Hurricane Carmen

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Carmen
Type=hurricane
Year=1974
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane_Carmen.jpg


Formed=August 29, 1974
Dissipated=September 10, 1974
1-min winds=130
Pressure=928
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=1 direct, 3 indirect
Areas=Puerto Rico, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana
Hurricane season=1974 Atlantic hurricane season

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.

Meteorological history

Carmen's origins were from a tropical wave that moved into the Atlantic on August 23.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] It moved westward, and on August 29, it had formed into a tropical depression.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] The depression dropped heavy rain over parts of Puerto Rico while it was moving across the Atlantic. Carmen attained Tropical Storm status on August 30, just to the south of Puerto Rico.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] The next day, the storm had attained hurricane status.

The storm continued on its westward track, and on September 2, rapid intensification had begun, as a result of the warm Caribbean waters. The pressure dropped to a minimum of 928 mb, just before its first landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] Just before landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula, the storm had begun to take a more west-northwest track, as opposed to the forecast westward track, sparing Belize City.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] It made landfall north of Belize. Some weakening had occurred as it moved through land, prior to reaching the Gulf of Mexico. When the storm had emerged in the Gulf of Mexico, the storm had once again reached its peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h), as it neared the coast of Louisiana on the 8th.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] Just before landfall, the storm had weakened slightly.

On September 8, the storm made landfall in Louisiana, with winds up to 80 mph (130 km/h).cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf]

Impact

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. Rainfall amounts were up to 5 inches, with the most rainfall recorded at 5.91 inches. [David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/carmen1974.html Hurricane Carmen Rainfall Page.] Retrieved on 2008-01-08.]

Yucatán Peninsula

Carmen was initially forecast 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.

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.cite web|author=John Hope|title=1974 MWR|year=1975|publihser=NHC|accessdate=2007-12-21|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf] Because it remained away from large population centers, damage was estimated at only $150 million (1974 USD).

Retirement

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.

Popular culture

The storm was featured in the hit movie "Forrest Gump" as being the storm that sunk all the shrimp fishing boats except for Forrest's and Lieutenant Dan's and thus creating the Bubba Gump shrimping corporation.

ee also

*List of Atlantic hurricanes
*List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
*List of wettest tropical cyclones in Alabama

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1974.pdf 1974 Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/carmen1974.html Carmen Rainfall Totals]