1961 Pacific hurricane season
| 1961 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | June 9, 1961 |
| Last system dissipated | November 12, 1961 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Iva |
| • Maximum winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| • Lowest pressure | 984 mbar (hPa; 29.06 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 11 |
| Total storms | 10 |
| Hurricanes | 2 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
0 |
| Total fatalities | 436 |
| Total damage | $16 million (1961 USD) |
| Related articles | |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 9 – June 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 984 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 10 – July 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 14 – July 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1002 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
  |
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| Duration | July 15 – July 19 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1005 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
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| Duration | July 24 – July 25 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) 1000 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | August 4 – August 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1000 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | September 6 – September 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 998 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | October 3 – October 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1010 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
 |
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| Duration | October 3 – October 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 1008 mbar (hPa) |
The 1961 Pacific hurricane season was an event in meteorology. It officially started on May 15, 1961, in the eastern Pacific and lasted until November 30, 1961. Eleven tropical cyclones, 10 named storms (Madeline was operationally considered a tropical storm) and two hurricanes formed during the 1961 season, none of the hurricanes reached beyond category 1 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
The 1961 Pacific hurricane season featured only one notable tropical cyclone: Hurricane Tara. Tara devastated southwest Mexico, causing 436-500 fatalities, making it the fourth deadliest tropical cyclone in the Eastern Pacific basin.
The 1961 Pacific hurricane season was slightly more active than 1960, which had eight tropical cyclones, compare with 11 during this year. However, in 1960, there were five hurricane, but only two in 1961. Although there were an abnormally high number of tropical cyclones for its time, 1961 fell below the 1995-2008 average number of tropical cyclones, which is 15 tropical cyclones, 9 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. In addition, there were eleven tropical cyclones, two hurricanes, but no major hurricanes. However, in post-analysis, it was noted that "Tropical Storm Madeline" was only a tropical depression, and shouldn't have been named.
Tropical cyclone activity first began about a month after the official start of the season, with Iva developed on June 9. After Iva dissipated on June 11, there was another period of lack of tropical cyclogenesis for almost a month, ending after Tropical Storm Joanne developed on July 10. July was an active month, with four tropical cyclones developing. However, the month of August and September combined featured only two tropical cyclones. After September, there were two tropical cyclones in October, both existing only on October 3 and October 4. Two more tropical cyclones developed in November, which was the first time on record, and would not occur again until 2006.
Hurricane Iva was the first storm of the season, as the Eastern Pacific continued through the name lists regardless of the year. Iva was first observed on June 9 280 mi (420.61 km/h) southwest of Puerto Ángel. The storm slowly curved northward, and Iva did not intensify past its peak with winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). By June 11, Iva made landfall near Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico at the same intensity. Iva transitioned into an extratropical cyclone less than six hours later, and the remnants completely dissipated on June 12.
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Wikipedia