Hurricanes Abby and Celeste

Hurricane Abby and Hurricane Celeste were two related, consecutive hurricanes that impacted the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico in July 1960. The first system, Abby, the only tropical cyclone in the Caribbean Sea and the second tropical cyclone and first named storm of the season, developed on July 10 from a tropical wave in the vicinity of the Lesser Antilles. Abby rapidly intensified into a hurricane after being a tropical storm for less than six hours. It briefly peaked as a category 2 hurricane before weakening back. Abby rapidly weakened to a minimal tropical storm a few days thereafter. The storm re-strengthened into a hurricane as it began to parallel the coast of Honduras. Hurricane Abby made landfall in British Honduras (present-day Belize) on July 15. Abby dissipated over Mexico later the next day. The remnants of Abby ultimately regenerated into Celeste in the Pacific Ocean. Despite passing through or near several countries, Hurricanes Abby and Celeste had a relatively light impact on land, resulting in just $640,500 (1960 USD$, 6.64 million 2024 USD) in damage and six fatalities.