What was Hurricane Carla and when did it occur?

Hurricane Carla was a powerful tropical cyclone that occurred in the Atlantic in 1961. It is notable for being the most intense hurricane to make landfall in Texas during the 20th century.

When did Hurricane Carla form and dissipate?

Hurricane Carla formed as a tropical depression on September 3, 1961, and dissipated as an extratropical cyclone on September 17, 1961, after reaching the Labrador Sea.

What was the peak intensity of Hurricane Carla upon landfall in Texas?

Hurricane Carla made landfall near Port O'Connor, Texas, on September 11, 1961, as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h).

What was the lowest central pressure recorded for Hurricane Carla?

The lowest central pressure recorded for Hurricane Carla was 927 mbar (27.37 inHg), indicating its significant intensity.

How many direct fatalities were attributed to Hurricane Carla?

Hurricane Carla resulted in 43 direct fatalities.

What was the estimated total damage caused by Hurricane Carla?

The total estimated damage caused by Hurricane Carla was $326 million in 1961 USD.

Which regions were significantly affected by Hurricane Carla?

Hurricane Carla affected the Yucatán Peninsula, Texas, the Central United States, the Great Lakes region, Canada, and Greenland.

Where did Hurricane Carla originate?

Hurricane Carla developed from an area of squally weather in the southwestern Caribbean Sea.

When did the storm become a tropical storm and a hurricane?

Carla strengthened into a tropical storm on September 5, 1961, and reached hurricane intensity on September 6, 1961.

What was the track of Hurricane Carla after entering the Gulf of Mexico?

After entering the Gulf of Mexico on September 7, Carla followed a northwesterly course, influenced by a high-pressure area, before making landfall in Texas.

Did Hurricane Carla reach Category 5 intensity?

Operationally, Carla was considered a Category 5 hurricane on September 11, 1961, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph. However, a later reanalysis concluded its peak winds were 145 mph, which is now the officially recognized intensity, making it a Category 4.

How did Hurricane Carla weaken after landfall?

After making landfall, Carla rapidly weakened inland, reducing to a Category 2 hurricane on September 12, then a Category 1, and finally degenerating into a tropical storm before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone over Oklahoma.

What significant weather phenomena did Hurricane Carla produce in Texas?

In Texas, Carla produced abnormally high tides and storm surge, strong winds reaching up to 175 mph gusts, and spawned tornadoes, including a violent F4 tornado near Galveston.

What was the highest storm surge recorded during Hurricane Carla?

The highest storm surge recorded was 18.5 feet at Port Lavaca, Texas, with many coastal areas experiencing surges of at least 10 feet.

What was the peak rainfall total recorded in Texas from Hurricane Carla?

The highest rainfall total in Texas was 17.48 inches in Bay City.

How many tornadoes did Hurricane Carla spawn, and what was their impact?

Hurricane Carla spawned 21 tornadoes, the most on record for a hurricane at the time. Eight of these tornadoes in Texas caused significant damage, including destruction of homes, buildings, and resulting in fatalities and injuries. One F4 tornado in Galveston caused eight deaths and 200 injuries.

What was the extent of property damage in Texas due to Hurricane Carla?

In Texas, Carla destroyed 1,915 homes, 568 farm buildings, and 415 other buildings. Additionally, over 50,000 homes and thousands of other structures suffered damage.

What was the economic impact of Hurricane Carla in Texas?

Damage in Texas was estimated at $300 million, with $200 million attributed to property damage and $100 million to crops, primarily unharvested rice.

How did Hurricane Carla affect Louisiana?

In Louisiana, Carla caused high tides, heavy rainfall (peaking at 13.9 inches in Many), and spawned 11 tornadoes. This resulted in the destruction of 140 homes, damage to numerous other structures, six fatalities, and $25 million in total damages.

What impact did Hurricane Carla have on Oklahoma?

Carla's remnants brought heavy rainfall to Oklahoma, causing significant flooding in areas like Kingfisher, where over 140 city blocks were flooded. Damage in the state totaled $670,000, primarily to property and crops, and two people were injured by wind-blown debris.

How did Hurricane Carla's rainfall affect Illinois?

