List of Texas hurricanes (1900-1979)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents |
[edit] 1900–1909
September 8, 1900: a Category 4 hurricane hit Galveston directly. Much of the city was flattened by the storm. It was responsible for 8,000 to 12,000 deaths, making it the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States.[1][2]
The second storm of 1901 made landfall in Southeast Texas as a minimal tropical storm. [3]
The second storm of 1902 made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas. [4]
The second storm of 1909 hit Texas as a Category 2 hurricane near Bronwsville, while the fourth storm hit near Freeport, Texas on July 21 as a Category 3 hurricane; with a 10-foot (3-meter) storm surge. Damage totals came to $2 million (1909 dollars) and 41 people died. [5] On August 24th, 1909, a hurricane slammed into the Mexico and Texas area. Point Isabel, Texas was completely underwater. No one perished though. [6]
[edit] 1910s
The first storm of the 1910 season made landfall at Padre Island, Texas. Damage was minimal. [7]
The sixth storm of 1912 made its second landfall just south of Corpus Christi, Texas as a Category 1. 15 people died and damage came to over $28,000. [8]
The first storm of the 1913 season was Category 2 hurricane that struck Cancún, Mexico and Padre Island, Texas. This storm caused major flooding and killed one person. [9]
In 1914, remnants of a system affected Texas near the Louisiana border. [10]
The 1915 Galveston Hurricane made landfall on the Texas coast as a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 120 mph (200 km/h). The areas in Texas hardest hit were Galveston and Houston. In Galveston, the death toll was only eleven due to a recently built seawall, but elsewhere there were 111 fatalities (42 in Galveston Island and 62 offshore) and 102 others were reported missing and assumed dead. Total damage was $56 million (1915 USD). [11]
The 1916 Texas Hurricane made landfall on Padre Island, Texas on the August 18 as a 115 mph hurricane. The hurricane caused 15 fatalities, with $1.8 million (1916 USD) in damage. [12]
The remnants of the first storm of 1918 affected Texas after making landfall in Lousiana. [13]
The second storm of the 1919 season made landfall just south of Corpus Christi, Texas as a Category 1. [14]
[edit] 1920s
The first hurricane of the 1921 season made landfall in Texas. [15]
The first storm of the 1925 season formed was a tropical storm that hit near Brownsville, Texas. [16]
A category 1 hurricane struck near Freeport, Texas in 1929, the only town to suffer much damage from it. [17]
[edit] 1930s
The first storm of 1931 made landfall in the Galveston area as a tropical storm. [18]
The second storm of the 1932 season slammed into the upper Texas coast near Freeport, Texas as a very compact Category 4 hurricane. Texas was devastated by this storm. [19]
The Texas area was alive with activity in 1933, with the second storm making landfall in Mexico after threatening Texas; the fourth storm making landfall near Matagorda Bay in Texas as a 45 mph (70 km/h) tropical storm on July 23. The fifth storm made landfall near Brownsville, Texas on August 5 as a strong tropical storm. The storm produced strong winds and high tides along the coast of Texas, while heavy rains in south Texas and northern Mexico caused heavy damage. High tides from the storm covered parts of South Padre Island. The tenth storm threatened Texas, causing the issuance of tropical storm warnings for portions of the southern Texas coastline. The eleventh storm made landfall just north of Brownsville early on September 5. 179 people were killed and doing 28 million dollars in damage. [20], [21], [22]
In 1934, the third storm was a Category 1 hurricane passed over north Florida as a tropical storm and made landfall in central Texas, causing 11 casualties and $1-$2 million in damage. The fifth storm was another Category 1 hurricane that grazed Galveston. [23]
The third storm of the 1936 season caused severe crop damage was reported in San Patricio and Nueces Counties. In all, the hurricane caused $550,000 (1936 USD) in damage, primarily to oil refinery property, though no deaths or injuries were reported. The fourteenth storm of the season made landfall near Brownsville. [24]
The third and fifth storms of 1938 made landfall in the state. [25]
[edit] 1940s
The second storm of 1940 hit near the Texas/Louisiana border, and dissipated three days later over Missouri. One casualty and $1.7 million in damage from flooding has been attributed to this hurricane. [26]
In 1941, the first storm hit the Texas coast between Galveston and Port Arthur. The storm dissipated the next day without causing any damage. The second storm hit Texas near Matagorda just below hurricane strength. It continued northward, and became extratropical later that day. The hurricane caused heavy flooding in Texas, amounting to $7 million in damage (1941 dollars) and 4 deaths. [27]
The first storm of 1942 made landfall on the eastern Texas coast, and dissipated two days later over extreme southern Missouri. The hurricane caused around $600,000 in damage. The second storm hit the central Texas coast. The next day it dissipated over northwestern Texas, after resulting in $26.5 million in damage and eight casualties. [28]
