Hurricane Carmen
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | August 29, 1974 |
Dissipated | September 10, 1974 |
Category 4 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 150 mph (240 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 928 mbar (hPa); 27.40 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 8 |
Damage | $162 million (1974 USD) |
Areas affected | Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Yucatán Peninsula, Belize, Louisiana, Texas |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Carmen was the most intense
Upon entering the
Meteorological history
The origins of Hurricane Carmen can be traced to a weather disturbance over
On September 1, the hurricane began to
The cyclone drifted inland, deteriorating to a tropical storm on September 3.
Preparations
Initial reactions to the approaching hurricane in the Yucatán Peninsula were regarded as calm by the United States media. Mexican officials declared an emergency alert by September 2, although they did not advise any evacuations. Meteorologists in the United States urged those living near the coast to move inland immediately.
Although it initially threatened the United States city of
Impact
As a tropical depression and storm, Carmen produced moderate rainfall across
On account of the hurricane's landfall intensities and the widespread damage it caused, the name Carmen was later retired from the rotating lists of Atlantic hurricane names. It will never again be used to name a tropical storm in the Atlantic basin.[25]
Yucatán Peninsula
Although Carmen made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, it caused significantly less damage than anticipated because it struck a sparsely populated region. However, torrential rainfall from the storm inundated farmland across the region, ruining rice crops. The fishing industry also sustained major losses. Communication with the hardest hit regions was lost following Carmen's passage; however, early reports stated that at least five people were injured.[11] Several days later, officials in Mexico confirmed that three people had been killed by the storm. The city of Chetumal was described as a "disaster", and hundreds of people were left homeless.[26] More than 5,000 people in the city lost their belongings as a result of the storm. Officials in the area estimated that damage in Chetumal alone reached $8 million (1974 USD).[27] Throughout the Yucatán Peninsula, Hurricane Carmen claimed four lives and wrought $10 million (1974 USD) in damage.[28]
Following Carmen's passage, officials feared the worst for an area of 1,000 mi2 (2,590 km2) where communication was lost in Belize. A reconnaissance task force was sent out from Belize City the day after Carmen made landfall to assist any residents stranded by the storm.[29] One person was killed off the coast of Belize after being washed off his boat by large swells produced by Carmen. Three other fishermen were listed as missing following similar incidents. Thousands of people moved from coastal areas inland to escape the storm. Crop damage in the country was reportedly severe.[30]
United States
Carmen dropped moderate rainfall along its path, though the heaviest rainfall occurred well to the east of the storm's center, in southern
The storm's greatest impact was the loss of
Tidal action along the coast affected the balance of salinity in coastal marshes and water bodies. The sudden intrusion of saltwater stressed delicate plants. Fish, shrimp and oysters also suffered the ecological effects of Hurricane Carmen. Flooding on land caused some wildlife to drown. Several parks in Louisiana sustained damage, either from flooding or high winds; losses to
The hurricane caused two fatalities in Louisiana: a utility repairman who was electrocuted while working on power lines damaged by strong winds,[38] and a motorist who was involved in a storm-related traffic accident.[41] Total monetary losses in the state was estimated at $150 million.[3] Overall, the hurricane spawned four confirmed tornadoes.[42] One touched down near Brandon, Mississippi, destroying a barn and causing other damage.[43] Another struck Kaplan, Louisiana, injuring one person.[44] The storm's effects in Mississippi were described as minimal and were mainly confined to minor traffic accidents during bouts of heavy precipitation.[45] Light to moderate rainfall from the storm extended as far east as Florida and Georgia and as far west as Oklahoma and Texas.[19]
In popular culture
Hurricane Carmen was depicted in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump, in which the hurricane plays a major part in the movie's plot.
See also
- Other storms of the same name
- List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
- List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in Alabama
- Hurricane Audrey (1957) – caused severe impacts in Louisiana and Mississippi
- Hurricane Laura (2020) – devastated Southwestern Louisiana
- Hurricane Delta (2020) and Hurricane Zeta (2020) – both also made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and in Louisiana
References
- ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ Neil Frank (August 30, 1974). "Tropical Storm Carmen Special Advisory Number 1" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ John R. Hope (August 31, 1974). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion Tropical Storm Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Discussion Tropical Storm Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. August 31, 1974. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ John R. Hope (September 2, 1974). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ Joseph M. Pelissier (September 2, 1974). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ Neil Frank (September 2, 1974). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Grows, Yucatan Target of Carmen". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. September 2, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b United Press International (September 3, 1974). "Carmen Sweeps Across Yucatan". Beaver County Times. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ United Press International (September 3, 1974). "Carmen Smashes Across Yucatan (Part One)". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Carmen batters Louisiana". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. September 8, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Carmen lashes coast". The Chicago Tribune. September 8, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Carmen sputters". The Park City Daily News. Associated Press. September 9, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Hurricane Carmen Rages North". The Ottawa Citizen. Associated Press. September 7, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Weather Service Warns Hurricane Carmen Will Strike Gulf Coast Area". The Times-News. Associated Press. September 4, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Gulf Residents Recall Camille". The Herald-Journal. Associated Press. September 8, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c David Roth. "Hurricane Carmen – August 29 – September 11, 1974". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ "New storm builds, Becky heads north". The Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. August 30, 1974. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ "Hurricane No. 2". La Nación. Associated Press. September 1, 1974. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ "Storm May Regain Hurricane Strength". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. September 4, 1974. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ "Carmen Roars Toward Yucatan". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. September 1, 1974. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ J.S. Levinton. "Coral Reefs: limiting factors, morphology, and nutrition of corals". Prentice-Hall. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ^ "Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Hurricane watch out along Gulf". Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. September 6, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ United Press International (September 4, 1974). "Hurricane stalls, getting weaker". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ United Press International (September 6, 1974). "Hurricane Gathers Strength In Gulf". Beaver County Times. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ United Press International (September 3, 1974). "Carmen Smashes Across Yucatan (Part Two)". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ United Press International (September 4, 1974). "Carmen stalls in Gulf, 2 other storms develop". The Bryan Times.
- ^ National Weather Service Shreveport (September 9, 1974). "Preliminary Post Storm Report: Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ National Weather Service New Orleans (September 9, 1974). "Preliminary Storm Report: Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ National Weather Service Baton Rouge (September 9, 1974). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Hurricane Carmen dies out". The Rome News-Tribune. Associated Press. September 9, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Inventory and Assessment of Existing Economic and Resource Conditions" (PDF). Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. July 31, 1997. Retrieved May 6, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement: Mississippi River & Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana To The Gulf Of Mexico Hurricane Protection". United States Corps of Engineers. December 14, 2004. Archived from the original (DOC) on January 21, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
- ^ United Press International (September 9, 1974). "Hurricane Carmen hurts sugar crop". The Lodi News-Sentinel. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c United Press International (September 9, 1974). "Carmen Leaves Her Mark". The Beaver County Times. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Elizabeth M. Fowler (September 10, 1974). "Sugar Prices Soar Daily Limit On Effect of Hurricane Carmen; Cotton Declines November Delivery Up Cash Prices Open Interest". The New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "History". Dixie Electric Membership Corporation. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ^ "Hurricane Carmen Leaves Two Dead; Ravages Crops". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Associated Press. September 10, 1974. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Tom Grazulis and Bill McCaul. "List of Known Tropical Cyclones Which Have Spawned Tornadoes". Tornado Project. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ National Weather Service Jackson (September 9, 1974). "Preliminary Post Storm Report: Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ National Weather Service Lake Charles (September 8, 1974). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ National Weather Service Jackson (September 11, 1974). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Carmen" (JPG). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
External links