 Hurricane Ethel originated from a small tropical disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico on the morning of September 14 , 1960 . It is estimated that Ethel developed into a tropical storm at 1200 UTC on that day , with an initial intensity of 45 mph ( 75 km / h ) . The disturbance quickly developed within a region favoring intensification and the New Orleans Hurricane Warning Office issued their first advisory on the system , classifying it as an area of low pressure , at 1500 UTC . Roughly six hours after becoming a tropical storm , Ethel was upgraded to a hurricane as it underwent an intense phase of explosive deepening . By this time , gale @-@ force winds extended 150 miles ( 240 km ) to the north of the center and 80 miles ( 130 km ) to the south . Ethel further intensified into a major hurricane , as it approached the Gulf Coast of the United States . 
