1965 Atlantic hurricane season

Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Infobox hurricane season The 1965 Atlantic hurricane season was the first to use the modern-day bounds for an Atlantic hurricane season, which are June 1 to November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. It was a slightly below average season, with 10 tropical cyclones developing and reaching tropical storm intensity. Four of the storms strengthened into hurricanes. One system reached major hurricane intensity – Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. The first system, an unnamed tropical storm, developed during the month of June in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The storm moved northward across Central America, but caused no known impact in the region. It struck the Florida Panhandle and caused minor impact across much of the Southern United States. Tropical cyclogenesis halted for over two months, until Anna formed on August 21. The storm remained well away from land in the far North Atlantic Ocean and caused no impact.

Hurricane Betsy was the strongest and most devastating storm of the season. Extensive damage from Betsy was reported in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana, particularly the New Orleans area. It was the first hurricane in the history of the United States to result in at least $1 billion (1965 USD) in losses. Hurricane Carol meandered in the eastern Atlantic for over two weeks from mid-September to very early October. Impact on land from Carol was minimal. In late September, Tropical Storm Debbie developed in the northwestern Caribbean and moved slowly across the region, before later reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The storm dissipated just offshore of Louisiana, which resulted in only minor impact along the Gulf Coast of the United States. The final tropical cyclone, Hurricane Elena, formed on October 12. Elena remained at sea for nearly a week and caused no damage on land. Collectively, the storms of the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season caused 76 fatalities and $1.68 billion in damage, almost entirely due to Hurricane Betsy.

Season summary

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A close-up view of Hurricane Betsy's path through the Bahamas to the Florida Keys landfall

This was the first Atlantic hurricane season to start on June 1 and end on November 30,<ref name="tfls">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> which is the modern-day season bounds.<ref name="G1">Template:Cite report</ref> A total of 13 tropical depressions formed.<ref name="meta"/> Ten of those tropical depression intensified into a tropical storm,<ref name=ACE>Template:Cite web</ref> which was just slightly below the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 1950–2005 average of 11.<ref name="background">Template:Cite web</ref> Four of those tropical storms attained hurricane status,<ref name=ACE/> slightly below the average of six.<ref name="background"/> One hurricane intensified into a major hurricane, which is Category 3 or greater on the Saffir–Simpson scale.<ref name=ACE/> This was slightly below the average of two per season.<ref name="background"/> Overall, the tropical cyclones of this season collectively caused about $1.68 billion in damage and 76 deaths.<ref name="mwr"/>

Season activity began with the formation of an unnamed tropical storm over the southern Gulf of Mexico on June 13.<ref name="meta"/> There were no other tropical storms in the Atlantic basin until the latter part of August, when hurricanes Anna and Betsy formed. The latter developed on August 27 and eventually became the most intense tropical cyclone of the 1965 season, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert on September 2.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

Synoptic weather map showing Hurricane Betsy (bottom left) and an unnamed tropical storm (top right) on September 8

While Betsy would mostly exist in September, the month also featured four additional tropical cyclones – an unnamed tropical storm, Hurricane Carol,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track a tropical depression,<ref name="meta"/> and then Debbie. In October, three tropical systems formed, including two unnamed tropical storms and Hurricane Elena. The final tropical cyclone of the 1965 season, an unnamed tropical storm, developed from a previously non-tropical cyclone northeast of the Lesser Antilles on November 29. The storm persisted into the month of December, before dissipating on December 2.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 88,<ref name=ACE/> which was below the 1950–2005 average of 93.2.<ref name="background"/> ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical cyclones with winds exceeding Template:Convert, which is tropical storm strength.<ref name=ACE/>

Systems

June tropical storm

Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A cut-off low-pressure area developed from a shear trough in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico on June 9. The low caused the detachment of a disturbance from the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which was located near the south coast of Guatemala. After moving across Guatemala and Mexico, the low emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on June 13.<ref name="mwr"/> The low intensified on the following day, reaching tropical storm status at 0600 UTC.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track It likely was a subtropical storm, however, the lack of consistent satellite data precludes such a classification. Operationally, the system was considered a tropical depression for its entire duration, thus, this went unnamed.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> The storm began curving northeastward, and by early on June 15, it peaked with winds of Template:Convert.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