Carla dropped significant rainfall in Illinois, with a peak of 8.18 inches in Mount Carroll, making it the second-wettest tropical cyclone in the state at the time. This caused severe local flooding, damage to streets, basements, and bridges, particularly in Chicago.

What was the impact of Hurricane Carla in Kansas?

In Kansas, Carla's rainfall caused flash flooding, damaging crops and leading to five fatalities. The storm was the rainiest tropical cyclone in Kansas until surpassed by later storms.

What impact did Hurricane Carla have in other Midwestern states like Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin?

Carla brought heavy rainfall to Nebraska (peaking at 5.68 inches), Iowa (peaking at 9.03 inches), and Wisconsin (peaking at 7.58 inches), making it the rainiest tropical cyclone on record for both Iowa and Wisconsin at the time. While Michigan also received significant rain, flooding was minimal.

What effects did Hurricane Carla have outside the United States?

In Cuba, Carla's outer bands caused high winds and flooding in western areas. In Canada, its remnants brought tropical storm-force winds, causing power outages in Ontario and disrupting electrical services in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

What preparations were made in anticipation of Hurricane Carla?

In Florida, the Navy flew planes out of Key West, and the Coast Guard evacuated lighthouses. Hurricane watches and warnings were issued along the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, prompting an evacuation of an estimated 500,000 people, the largest in the U.S. at that time.

How did Dan Rather's reporting during Hurricane Carla impact hurricane coverage?

Dan Rather provided live, on-site coverage from Galveston, Texas, during Hurricane Carla. His use of a plastic overlay to show the storm's size relative to the Gulf of Mexico was groundbreaking and influenced future hurricane reporting.

What was the official response to the damage caused by Hurricane Carla?

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson toured the devastated areas in Texas and reported to President John F. Kennedy. Subsequently, millions of dollars in aid were approved, and President Kennedy declared parts of Texas and Louisiana disaster areas.

What happened to the name 'Carla' after the hurricane?

Due to the hurricane's intensity and the destruction it caused, the name Carla was retired after the 1961 season and will not be used again for an Atlantic hurricane.

What was the significance of the F4 tornado spawned by Hurricane Carla?

The F4 tornado that struck Galveston Island was one of only two known violent tornadoes ever spawned by a hurricane, the other occurring during Hurricane Hilda in 1964. This particular tornado caused significant destruction, eight deaths, and 200 injuries.

What was the role of the U.S. military in the aftermath of Hurricane Carla?

Following the storm, the U.S. Navy deployed medical and construction teams to the affected areas, while U.S. Marines patrolled devastated regions. The National Guard assisted refugees and worked to prevent looting.

How did Hurricane Carla's path and intensity compare to Hurricane Harvey?

Hurricane Carla was the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in Texas in the 20th century. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was the most powerful to hit Texas since Carla and tied for the costliest tropical cyclone globally.

What was the initial development of Hurricane Carla?

Carla began as a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea on September 1, 1961, developing into a tropical depression on September 3, approximately 175 miles northwest of Barranquilla, Colombia.

What were the key meteorological factors contributing to Carla's development?

Carla formed within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and benefited from an upper-tropospheric anticyclone over the western Caribbean Sea, which aided in its initial development and westward track.

How did the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale apply to Carla?

While the Saffir-Simpson scale was not officially in use during Carla's lifetime (developed in 1971), post-season analysis and reanalysis have categorized its intensity. It reached Category 4 strength, with a reanalysis in 2018 confirming its peak winds were 145 mph, not the initially estimated Category 5.

What was the impact of Carla's remnants on the Great Lakes region?

The extratropical remnants of Carla moved northeastward, bringing heavy rainfall to parts of the Great Plains and Midwestern United States, including Illinois and Wisconsin, causing significant flooding in some areas.

What specific damage occurred in Victoria, Texas, due to Hurricane Carla?

In Victoria, Texas, sustained winds reached 110 mph with gusts up to 150 mph. Approximately 4,260 homes were damaged, with about 500 severely damaged or destroyed, and 43 businesses and 26 public buildings were significantly impacted, leading to $10 million in damage for the city.

What was the significance of Hurricane Carla for the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season?

Carla was the third named storm and the third major hurricane of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, significantly impacting the Texas coast with its intensity and widespread effects.

What were the reported wind speeds and pressure at landfall for Hurricane Carla?

