Hurricane Alma (1966) facts for kids

Hurricane Alma was a powerful and unusual storm that happened in June 1966. It was a strong hurricane that hit parts of Cuba and the southeastern United States. Alma caused a lot of damage and sadly, nearly 100 people lost their lives. Even though it was a very destructive storm with winds up to 125 miles per hour, its name "Alma" was not removed from the list of hurricane names.

What Made Hurricane Alma Unusual?

Hurricane Alma was special because it formed and became very strong in June. Most big hurricanes happen later in the year, usually from August to October. So, Alma was an early and powerful visitor during the 1966 hurricane season.

Alma's Journey and Strength

Alma started as a tropical storm and quickly grew stronger. It reached its peak strength with winds of 125 miles per hour. This made it a Category 3 hurricane, which is a major hurricane. It first hit western Cuba, causing a lot of trouble there.

Impact in the United States

After Cuba, Hurricane Alma moved towards the southeastern United States. It brought strong winds and heavy rain to places like Florida. The storm caused about $210 million in damage. This was a huge amount of money back in 1966. Many homes and buildings were damaged, and power was lost for many people.

Why Was Alma Not Retired?

After a hurricane causes a lot of death and damage, its name is often "retired." This means the name won't be used again for another storm. This is done to remember the storm's impact and to avoid confusion. Even though Hurricane Alma caused nearly 100 deaths and a lot of damage, its name was not retired. This is quite unusual for a storm of its strength and impact.

Images for kids

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  Satellite image of Hurricane Alma approaching western Cuba

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  Alma's rainfall in the United States

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  A friendly robot