1963 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1963 Atlantic hurricane season |
Season summary map
|
| Seasonal boundaries |
| First system formed |
July 31, 1963 |
| Last system dissipated |
October 29, 1963 |
| Strongest storm |
|
| Name |
Flora |
| • Maximum winds |
145 mph (230 km/h)
(1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure |
940 mbar (hPa; 27.76 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics |
| Total depressions |
9 |
| Total storms |
9 |
| Hurricanes |
7 |
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+) |
2 |
| Total fatalities |
7,225 |
| Total damage |
$830.1 million (1963 USD) |
|
|
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
|
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 31 – August 10 |
| Peak intensity |
105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 969 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 20 – August 28 |
| Peak intensity |
120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min) 958 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 10 – September 14 |
| Peak intensity |
60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 992 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 16 – September 20 |
| Peak intensity |
80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 19 – September 24 |
| Peak intensity |
75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 999 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 23 – September 29 |
| Peak intensity |
100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 978 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 26 – October 12 |
| Peak intensity |
145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 940 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 16 – October 29 |
| Peak intensity |
110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min) 948 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 25 – October 29 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 1001 mbar (hPa) |
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 near-average season in terms of tropical storms, with a total of nine named storms. The first system, Hurricane Arlene, developed between Cape Verde and the Lesser Antilles on July 31. 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, Hurricane 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 most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Flora, which peaked as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. Drifting slowly and executing a cyclonic loop, Flora dropped very heavy rainfall in the Greater Antilles, including over 100 in (2,500 mm) in Cuba. Extreme flooding ensued, leaving behind at least 7,193 fatalities and about $773.4 million in damage. Flora is thus listed among the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes on record. In October, Hurricane Ginny moved erratically offshore the Southeastern United States, though eventually, the extratropical remnants struck Nova Scotia. Ginny caused at least three deaths and $400,000 in damage in the United States alone. The final cyclone, Tropical Storm Helena, caused five deaths and over $500,000 in damage on Guadeloupe. Overall, the storms in this season caused at least 7,225 deaths and about $830.1 million in damage.
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Wikipedia
