Always like to keep 1961 in back of mind; as by Sept.1 there had only been one named storm. The season ended with 3 cat. 3s, 2 cat 4s, and 2 cat 5s. On Sept. 12 there were 5 storms in the Atlantic basin. Carla and Hattie were the 2 cat. 5s; and Esther was seeded as a pre formal Project Stormfury mission. Hattie, which decimated Belize as a Cat. 5, became Simone in the E. Pac; then crossed back over Tehauntepec and became Inga in the Gulf. Definitely an eventful season.
I didn't look at the surface, mid level, or upper level charts back then, so I can't relate why nothing much occurred before September 2nd; or what might have changed that set off that season.
# Name Date Wind Pres Cat
1 Hurricane-3 ANNA 20-24 JUL 100 976 3
2 Hurricane-4 BETSY 2-12 SEP 120 945 4
3 Hurricane-5 CARLA 3-16 SEP 150 931 5
4 Hurricane-3 DEBBIE 6-16 SEP 105 970 3
5 Hurricane-4 ESTHER 10-27 SEP 125 927 4
6 Tropical Storm 6 12-15 SEP 35 0 -
7 Hurricane-3 FRANCES 30 SEP-10 OCT 110 948 3
8 Tropical Storm GERDA 16-22 OCT 60 987 -
9 Hurricane-5 HATTIE 27 OCT- 1 NOV 140 920 5
10 Hurricane-1 JENNY 1- 9 NOV 70 974 1
11 Tropical Storm INGA 5- 8 NOV 60 992 -
