The 1960's was historic concerning hurricanes. In 1960 the first US successful weather satellite was launched. This satellite provided key weather data. In 1964 the satellites had started to become advanced. The satellites now could detect developing tropical systems and alert the National Hurricane Center that a tropical system had developed or in the process. Moreover, the 1960's was still in the first active phase of the Atlantic due to positive ASO

1964 was also a very active season in terms of tropical activity. This was enhanced by positive ASO and a La Nina. The season saw 3 hurricanes make landfall in the US state of Florida. Also there was 4 destructive hurricanes. Cleo was the first of 4 destructive hurricanes from 1964. Indeed, in this post I'm going to be spotlighting Hurricane Cleo.

On August 20th a tropical low (wave) moved off the coast of Africa in the far Atlantic. Newly launched weather satellites indicated that the tropical wave was getting better organized. On August 21st the National Hurricane Center noticed the satellite data had shown a tropical storm had developed. The Hurricane Hunters flew into the storm and discovered that a tropical storm had indeed developed. The winds where estimated to be 45-50 mph and it was assigned the name Cleo.

Cleo continued to strengthen as the storm approached the southern Antilles ships reported winds of 75-80 mph and a pressure of 993 millibars. That was consistent with satellite data which was estimating winds of 80 mph. Cleo had now become a hurricane. The hurricane continued to strengthen as it moved northwestward. Cleo made landfall in the French Territory of Guadeloupe as a 115 mph category 3 hurricane. This also made Cleo a major hurricane.

As Cleo moved over the warm waters of the Caribbean it continued to strengthen. Late on August 22nd it had become a high end category 3 hurricane. The next day Hurricane Hunters discovered Cleo had become a dangerous 140 mph hurricane, this made Cleo a category 4 storm. The storm continued to strengthen. On August 24th Cleo reached its peak with winds up to 150 mph and a pressure of 938 millibars. Cleo was now a high end category 4 hurricane. Shortly after reaching its peak the hurricane struck the southern tip of Haiti at peak strength.

Due to the mountains of Haiti Cleo center got disrupted and the hurricane weakened. Cleo still made a 3rd landfall in Cuba as a 90 mph high end category 1 hurricane. After Cleo moved off of Cuba as a strong Tropical Storm the storm begin to rapidly deepen again. In just a few hours Cleo had regained hurricane status. The hurricane continued to strengthen until its 4th landfall.

Cleo struck South Florida as a 100 mph category 2 hurricane. Then the hurricane weakened to a strong tropical storm hugged the Florida Coastline as it accelerated toward Georgia. Cleo 5th and final landfall occurred near Savanna Georgia as a 70 mph tropical storm. After striking landfall Cleo moved back over the open waters. Going over the Gulf Stream Cleo became a hurricane again and would strengthen to a high end category 2 hurricane before becoming extra tropical.

In Guadeloupe Cleo killed 14 people and caused $50 million in damages to the small island. In Haiti Cleo killed 195 people and caused $10 million in damages. Although the storm did not make landfall in the country Cleo caused 6.50 million in damages to the Dominican Republic from flooding. Cuba reported 1 death and $2 million in damages. In the United States Cleo killed 10 people and caused about $130 million in damages. Overall, Cleo killed 220 people and $198.50 million in damages.

Cleo was the strongest storm of the 1964 season and the first of 4 destructive hurricanes. In addition, Cleo was 1 of 3 hurricanes to make landfall in the US state of Florida. Cleo was also the deadliest hurricane of 1964. In Haiti Cleo added insult to injury as the country had been decimated by Hurricane Flora a year earlier. In 1963 Flora caused 7,200 deaths in its path of destruction with 6,500 of those occurring in Haiti.

In conclusion, Cleo was a destructive and deadly hurricane that tore a path of destruction in the Caribbean as well as the United States. It was also a classic August Hurricane as it developed in the Far Atlantic. Normally storms develop in the Far Atlantic from August to October. Due to its severe impacts in so many countries the name Cleo was retired from the naming lists.