In 1943, the Surprise Hurricane killed 19 people, and caused $17 million (1943 dollars) in damage to the Houston area. This storm is notorious for being censored by the U.S. Weathe Bureau. [29]
The second storm of 1945 hit southern Texas, causing no reported damage. The fifth hurricane of the same year made landfall near Port Aransas in central Texas as a 140 mph Category 4 hurricane. Towns from Freeport to Brownsville were subjected to hurricane force winds, causing around $20 million (1945 US dollars) in damages, and three deaths. [30]
The first storm of 1946 hit near the Texas/Louisiana border, causing no damage.[31]
The third storm of the 1947 season made landfall in the state. [32]
Hurricane 10 of the 1949 season made landfall in Texas after crossing in from the Pacific basin. [33]
[edit] 1950s
In 1950, Tropical Storm How hit the Mexican coast 150 miles south of Brownsville. Damage was reported as far north as Port Aransas. Corpus Christi had gusts to 39 mph. Tides rose to 4' at Padre Island. Sections of highway on North Padre Island at Gulf Park were washed away. [34]
The first Hurricane Alice of 1954 dissipated over Texas. Heavy rains caused major crop damage to cotton crops, as well as 55 deaths. [35] The next storm, Tropical Storm Barabara made landfall near Sabine Pass, Texas. An October 1954 depression caused rainfall in Texas.[36]
Hurricane Gladys of 1955 struck 140 miles south of Brownsville as a category 1 hurricane on the 5th. The rainfall total at Flour Bluff was 17.02". Corpus Christi saw 7.6" of rain in 24 hours. Tides rose to 4.5'. A circulation center rotating around the eastern periphery of the storm moved onshore on the 7th south of Baffin Bay. Locals to the area named it "Glasscock", after the oil platform 15 miles east of Port Aransas that recorded winds of 83 mph. Winds of 60 mph were seen at Flour Bluff. Damage was confined to the coast. [37]
Hurricane Audrey made landfall near Sabine Pass, Texas on June 27, 1957, as a 145 mph Category 4 hurricane.[38],[39],[40],[41] Like 1954, the next storm of the season, Tropical Storm Bertha, made landfall in Texas.
Tropical Storm Alma of 1958 hit northeastern Mexico 70 miles south of Brownsville, Texas. It dissipated the following day after causing one indirect death from drowning. [42]
Ella of 1958 hit southeastern Texas on the 6th of September, and dissipated later that day. Ella caused a total of $200,000 in damage (1958 dollars) and 37-39 deaths [43] in Cuba and Haiti from drowning. In addition, Galveston received torrential rainfall amounting to 13.6 inches. [44]
Hurricane Debra in 1959 hit between Freeport, Texas and Galveston, Texas as a minimal hurricane. It weakened over Texas, and dissipated over western Oklahoma. Debra caused a total of $7 million (1959 dollars) in damage, but no fatalities. [45]
[edit] 1960s
Tropical Storm One of 1960 hit 30 miles south of Corpus Christi, Texas as a 45 mph storm. The storm looped over southern Texas, dumping heavy rain over the area. It moved slowly northward, and eventually dissipated over Illinois. Though weak, the storm caused $3.6 million in damage (1960 dollars) and 15 deaths. [46]
September 11, 1961: Hurricane Carla made landfall near Port Lavaca as a Category 4 hurricane. With an estimated central pressure of 931 mb at landfall, Carla was one of the largest and most intense hurricanes to strike the United States. Gusts as high as 170 mph were estimated at Port Lavaca. Carla is responsible for 31 deaths in Texas. [47][48]
Hurricane Cindy in 1963 made landfall on High Island, Texas. Cindy brought heavy rain to southeast Texas as it drifted southwestward over the state. The hurricane dissipated after causing $12.5 million (1963 dollars; $76 million 2005 USD) in damage and three deaths. [49]
Tropical Storm Abby the very next year hit Matagorda, Texas as a 65 mph tropical storm, dissipating the following day. Abby was a small system; its complete circulation at the surface was less than 100 miles (160 km) in diameter. Because of this, Abby caused only $750,000 (1964 dollars; $30.7 million 2005 USD) in damage, most of it from crop damage. [50]
In 1967, Hurricane Beulah made landfall just north of the mouth of the Rio Grande as a Category 3 storm. The S.S. Shirley Lykes reported winds of 136 mph as the storm passed over the port at Brownsville, Texas. [51]
In 1968, Tropical Storm Candy moved inland over southeast Texas, causing heavy flooding, crop damage, and tornadoes. [52]
[edit] 1970s
Hurricane Celia of 1970 made landfall in Texas. Celia killed 20 due to extreme gusts, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The storm produced microbursts, which are rare in a tropical cyclone. The windbursts caused heavy damage across the city. In Corpus Christi, Texas, one person was reported dead with over 460 others injured. Damage accumulated was about $1.8 billion dollars (1998 USD). In Port O'Connor, Texas, the storm broke several wind gauges and killed four people. Along the coast, boats were pushed ashore. [53]
Later that year, Tropical Storm Felice made landfall in Texas.
