The 1967 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season overall, producing 13 nameable storms, of which 6 strengthened into hurricanes. The season officially began on June 1, 1967, and lasted until November 30, 1967. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Atlantic Ocean. The season's first system, Tropical Depression One, formed on June 10, and the last, Tropical Storm Heidi, lost tropical characteristics on November 2.
Hurricane Beulah, the strongest storm of the season, and only major hurricane (Category 3 or above on the Saffir–Simpson scale), was also the most damaging. It caused 59 deaths and $235 million in damage (1967 USD) along its two-week-long path. Beulah formed on September 5 and soon after crossed southern Martinique into the Caribbean Sea. On the island, it dropped 18.7 in (475 mm) of rainfall in Les Anses-d'Arlet, causing severe flooding. Widespread evacuations occurred along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic due to fears of a repeat of Hurricane Inez from the previous year. After brushing the south coast of Hispaniola, the hurricane weakened and re-intensified, striking the Yucatán Peninsula and later near the United States/Mexico border. There, it caused severe river flooding, killing 34 people in the two countries.
Hurricanes Arlene and Chloe, as well as several tropical depressions, originated from tropical waves that left the coast of Africa. Chloe lasted for nearly 17 days, eventually dissipating over France after wrecking a ship offshore northern Spain, killing 14 people. Hurricane Doria co-existed with Beulah and Chloe, taking an unusual trajectory over the eastern United States; it killed three people in a boating accident offshore New Jersey. In late September, Tropical Storm Edith was a minimal storm that moved through the Lesser Antilles without serious impact. Hurricane Fern killed three people when it struck Mexico north of Tampico.
Season summary
The 1967 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, and ran through November 30. These dates historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclogenesis, the process in which a tropical cyclone develops, resulted mainly from tropical waves, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and decaying frontal systems. There were 30 tropical waves that exited the west coast of Africa at Dakar, Senegal; another 20 tropical disturbances originated offshore the Mid-Atlantic states, and 7 disturbances derived from cold-core lows. A total of 18 tropical depressions (tropical cyclones with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (62 km/h) or less) formed during the season, 13 of which developed into named storms. Of those, six strengthened into hurricanes, while 1 system reached major hurricane intensity. This was the first season that non-developing tropical depressions were included into HURDAT, the National Hurricane Center—managed tropical cyclone database.
The season got off to a slow start, with the first operationally named storm, Arlene, not forming until August 28. The latency was caused by a stronger than normal ridge across the Atlantic Ocean, which suppressed convective activity across the basin and prevented the formation of strong low pressure areas. The season came to life in September, as seven tropical storms formed, including hurricanes Beulah, Chloe, and Doria. The season's overall activity was reflected with an above normal Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of 121.7 units. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, such as Beulah, have high ACEs. It is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 39 mph (63 km/h), which is the threshold for tropical storm status.
Systems
Mid-June tropical storm
Satellite imagery and ship data indicated that Subtropical Depression Three formed at 18:00 UTC on June 14 to the northeast of the northeastern Bahamas, associated with an upper-level low. With a ridge to the northeast, the depression moved northwestward toward the Southeastern United States. Conditions were not favorable for strengthening, with cool air and minimal outflow, although the cyclone acquired gale-force winds by 12:00 UTC on August 16, becoming a subtropical storm. Shortly thereafter the system's circulation contracted, indicative of a transition to tropical status 12 hours later. An approaching cold front turned the system northeastward on June 18. At 02:00 UTC, the minimal tropical storm moved ashore near Little River Inlet, South Carolina, with winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). Weakening to a depression as it headed inland, the cyclone lost tropical characteristics by 12:00 UTC on June 22. Having transitioned into an extratropical storm, its remnants continued to the northeast, restrengthening slightly to 50 mph (80 km/h) a day later. Early on June 22, the system was absorbed by the front, and continued to the northeast into Nova Scotia. The system dropped locally heavy rainfall, peaking at 8.86 in (225 mm) in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. In South Carolina, the rains caused flooding near Myrtle Beach, concurrent with 2.5 ft (0.76 m) above-normal tides, which caused $15,000 in damage, mostly to crops. Farther north, the rains were beneficial, with totals as high as 6.71 in (170 mm) in Saco, Maine.
Late June tropical storm
In mid-June, a lingering trough produced disorganized convection across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic. An area of low pressure developed northeast of Florida and gradually organized into a tropical depression around 00:00 UTC on June 20. Strong westerly shear affected the system, but it intensified into a tropical storm the next day and attained peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) as it maintained a small central dense overcast. The system gradually weakened beginning on June 22 and dissipated after 12:00 UTC on June 23 as it moved toward the east.
Hurricane Arlene
Following a series of weak tropical depressions emerging from the west coast of Africa, the ITCZ became more active at the end of August. A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa on August 24, and by the next day, a Pan American flight observed a circulation with falling pressures. Based on the system's organization on satellite imagery, the NHC assessed that Tropical Depression Five developed late on August 28 about 740 mi (1,190 km) west of Cabo Verde. Steered by a strong ridge to its northeast, the nascent system tracked northwestward, strengthening into a tropical storm by 18:00 UTC on the following day. After two ships reported gale-force winds, the NHC began issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Arlene at 08:00 UTC on August 30. That day, Arlene quickly attained winds of 45 mph (72 km/h). Concomitantly, the Hurricane Hunters observed winds of 70 mph (110 km/h), although the storm was well below hurricane intensity at that time; this was due to Arlene's interaction with the strong ridge.
