1931 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1931 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1931. The 1931 season was average in terms of tropical cyclone formation, but below average in number of hurricanes. Nine tropical cyclones formed during the year, but only two reached hurricane status, and one reached major hurricane status. The season's only major hurricane, the 1931 Belize hurricane
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.
. The area experienced squally weather but was otherwise unaffected. Numerous waterspouts were spotted offshore, all spawned by the tropical cyclone.
. It reached its peak intensity of 60 mi/h two days later, after reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico. Continuing northward, it weakened just before landfall in central Louisiana to 50 mi/h sustained winds. Gale winds and heavy rains were reported, but no damage reports exist. The storm dissipated over Oklahoma.
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.
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.
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, or its sudden intensification on the day of its landfall, perhaps increased the death toll. Belize City
was nearly destroyed by the storm surge. As many as 2,500 people lost their lives in the hurricane. The storm then moved over the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Veracruz
and dissipated inland.
, 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 miles (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 mi/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.
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 mi/h and no damage reports exist.
1931 Belize hurricane
The 1931 Belize hurricane was a devastating Category 3 hurricane that hit Belize City on September 10, 1931, killing an estimated 2,500 people. Although much weaker than Hurricane Hattie of 1961, it remains the deadliest hurricane, and natural disaster, in Belize's history...
was a strong Category 3 hurricane that caused severe devastation in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, 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.
Tropical Storm One
The first of many weak storms in 1931, this one developed in the western Caribbean. Wind speeds never rose above 45 mi/h. The storm moved on a nearly straight northwest track, eventually making landfall near Port Mansfield, TexasPort Mansfield, Texas
Port Mansfield is a census-designated place in Willacy County, Texas, United States. The population was 415 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Port Mansfield is located at ....
. The area experienced squally weather but was otherwise unaffected. Numerous waterspouts were spotted offshore, all spawned by the tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Two
Storm Two also formed in the western Caribbean. It moved inland near Chetumal, Mexico and turned northward through the Yucatan PeninsulaYucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
. It reached its peak intensity of 60 mi/h two days later, after reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico. Continuing northward, it weakened just before landfall in central Louisiana to 50 mi/h sustained winds. Gale winds and heavy rains were reported, but no damage reports exist. The storm dissipated over Oklahoma.
Tropical Storm Three
The third storm of the season formed not far east of MartiniqueMartinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
and tracked westward through the Caribbean, not gaining much intensity. It grazed the coast of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and made landfall in central Belize. The storm briefly reemerged over the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
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.
Tropical Storm Four
Another weak storm, this one never strengthened past minimal tropical storm intensity. It formed northeast of BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and curved north-northwestward through the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. 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.
Hurricane Five
The 5th storm of the 1931 season remains the deadliest hurricane, and natural disaster, in Belize's history. It devastated the entire northern coast of the country. It formed east of the Barbados in early September and moved through the Caribbean, not strengthening much for the first four days of its life. On September 10, however, the storm began to rapidly intensify; going from a tropical storm to a major hurricane with 125 mi/h winds in a very short period of time. September 10 is a national holidayNational holiday
National holiday may refer to:*A National Day, in which a country celebrates its independence, establishment or an otherwise significant event....
in Belize, celebrating the defeat of the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye
Battle of St. George's Caye
The Battle of St. George's Caye was a short military engagement that lasted from 3 to 10 September 1798, off the coast of what is now Belize...
much like Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. This, or its sudden intensification on the day of its landfall, perhaps increased the death toll. Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
was nearly destroyed by the storm surge. As many as 2,500 people lost their lives in the hurricane. The storm then moved over the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
and dissipated inland.
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 IslandsBritish Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
, briefly becoming a Category 2, weakening just before landfall in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. 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 miles (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 mi/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.
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 mi/h.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 ReviewMonthly Weather Review
The Monthly Weather Review is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society.Topics covered by the journal include research related to analysis and prediction of observed and modeled circulations of the atmosphere, including technique development, data assimilation, model...
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 mi/h and no damage reports exist.
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 mi/h.See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons