Hurricane Hattie
| Category 5 hurricane ( SSHWS ) | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Emergence | October 27, 1961 | |
| resolution | November 1, 1961 | |
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Peak wind speed |
|
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| Lowest air pressure | 920 mbar ( hPa ; 27.2 inHg ) (peak as Hattie, unknown as Simone, 992 mbar (hPa; 29.31 inHg) as Inga) |
|
| dead | 275 direct | |
| Property damage | $ 370 million (1961) | |
|
Affected areas |
Belize , Yucatan | |
| Season overview: Atlantic hurricane season 1961 Pacific hurricane season 1961 |
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Hurricane Hattie was a Category 5 hurricane that hit Central America in 1961 . It formed over the Caribbean and hit Belize on October 31, 1961 - subsequently it turned back and ended up in the Gulf of Mexico . Hurricane Hattie is one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit Belize. Approx. 275 people died and large parts of Belize were destroyed.
As a result of Hattie, the government decided to leave the hard-hit capital Belize City on the Caribbean coast and look for a new location for a capital. This resulted in the test-tube town of Belmopan, around 80 kilometers inland from Belize City. Due to the unfavorable location and the extremely hot and humid climate, the new capital has only around 23,000 inhabitants to this day.