Arlene failed to intensify much for nearly three days while passing through the Mid-Atlantic upper-level trough, although its wind speeds eventually increased. On September 2, Arlene turned to the north due to an approaching trough moving eastward from the Northeastern United States. Around that time, it began intensifying as it passed about 500 mi (800 km) east of Bermuda. The storm's convection wrapped around the center and organized further as Arlene progressed northward. Turning to the northeast, the storm attained hurricane status by 18:00 UTC. Late on the next day, the Hurricane Hunters recorded a minimum barometric pressure of 982 mbar (29.0 inHg), which, along with the storm's forward speed, suggested maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (140 km/h); together these data would signify Arlene's peak intensity. Soon after, the storm transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, and was absorbed by the trough late on September 5 to the southeast of Newfoundland.
Early September tropical storm
A tropical wave moved off Africa on August 28, spawning a large area of disorganized convection as it moved west. The system became much better organized on September 1, and it developed into a tropical depression around 12:00 UTC that day. Moving along the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the cyclone further developed into a tropical storm winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) winds on September 3. Satellite imagery showed a compact storm with organized convection near its center. However, it began to weaken on September 4, and it dissipated over the central Atlantic after 18:00 UTC on September 5. The remnants of the storm may have been absorbed into the large circulation of Chloe to the east.
Hurricane Chloe
On September 4, a tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa, and by 18:00 UTC organized into Tropical Depression Eight between Cabo Verde and Senegal. Soon after, the depression moved through Cabo Verde, and it continued northwestward due to a passing mid-latitude trough. On September 6, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Chloe, but its intensity stabilized for the next three days. On September 9, intensification resumed, and the Hurricane Hunters visually observed winds of 86 mph (138 km/h); though these were judged to be too high, Chloe's winds neared hurricane status. Maintaining intensity over the following day, Chloe turned sharply westward. By 12:00 UTC on September 11 Chloe attained hurricane status; around that time interaction with Hurricane Doria to the west turned Chloe more toward the northwest. Little more than a day later, Chloe peaked with winds of 110 mph (180 km/h), and subsequently reached its minimum pressure of 958 mbar (28.3 inHg), as documented by reconnaissance aircraft. Due to the sparse observations in the area, it is possible that Chloe briefly reached major hurricane intensity, but data were insufficient for such an upgrade.
After maintaining peak winds for about 48 hours, Chloe weakened somewhat early on September 15, while still over the open waters of the east-central Atlantic Ocean. By 12:00 UTC the cyclone briefly dipped below Category 2 on the Saffir–Simpson scale, but re-intensified to recover its former status 12 hours later. Over the next three days the westerlies turned Chloe east-northeastward, but the storm maintained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h) during this timeframe. On September 18 the storm was last intercepted by the Hurricane Hunters southeast of Newfoundland. By 12:00 UTC on September 19 Chloe finally began to lose its strength, and a day later degenerated into a tropical storm. Chloe transitioned into an extratropical cyclone containing gales on September 21. On the same date, the extratropical remnants of Chloe reached the coastline of France near Bordeaux and quickly dissipated inland over central France. Off the northern coast of A Coruña, Spain, high waves from Chloe sank the Fiete Schulze – a German cargo ship attempting to circumnavigate the storm. Of the 42 person crew, 14 people drowned, and the others were rescued and brought to a West German hospital, sparking fear of kidnapping from the East German government.
Hurricane Beulah
A tropical wave exited the coast of Africa on August 28. Moving westward, it organized into Tropical Depression Seven at 12:00 UTC on September 5, while located about 170 mi (270 km) northeast of Barbados. On September 7, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Beulah, which crossed into the Caribbean Sea that day. After continued strengthening, Beulah became a hurricane on September 8, and two days later reached an initial peak of 145 mph (233 km/h) to the southwest of Puerto Rico. An anticyclone over the Bahamas turned the hurricane westward, as changing upper-level conditions from a passing trough to the north, as well as land interaction with Hispaniola, greatly weakened Beulah. The track shifted to the southwest and weakened further to a tropical storm.
On September 13, Beulah began a steady track to the northwest while passing south of Jamaica. On the next day, it re-intensified into a hurricane due to favorable conditions, strengthening to a major hurricane by September 17. Continuing to intensify, Beulah impacted Cozumel and later the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h). After weakening over land, Beulah restrengthened over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, attaining peak winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) early on September 20, making it a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. On two aircraft passes about seven hours apart, Hurricane Hunters reported a minimum pressure of 923 mbar (27.3 inHg), the second-lowest aircraft reading at the time after Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The pressure may have been lower between those passes around 00:00 UTC on that day as a result. Beulah weakened slightly before making its final landfall around 12:00 UTC on September 20, just south of the United States–Mexico border, with winds of 125 mph (201 km/h) and an estimated central pressure of 940 mb (28 inHg). It weakened quickly over land and stalled near Alice, Texas, before turning to the southwest over Nuevo León on September 22.