Hurricane Celia
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- This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 1970. For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Celia (disambiguation).
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Celia making landfall in Texas |
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| Formed | July 31, 1970 | |
| Dissipated | August 5, 1970 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 945 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $450 million (1970 USD) $2.3 billion (2005 USD) | |
| Fatalities | 16 direct | |
| Areas affected |
western Cuba, Central Texas | |
| Part of the 1970 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Celia was the third named tropical cyclone of the 1970 Atlantic hurricane season, and prowled through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico between July 31 and August 5. The storm caused $450 million (1970 US dollars) and killed 16 people in Cuba and Texas. It was the strongest storm of that season.
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[edit] Storm history
The precursor to Hurricane Celia was a tropical wave that moved off the African coast on July 23. It moved quickly across the Atlantic, and combined with upper level shear, it did not develop. As it slowed through the Western Caribbean Sea, it was able to organize, becoming a tropical depression on July 31. It moved northwestward, hitting the western tip of Cuba on August 1. When it reached the Gulf of Mexico, conditions were favorable for development, and it strengthened to a tropical storm late on August 1.
With no upper level shear and warm water temperatures, Celia rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico to a 115 mph storm on the August 2. Celia steadily weakened to an 85 mph minimal hurricane on the August 3 as it neared the Texas coast. That day though, it again rapidly organized, reaching a peak of 125 mph winds before hitting Corpus Christi, Texas on the third day of August. Celia weakened over Texas, and dissipated on August 5 over southeastern New Mexico.
[edit] Impact
Celia killed 16 people (including 5 deaths from flooding in Cuba) and caused over $450 million (1970 US dollars) in damage.
Although Celia was a Category 3 hurricane, it introduced the concept that wind gusts far exceed the hurricane's sustained winds. Celia made landfall packing 130 mph winds, but gusts were recorded as high as 180 mph [1].
[edit] Cuba
When Celia was a tropical depression, it produced torrential downpours as it made landfall on the western tip of Cuba at that strength. The rains triggered flash floods that killed five people and left an estimated $25 million dollars in damage[citation needed].
[edit] Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas was hard hit by the hurricane. The storm produced downbursts or microbursts which is rare in a tropical cyclone. The windbursts, caused heavy damage across the city. The death toll in Corpus Christi was one dead , 466 injured and $1.8 billion dollars (1998 USD). In Port O'Connor, the storm broke several wind gauges and killed four people. Along the coast, boats were pushed ashore.
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
The name Celia was retired following this storm and replaced by Carmen in the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season. It will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane, though it remains in use in the Pacific basin.
