Tropical Storm Carrie (1972)
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | August 29, 1972 |
Dissipated | September 5, 1972 |
Tropical storm | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 993 mbar (hPa); 29.32 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 4 total |
Damage | $1.78 million (1972 USD) (equivalent to $12.97 million in 2023) |
Areas affected | U.S. East Coast, New England, New Brunswick |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season |
Tropical Storm Carrie was a strong tropical storm that affected the East Coast of the United States in early September 1972. The third tropical cyclone of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season, Carrie formed on August 29 from a complex sequence of meteorological events starting with the emergence of a tropical wave into the Atlantic in the middle of August.
Tracking generally northward throughout its life, Carrie reached an initial peak intensity as a moderate tropical storm before nearly weakening back into tropical depression status. The storm began to intensify in a
Carrie had a minimal impact on the East Coast south of New England, limited to increased swells, gusty winds, and light rainfall. The worst conditions occurred over southeastern New England, where wind gusts reached 84 mph (135 km/h) and rainfall exceeded 1 ft (300 mm). Damage was most severe along and slightly inland from the coast. Thousands of people became stranded on offshore islands of Massachusetts, after dangerous conditions created by the storm prompted the suspension of ferry service. Overall damage was generally light, with total monetary losses valued at $1,780,000 (equivalent to $12,970,000 in 2023), and four deaths are blamed on the storm.
Meteorological history
The origins of Tropical Storm Carrie are traced back to a tropical wave—an elongated area of
The low pressure system maintained a
On August 31,
On September 1, Carrie began to weaken, and by early on September 2, it had dwindled to a minimal tropical storm with winds of only 40 mph (64 km/h).
A low pressure system moving through the
In the official Atlantic Hurricane Database, however, Carrie is listed as a tropical cyclone until 1800 UTC on September 3, at which point it possessed winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a central barometric pressure of 993 mb (29.3 inHg). As a result, these data are considered representative of the storm's peak intensity.[2] Regardless of its status, the storm was a large and intense system as it progressed north and neared New England, generating strong winds and rough surf along the coast.[8] Having fully transitioned into an extratropical system, the storm made landfall near Eastport, Maine on September 4 and slowly weakened as it continued north up the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.[1] The cyclone fully dissipated on September 6 in the Gulf.[1]
Preparations and impact
The pressure gradient between Carrie and the high pressure area to its north produced gusty northeasterly winds, and by extension high seas. In response, the National Weather Service issued small craft warnings starting on September 1 and extending from Massachusetts to the Carolinas.[9] Gale warnings were posted the next day from southern New Jersey to the coast of central New England, and the small craft warnings were brought north to Maine.[10]
On September 3, the threat of continued heavy rainfall necessitated the issuance of flash flood watches throughout eastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire, and southern and central Maine.[11] Due to rough surf, the beach at Virginia Beach, Virginia, was closed to swimmers on August 31.[12]
Mid-Atlantic
Carrie had minimal effects on the
New England and Canada
The brunt of the storm occurred in southeastern
Rainfall in southeastern New England was heavy, locally exceeding 10 in (250 mm). On the island of Martha's Vineyard, a storm total of 12.5 in (320 mm) was reported, the highest known precipitation sum resulting from Carrie. The most torrential rains were usually confined to within 70 mi (110 km) of the coast. The deluge swelled streams, inundated cellars, and washed out a railroad near Eagle Lake, Maine, derailing a train. Along the coast, rough surf caused beach erosion and swamped hundreds of small craft.[15] On September 3, choppy conditions forced the suspension of steamship services to and from the mainland and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Thousands of tourists and seasonal residents became stranded on the islands, creating what officials described as a "logistical problem".[16]
During the height of the storm, around 20,000 Narragansett Electric Company customers lost power, with scattered power outages reported elsewhere throughout New England.[17]
Damage from Tropical Storm Carrie and its extratropical remnants was light.[17] Total monetary damage was estimated at $1,780,000 (equivalent to $12,970,000 in 2023[18]), of which $1,200,000 in losses was inflicted on Massachusetts. Losses totaled $350,000 in Rhode Island, $200,000 in Maine, and $30,000 in New Hampshire.[19] Four fatalities were attributed to the storm: two in the aftermath of boating accidents in Massachusetts, and two due to rough surf along the coast of Maine. In the aftermath, a local disaster area was declared for the town of Plymouth.[15]
The weakening remnants of Carrie produced strong winds throughout
Oceanic currents produced by the storm washed cells of the harmful alga Alexandrium fundyense south and west into the coastal waters of New England. The alga releases toxins that cause shellfish poisoning and is native to the Bay of Fundy. Several weeks after the storm, a massive bloom of the alga occurred offshore the northeastern United States for the first time, and the species bloomed every year post-Carrie.[23]
See also
- List of Canada hurricanes
- List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States
- Timeline of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season
References
- ^ . Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Hurricane Specialists Unit (2009). "Easy to Read HURDAT 1851–2008". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Simpson, Robert (August 31, 1972). "Tropical Storm Advisory Number 1 – Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Pelissier, Joe (September 1, 1972). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion – Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Hebert, Paul (September 2, 1972). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion – Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Pelissier, Joe (September 2, 1972). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion – Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Pelissier, Joe (September 2, 1972). "Tropical Cyclone Discussion – Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ National Weather Service Washington (September 3, 1972). "Severe Weather Bulletin Number 2". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ National Weather Service Washington (September 1, 1972). "Tropical Storm Advisory Number 5 – Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ National Weather Service Washington (September 2, 1972). "Tropical Storm Advisory Number 9 – Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ a b National Weather Service Boston (September 3, 1972). "Special Weather Bulletin Number 4". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ a b Chapman, Dorothy (September 5, 1972). "Report on Tropical Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Roth, David. "Tropical Storm Carrie - August 29-September 5, 1972". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Ross, Martin (September 6, 1972). "Report on Tropical Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c National Climatic Center, United States Weather Bureau, Environmental Data Service (1972). Climatological data: National summary, Volume 23. United States Department of Commerce. p. 70. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Staff Writer (September 4, 1972). "Vacationers Stranded". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ a b Staff Writer (September 5, 1972). "Storm Moves On, Damage Is Light". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "State Breakdown of Storm Damage Caused by Tropical Storm Carrie". National Hurricane Center. December 1, 1972. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ "1972 – Carrie". Canadian Hurricane Centre. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ "Historical Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada". October 31, 2011.
- ^ "Historical Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada". October 31, 2011.
- ^ Anderson, Donald M (2004). "The Growing Problem of Harmful Algae". Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved July 14, 2011.