Storms of 1960

1960 A | Brenda | Cleo | Donna

On June 22, a large mass of weather, including thunderstorms and wind squalls up to 65 kilometres per hour (35 knots), was discovered in the extreme southwestern Gulf of Mexico. On the morning of the June 23, conditions were more favourable for intensification and the storm drifted to the north. The storm moved very slowly on the 24^th and 25^th and was accompanied by heavy rains, with rainfall up to 38 centimetres. Tornadoes were reported on June 26 as the dying storm moved north-northeastward. Exceptionally heavy rains spread into Arkansas and southern Illinois. This unnamed storm, now referred to as ‘1960 A’, was responsible for 15 deaths by drowning in either high seas or subsequent floods and more that $3.6 million in damages.

A weak cyclonic circulation, that would eventually become Tropical Storm Brenda, began to deepen off the southwestern Florida coast on July 28, 1960. By the night of the July 28, the storm began accelerating and moving northeastward onto the Florida coast. The storm then continued accelerating slowly as it moved along the Carolina coasts on the 29^th, through the mid-Atlantic States on the 30^th, finally passing through New England on the 31^st and then dissipating over southeastern Canada.

Some traffic deaths were attributed to the storm, however, none were directly caused by Brenda. Total property damage was estimated at $5 million.

Hurricane Cleo formed in a broad area of stormy weather, that was located 560 kilometres northeast of Nassau, Bahamas on August 18, 1960. Cleo remained small and moved parallel to the Atlantic coast. It appears that the storm attained its greatest intensity as it approached southeastern New England when winds near the centre were estimated at 148 kilometres per hour (80 knots).

There was no deaths and little, if any, damages attributed to Hurricane Cleo.

Donna was the only major hurricane of the 1960 season and the most destructive ever to strike Florida. Hurricane Donna was detected on September 2, 1960, while located near 14° North, 49° West. The hurricane went through the northern Leeward Islands during the evening of the 4^th, with the eye passing over Barbuda, St. Batthelmy, St. Maarten, Anguila, and about 16 kilometres south of Anegada. Only minor damage was reported in the Virgin Islands, as the storm centre passed about 55 kilometres northeast of the islands on the 5^th. Movement continued toward the west-northwest on the 5^th. There were tides of 1.5 metres and heavy surf on the northern and eastern coasts of Puerto Rico. Serious flooding occured on the island during the morning of the 6^th. Flood warnings were issued, but despite the warnings, 107 people drowned. On September 9, Donna skirted the northeastern coast of Cuba, bringing gales and heavy rains to much of the island. Donna then began following a west-northwest course towards the Florida Keys.

The centre crossed over the Middle Keys on the September 10. Donna began re-curving and moved northwestward along the southwestern coast of the Florida peninsula. The eye passed over Naples and Fort Myers, Florida as the hurricane turned northward, moved inland, and then continued northeastward. On September 11, Donna re-entered the Atlantic just north of Daytona Beach. Rapid re-intensification occurred over the ocean and Donna accelerated toward the northeast, reaching the North Carolina coast just northeast of Wilmington during the evening of September 11. The following morning, Donna once again passed into the Atlantic. When Donna again reached the ocean, it resumed its rapid forward movement, moving northeastward a short distance off the coast and crossing Long Island shortly after noon on September 12.

Gradual weakening occurred farther north as the centre continued rapidly northeastward, moving through Maine and into Canada on September 13. Hurricane force winds still endured in squalls near the centre until the time that Donna reached the Canadian border. Donna then moved northeastward through Labrador and into the Atlantic as a weakening frontal disturbance.