At 1100 UTC on June 15, the storm made landfall near Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, at the same intensity. Inland, the storm continued northeastward and became extratropical over South Carolina at 0000 UTC on June 16. Tides along the coast of the Florida Panhandle were Template:Convert above normal. The storm brought sustained winds of 50 to 60 mph (85 to 105 km/h) with gusts up to Template:Convert at Alligator Point. Winds blew the roof off of two beach cottages on St. George Island, while tides sank or washed ashore several small boats.<ref name="mwr"/> The storm also produced rainfall up to Template:Convert in Wewahitchka.Template:Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima Slick roads in Tallahassee resulted in several car accidents, but no injuries occurred. The rains also left street flooding in the Inglewood neighborhood of Tallahassee, forcing the evacuation of two families.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> Two tornadoes were spawned in Florida, with one damaging houses and a mobile home in Live Oak. The storm also brought rainfall to several other states.<ref name="mwr"/> Template:Clear

Hurricane Anna

Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A weak circulation was noted by Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) near Cape Verde on August 16. During the next five days, the system tracked west-northwestward or northwestward, while conditions gradually became favorable for tropical cyclogenesis.<ref name="mwr"/> At 0600 UTC on August 21, it is estimated that the system became Tropical Storm Anna. While Anna was tracking north-northeastward on August 23,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track an eye feature appeared on TIROS. After another aircraft reported an eye on its radar,<ref name="mwr"/> Anna was upgraded to a hurricane later that day. Early on August 24, Anna reached maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert while accelerating northeastward.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Anna began losing tropical characteristics, and early on the following day, it transitioned into an extratropical storm while about halfway between the Azores and Greenland.<ref name="mwr">Template:Cite journal</ref> Template:Clear

Hurricane Betsy

Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small Template:Main A tropical disturbance developed into a tropical depression on August 27, while well east of the Windward Islands.<ref name="mwr"/> It tracked generally west-northward until crossing the Leeward Islands on August 28. Early the next day, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Betsy, shortly before striking Saint Martin and Anguilla. Betsy continued to intensify after re-emerging into the western Atlantic, becoming a hurricane on September 1. After executing a brief cyclonic loop, the storm then turned to the west. Later on September 1 and into September 2, Betsy rapidly intensified and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of Template:Convert on September 2. However, the storm fell back to Category 3 intensity early the next day. By September 5, Betsy executed another cyclonic loop northeast of the Bahamas and fell to as low as Category 1 intensity around 0000 UTC on September 6. The storm fluctuated between Category 2 and 3 as it headed southwestward and then westward over the next day, passing over or close to several Bahamian islands, including Great Abaco and Andros.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The storm produced very strong winds and rough seas in the Bahamas, with a peak wind gust of Template:Convert at Hope Town. Betsy caused one fatality and approximately $14 million in damage in the island chain, mostly to agriculture and crops.<ref name="mwr"/>

By early on September 8, Betsy made landfall near Tavernier, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track In South Florida, the storm brought strong winds and significant storm surge. Water reached several feet in height in upper Florida Keys, inundating highways and the first floor of buildings. Nearly all of the land south of Homestead Air Force Base and east of U.S. Route 1 was covered by water. There were 8 deaths and $120 million in losses, which included both property and agriculture.<ref name="stormdata">Template:Cite journal</ref> Betsy entered into the Gulf of Mexico later on September 8 and re-strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on September 10, reaching a secondary peak with winds of Template:Convert. However, further intensification was halted after Betsy made landfall in Grand Isle, Louisiana, around 0400 UTC.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track In Louisiana, strong winds and rough seas caused extensive damage. Storm surge inundated the levees in New Orleans, flooding much of the city. Throughout the state, more than 22,000 homes were either damaged or destroyed, and 168,000 people were left without electricity. The storm caused more than 17,000 injuries and resulted in 58 deaths.<ref name="stormdata"/> Damage in the state of Louisiana reached $1.2 billion. Once inland, the storm turned northeastward and rapidly weakened, becoming extratropical over Tennessee on September 11.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Impact in other states ranged from minor to moderate. Overall, Betsy caused about $1.43 billion in damage and 76 fatalities. Betsy was the first hurricane in the United States to cause at least $1 billion in damage.<ref name="mwr"/><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Template:Clear

Early September tropical storm

A cold front moved eastward from North America into the western Atlantic Ocean on August 28. An extratropical low developed on August 31 over the north Atlantic, which degenerated into a trough three days later. On September 4, another extratropical storm developed, located about 800 mi (1,285 km) south of Newfoundland. The system attained gale-force winds a day later, and turned westward on September 6, steered by a building ridge to the north. On September 7, the storm transitioned into a tropical storm, after its wind field became more symmetrical. Later that day, the storm attain winds of Template:Convert, recorded by nearby ships. The storm turned to the east and northeast, crossing over its former path. On September 10, the tropical storm again transitioned into an extratropical storm, which later passed southeast of Newfoundland. The storm moved across the northern Atlantic Ocean, dissipating on September 13 southwest of Ireland.<ref name="meta"/> Template:Clear

