Archived: Canadian Tropical Cyclone Season Summary for 1963

Hurricane Arlene (July 31 to August 11, 1963)

Arlene was first detected as a tropical depression on July 31 in the mid-Atlantic. By August 2, Arlene was a fully developed hurricane. It is estimated that Arlene intensified from storm to hurricane force within 12 hours, which is a rather rapid development. During the night of August 3 through August 4, there was a rapid deterioration of the eye structure, as well as a reduction in winds, and by midday of the 4^th Arlene was, at most, a tropical depression.

Tropical depression intensity was maintained through August, however, by late in the evening of August 7, Arlene had once again become a tropical storm. Except for an increase in forward speed, Arlene changed little during the night and early morning hours of August 8 through 9. During this time, the eye passed over Bermuda. There were no lives lost at Bermuda, although there was $300,000 in property damage. After leaving Bermuda, Arlene moved on a northward course and probably increased in intensity for a short while, only to weaken a bit on August 10.

During the night of August 10 through August 11, it quickly lost tropical characteristics and merged with a polar front some 320 kilometres southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland.