas harbor and at Tortola. Property damage on Saint Thomas alone exceeded $200,000, while 15fatalities were reported.[25][26] Most of the damage caused by the San Ciprián hurricane occurred in Puerto Rico, particularly along the island's northern half,[2] with the cyclone drawing comparisons to the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.[27] The powerful winds destroyed numerous buildings. More than 40,000homes were demolished, rendering 25,000families homeless.[28] Winds also knocked out communications systems, hampering relief efforts.[29] Heavy losses were incurred to crops, particularly to citrus and coffee. The hurricane caused 257deaths and injured 4,820other people, while inflicting about $35.6million in damage.[28] Economic losses related to the hurricane amounted to about 20percent of Puerto Rico's gross income.[30] Significant damage to agriculture occurred in the Dominican Republic.[31] Impacts in Jamaica and British Honduras were minimal.[32][33]
A tropical storm was first identified in the eastern Atlantic on September28 as a small, compact system,[2] with winds of 40mph (64km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1,004mbar (29.6inHg). Initially situated roughly 800mi (1,285km) south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, the storm moved southeastward and intensified slightly to peak with maximum sustained winds of 45mph (72km/h).[3] Thereafter, the storm interacted with an extratropical cyclone which pulled it to the northwest. The extratropical cyclone later absorbed the system at 06:00UTC on September30 near its location of development.[2][3]
A tropical depression formed on October7 from a broad low-pressure area in the central Caribbean offshore Honduras.[2][3] Moving slowly to the west-northwest, the depression steadily intensified, reaching tropical storm strength at 12:00UTC the same day. The storm continued to intensify as it moved towards the Yucatán Peninsula, reaching peak intensity late on October9, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 70mph (110km/h).[3] The storm made landfall near Playa del Carmen at 04:00UTC the next day, while still at peak intensity.[2] Over land, the storm weakened to a tropical depression on October11 as it curved northwestward. On the next day, the depression later emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, where it began to restrengthen. By 12:00UTC on October13, the elongated system regained tropical storm strength, before reaching a secondary peak intensity of 60mph (97km/h).[3] However, baroclinic forces caused the storm to become extratropical prior to striking Louisiana on October15. The extratropical remnants of the storm continued to trek to the northeast, before it merged with another extratropical system over West Virginia.[2]
In Mexico, the storm produced tropical storm-force winds, with a sustained wind speed of 52mph (84km/h) in the city of Veracruz.[2] As the system approached the Gulf Coast of the United States, storm warnings were issued from Brownsville, Texas, to Apalachicola, Florida. Its extratropical remnants brought gale–force winds to portions of Louisiana.[34] Offshore, a cargo ship carrying asphalt sunk due to strong waves, causing $30,000in losses.[35] In addition heavy rains caused rivers to exceed flood stage, particularly east of where the storm made landfall,[11] isolating homes and interrupting traffic. The Black Warrior River exceeded its flood stage by 14ft (4.3m), and the Catawba River also overflowed.[36] A peak rainfall of 8.5in (220mm) was reported during a 17‑hour period in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The storm also brought widespread rainfall across the South Atlantic states through orographic lift, peaking at 9.3in (240mm) in Rock House, North Carolina.[11] Washout from the rains also caused a train wreck.[36]
A tropical depression was first identified on October8 about 575mi (925km) northeast of the Virgin Islands and quickly intensified to a tropical storm. Moving towards the west and then northwest, the storm intensified to its peak intensity of 60mph (97km/h) at 1800UTC on October10 as it neared Bermuda.[3] The island reported sustained wind speeds up to 40mph (64km/h).[2] The storm weakened as it progressed farther northward and curved toward the northeast, before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone by 0600UTC on October12 approximately 205mi (330km) southeast of Sable Island.[3] The system was absorbed by a strong cold frontal boundary later that day.[2]
On October17, a stationary front positioned over the eastern Atlantic began to dissipate, and a large area of low pressure began to form along the front boundary.[2] The disturbance intensified to tropical storm strength at 0000UTC on October18 about 1,220mi (1,965km) northwest of the westernmost islands of Cabo Verde,[3] after losing baroclinity.[2] As it moved towards the north, the system slowly intensified to an estimated peak intensity of 70mph (110km/h) at 0600UTC on October19,[3] as suggested by a nearby ship that also reported 70mph (110km/h) winds.[2] At the same time, the storm also turned eastward, and subsequently began to weaken. The system degenerated to tropical depression strength on October21, and dissipated shortly thereafter around 415mi (670km) southwest of the central Azores.[3]