Hurricane Carol

Template:Infobox tropical cyclone small A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic from the west coast of Africa on September 15,<ref name="ctcr1"/> and developed into a tropical depression by early on the following day. It headed steadily westward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Carol late on September 17. The storm began curving northwestward by the following day.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Operationally, advisories were not initiated until 1900 UTC on September 19, after winds had already reached Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carol then slowed and began turning north-northward. Later on September 20, a Navy reconnaissance flight confirmed a circulation and also measured hurricane-force winds. Thus, Carol was upgraded to a hurricane at 1800 UTC on September 20.<ref name="ctcr1"/>

On September 21, another flight into the storm recorded a minimum pressure of Template:Convert, the lowest in relation to Carol. The hurricane accelerated, before slowing in forward motion on September 22. Between September 24 and September 28, the storm drifted and executed a small cyclonic loop and fluctuating from tropical storm status to Category 1 intensity and back to tropical storm strengthen during that time.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track<ref name="ctcr1">Template:Cite report</ref> After turning northeastward, Carol re-intensified into a hurricane on September 25.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track While passing northwest of the Azores, a weather station on Corvo Island reported a sustained wind speed of Template:Convert and a gust up to Template:Convert.<ref name="ctcr2">Template:Cite report</ref> The storm curved east-southeastward, weakened, and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while located north of the Azores on September 30. The remnants of Carol turned southeastward and then southward before dissipating near the Canary Islands on October 3.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Template:Clear

Tropical Storm Debbie

A low-pressure area in the northwestern Caribbean Sea developed into a tropical depression on September 24.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track The depression brought locally heavy rainfall to areas of Honduras while tracking northwestward.<ref name="mwr"/> Despite winds of only Template:Convert, the Miami Weather Bureau prematurely named the depression Debbie at 1600 UTC on September 25.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Several hours later, Debbie struck the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track After emerging into the Gulf of Mexico early on September 26, the storm was described as "weaker than before", as the convective activity indicated no organization.<ref name="mwr"/> However, Debbie began to strengthen, reaching tropical storm status late on September 27.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track

After peaked at winds of Template:Convert late on September 28,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track cooler and drier air caused the storm to weaken.<ref name="mwr"/> Debbie was a minimal tropical storm by September 29 and made landfall in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, with winds of Template:Convert at 2000 UTC. The storm quickly weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated by early the next day.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Despite weakening significantly before landfall, Debbie brought heavy precipitation, especially in Mobile, Alabama, where a 24-hour rainfall record was broken after Template:Convert fell.Template:Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima Within the city of Mobile, hundreds of cars were flooded, while more than 200 people fled their inundated homes.<ref name="mo">Template:Cite news</ref> Many roads and businesses were also closed in the area.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Damage in Mobile alone reached $25 million.<ref name="mwr"/> Rainfall was reported in seven other states, though no significant impact occurred.<ref name="rain">Template:Cite report</ref> Template:Clear

Late September tropical storm

On September 25, a cold front emerged into the western Atlantic Ocean and stalled. An extratropical storm developed along the front on September 29 to the southeast of the Carolinas. The storm moved quickly east-northeastward and quickly intensified to near hurricane intensity. On September 30, the storm passed north of Bermuda, producing winds of Template:Convert there. On October 1, the system reversed its track, weakened slightly, and became more symmetric. By October 2, the strongest winds were located near the circulation center, based on nearby ship reports. Based on the observations, the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project estimated that the system transitioned into a tropical storm on this day, although the storm could have been a subtropical cyclone. Around that time, maximum sustained winds were estimated at Template:Convert. The storm moved to the north and northeast ahead of a cold front. On October 3, the front absorbed the storm.<ref name="meta"/> Template:Clear

