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A South American cyclone is a tropical cyclone that affects the continent of South America. The continent is rarely affected by tropical cyclones, though most storms to hit the area formed in the North Atlantic Ocean. Typically, strong upper level winds and its proximity to the equator prevents North Atlantic Ocean impacts. No tropical cyclone has ever effected the Pacific side of South America, while conditions are typically too hostile for many storms to hit the area from the South Atlantic Ocean. Based on climatology, northern Venezuela and Columbia have a 1 to 5% chance of a hurricane strike in any given year, while all locations south of 10º N have less than a 1% chance of a direct hit.
November 2-5, 1932- A Category 2 hurricane parallels the north coast of Venezuela and Colombia 75 miles offshore, causing some damage. Later, it passes to the northeast of Providencia Island, destroying 36 houses and ruining crops.
June 27, 1933- A minimal hurricane moves through northeastern Venezuela. The hurricane destroys several houses, businesses, and fishing boats. Powerful winds cut telephonic and telegraphic communications for several days. The hurricane killed several people, and caused over $200,000 in damage (1933 USD, $2.7 million 2005 USD).
October 8, 1954- Hurricane Hazel paralells the north coasts of Venezuela and Colombia around 100 miles offshore as a Category 3 hurricane, though effects, if any, are unknown.
September 25, 1955- Hurricane Janet paralells the north coasts of Venezuela and Colombia around 100 miles offshore as a Category 4 hurricane, though effects, if any, are unknown.
July 20, 1961- Hurricane Anna passes 75 miles north of the coast of Venezuela, though effects, if any, are unknown.
October 1, 1963- Hurricane Flora strikes Tobago and remains just offshore of Venezuela as it moves through the Caribbean Sea as a Category 3 hurricane. Damage in Venezuela, if any, is unknown.
September 16, 1971- A tropical depression that later becomes Hurricane Irene crosses the Venezuelan island of Curaçao. Effects are unknown.
August 14, 1974- Tropical Storm Alma makes landfall on northeastern Venezuela and later dissipates over the mountainous country. Intense rain bands cause a passenger plane to crash on Isla Margarita, resulting in 47 indirect deaths. Damage is unknown.
September 13, 1978- A tropical depression that later becomes Hurricane Greta forms near the northeastern coast of Venezuela, causing no known damage.
September 10-12, 1988- Outflow bands from Hurricane Gilbert produce flash flooding in northern Venezuela. The flooding killed five people.
October 16-18, 1988- Tropical Storm Joan strikes northern Venezuela and Colombia. The storm produces flash flooding which kills 11 in Venezuela. In Colombia, rainfall from Joan kills 25, and leaves 27,000 homeless.
August 7-9, 1993- Tropical Storm Bret moves across northern Venezuela and Colombia. In Venezuela, the storm drops at least 13.35 inches in Guanare. The rainfall causes mudslides, particuarly near the city of Caracas, that cover many low-income housing units. Of the 173 deaths caused by Bret in Venezuela, most occur in the low-income areas near Caracas. Lack of preparation, including weather forecasters prematurely stating the worst of the storm is over, is part of the problem. In all, 10,000 were left homeless, and damaged totaled to $25 million (1993 USD, $39 million 2005 USD). In Colombia, Bret causes one death and one injury.
July 24-27, 1996- Hurricane Cesar moves westward across the southern Caribbean Sea and crosses over extreme northern Colombia and the San Andres archipelago. Cesar kills 11 people in Colombia due to flooding and mudslides.
November 13-16, 1999- Strong waves from Hurricane Lenny effect the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia, flooding 1,200 homes and businesses along the northern coastline. In addition, winds and rains from the hurricane causes severe crop damage in the country. The hurricane kills two in Colombia.
March 28, 2004- A cyclone, unofficially named Cyclone Catarina, strikes southeastern Brazil with maximum recorded winds of 90 mph. The possible hurricane damaged more than 30,000 homes and left 1,900 people homeless. The storm also damaged 1,373 businesses and destroyed 50, including a hospital. The storm killed 3, injured 38, and caused up to $330 million in damage (2004 USD).
September 7-9, 2004- Hurricane Ivan parallels the north coast of Venezuela as a Category 4 hurricane. Ivan's strong winds forced the closure of several airports. The hurricane also produced heavy rainfall and strong waves. Ivan killed three in the country, though overall damage was minor.
July 14, 2005- Hurricane Emily passes just north of Venezuela as a strengthening hurricane, causing heavy rains and flooding in the northeastern portion of the country. 64 families were forced to leave their homes when rivers in eastern Monagas state overflowed their banks, but waters quickly receded. Ships were forced to remain at port while the hurricane passed to the country's north, though restrictions quickly lifted.
October 29, 2005- Hurricane Beta hits the Colombian island of Providencia, and tears the roofs off of thousands of homes. High winds also shut down all airports and communications.
Listed by month
36 tropical cyclones have affected South America in most months of the year.
Month
Number of recorded storms affecting South America
January
1
February
0
March
1
April
0
May
0
June
1
July
3
August
4
September
13
October
7
November
3
December
3
Deadliest storms
Data from South American tropical cyclones is sparse and incomplete, though most tropical cyclones that struck the country caused multiple deaths.
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