Hurricane Arlene (1963)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Arlene was the first tropical cyclone
of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season
and one of the wettest storms ever recorded in Bermuda
. Originating from a tropical depression on July 31, Arlene quickly intensified into a Category 2 hurricane on August 2. After attaining this intensity, the storm quickly weakened and turned west. By August 4, Arlene had degenerated into a tropical depression. The storm failed to re-organize until August 7, by which time it restrengthened into a tropical storm. The following day, Arlene re-attained hurricane-status before passing directly over Bermuda
. Several hours after passing the island, it reached its peak intensity with winds of 105 mph (160 km/) and a barometric pressure of 969 mbar (hPa; 28.61 inHg). By August 11, Arlene transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
before being absorbed by another cyclone later that day.
Along its track, several hurricane warnings and watches were issued for the Leeward Islands
; however, no damage was reported on any of the islands. The storm has its greatest impact in Bermuda where high winds and near-record rainfall downed trees, power lines and caused flooding. Damages across the island amounted to $300,000 (1963 USD; $2.1 million 2009 USD).
and the Cape Verde Islands by the TIROS VI satellite. The large cyclone, estimated at five degrees
in diameter, steadily tracked westward and eventually northwestward and intensified into a tropical storm on August 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. This meant that the storm had rapidly intensified
from a tropical depression to a hurricane within the span of 18 hours. The intensification continued for another 6 hours, at which time the storm attained its initial peak strength with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), classifying Arlene as a Category 2 hurricane.
Early on August 3, Arlene began to weaken as it turned towards the west once more. The storm continued to slowly weaken before rapidly degenerating into a tropical depression on August 4. The quick decrease in intensity was the result of a sudden increase in vertical wind shear
near the core of the cyclone. Later that day, the system passed near the northern Leeward Islands
; however, the depression was poorly organized. The former hurricane steadily tracked northwestward and began to regenerate on August 7.
As the storm began to reorganize, the forward motion had become virtually stationary but later began to increase as Arlene turned northeastward, beginning recurvature into the main belt of the Westerlies
. Ships in the vicinity of the depression reported that it had regained gale-force winds on August 8, resulting in advisories on Arlene being re-initiated around that time. 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.
During the day on August 9, Arlene passed directly over Bermuda
with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). The storm continued to intensify after passing the island, with reconnaissance recorded a minimum pressure of 969 mbar (hPa; 28.61 inHg) and maximum winds reached 105 mph (160 km/h). The hurricane began to weaken hours later, with winds decreasing below 100 mph (155 km/h) by the afternoon of August 10. Shortly after, Arlene transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
, while maintaining hurricane-force winds, over the north Atlantic. The remnants were absorbed by a larger cyclone near Newfoundland on August 11.
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
issued hurricane warnings
for the northern Leeward Islands
and a hurricane watch for the Virgin Islands
. Later that day, the watch was expanded to include Puerto Rico. By August 4, the hurricane warnings were lowered to gale warnings and the watch was discontinued as Arlene weakened to a tropical storm. Later that day, all warnings were canceled since the storm had further weakened to a tropical depression. On August 8, after Arlene regenerated, residents in Bermuda were advised to not venture offshore on any vessel and rush all hurricane preparations to completion.
In Bermuda
, Arlene produced winds up to 85 mph (140 km/h) and a pressure of 974.5 mbar (hPa; 28.78 inHg) was recorded during its passage. A maximum gust of 98 mph (158 km/h) was recorded at Kindley Air Force Base. 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. The hurricane produced the second highest tropical cyclone-related rainfall on the island, peaking at 6.05 in (153.7 mm). In all, damages in Bermuda amounted to $300,000 (1963 USD; $2.1 million 2009 USD).
