List of Texas hurricanes (1950–79)

Picture of a building with severe damage to its roof, and debris strewn about in the foreground.
Structural damage caused by Hurricane Celia

From 1950 to 1979, at least 34 tropical or subtropical cyclones affected the U.S. state of Texas. According to David Roth of the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about three times every four years, and on any 50 mi (85 km) segment of the coastline a hurricane makes landfall about once every six years.[1]

During this period, the most active month for storms affecting Texas is September, with twelve total storms, while no recorded storms have affected Texas during the months of November through May. While the most intense storms in terms of barometric pressure are both Hurricane Carla in 1961 and Hurricane Beulah in 1967, Carla caused the most fatalities and damages, with $325 million in damages and 46 deaths.[nb 1] The first storm to impact the state during the period was Tropical Storm How in October 1950, with the latest being Tropical Depression Twenty in September 1979. In terms of wind speed, Hurricane Audrey and Hurricane Carla are the strongest storms to affect the state, producing maximum sustained winds equivalent to Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.[1]

In the 1950s, five tropical cyclones made landfall on Texas as hurricanes. Starting in 1955, hurricanes that caused substantial damage to any country could have their name retired from the list of names for the Atlantic basin. Hurricane Audrey, the most destructive Texas hurricane during the 1950s, was the first hurricane to impact Texas to have its name retired. While the 1960s only featured six tropical cyclones making landfall on Texas, Hurricane Carla and Hurricane Beulah, both destructive Category 5s, made landfall as Category 4 hurricanes during the decade. Both hurricanes were subsequently retired. In the 1970s, five hurricanes affected Texas. Hurricane Celia made landfall as a major hurricane in 1970, causing $1.8 billion in damages.

1950-1954

A contour map of rainfall totals, with melon-colored areas representing low rain totals to light ble areas representing high rain totals.
Rainfall totals of Hurricane Alice

1955-1959

A black and white radar image of a hurricane. A definitive eye is clearly seen.
Radar image of Hurricane Audrey

1960-1964

Black and white radar image of a hurricane. Rainbands are visible, as well as the eye, on radar.
Radar image of Hurricane Carla

1965-1969

A satellite image of a hurricane. A small eye is visible. An overlay of the coordinate grid is also visible.
Satellite image of Hurricane Beulah

1970-1974

A black and white satellite image of a hurricane making landfall. The hurricane has a small faint eye and is located at the top left of the picture.
Satellite image of Hurricane Celia

1975-1979

An obscure black and white satellite image of a tropical storm. Not many features are discernible, but several thunderstorm clouds are.
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Amelia

Monthly statistics

Number of recorded storms affecting Texas
Month Number of storms
June
5
July
8
August
2
September
12
October
1

Deadly storms

The following is a list of hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions with known deaths in the state.

Hurricanes causing known deaths in Texas
Name Year Number of deaths Notes
Carla 1961 46 [1]
Alice 1954 17 [1]
Beulah 1967 15 [1]
Celia 1970 11 [1]
Audrey 1957 9 [1]
Cindy 1963 3 [1]
Fern 1971 2 [1]

See also

Notes

  1. All damage totals are in the value of the USD during the storm's year of existence.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Roth, David M; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Texas Hurricane History (pdf). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Davis, Walter R.; Weather Bureau (December 1954). "Hurricanes of 1954" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Miami, Florida. 82: 372. Bibcode:1954MWRv...82..370D. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1954)082<0370:ho>2.0.co;2.
  3. Nielsen-Gammon, John; Johnson, Howard. "Texas and Oklahoma's Greatest Hits". Office of the State Climatologist, Texas. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  4. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Hurricane Alice (1954) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  5. Burnett, Johnathan (2008). Flash Floods in Texas (1st ed.). College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-58544-590-5.
  6. "Rio Grande Floods 7 Towns; 6 Die; Thousands Homeless". Sarasota Herald Tribune. Del Rio, Texas. June 29, 1954. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  7. Longshore, David (2008). "A to Z Entries". Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones. O'Donnell, Annie; Cronan, Bob; Zausner, Tobi (3rd ed.). New York City, New York: Facts on File, Inc. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-8160-6295-9. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Tropical Disturbance Blows Toward Texas". The Tuscaloosa News. October 3, 1954. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  9. L.F. Hubert; Otto Berg (June 1955). "A Rocket Portrait of a Tropical Storm" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. 83: 119124. Bibcode:1955MWRv...83..119H. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1955)083<0119:arpoat>2.0.co;2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  10. Gordon, Dunn E.; David, Walter R.; Moore, Paul L. (December 1955). "Hurricanes of 1955" (pdf). Monthly Weather Review. Miami, Florida: Weather Bureau. p. 325. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  11. "Storm Reported". Tri-City Herald. New Orleans, Louisiana. Associated Press. August 1, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  12. "Tropical Storm in Gulf of Mexico". The Lewiston Daily Sun. New Orleans, Louisiana. Associated Press. August 1, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  13. "Hurricane "Flora" Fuming Far Out At Sea; "Gladys" Causing Stir Off Mexico". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Miami, Florida. United Press International. 5 September 1955. p. 7. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  14. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Hurricane Gladys (1955) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  15. "Flora Heading North; Gladys Perils Tampico". The Palm Beach Post. 7 September 1955. p. 10A. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  16. "Hurricane Sets Off Heavy Rains, Flood". The News and Courier. Brownsville, Texas. Associated Press. 7 September 1955. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  17. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Unnamed Tropical Storm (1956) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  18. 1 2 Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall for the Gulf Coast". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  19. 1 2 3 National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division (April 11, 2017). "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  20. Moore, Paul L. (December 1957). "The Hurricane Season of 1957" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Miami, Florida: Weather Bureau. 85: 401–408. Bibcode:1957MWRv...85..401M. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1957)085<0401:thso>2.0.co;2. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  21. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Tropical Storm Bertha (1957) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  22. "Bertha Piles Heavy Rains On Texas Area". The Palm Beach Post. Trinity, Texas. Associated Press. 11 August 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  23. "Bertha Turns Out Friendly". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Dallas, Texas. Associated Press. 11 August 1957. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  24. 1 2 Chief of Bureau (25 June 1958). "Report on Tropical Storm Alma June 14-17, 1958". Weather Bureau. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  25. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Tropical Storm Alma (1958) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  26. "Cities on Gulf Prepare to Meet Hurricane Ella". The Spokesman-Review. New Orleans, Louisiana. Associated Press. 5 September 1958. p. 36. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  27. "Tropical Storm Ella Heads Toward Texas; Threatens To Regain Power". The Washington Observer. Corpus Christi, Texas. Associated Press. 6 September 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  28. "Ella Loses Punch In Gulf; Texas Braces For Rain". The Beaver County Times. Corpus Christi. United Press International. 6 September 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  29. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Hurricane Ella (1959) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  30. Staff writers (December 1958). "The Hurricane Season of 1958" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. Miami, Florida. 86: 481. Bibcode:1958MWRv...86..477.. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1958)086<0477:thso>2.0.co;2. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  31. Mueller, Frederick H.; Reichelderfer, F.W.; Weather Bureau (July 1959). "Storm Data July 1959" (PDF). Storm Data. Asheville, North Carolina: United States Department of Commerce. 1 (7): 82. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  32. Roth, David M; Hydrometrological Prediction Center. "Hurricane Debra (1959) Rainfall Totals". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  33. "Debra Bores Inland". Tri-City Herald. Galveston, Texas. Associated Press. 26 July 1959. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  34. "Hurricane Debra Hits In Texas". Daytona Beach Morning News Journal. Houston, Texas. Associated Press. 25 July 1959. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  35. "Hurricane Debra Hits; Hundreds Flee Storm". Telegraph Herald. Galveston, Texas. Associated Press. 23 July 1959. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  36. Detailed information on all storms from 1960
  37. NOAA Carla page
  38. Carla Rainfall Totals
  39. Cindy 1963 Rainfall Totals
  40. Detailed information on all storms from 1964
  41. Beulah Rainfall Totals
  42. Detailed information on all storms from 1968
  43. Celia Rainfall Totals
  44. Fern Rainfall Totals
  45. Delia Rainfall Totals
  46. Carmen Rainfall Totals
  47. Anita Rainfall Totals
  48. Amelia Rainfall Totals
  49. Tropical Storm Claudette Preliminary Report
  50. Tropical Depression Twenty
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