Early on October30, a tropical depression formed about 300mi (485km) northeast of Barbados. Moving nearly due west, the depression brushed Martinique on October31, shortly before entering the Caribbean and intensifying into a tropical storm. Upon reaching the central Caribbean, the cyclone turned west-southwestward and strengthened into a hurricane early on November2. It reached Category2 status about 24hours later near the Guajira Peninsula. The storm strengthened into a major hurricane on November4, and continued to intensify,[3] peaking as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 175mph (282km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure at or below 915mb (27.02inHg) on November5 as it moved west-northwestward over the western Caribbean.[2] The storm later turned northward and then northeastward by early November9, around the time that it weakened to a Category4 hurricane.[3] Overall, the system maintained Category5 status for 78hours, which is the longest amount of time on record for a storm to remain at that intensity.[5] The cyclone struck Camagüey Province in Cuba on November9 as a Category4 hurricane with winds of 150mph (240km/h) and a barometric pressure of 918mb (27.11inHg). The storm emerged into the Atlantic over the Bahamas and continued to slowly weaken. On November13, the cyclone fell to tropical storm intensity and became extratropical several hours later about 530mi (855km) southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. The extratropical low turned eastward and dissipated near the Azores late on the following day.[3]
In the ABC islands, the hurricane destroyed Curaçao's harbor fortifications,[37] while the pier on Bonaire was demolished.[38] Several coastal towns and seaports in Colombia in the vicinities of Barranquilla and Santa Marta suffered extensive damage.[39] Some inland farms were ruined by flooding and strong winds.[37] On Providencia Island, major damage to agriculture occurred and 36homes were demolished.[2] High winds in Jamaica downed more than 2million trees and caused up to a 50percent loss of banana crops in some areas.[2][40] Damage in Jamaica totaled approximately $4million.[41] In the Cayman Islands, the storm was considered the worst to strike the archipelago until Hurricane Ivan in 2004. On Grand Cayman, 60homes were either destroyed or suffered major damage, rendering about 250people homeless, while only 6dwellings remained standing on Little Cayman. The hurricane demolished schools on both Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. The death toll in the Cayman Islands reached at least 109.[42] In Cuba, a massive storm surge measuring 21ft (6.5m) in height inundated Santa Cruz del Sur in Camagüey Province. Out of the approximately 4,800residents,[43] an estimated 2,870people in Santa Cruz del Sur were killed and less than 10percent of the town's population was uninjured.[2][43] Few homes in the town remained standing following the storm.[2] Many other communities in the province suffered devastation.[44] A Pan Am radio operator in Nuevitas reported that nearly all frame-buildings in the area were destroyed and most public buildings sustained serious damage.[45] The hurricane also caused impacts in Oriente and Santa Clara provinces.[46] Overall, damage in Cuba totaled approximately $40million, while at least 3,033fatalities occurred,[43] making the storm the deadliest in the nation's history. The cyclone also caused significant impacts in the central Bahamas, especially on Cat Island, Exuma, Long Island, and Rum Cay,[2] damaging or destroying many crops, structures, and vessels. Two deaths occurred in the Bahamas.[47] Wind gusts on Bermuda reached 87mph (140km/h) at St. George's, downing some electrical and telephone wires and tree branches.[2]
A tropical storm was first identified in the Central Atlantic about 785mi (1,265km) east of Barbados at 0600UTC on November3,[3] with ships reporting moderate gales in its vicinity.[2] Throughout its existence, the storm moved in an erratic path, generally to the north. Steadily intensifying, the storm became a hurricane at 1800UTC on November6, as it began to move towards the northeast towards the Azores. The hurricane continued to intensify, attaining Category2 intensity early on November8 and at the same time reaching its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 100mph (160km/h). After reaching peak intensity, a weakening trend began as the storm accelerated east-northeastward. Early on November10, the system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone about 210mi (340km) southwest of the northwesternmost islands of the Azores, while still maintaining hurricane-force winds.[3] The extratropical system continued to quickly move east-northeastward until it coalesced with another extratropical cyclone on November11.[2]
Season effects
The following table lists all of the storms that formed in the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, areas affected, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals from the storm's precursor and its remnants, and all of the damage figures are in 1932 USD.
The 1961 Atlantic hurricane season was a very active 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. Anna caused one death and about $300,000 (1961 USD) 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.
The 1963 Atlantic hurricane season featured one of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record in the Atlantic basin: Hurricane Flora. The season officially began on June 15, and lasted until November 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was a slightly below average season in terms of tropical storms, with a total of ten nameable storms. The first system, an unnamed tropical storm, developed over the Bahamas on June 1. In late July, Hurricane Arlene, developed between Cape Verde and the Lesser Antilles. The storm later impacted Bermuda, where strong winds resulted in about $300,000 (1963 USD) in damage. Other storms such as hurricanes Beulah and Debra, as well as an unnamed tropical storm, did not impact land. During the month of September, Tropical Storm Cindy caused wind damage and flooding in Texas, leaving three deaths and approximately $12.5 million in damage. Hurricane Edith passed through the Lesser Antilles and the eastern Greater Antilles, causing 10 deaths and about $43 million in damage, most of which occurred on Martinique.
The 1966 Atlantic hurricane season saw the Weather Bureau office in Miami, Florida, be designated as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and assume responsibility of tropical cyclone forecasting in the basin. The season officially began on June 1, and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was an above-average season in terms of tropical storms, with a total of 15. The first system, Hurricane Alma, developed over eastern Nicaragua on June 4 and became the most recent major hurricane in the month of June. Alma brought severe flooding to Honduras and later to Cuba, but caused relatively minor impact in the Southeastern United States. Alma resulted in 91 deaths and about $210.1 million (1966 USD) in damage.
The 1949 Atlantic hurricane season was the last season that tropical cyclones were not publicly labeled by the United States Weather Bureau. It officially began on June 15, and lasted until November 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first storm, a tropical depression, developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico on August 14. The final system, Tropical Storm Sixteen, dissipated in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 5. It was a fairly active season, featuring 16 tropical storms and seven hurricanes. Two of these strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.
The 1945 Atlantic hurricane season produced multiple landfalling tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 16 and lasted until October 31, dates delimiting the period when a majority of storms were perceived to form in the Atlantic Ocean. A total of 11 systems were documented, including a late-season cyclone retroactively added a decade later. Five of the eleven systems intensified into hurricanes, and two further attained their peaks as major hurricanes. Activity began with the formation of a tropical storm in the Caribbean on June 20, which then made landfalls in Florida and North Carolina at hurricane intensity, causing one death and at least $75,000 in damage. In late August, a Category 3 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale struck the Texas coastline, with 3 deaths and $20.1 million in damage. The most powerful hurricane of the season, reaching Category 4 intensity, wrought severe damage throughout the Bahamas and East Coast of the United States, namely Florida, in mid-September; 26 people were killed and damage reached $60 million. A hurricane moved ashore the coastline of Belize in early October, causing one death, while the final cyclone of the year resulted in 5 deaths and $2 million in damage across Cuba and the Bahamas two weeks later. Overall, 36 people were killed and damage reached at least $82.85 million.
