| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina south of Cuba | |
| Formed | November 3, 1981 |
| Dissipated | November 8, 1981 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 980 mbar (hPa; 28.94 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 2 direct |
| Areas affected | Cuba, Bahamas, Cayman Islands |
| Part of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Katrina was the twenty-first tropical depression, eleventh named storm and seventh hurricane of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. During its lifetime, Katrina affected the Cayman Islands, Cuba and the Bahamas, causing the death of two people in Cuba as it passed over the island. The storm formed from an area of cloudiness on November 1 in the western Caribbean Sea; the cloudiness became Tropical Depression Twenty-one two days later, and Tropical Storm Katrina the following day. After passing over Grand Cayman, Katrina moved to the northeast, grazing Cuba as a Category 1 hurricane; it later affected the Bahamas as a tropical storm, where it caused 14 in (360 mm) of rainfall. Katrina merged with a frontal trough on November 7.
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On November 1, an area of disturbed weather developed over the western Caribbean. Subsequently, an area of low pressure began to form. On November 3, the system was designated a tropical depression while located about 150 miles (240 km) to the south of the Cayman Islands.[1] The depression intensified while drifting northward, and it was upgraded to a tropical storm early on November 4. As the eleventh tropical storm of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season, it received the name "Katrina".[2]
Within 24 hours the storm passed by Grand Cayman Island. On nearby Cayman Brac, winds gusted to about 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). Continually strengthening, Katrina accelerated toward the northeast.[2] At 0600 UTC on November 5, the storm was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[3] Later that same day, a NOAA reconnaissance flight reported a minimum barometric pressure of 980 mbar, and several hours later the flight recorded winds of about 85 miles per hour (137 km/h) on the surface.[1] However, Katrina weakened as it approached land; at the time of landfall on eastern Cuba, the minimum central pressure had risen 15 mbar. The storm proceeded northeast, crossing The Bahamas on November 6. At the time, the cyclone was moving at 23 miles per hour (37 km/h) while maintaining windspeeds of approximately 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).[2] Katrina's remnants merged with a frontal system over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and the storm was deemed dissipated on November 8.[1]
In advance of Katrina, it is estimated that approximately 73,000 residents were evacuated, along with several thousand head of cattle.[4] A hurricane watch was declared for the central and eastern Bahamas.[5] Along the southeast coast of Florida, small craft were advised to remain close to port. However, the storm was not expected to pose a threat to the United States. Heavy rainfall, potentially exceeding 10 inches (250 mm), was anticipated throughout portions of central and eastern Cuba.[6] Cuban Civil Defense officers issued a storm alert for five provinces.[7]
In Grand Cayman, rough seas ripped out a grape tree and slammed it into the Brac Reef Hotel's Bar.[2] Cuba encountered some flash flooding in mountainous areas as Katrina moved across the country.[8] Cuban officials also reported that two people were killed. The Bahamas received a total of 14 in (360 mm) of rain; while no deaths or injuries were reported there, heavy rains in the Central area caused flood damage to watermelon, tomato and corn crops on Long Island. Damage was otherwise minimal, as Katrina never regained the strength it lost after making landfall in Cuba.[9]
Bad weather from Hurricane Katrina caused the cancellation of the 15th running of the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup Race.[10]
