1961 Atlantic hurricane season

The first system, an operationally unclassified tropical depression, formed offshore east Central Florida on June 10, but dissipated a few days later.

The latter was the strongest tropical cyclone of the season, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 914 mbar (27.0 inHg).

[4] A tropical wave that emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa around mid-July developed about 575 mi (925 km) northeast of Cayenne, French Guiana, late on July 17.

However, the storm weakened slightly before making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Honduras near Barra Patuca, Gracias a Dios Department, with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).

[3] As a developing tropical cyclone over the Windward Islands, Anna produced strong winds on Grenada, though damage was limited to some crops, trees, and telephone poles.

[14][15] On September 2, the disturbance was analyzed to have attained tropical storm strength, after nearby ship reports indicated strong winds associated with anomalously low barometric pressures.

Another low-pressure area later formed in the trough, perturbing the ridge to the north of Betsy for much of its initial stages, causing the hurricane's central pressure to rise,[14] despite an increase in sustained winds.

[14] Early on September 6, Betsy attained Category 4 hurricane strength, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and a central pressure of 945 mbar (945 hPa; 27.9 inHg),[3] based on reconnaissance flights into the system.

[6]: 15–16  However, as a result of missing the short wave itself, the hurricane later weakened and fell to Category 3 intensity while located about 440 miles (710 km) east-northeast of Bermuda.

[14] Moving into higher latitudes, Betsy began to weaken, degenerating back to Category 1 hurricane intensity on late on September 8.

[14][18] Although initially considered a significant threat to Florida,[19] the storm brought only light winds and small amounts of precipitation, reaching no more than 3.15 in (80 mm).

[22][24][25] In Canada, the remnants of Carla brought strong winds to Ontario and New Brunswick, though impact was primarily limited to power outages and falling trees and branches.

Several hours later, Debbie passed through the southern Cape Verde Islands as a strong tropical storm or minimal hurricane,[3] resulting in a plane crash and the death of 60 people.

[28] Once clear of the islands, data on the storm became sparse, and the status of Debbie was uncertain over the following several days as it tracked west-northwestward and later northward.

[29] The following day, Debbie intensified and reached its peak intensity as a strong Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (140 km/h).

[3] Between North Carolina and New Jersey effects were primarily limited to strong winds and minor beach erosion and coastal flooding due to storm surge.

[9] A tropical depression formed at 12:00 UTC on September 12 near Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas,[3] after TIROS revealed a surface circulation.

The storm curved accelerated northeastward and intensified despite mostly remaining over land, striking near the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula about nine hours later with winds of 50 mph (80 km/h).

[3] The storm brought heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico, peaking at 10.15 inches (258 mm) in the Indiera Baja barrio of Maricao.

[39] Tracking to the northwest, Frances made landfall near Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, early on October 3 with winds of 60 mph (97 km/h).

Hattie turned towards the west to the east of Jamaica and strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) on October 31.

The storm then weakened to a Category 4 hurricane prior to landfall south of Belize City, British Honduras, with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h).

[3][46] The precursor to Jenny brought light rainfall to Puerto Rico, peaking at 4.97 inches (126 mm) in Río Blanco, Naguabo.

Later that day, the United States Weather Bureau began advisories and described Jenny as having "characteristic of many storms in the sub-tropics late in the hurricane season.

"[47] Around 18:00 UTC on November 6, Jenny attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 974 mbar (28.8 inHg).

Jenny curved northeastward and continued to weaken, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone late on November 10 about 545 mi (875 km) east of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

Reconnaissance aircraft data indicated that Tropical Storm Inga developed at 00:00 UTC on November 4,[14] while located about 145 miles (235 km) northeast of Veracruz.

[3] A strong high pressure system and a cold front entering the Gulf of Mexico from Texas caused the storm to move southward and then southeastward.

[14] A stationary front across the central Atlantic Ocean led to the development of a low pressure area by November 16, northeast of the Lesser Antilles.

Moving quickly northeastward, the depression may have reached tropical storm intensity on June 12 but degenerated into a trough offshore New England on the next day.

WSR-57 radar image of Hurricane Carla out of Galveston, Texas on September 10