Hurricane Inga

Map plotting the track and the intensity of the storm, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

On September 20, a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean developed into a tropical depression.[1] On the next morning, the National Hurricane Center reported that the system became a tropical storm while centered about 930 mi (1,500 km) east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. At the time, the storm was moving towards the west at 14 mph (23 km/h).[2] At the time, Inga was a very small tropical cyclone; gale-force winds extended less than 100 mi (160 km) from the center.[3] However, by September 23, the storm had become disorganized and sprawling.[4] Later that day, Inga weakened back into a tropical depression.[1]

The depression continued west-northwestward, passing north of the Leeward Islands, before drifting northwestward. It once again attained tropical storm status on September 28,[1] while situated well to the east of the Bahamas.[5] Inga continued to intensify, and achieved hurricane status at 0000 UTC on September 30, at which point it turned northeastward.[1] The storm then abruptly, yet gradually, turned towards the south, and ultimately completed a counter-clockwise loop as it bent back westward.[1] Steering currents were weak, and the hurricane continued to proceed slowly.[6] Late on October 3, it turned to the northwest, still as a Category 1 hurricane on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.[7] The storm then curved northeastward and intensified to Category 2 status at 0000 UTC on October 5.[1]

Inga accelerated somewhat as it passed to the southeast of Bermuda. By the morning hours of October 5, it was determined that the hurricane posed no significant threat to the island.[8] At 1200 UTC, the storm's lowest known barometric pressure of 964 millibars was recorded. Shortly thereafter, it briefly strengthened to Category 3 status; the cyclone peaked with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). As it moved towards the open waters of the Atlantic and entered a cooler environment,[9] it deteriorated to Category 1 intensity on October 6.[1] The hurricane slowed again, and as cold air became entrained into its circulation, it began to lose tropical characteristics.[10]

Position of Inga in relation to the United States on October 3

However, Inga once again intensified and reattained Category 2 intensity on October 7. At this point, the hurricane was drifting generally eastward. However, in time the storm turned towards the south and began to weaken.[1] Operationally, the storm was believed to have downgraded to a tropical storm on October 8 and regained hurricane status thereafter,[11][12] but instead it likely maintained Category 1 intensity steadily until October 10. After the storm finally degenerated into a tropical storm, it curved southwestward.[1] The storm's center became ill-defined and elongated at the storm continued to lose strength.[13] Heading westward, Inga was downgraded to a tropical depression[14] before dissipating fully on October 15,[1] about 290 mi (470 km) from where it initially attained hurricane status.[15]

Hurricane Inga lasted for nearly 25 days between September 20 and October 15. This made it the third longest-tracked Atlantic hurricane on record, behind the San Ciriaco Hurricane in August–September 1899 and Hurricane Ginger in September–October 1971. The fourth, fifth, and sixth longest-lived storms are Hurricane Nadine in 2012, Hurricane Kyle in 2002, and Hurricane Four in 1926.[1] At the time of its existence, however, Inga was believed to have been the longest-lived Atlantic tropical cyclone on record.[15] The National Hurricane Center issued 72 total advisories on the storm.[16]

While Inga remained predominately over the open ocean, its outer fringes produced 80 mph (130 km/h) wind gusts on Bermuda. The strong winds caused power failures, which were promptly restored.[17] Residents were advised to monitor the storm in case of sudden changes in direction.[18]

• 1969 Atlantic hurricane season
• List of Bermuda hurricanes