Hurricane Elena

TIROS imagery indicated a very weak circulation near 12°N, 40°W on October 11. Ship reports on the following day indicated a somewhat more organized circulation.<ref name="mwr"/> As a result, it is estimated that the final tropical depression of the season at 1200 UTC on October 12, while located about midway between Cape Verde and the Leeward Islands. Initially, the depression remained disorganized while tracking northwestward. However, by early on October 14, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Elena. The storm continued to intensify as it headed northwestward, before turning to the northeast late on October 16. Elena became a Category 1 hurricane at 1200 UTC on October 17 and then reached Category 2 status early the next day. Around 1200 UTC, Elena attained its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and a minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert. At 0600 UTC on October 19,Template:Atlantic hurricane best track the storm merged with an approaching cold front near the Azores.<ref name="mwr"/> The remnants moved rapidly north-northeastward until dissipating near Iceland on October 20.Template:Atlantic hurricane best track Template:Clear

October tropical storm

A trough persisted along the southeastern United States on October 15. A day later, a tropical depression formed along the trough near the northwestern Bahamas. The system quickly intensified into a tropical storm; due to its large circulation, the storm was potentially a subtropical cyclone. The storm moved in a counterclockwise direction – southeast at first, and eventually curving to the west-southwest. On October 18, the hurricane hunters flight reported maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert. At 15:00 UTC that day, the storm made landfall at peak intensity near Flagler Beach, Florida. It quickly weakened while crossing the state, and dissipated the next day in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The storm, in conjunction with a high-pressure system over New England, produced gale-force winds in the Carolinas.<ref name="meta"/>

The precursor trough associated with this cyclone dropped heavy rainfall over the Miami metropolitan area.<ref name="rogers">Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> The Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale recorded Template:Convert of precipitation, while at least Template:Convert of rain fell in a roughly triangular-shaped area bounded by Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach, and Hollywood. Floodwaters inundated and damaged many roads throughout southeast Florida.<ref name="stormdata10">Template:Cite journal</ref> An estimated 75% of crops in eastern Palm Beach County were lost, equivalent to approximately $4.5 million in damage.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> After the system became a tropical storm and approached the coast of Florida, storm gale warnings were issued from Cape Kennedy, Florida, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Wind gusts close to Template:Convert were recorded near Jacksonville. The storm caused several power outages in the Jacksonville area but left little damage.<ref name="rogers"/> Template:Clear

November tropical storm

A cold front exited the east coast of the United States on November 22, and moved eastward. An extratropical storm developed along the front on November 26, located northeast of the Lesser Antilles. The storm moved northeastward, executed a small loop, and strengthened slightly. Gradually, the storm's structure became more symmetrical, and by November 29, the system transitioned into a tropical storm. At that time, the storm had peak winds of Template:Convert, and was moving southward. On December 1, the storm weakened into a tropical depression, and on the same day, the track shifted to the west. On December 2, the depression dissipated.<ref name="meta"/> Template:Clear

Other systems

A trough of low pressure reached the central Gulf of Mexico by June 10. The trough spawned a low-pressure area, which became a tropical depression on June 11. The depression moved northwestward and struck Mississippi before dissipating on the following day.<ref name="meta">Template:Cite web</ref>

A tropical wave approached the Leeward Islands on August 6. Two days later, a ship just east of the islands reported winds of Template:Convert about Template:Convert away from the center of the tropical wave, indicating the presence of a closed circulation, and thus, a tropical depression formed. The depression emerged into the eastern Caribbean and then quickly dissipated.<ref name="meta"/>

On September 21, an extratropical low-pressure area developed at the tail-end of a cold front over the west-central Atlantic. The low gradually lost frontal characteristics and acquired a more symmetrical structure, becoming a tropical depression just north of Bermuda on September 24. Curving northeastward, the depression transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 26 and a different cold front absorbed it by the next day.<ref name="meta"/>

Storm names

The following list of names was used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1965.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was the same list used for the 1961 season,<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> except for Carol, Elena, and Holly, which replaced Carla, Esther and Hattie, respectively.<ref name="GP August 07">Template:Cite report</ref> A storm was named Elena for the first time in 1965.

Anna Betsy Carol Debbie Elena Template:Tcname unused Template:Tcname unused

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Retirement

Template:See also The name Betsy was retired following the season due to the storm's extent and severity of impacts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also, the name Carol, used after a 10-year hiatus from the naming list on account of Hurricane Carol in 1954, was permanently retired in the spring of 1969.<ref name="noaa hrd">Template:Cite web</ref> They were replaced with Blanche and Camille for use in the 1969 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 1965 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1965 USD.

Template:TC stats table end3

See also

• 1965 Pacific hurricane season
• 1965 Pacific typhoon season
• Australian cyclone seasons: 1964–65, 1965–66
• South Pacific cyclone seasons: 1964–65, 1965–66
• South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 1964–65, 1965–66

External links

• Monthly Weather Review