Hurricane Flora
| hurricane | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 26, 1963 |
| Dissipated | October 12, 1963 |
Hurricane Flora blasted through the Caribbean in September and October, 1963. Flora was one of the deadliest hurricanes in history, killing over 7,000.
Storm history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionA tropical depression formed on September 26 in the Central Atlantic, developing from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The depression moved rapidly west-northwestward, which helped prevent intensification. On the 29th, it began to rapidly intensify, becoming a tropical storm that day, and a 120 mph Category 3 by the 30th. Flora moved through the Leeward Islands, first striking the island of Tobago. Flora then crossed the Caribbean Sea and strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane, peaking at 140 mph winds.
Flora struck the southwest peninsula of Haiti on October 4 as a 140 mph hurricane, causing heavy rains. The Dominican Republic was luckier, but still was hit with flooding. Flora hit southeast Cuba near Guantanamo Bay also on the 4th, but a high pressure system to its north and another to its west caused Flora to drift over Cuba. It reached the Caribbean again on the 6th, but it again hit Cuba on the 7th. A shortwave trough finally pulled Flora to the northeast, bringing the hurricane into the Atlantic Ocean on the 8th. Flora steadily strengthened to a 115 mph major hurricane on the 10th, but cooler water temperatures weakened Flora until it became extratropical on the 12th.
Impact
The hurricane caused such great damage in Tobago that it changed the economy of the island from cash-crop agriculture towards tourism and fishing. Heavy crop damage was reported in Haiti, with smaller amounts of damage in Dominican Republic.
Flora left 7,193 people dead in Haiti and Cuba, making it one of the five deadliest hurricanes in Atlantic history. In addition, Flora caused a total of $528,500,000 in damage (1963 dollars).
Retirement
The name Flora was retired and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again; this name was replaced by Freda in 1967.
See also
External links
- http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/1963.pdf (Monthly Weather Summary)