Hurricane Carmen
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| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Radar image of Hurricane Carmen at landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula. |
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| Formed | August 29, 1974 | |
| Dissipated | September 10, 1974 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 928 mbar (hPa; 27.42 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 1 direct, 3 indirect | |
| Damage | $152 million (1974 USD) | |
| Areas affected |
Puerto Rico, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana | |
| Part of the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Carmen was a Category 4 storm, the most intense hurricane of the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm lasted from August 29 to September 10, 1974. Carmen caused significant damage on the Yucatán Peninsula and in Louisiana, and was the most intense hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Camille in the 1969 season. The hurricane is also noted for the fact that it threatened two major population centers, but veered away from both at the last minute.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 23. It moved quickly westward, and organized into a tropical depression on August 29, 140 miles east of Guadeloupe. It passed quickly through the islands on the 30th, and with favorable upper level outflow and warm Caribbean Sea water temperatures, the depression strengthened to a tropical storm later that day while south of the Mona Passage.
Carmen continued to strengthen, and became a hurricane just southeast of Jamaica on August 31. Low-level inflow was restricted during its early life from Hispaniola and Cuba to the north, but as Carmen headed through the Western Caribbean Sea away from landmasses, the hurricane rapidly intensified to a 150 mph Category 4 hurricane on September 2. Later that day, Carmen struck just north of Chetumal, Mexico, on the eastern side of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Within 12 hours of making landfall, Carmen quickly weakened to a tropical storm, with a greatly disrupted circulation. It gradually reorganized over the Gulf of Mexico, and became a hurricane again on September 5 over the Gulf of Mexico. Moving due northward over 85 degree September waters with favorable conditions aloft, Carmen again reached its peak of 150 mph winds on September 8 as it approached the Louisiana coast. Cooler, drier air weakened Carmen slightly prior to Morgan City, Louisiana landfall, but the hurricane hit with winds of 120 mph on the 8th. The storm deteriorated rapidly over land before dissipating over East Texas on September 10.
[edit] Impact
[edit] Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, Carmen's large windfield as a disorganized tropical depression caused flash flooding and tornadic activity across the island, amounting to $2 million in damage.
[edit] Yucatán Peninsula
Carmen was initially forecasted to hit the populated area around Belize City, but crossed the Yucatán Peninsula in a sparsely populated area due to a last minute track change. Damage estimates are not available, and there were no reported casualties.
[edit] United States
Like on the Yucatán Peninsula, Carmen was also predicted to make landfall near New Orleans, causing potentially severe flooding and destruction unseen since Hurricane Betsy. In preparation for the storm, over 75,000 people were evacuated from Louisiana to Mississippi. A northwest turn just before its landfall brought Carmen ashore in the less populated area of central Louisiana.
Hurricane Carmen brought heavy rainfall across the Gulf Coast of the United States. Louisiana experienced from 2 to a peak of 8 inches, although one location in Alabama reported over 13 inches from the storm's outer bands. Above normal tides were common across the Gulf Coast, with a maximum surge of 6 feet in southeastern Louisiana. The rainfall, combined with the storm surge, contributed to significant crop damage amounting to $90 million, mostly from sugar cane. The shrimp industry and offshore oil platforms were affected as well from Carmen's strong winds and flooding. Only one person was directly killed, an electrocution caused by downed power lines.[citation needed] Because it remained away from large population centers, damage was estimated at only $150 million (1974 USD).
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
The name Carmen was retired in the spring of 1975, and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again. It was not replaced with any particular name due to a naming change in 1979.
[edit] Trivia
Hurricane Carmen was also mentioned in the movie Forrest Gump. Forrest's shrimp boat was the only one to survive the full fury of the storm.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | 1974 Atlantic hurricane season | 1974 in Mexico | Atlantic hurricanes | Category 4 hurricanes | Hurricanes in Puerto Rico | Hurricanes in Quintana Roo | Hurricanes in Campeche | Louisiana hurricanes | Alabama hurricanes | Retired Atlantic hurricanes
