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1931 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map |
| First storm formed: |
June 25, 1931 |
| Last storm dissipated: |
Nov. 25, 1931 |
| Strongest storm: |
#5 - 110 knots (130 mph) |
| Total storms: |
9 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): |
1 |
| Total damage: |
$7.5 million (1931 USD) |
| Total fatalities: |
2,502 |
|
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 |
|
The 1931 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1931, and lasted until November 30, 1931. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
The 1931 season was below average in terms of tropical cyclone formation. Nine tropical cyclones formed during the year, but only two reached hurricane status, and one reached major hurricane status. This one was a strong Category 3 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.
[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm One
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.
[edit] Tropical Storm Two
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 60 mph (97 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.
[edit] Tropical Storm Three
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.
[edit] Tropical Storm Four
Another weak storm, this one never strengthened past minimal tropical storm intensity. 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.
[edit] Hurricane Five
The 1931 hurricane remains the worst in Belize's history. It devastated the entire northern coast of the country. It formed east of Barbados in early September and moved through the Caribbean, not strengthening much for the first four days. On September 10, though, the storm began to rapidly intensify; going from a tropical storm to a major hurricane with 125 mph (201 km/h) winds. The 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 perhaps increased the death toll. Belize City was nearly destroyed by the storm surge. As many as 2,500 people were killed. The storm then moved over the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Veracruz and dissipated inland.
[edit] Hurricane Six
The only other 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.
[edit] Tropical Storm Seven
Storm Seven was a weak tropical storm that drifted northward for a couple of days in the latter half of September. Wind speeds never exceeded 40 mph (64 km/h).
[edit] Tropical Storm Eight
The eighth 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.
[edit] Tropical Storm Nine
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 with over the northern Bahamas. It never had winds higher than 45 mph (72 km/h).
[edit] See also
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