1931 Atlantic hurricane season
| |
| Season summary map |
| First system formed |
June 25, 1931 |
| Last system dissipated |
November 25, 1931 |
| Strongest storm1 |
"Belize" – 952 mbar (hPa) (28.11 inHg), 135 mph (215 km/h) |
| Total depressions |
13 |
| Total storms |
13 |
| Hurricanes |
3 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
1 |
| Total fatalities |
2,502 |
| Total damage |
~ $7.5 million (1931 USD) |
| 1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure |
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 |
The 1931 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1931. The 1931 season was average in terms of tropical cyclone formation, but below average in number of hurricanes. 13 tropical cyclones formed during the year, but only three reached hurricane status, and one reached major hurricane status. The season's only major hurricane, the 1931 Belize hurricane, was a Category 4 hurricane that caused severe devastation in Belize, killing approximately 2,500 people. The other hurricane of the season struck Puerto Rico and mainland Mexico as a Category 1 causing some moderate damage.
Timeline
Storms
Tropical Storm One
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
June 24 – June 28 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
The first of many weak storms in 1931, this one developed in the western Caribbean. Wind speeds never rose above 45 mph (72 km/h). The storm moved on a nearly straight northwest track, eventually making landfall near Port Mansfield, Texas. The area experienced squally weather but was otherwise unaffected. Numerous waterspouts were spotted offshore, all spawned by the tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Two
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
July 11 – July 17 |
| Peak intensity |
70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
Storm Two also formed in the western Caribbean. It moved inland near Chetumal, Mexico and turned northward through the Yucatan Peninsula. It reached its peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) two days later, after reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico. Continuing northward, it weakened just before landfall in central Louisiana to 50 mph (80 km/h) sustained winds. Gale winds and heavy rains were reported, but no damage reports exist. The storm dissipated over Oklahoma.
Tropical Storm Three
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 10 – August 19 |
| Peak intensity |
60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
The third storm of the season formed not far east of Martinique and tracked westward through the Caribbean, not gaining much intensity. It grazed the coast of Honduras and made landfall in central Belize. The storm briefly reemerged over the Bay of Campeche before moving into mainland Mexico and dissipating. Damage was minimal to non existent but it might have helped further saturate the area ahead of the catastrophic hurricane that would hit later in the season.
Tropical Storm Four
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
August 16 – August 21 |
| Peak intensity |
40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) |
Another weak storm, this one never strengthened past minimal tropical storm intensity, and in fact, may have only been a tropical depression but the data was inconclusive. It formed northeast of Barbados and curved north-northwestward through the Lesser Antilles. It passed directly over Puerto Rico on August 17. Little else is written about the storm but it is likely the region received rain saturation that could have exacerbated the damage from the San Nicolas hurricane that September.
Tropical Storm Five
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 1 – September 4 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1007 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Five developed north of the Lesser Antilles on September 1. It moved westward and struck Dominican Republic, before dissipating over Haiti on September 4.
Hurricane Six
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 6 – September 12 |
| Peak intensity |
130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min) 952 mbar (hPa) |
The 5th storm of the 1931 season remains the deadliest hurricane, and natural disaster, in Belize's history. It devastated the entire northern coast of the country. It formed east of the Barbados in early September and moved through the Caribbean, not strengthening much for the first four days of its life. On September 10, however, the storm began to rapidly intensify; going from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane with 135 mph (217 km/h) winds in a very short period of time. September 10 is a national holiday in Belize, celebrating the defeat of the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye much like Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. This, or its sudden intensification on the day of its landfall, perhaps increased the death toll. Belize City was nearly destroyed by the storm surge. As many as 2,500 people lost their lives in the hurricane. The storm then moved over the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Veracruz and dissipated inland.
Hurricane Seven
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 8 – September 16 |
| Peak intensity |
100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 987 mbar (hPa) |
The second hurricane that season, Storm Six, also known as the San Nicolas Hurricane, formed a couple hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands on September 8 and took a nearly straight course for most of its lifetime. It strengthened into a hurricane while over the British Virgin Islands, briefly becoming a Category 2, weakening just before landfall in Puerto Rico. It struck the island only hours before Storm Five hit Belize. Due to the small size of the storm, damage was limited to a 5 or 6-mile (9.7 km) radius in the San Juan area. Two people were killed and damage was restricted to trees, windows, power lines and roofing. Storm Six weakened to a tropical storm and crossed over parts of Hispaniola and Jamaica and later made landfall near Majahual, Mexico. It regained hurricane status in the Bay of Campeche and made landfall near Veracruz. Gusts as high as 95 mph (153 km/h) were recorded in Veracruz. Apparently there was little damage to the city itself but several small boats were lost offshore and several sailors drowned. The 800-ton steamer Dos Equis sank with the loss of everyone on board. No exact figures exist. The storm quickly dissipated inland.
Hurricane Eight
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
September 23 – September 28 |
| Peak intensity |
75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 987 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Eight existed from September 23 to September 28 in the open Atlantic Ocean.
Tropical Storm Nine
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 13 – October 16 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1000 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical depression developed in the vicinity of the Bahamas on October 13. After strengthening into a tropical storm, the system accelerated northeastward and became extratropical east of Bermuda on October 16.
Tropical Storm Ten
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
October 18 – October 20 |
| Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1004 mbar (hPa) |
The tenth storm of the season formed in the western Caribbean on October 18 and took a nearly straight northeasterly track. Little is written of this storm in the Monthly Weather Review report, but according to the Best Track data, it crossed central Cuba the day after formation and trekked over the open Atlantic for the next three days. Wind speeds never exceeded 45 mph (72 km/h) and no damage reports exist.
Tropical Storm Eleven
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
November 1 – November 5 |
| Peak intensity |
65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 1011 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Eleven existed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea from November 1 to November 5.
Tropical Storm Twelve
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
November 11 – November 16 |
| Peak intensity |
50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical depression developed in the southeastern Caribbean Sea on November 11. It moved northwestward and later strengthened into a tropical storm. The system made landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula, before dissipating over the Bay of Campeche on November 16.
Tropical Storm Thirteen
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
|
| Duration |
November 22 – November 25 |
| Peak intensity |
65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 998 mbar (hPa) |
The final storm of the season formed in late November north of the Leeward Islands. The storm moved northwestward over the western Atlantic before turning west-southwestward on November 24. It dissipated near the northern Bahamas.
See also
External links