The 1944 Atlantic hurricane season featured the first instance of upper-tropospheric observations from radiosonde – a telemetry device used to record weather data in the atmosphere – being incorporated into tropical cyclone track forecasting for a fully developed hurricane. The season officially began on June 15, 1944, and ended on November 15, 1944. These dates describe the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season's first cyclone developed on July 13, while the final system became an extratropical cyclone by November 13. The season was fairly active season, with 14 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. In real-time, forecasters at the Weather Bureau tracked eleven tropical storms, but later analysis uncovered evidence of three previously unclassified tropical storms.
The 1942 Atlantic hurricane season was one of seven seasons to feature multiple hurricane landfalls in Texas. The season officially lasted from June 16, 1942, to October 31, 1942. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. A total of 11 tropical storms from 1943 are listed in the Atlantic hurricane database, with two additional tropical depressions. The first system of the year, a tropical depression, developed over the central Gulf of Mexico on June 3, while the last system, the Belize hurricane, dissipated over the Yucatán Peninsula on November 11. After the depression dissipated on June 3, the season remained dormant until the next system developed two months later. In mid-August, a hurricane struck Texas, causing about $790,000 (1942 USD) in damage.
The 1940 Atlantic hurricane season was a generally average period of tropical cyclogenesis in 1940. Though the season had no official bounds, most tropical cyclone activity occurred during August and September. Throughout the year, fourteen tropical cyclones formed, of which nine reached tropical storm intensity; six were hurricanes. None of the hurricanes reached major hurricane intensity. Tropical cyclones that did not approach populated areas or shipping lanes, especially if they were relatively weak and of short duration, may have remained undetected. Because technologies such as satellite monitoring were not available until the 1960s, historical data on tropical cyclones from this period are often not reliable. As a result of a reanalysis project which analyzed the season in 2012, an additional hurricane was added to HURDAT. The year's first tropical storm formed on May 19 off the northern coast of Hispaniola. At the time, this was a rare occurrence, as only four other tropical disturbances were known to have formed prior during this period; since then, reanalysis of previous seasons has concluded that there were more than four tropical cyclones in May before 1940. The season's final system was a tropical disturbance situated in the Greater Antilles, which dissipated on November 8.
The 1931 Atlantic hurricane season was an active hurricane season, with a total of 13 storms recorded, which was the most since 1916. However, only three of them intensified into hurricanes and just one reached major hurricane intensity, which is Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale. Nine of the tropical cyclones were identified in real-time, while evidence of the existence of four other tropical cyclones was uncovered by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project in 2012 and added to the Atlantic hurricane database. Additionally, two of the tropical storms were upgraded to hurricane status as part of the reanalysis.
The 1928 Atlantic hurricane season was a near average hurricane season in which seven tropical cyclones developed. Of these, six intensified into a tropical storm and four further strengthened into hurricanes. One hurricane deepened into a major hurricane, which is Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale. The first system, the Fort Pierce hurricane, developed near the Lesser Antilles on August 3. The storm crossed the Bahamas and made landfall in Florida. Two fatalities and approximately $235,000 in damage was reported. A few days after the first storm developed, the Haiti hurricane, formed near the southern Windward Islands on August 7. The storm went on to strike Haiti, Cuba, and Florida. This storm left about $2 million in damage and at least 210 deaths. Impacts from the third system are unknown.
The 1921 Atlantic hurricane season was an active hurricane season, with 12 tropical cyclones forming. Among them, seven became tropical storms, of which five strengthened into hurricanes. Furthermore, two of these strengthened into a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, the most since the 1917 season. The first system, a tropical depression, developed on June 1, while the last, a tropical storm, dissipated on November 25. Of note, three tropical cyclones co-existed with another during the season.
The 1919 Atlantic hurricane season was among the least active hurricane seasons in the Atlantic on record, featuring only five tropical storms. Of those five tropical cyclones, two of them intensified into a hurricane, with one strengthening into a major hurricane Two tropical depressions developed in the month of June, both of which caused negligible damage. A tropical storm in July brought minor damage to Pensacola, Florida, but devastated a fleet of ships. Another two tropical depressions formed in August, the first of which brought rainfall to the Lesser Antilles.
