1931 Atlantic hurricane season
| 1931 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | June 25, 1931 |
| Last system dissipated | November 25, 1931 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | "Belize" |
| • Maximum winds | 135 mph (215 km/h) |
| • Lowest pressure | 952 mbar (hPa; 28.11 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 13 |
| Total storms | 13 |
| Hurricanes | 3 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
1 |
| Total fatalities | 2,502 |
| Total damage | ~ $7.5 million (1931 USD) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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|
| Duration | June 24 – June 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | July 11 – July 17 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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|
| Duration | August 10 – August 19 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | August 16 – August 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | September 1 – September 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1007 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
  |
|
| Duration | September 6 – September 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min) 952 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | September 8 – September 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) 987 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
 |
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| Duration | September 23 – September 28 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 987 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
|
| Duration | October 13 – October 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1000 mbar (hPa) |
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. 13 tropical cyclones formed during the year, but only three reached hurricane status, and one reached major hurricane status. The season's only major hurricane, the 1931 Belize hurricane, was a Category 4 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 first of many weak storms in 1931, this one developed in the western Caribbean. Wind speeds never rose above 45 mph (72 km/h). The storm moved on a nearly straight northwest track, eventually making landfall near Port Mansfield, Texas. The area experienced squally weather but was otherwise unaffected. Numerous waterspouts were spotted offshore, all spawned by the tropical cyclone.
Storm Two also formed in the western Caribbean. It moved inland near Chetumal, Mexico and turned northward through the Yucatan Peninsula. It reached its peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) two days later, after reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico. Continuing northward, it weakened just before landfall in central Louisiana to 50 mph (80 km/h) sustained winds. Gale winds and heavy rains were reported, but no damage reports exist. The storm dissipated over Oklahoma.
The third storm of the season formed not far east of Martinique 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.
Another weak storm, this one never strengthened past minimal tropical storm intensity, and in fact, may have only been a tropical depression but the data was inconclusive. It formed northeast of Barbados 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.
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Wikipedia