1931 Belize hurricane
Encyclopedia
The 1931 Belize hurricane was a devastating Category 3 hurricane that hit Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...

 on September 10, 1931, killing an estimated 2,500 people. Although much weaker than Hurricane Hattie of 1961
1961 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1961 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1961, and lasted until November 15, 1961. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season had seven major hurricanes, the second highest number on...

, it remains the deadliest hurricane, and natural disaster, in Belize's history. As well as the damage it did to the capital, it devastated the entire northern coast of the country.

Meteorological History

The hurricane began life as a tropical storm that formed east of Barbados in early September and moved westward through the Caribbean. This storm did not strengthen beyond tropical storm status for its first four days, but it intensified rapidly on September 10 into a major hurricane with 125 mi/h winds as it struck Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...

. The hurricane's storm surge devastated this low-lying coastal town.

September 10 is a national holiday
National holiday
National holiday may refer to:*A National Day, in which a country celebrates its independence, establishment or an otherwise significant event....

 in Belize, celebrating the defeat of the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye
Battle of St. George's Caye
The Battle of St. George's Caye was a short military engagement that lasted from 3 to 10 September 1798, off the coast of what is now Belize...

. This and the difficulties of forecasting the path and intensity of hurricanes at the time may have contributed to the death toll.

The storm then moved over the Bay of Campeche and made a second landfall near Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...

, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, before dissipating inland.
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