The 1913 Atlantic hurricane season was the third consecutive year with a tropical cyclone developing before June. The first system, a tropical depression, developed on May 5 while the last transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 30. Of note, the seventh and eighth cyclones existed simultaneously from August 30 to September 4.
The 1908 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season. Thirteen tropical cyclones formed, of which ten became tropical storms; six became hurricanes, and one of those strengthened into a major hurricane – tropical cyclones that reach at least Category 3 on the modern day Saffir–Simpson scale. The season's first system developed on March 6, and the last storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 23.
The 1901 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active season without a major hurricane – tropical cyclones that reach at least Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale – until 2013. The first system was initially observed in the northeastern Caribbean on June 11. The fourteenth and final system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone near Bermuda on November 5. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. Eight of the fourteen tropical cyclones existed simultaneously.
The 1899 Atlantic hurricane season featured the longest-lasting tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin on record. There were nine tropical storms, of which five became hurricanes. Two of those strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. The first system was initially observed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on June 26. The tenth and final system dissipated near Bermuda on November 10. These dates fall within the period with the most tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic. In post-season analysis, two tropical cyclones that existed in October were added to HURDAT – the official Atlantic hurricane database. At one point during the season, September 3 through the following day, a set of three tropical cyclones existed simultaneously.
The 2001 Atlantic hurricane season was an above-average Atlantic hurricane season in which fifteen named storms formed. The season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates that conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season's first tropical cyclone, Tropical Storm Allison, formed on June 5 while the season's final system, Hurricane Olga, dissipated on December 6.
The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual tropical cyclone season in the north Atlantic Ocean. It was one of the most active Atlantic hurricane seasons since record keeping began in 1851 as 19 named storms formed. The season officially began on June 1, 2010, and ended on November 30, 2010, dates that conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic basin. The first storm to form was Hurricane Alex, on June 25; and the last to dissipate was Hurricane Tomas, on November 7.
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season was an event in the annual hurricane season in the north Atlantic Ocean. It was well above average, with 19 tropical storms forming. Even so, it was the first season on record in which the first eight storms failed to attain hurricane strength. The season officially began on June 1, 2011, and ended on November 30, 2011, dates that conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic basin. The season's first storm, Tropical Storm Arlene did not form until June 28. The final storm to develop, Tropical Storm Sean, dissipated on November 11.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, in terms of number of systems. It featured a total of 31 tropical or subtropical cyclones, with all but one cyclone becoming a named storm. Of the 30 named storms, 14 developed into hurricanes, and a record-tying seven further intensified into major hurricanes. It was the second and final season to use the Greek letter storm naming system, the first being 2005, the previous record. Of the 30 named storms, 11 of them made landfall in the contiguous United States, breaking the record of nine set in 1916. During the season, 27 tropical storms established a new record for earliest formation date by storm number. This season also featured a record ten tropical cyclones that underwent rapid intensification, tying it with 1995, as well as tying the record for most Category 4 hurricanes in a singular season in the Atlantic Basin. This unprecedented activity was fueled by a La Niña that developed in the summer months of 2020, continuing a stretch of above-average seasonal activity that began in 2016. Despite the record-high activity, this was the first season since 2015 in which no Category 5 hurricane formed.
↑ Orlando Sotomayor (July 2013). "Fetal and infant origins of diabetes and ill health: Evidence from Puerto Rico's 1928 and 1932 hurricanes". Economics & Human Biology. Elsevier. 11 (3): 281–293. doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2012.02.009. PMID22445329.
↑ "Repair Begins in Porto Rico". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 29, 1932. p.3. Retrieved April 18, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Hurricane Passes Island on the South". The Daily Gleaner. September 30, 1932. p.1 – via NewspaperArchive.
1 2 James A. Ryan (November 7, 1932). "Coastline of Colombia Hit By Hurricane". Belvidere Daily Republican. International News Service. p.4. Retrieved August 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Sea Wall Collapses". The Brownsville Herald. Associated Press. November 2, 1932. p.17. Retrieved August 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
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