1965 was 60 years ago and that means the 1965 Atlantic Hurricane Season was 60 years ago. This season was slightly below average, for that time, with 10 named storms, 4 became hurricanes, and 1 became a major hurricane. Most of the storm's stayed out to sea. However, 1965 also proved it only takes 1 storm to make it a bad year. That year was hurricane Betsy. While Betsy has been over shadowed by Hurricane Katrina Betsy is still talked about to this day especially in New Orleans.

On August 23rd weather satellites detected a wave coming off the coast of Africa with broad circulation. The wave continued to move to the west northwest at a good clip. However, due to wind shear the wave did not develop for a few days. On August 27th the Hurricane Center classified the wave as a depression. However, wind shear appeared and kept the depression from developing for the next 24-36 hours.

On August 29th the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Betsy. It was expected that due to less wind shear and over the warm waters Betsy would likely become a hurricane. Late on August 30th Betsy became a 75 mph category 1 hurricane with further strengthening expected. A high pressure to the North started to pull Betsy, by this time was north of Puerto Rico westward. This meant Betsy would be going over the very warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

Betsy continued to steadily intensify becoming a category 2 hurricane on September 2nd, and a category 3 hurricane on September the 3rd making Betsy a major hurricane. On September the 4th Betsy briefly became a category 4 hurricane with winds up to 135 mph. However, a cold front caused Betsy to weaken back to category 3 and category 2 strength. Though it is possible Betsy may have been doing an eye wall replacement cycle. On September the 6th Betsy became a major hurricane again with winds up to 120 mph and made landfall in the southern tip of Florida as a category 3 hurricane on September the 7th.

Betsy emerged in the Gulf on September the 8th as a 115 mph category 3 hurricane. Due to the warm waters Betsy started to re-organize and be pulled up toward the Louisiana coastline. On September the 9th Betsy once again became a category 4 hurricane with winds up to 135 mph.

On September the 10th Betsy reached its peak as a 140 mph category 4 hurricane with a lowest pressure of 942 millibars. Right after reaching its peak Betsy made landfall near Bayou Caine Louisiana as a category 4 hurricane. Betsy produced 120 mph winds in the larger New Orleans area bringing storm surge over 14 feet in some spots of the city.

Once inland Betsy spanwed tornadoes, damaging winds over 75 mph, and flooding rains. Betsy was declared extra tropical on September the 12th.

Betsy's high storm surge and strong winds did historic damage to Louisiana and the USA. In fact, Betsy became the first hurricane to cause at least $1 Billion dollars worth of damage to the United States. Overall, in the United States alone Betsy caused $1.3 Billion dollars worth of damage and over 80 deaths. In the Bahamas Betsy was blamed for $200 million in damages. The official total for Betsy is $1.5 Billion dollars worth of damage and over 84 deaths.

Betsy was historic because it impacted a large Metro Area and was the first hurricane to cause at least $1 Billion dollars to the United States. Betsy also proved how prone New Orleans was to storm surge. 60 years later and this storm is still talked about to this day. 40 years later Hurricane Katrina hit the same area doing massive damage. However, Betsy was a small hurricane in size compared to the much larger Katrina.

Some Meteorologist including myself have stated that Betsy should have been a wake up call to New Orleans that a major hurricane could cause severe damage. In Betsy's case the strong winds and surge was the main problem. That is why this storm is also historic.

When names started to be retired due to the high amounts of damage the name Betsy was retired from the naming lists. After the 1978 season the current 6 rotating lists of names were used but previous destructive hurricanes were officially retired.