1966 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The 1966 Atlantic hurricane season was an above-average Atlantic hurricane season that featured a near normal number of tropical cyclones, and many affected land. There were twelve tropical storms, seven of which became hurricanes. Three of the hurricanes strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane, which is a Category 3 or greater on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The strongest hurricane of the season was Inez, a powerful Category 4 hurricane that devastated a large majority of the Caribbean islands and Mexico. The system was among the deadliest hurricanes on record, with over 1,000 total fatalities estimated. In addition, Inez caused $432.5 million (1966 US$) in damage, making it the deadliest and most destructive hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. Hurricane Faith was an intense Cape Verde-type hurricane that holds the record as having the longest track of an Atlantic hurricane and the second longest worldwide.

The season officially started on June 15, although Hurricane Alma developed eleven days prior. The system later affected the island of Cuba, where 90 fatalities were reported. Tropical Depression Two later in the month followed a similar path before making landfall in Florida, where it produced several tornadoes that dealt minor damage. In late July, a tropical depression struck the U.S. state of Louisiana, causing heavy rainfall but little damage. In mid-September, Hattie made landfall on the Mexican coastline; this area was struck a few weeks later by Inez. Throughout the basin, at least $690 million in damage was dealt, as well as at least 1094 fatalities.