Season Summary
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1960. It was a below average season in which seven tropical depressions formed. All seven of the depressions attained tropical storm status, and four of these attained hurricane status. Furthermore, two storms reached major hurricane status (Category 3+ on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale); both of which became Category 5 hurricanes. Two hurricane and four tropical storms made landfall during the season and caused 387 deaths and $396.7 million (1960 USD, $3.12 billion 2012 USD) in damage.
Season activity began on June 23, with the development of an unnamed tropical storm. The season activity was confined only from June to September, and only one or two tropical cyclones developed per month in that time period. In addition, the season featured one of the least active months of August and September on record, with only two tropical cyclone developing in both months. The last storm of the season, Tropical Storm Florence, dissipated on September 25, over a month before the official end of the season on November 15.
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 76. 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, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones, such as the first storm, are excluded from the total.
Read more about this topic: 1960 Atlantic Hurricane Season
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