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season
1963 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1963 Atlantic hurricane season was a below average Atlantic hurricane season, with nine named storms. Although the season officially began on June 1, the first storm did not form until nearly a month later. Hurricane Cindy made landfall in Texas before dissipating in the southern portion of the...
and one of the wettest storms ever recorded in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. Originating from a tropical depression on July 31, Arlene quickly intensified into a Category 2 hurricane on August 2. After attaining this intensity, the storm quickly weakened and turned west. By August 4, Arlene had degenerated into a tropical depression. The storm failed to re-organize until August 7, by which time it restrengthened into a tropical storm. The following day, Arlene re-attained hurricane-status before passing directly over Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. Several hours after passing the island, it reached its peak intensity with winds of 105 mph (160 km/) and a barometric pressure of 969 mbar (hPa; 28.61 inHg). By August 11, Arlene transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
before being absorbed by another cyclone later that day.
Along its track, several hurricane warnings and watches were issued for the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
; however, no damage was reported on any of the islands. The storm has its greatest impact in Bermuda where high winds and near-record rainfall downed trees, power lines and caused flooding. Damages across the island amounted to $300,000 (1963 USD; $2.1 million 2009 USD).
Meteorological history
Hurricane Arlene was first identified as a tropical depression on July 31 between the Lesser AntillesLesser 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...
and the Cape Verde Islands by the TIROS VI satellite. The large cyclone, estimated at five degrees
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
in diameter, steadily tracked westward and eventually northwestward and intensified into a tropical storm on August 2. Later that day, a Navy reconnaissance aircraft reached the storm and found a clear eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
and a barometric pressure of 987 mbar (hPa; 29.15 inHg), resulting in Arlene being classified a hurricane. This meant that the storm had rapidly intensified
Rapid deepening
Rapid deepening, also known as rapid intensification, is a meteorological condition that occurs when the minimum sea-level atmospheric pressure of a tropical cyclone decreases drastically in a short period of time. The National Weather Service describes rapid deepening as a decrease of...
from a tropical depression to a hurricane within the span of 18 hours. The intensification continued for another 6 hours, at which time the storm attained its initial peak strength with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), classifying Arlene as a Category 2 hurricane.
Early on August 3, Arlene began to weaken as it turned towards the west once more. The storm continued to slowly weaken before rapidly degenerating into a tropical depression on August 4. The quick decrease in intensity was the result of a sudden increase in vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
near the core of the cyclone. Later that day, the system passed near the northern Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
; however, the depression was poorly organized. The former hurricane steadily tracked northwestward and began to regenerate on August 7.
As the storm began to reorganize, the forward motion had become virtually stationary but later began to increase as Arlene turned northeastward, beginning recurvature into the main belt of the Westerlies
Westerlies
The Westerlies, anti-trades, or Prevailing Westerlies, are the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east, and steer extratropical...
. Ships in the vicinity of the depression reported that it had regained gale-force winds on August 8, resulting in advisories on Arlene being re-initiated around that time. 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.
During the day on August 9, Arlene passed directly over Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). The storm continued to intensify after passing the island, with reconnaissance recorded a minimum pressure of 969 mbar (hPa; 28.61 inHg) and maximum winds reached 105 mph (160 km/h). The hurricane began to weaken hours later, with winds decreasing below 100 mph (155 km/h) by the afternoon of August 10. Shortly after, Arlene transitioned into an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
, while maintaining hurricane-force winds, over the north Atlantic. The remnants were absorbed by a larger cyclone near Newfoundland on August 11.
Preparations and impact
On August 3, the National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
issued hurricane warnings
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
for the northern Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
and a hurricane watch for the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
. Later that day, the watch was expanded to include Puerto Rico. By August 4, the hurricane warnings were lowered to gale warnings and the watch was discontinued as Arlene weakened to a tropical storm. Later that day, all warnings were canceled since the storm had further weakened to a tropical depression. On August 8, after Arlene regenerated, residents in Bermuda were advised to not venture offshore on any vessel and rush all hurricane preparations to completion.
In Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, Arlene produced winds up to 85 mph (140 km/h) and a pressure of 974.5 mbar (hPa; 28.78 inHg) was recorded during its passage. A maximum gust of 98 mph (158 km/h) was recorded at Kindley Air Force Base. 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. The hurricane produced the second highest tropical cyclone-related rainfall on the island, peaking at 6.05 in (153.7 mm). In all, damages in Bermuda amounted to $300,000 (1963 USD; $2.1 million 2009 USD).