1964 Atlantic hurricane season
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 Season summary map |
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| First storm formed: | June 2, 1964 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | November 10, 1964 |
| Strongest storm: | Hilda - 941 mbar (27.78 inHg) |
| Total storms: | 12 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 6 |
| Total damage: | $605 million (1964 USD) $3.7 billion (2005 USD) |
| Total fatalities: | 261 |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 |
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The 1964 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1964, and lasted until November 30, 1964. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was slightly above average, with twelve total storms and six hurricanes; unusually, all six of the hurricanes strengthened into major (Category 3) storms.
Three storms were notable enough to have their names retired: Cleo, Dora, and Hilda. Hurricane Cleo killed over 200 in its trek from the Caribbean Sea across Florida. Hurricane Dora struck northeastern Florida, causing nearly $300 million (1964 US dollars) in damages. Hurricane Hilda caused damage when it struck Louisiana. Three hurricanes hit Florida this season (Cleo, Dora and Isbell); the first time this has happened since 1886 and the last time it would happen until the 2004 season.
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[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm One
The Intertropical Convergence Zone developed a tropical depression in the Northwest Caribbean Sea on June 2. It drifted northward without strengthening. Moving faster through the Gulf of Mexico, the depression crossed Florida on the 6th, causing strong winds and hail from thunderstorms. When it reached the Atlantic Coast, it strengthened to a tropical storm, remaining away from landmass until its dissipation on the 11th. Tropical Storm One caused $1 million (1964 dollars) in flood damage to areas along the First Coast and further inland.
[edit] Tropical Storm Two
A cloud vortex developed in the Tropical Atlantic on July 27. It was well-organized enough to become a tropical depression on the 28th, but intensification was limited due to rapid forward motion. It turned northeastward and became a tropical storm on the 31st. After reaching a peak of 50 mph the storm became extratropical on the 2nd.
[edit] Tropical Storm Abby
The precursor to Tropical Storm Abby was a surface trough in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It became a tropical depression on August 5 and, moving slowly westward, reached tropical storm strength on the 7th. Abby hit Matagorda, Texas as a 65 mph tropical storm that night, and dissipated the following day. Abby was a small system; its complete circulation at the surface was less than 100 miles in diameter. Because of this, Abby caused only $750,000 (1964 dollars ($30.7 million 2005 USD)) in damage, most of it from crop damage. The rain was beneficial[citation needed].
[edit] Tropical Storm Brenda
A minor trough of low pressure spawned a tropical depression on August 7 west of Bermuda. As it neared the island, it strengthened to a tropical storm, causing tornadoes on the island. Brenda drifted east-southeastward before turning to the northeast and dissipating on the 10th. Brenda caused $275,000 in damage.
[edit] Hurricane Cleo
- Main article: Hurricane Cleo
A tropical wave strengthened into a depression on August 20, and was named Tropical Storm Cleo soon after. Cleo moved quickly to the west and strengthened into a Category 4 storm by the time it churned through the Lesser Antilles. The hurricane remained a Category 4 as it passed into the Caribbean, and moved just to the south of Hispaniola on August 24 - and then veered more to the north which brought a landfall on the tip of Haiti. The storm then turned to the north and weakened to a Cat 1 before it struck Cuba, but remained a hurricane the whole time over land. Cleo then brushed against Miami and the east coast of Florida as it weakened from a Category 2 hurricane to a tropical storm. Cleo killed a total of 217 people and caused serious property damage as it travelled through the Caribbean and into Florida, totaling $198 million (1964 dollars) in damage.
[edit] Hurricane Dora
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| Dora radar image and storm path | |
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- Main article: Hurricane Dora
Hurricane Dora was the first hurricane on record to make landfall on the First Coast region of Florida. It caused $280 million in damage ($1.7 billion in 2005 dollars).
[edit] Hurricane Ethel
A large cloud mass in the central tropical Atlantic, possibly developing from a tropical wave, became a tropical depression on September 4, and a tropical storm 6 hours later. Ethel developed slowly, possibly due to an unfavorable upper-level trough or due to the strong outflow of Dora to the storm's west. On the 7th, Ethel rapidly organized and became a hurricane. On the 9th, Ethel briefly became a major hurricane, but unfavorable conditions returned, weakening Ethel to a minimal hurricane. The storm was able to restrengthen to a Category 2 hurricane before accelerating and becoming extratropical on the 15th.
[edit] Tropical Storm Florence
A tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa became a tropical depression on September 5. Conditions were not very favorable for development, and the depression took 3 days to become a tropical storm. Florence turned northeastward, and dissipated on the 10th without affecting any landmasses.
[edit] Hurricane Gladys
- Main article: Hurricane Gladys (1964)
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| Gladys satellite image and storm track | |
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Hurricane Gladys developed from a westward moving tropical wave on September 13. Later that day, it became Tropical Storm Gladys. Conditions were favorable for intensification, and Gladys became a hurricane on the 14th. Hurricane Gladys remained a minimal hurricane for the next 3 days, until the 17th when it rapidly became a 145 mph hurricane. After its peak Gladys steadily weakened to a Category 1 on the 21st. It passed within 150 miles of the Outer Banks, but it turned northeastward in response to the development of a low pressure system over the Great Lakes. Gladys became extratropical on the 24th, and caused beach erosion and high tides.
[edit] Hurricane Hilda
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| Hilda satellite picture and storm track | |
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- Main article: Hurricane Hilda
A tropical wave organized into a tropical depression on September 28 while located south of Cuba. It steadily strengthened throughout the day and became a tropical storm on the 29th near the western tip of Cuba. On the 30th, Hilda strengthened to hurricane intensity, which was followed by a period of rapid intensification which lasted until October 1. Hilda became a 150 mph Category 4 hurricane while south of Louisiana. As it approached the coastline, conditions became unfavorable, weakening Hilda to a 110 mph Category 2 hurricane at the time of its St. Mary Parish, Louisiana landfall on October 4. After landfall, Hilda quickly dissipated over Georgia. Hurricane Hilda killed 37 when it made landfall in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, with most of the deaths caused by storm-generated tornadoes. It caused roughly $126 million (1964 dollars ($760 million 2005 dollars)) in damage.
[edit] Hurricane Isbell
- Main article: Hurricane Isbell (1964)
An old diffuse frontal trough reached the western Caribbean in early October. Evidence of a tropical disturbance appeared over the western Caribbean during October 7th and 8th at the tail end of this frontal trough. A weak tropical depression formed on the 8th, and it moved slowly to the northwest. On the 12th, it executed a small loop, followed by a northeastward turn. Lack of inflow kept the depression weak, but on the 12th, it was able to strengthen, reaching tropical storm strength on the 13th and hurricane strength that night. Hurricane Isbell crossed western Cuba, and upon reaching the southeast Gulf of Mexico, strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane. Isbell peaked at 130 mph before entering Florida near Everglades City on the 14th. It reached the Atlantic Ocean that night, and steadily weakened while moving to the north. Isbell became extratropical just before its final landfall on Morehead City, North Carolina on the 16th, and dissipated the next day. Isbell caused $20 million (1964 USD ($120 million 2005 USD)) in damage; most of it was from crop damage or tornadic activity. The hurricane also caused 6 deaths.
Isbell was the only major hurricane to hit the U.S. coastline this season. Cleo, Dora, and Hilda all weakened to a Category 2 prior to hitting the coast. Isbell, despite being the strongest at landfall, was not retired.
[edit] Tropical Storm Twelve
Similar to Tropical Storm One, Tropical Storm Twelve developed from an Intertropical Convergence Zone disturbance. A tropical depression developed on November 5 north of Panama. The depression moved northwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 6th. It turned westward, hitting near the border of Honduras and Nicaragua on the 7th. The storm weakened and re-emerged into the Caribbean, after which it hit Belize and dissipated on the 10th. Tropical Storm Twelve (the named hurricanes filling in the large numbering gap) caused $5 million (1964 USD ($30 million 2005 USD)) in damage from significant flooding in Honduras. Five small houses were destroyed, and the town Caukira was flooded, with tides as high as 18 feet. In Puerto Castilla significant rainfall, caused flooding and destroyed a bridge, leaving part of the population out of communication. [1]
[edit] 1964 storm names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1964. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
The names Cleo, Dora, and Hilda were later retired, replaced with Candy, Dolly, and Hannah, respectively, in the 1968 season, although Hilda was placed on the 1973 season's list.
![[1]](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1964/ts12/preloc.gif){kind=link}