1931 Atlantic hurricane season

Infobox hurricane season | name=1931 Atlantic hurricane season
first storm formed=June 25, 1931
last storm dissipated=Nov. 25, 1931
strongest storm=#5 - 110 knots (130 mph)
total storms=9
major storms=1
total da

total fatalities=2,502
basin=Atlantic hurricane
five seasons=1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 The 1931 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1931. The 1931 season was below average in terms of tropical cyclone formation. Nine tropical cyclones formed during the year, but only two reached hurricane status, and one reached major hurricane status. This one 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.

Storms

Tropical Storm One

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm One
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=June 25
dissipated=June 28
highest winds=45 mph (70 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownThe first of many weak storms in 1931, this one developed in the western Caribbean. Wind speeds never rose above convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. 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.

Tropical Storm Two

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm Two
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=July 11
dissipated=July 17
highest winds=60 mph (95 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownStorm 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 convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on two days later, after reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico. Continuing northward, it weakened just before landfall in central Louisiana to convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on sustained winds. Gale winds and heavy rains were reported, but no damage reports exist. The storm dissipated over Oklahoma.

Tropical Storm Three

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm Three
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=August 10
dissipated=August 18
highest winds=60 mph (95 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownThe 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.

Tropical Storm Four

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm Four
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=August 16
dissipated=August 21
highest winds=40 mph (65 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownAnother weak storm, this one never strengthened past minimal tropical storm intensity. 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.

Hurricane Five

infobox hurricane small
name=Hurricane Five
category=cat3
type=hurricane

---

formed=September 5
dissipated=September 12
highest winds=125 mph (200 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownThe 1931 hurricane remains the worst in Belize's history. It devastated the entire northern coast of the country. It formed east of Barbados in early September and moved through the Caribbean, not strengthening much for the first four days. On September 10, though, the storm began to rapidly intensify; going from a tropical storm to a major hurricane with convert|125|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on winds. The September 10 is a national holiday 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 perhaps increased the death toll. Belize City was nearly destroyed by the storm surge. As many as 2,500 people were killed. The storm then moved over the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Veracruz and dissipated inland.

Hurricane Six

infobox hurricane small
name=Hurricane Six
category=cat2
type=hurricane

---

formed=September 8
dissipated=September 16
highest winds=100 mph (160 km/h)
lowest pressure=988 mbar (29.17 inches Hg)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 Islands, 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 convert|6|mi|km|sing=on 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 convert|95|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on 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

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm Seven
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=September 25
dissipated=September 27
highest winds=40 mph (65 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownStorm Seven was a weak tropical storm that drifted northward for a couple of days in the latter half of September. Wind speeds never exceeded convert|40|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on.

Tropical Storm Eight

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm Eight
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=October 18
dissipated=October 22
highest winds=45 mph (70 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownThe 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 Review 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 convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on and no damage reports exist.

Tropical Storm Nine

infobox hurricane small
name=Tropical Storm Nine
category=storm
type=tropical storm

---

formed=November 22
dissipated=November 25
highest winds=45 mph (70 km/h)
lowest pressure=Pressure unknownThe 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 convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on.

ee also

*List of tropical cyclones
*List of Atlantic hurricane seasons

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1931.pdf Monthly Weather Review]