Hurricane Edith caused tides up to 6' in Sabine Pass in 1971, soon Hurricane Fern made landfall between Freeport, Texas and Matagorda, Texas as a tropical storm. Damage was minimal. [54]
Tropical Storm Delia in 1973 made its first landfall on the Southeast Texas coast near Freeport, and after a loop it hit Freeport again a few days later. This became the first known tropical cyclone to hit the same area twice.[citation needed] Six days later, Tropical Depression Six stalled over the Freeport, Texas area from the 10th to the 12th, bringing more rain to coastal areas that had already been saturated by Tropical Storm Delia. The depression caused $15 million more in crop damages. [55]
In 1974, Hurricane Carmen made landfall in Texas producing heavy rainfall. [56]
Hurricane Caroline of 1975 made landfall 100 miles (160 km) south of Brownsville, Texas.
Hurricane Anita of 1977 made medium rainfall throughout the eastern Texas coast. [57]
Tropical Storm Amelia (1978), with flooding rains, led to the deaths of 30 people in Texas in late July 1978. Later that year, Tropical Storm Debra made landfall halfway between Lake Charles, Louisiana and Beaumont, Texas, causing minimal damage. [58]
From July 24-27, 1979, Tropical Storm Claudette produced torrential rains in both Texas and Louisiana when it made landfall. The highest total was reported in Alvin, Texas where 42 inches of rain fell. This remains the twenty-four hour rainfall record for any location in the United States. [59]
Later in 1979, Tropical Storm Elena made landfall near Sargent, Texas as a weak tropical storm, rapidly deteriorating as it moved inland. It caused less than $10 million dollars (1979 USD; $28 million 2005 USD) in damage but managed to kill two people in floods.
Again in 1979, Tropical Depression 20 produced rainfall in Louisiana and Texas after hitting Brownsville. [60]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 1900 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ NOAA retrospective on the Galveston Storm of 1900
- ^ 1901 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1902 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1909 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ Texas Hurricanes
- ^ 1910 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1912 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1913 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1914 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1915 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1916 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1918 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1919 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1921 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1925 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1929 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1931 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1932 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1933 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ David Roth (2000). Texas Hurricane History. NWS. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
- ^ Corpus Christi National Weather Service (2000). Hurricane #11, 1933. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
- ^ 1934 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1936 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1938 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1940 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1941 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1942 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1943 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1945 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1946 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1947 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ 1948 Monthly Weather Review
- ^ Texas Hurricanes
- ^ Monthly Weather Review
- ^ TD 1954 Rainfall Totals
- ^ Texas Hurricanes
- ^ Weather Underground.comRetired Hurricane NamesURL Accessed:June 21, 2006
- ^ COMPARISON OF HURRICANE AUDREY (1957) AND HURRICANE RITA (2005) URL Accessed: June 21, 2006
- ^ MWR Report on Audrey
- ^ Hurricane City.comURL accessed:June 21, 2006
- ^ Detailed information on all storms from 1958
- ^ Past Deadly Hurricanes by the NHC
- ^ Detailed information on all storms from 1958
- ^ Detailed information on all storms from 1959
- ^ Detailed information on all storms from 1960
- ^ NOAA Carla page
- ^ Carla Rainfall Totals
- ^ Cindy 1963 Rainfall Totals
- ^ Detailed information on all storms from 1964
- ^ Beulah Rainfall Totals
- ^ Detailed information on all storms from 1968
- ^ Celia Rainfall Totals
- ^ Fern Rainfall Totals
- ^ Delia Rainfall Totals
- ^ Carmen Rainfall Totals
- ^ Anita Rainfall Totals
- ^ Amelia Rainfall Totals
- ^ Tropical Storm Claudette Preliminary Report
- ^ Tropical Depression Twenty
