Hurricane Arlene was first identified as a tropical depression on July 31 between the Lesser Antilles and the Cape Verde Islands by the TIROS VI satellite.

The large cyclone, estimated at five degrees in diameter,[1] steadily tracked westward and eventually northwestward and intensified into a tropical storm on August 2.

[2] Later that day, a Navy reconnaissance aircraft reached the storm and found a clear eye and a barometric pressure of 987 mbar (hPa; 29.15 inHg), resulting in Arlene being classified a hurricane.

The intensification continued for another 6 hours, at which time the storm attained its initial peak strength with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), classifying Arlene as a Category 2 hurricane.

[3] Later that day, a Navy reconnaissance plane found hurricane-force winds around the center of the storm, resulting in Arlene being upgraded to a minimal hurricane a second time.

[2][3] The storm continued to intensify after passing the island, with reconnaissance recorded a minimum pressure of 969 mbar (hPa; 28.61 inHg)[3] and maximum winds reached 105 mph (170 km/h).

[10] Tree limbs and power lines were downed across the island, a few small boats sank in rough seas and flooding was reported in some areas.

[11] The hurricane produced one of the highest tropical cyclone-related rainfall totals on the island, peaking at 6.05 in (154 mm),[6] in addition to an estimated 4 ft (1.2 m) storm surge.