At landfall on Matagorda Island, Texas, Hurricane Carla had sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h) and its minimum central pressure was recorded at 931 mbar (27.5 inHg).

How did the evacuations for Hurricane Carla compare to previous events?

The evacuation of approximately 500,000 people from the coasts of Texas and Louisiana in response to Hurricane Carla was the largest evacuation in United States history at that time.

Hurricane Carla Wiki: Carla's Fury: Anatomy of the 1961 Texas Behemoth

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Overview

Defining the Storm

Hurricane Carla was the most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in Texas during the 20th century. It was the third named storm of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, developing in the southwestern Caribbean Sea and intensifying into a formidable Category 4 hurricane.

Scale and Intensity

Carla reached peak sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 927 mbar (27.37 inHg). Its landfall in Texas caused widespread destruction, resulting in 43 direct fatalities and an estimated $326 million in damages (1961 USD).

Path of Destruction

The hurricane's track took it across the Yucatán Peninsula, through the Gulf of Mexico, and made landfall near Port O'Connor, Texas. Its remnants continued inland, affecting much of the central United States and Canada before dissipating.

Meteorological Path

Genesis and Early Development

Carla originated from a tropical disturbance within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the Caribbean Sea on September 3, 1961. It organized into a tropical depression and was named Tropical Storm Carla on September 5, showing steady intensification as it moved northwestward.

Gulf of Mexico Intensification

Upon entering the Gulf of Mexico, Carla benefited from favorable atmospheric conditions, rapidly strengthening. By September 10, it was classified as a Category 4 hurricane. Reanalysis later confirmed its peak intensity, though operational estimates initially suggested Category 5 strength.

Landfall and Inland Dissipation

Carla made landfall on Matagorda Island, Texas, on September 11, 1961, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane. It weakened significantly as it moved inland, becoming a tropical storm over Oklahoma before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on September 13 and dissipating over the Labrador Sea on September 17.

Devastating Impact

Texas Devastation

The Texas coast bore the brunt of Carla's fury. Storm surges reached up to 18.5 feet in Port Lavaca. Winds of 145 mph caused widespread destruction, destroying over 1,900 homes and damaging tens of thousands more. Property damage alone was estimated at $200 million, with crop damage adding another $100 million.

Unprecedented Tornado Outbreak

Carla spawned 21 tornadoes across its path, a record for a hurricane at the time. An F4 tornado near Galveston caused significant destruction, eight fatalities, and 200 injuries, highlighting the multifaceted dangers of the storm.

Louisiana and Beyond

Southeastern Louisiana experienced heavy rainfall and minor damage. Further inland, Carla's remnants brought significant rainfall and flooding to states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Wisconsin, causing crop damage and flash floods, contributing to the overall fatality count.

Preparations

Mass Evacuations

In anticipation of Carla's landfall, an estimated 500,000 people evacuated the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, representing the largest evacuation in U.S. history at that time. Many in Galveston remained, relying on the protection of the city's seawall.

Warnings Issued

Hurricane watches and warnings were issued along the Gulf Coast, extending from Louisiana eastward to Florida and westward across the entire Texas coast. These alerts were crucial in prompting the large-scale evacuations.

Aftermath & Legacy

Relief and Recovery

Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson toured the devastated areas, pledging significant federal aid. President John F. Kennedy declared Texas and six Louisiana parishes disaster areas, facilitating the deployment of Marines and National Guard units for rescue and security operations.

Name Retirement

Due to its significant intensity and the extensive damage caused, the name "Carla" was retired by the World Meteorological Organization. It will not be used again for an Atlantic hurricane, a testament to its destructive power.

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References

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The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

Carla's Fury

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Overview 🌀

🌪️ Defining the Storm

📊 Scale and Intensity

🗺️ Path of Destruction

Meteorological Path 📈

🌱 Genesis and Early Development

💥 Gulf of Mexico Intensification

📍 Landfall and Inland Dissipation

Devastating Impact ⚡

🏠 Texas Devastation

🌪️ Unprecedented Tornado Outbreak

🌊 Louisiana and Beyond

Preparations ⚠️

🏃 Mass Evacuations

📢 Warnings Issued

Aftermath & Legacy 🏛️

🤝 Relief and Recovery

🚫 Name Retirement

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Overview

Defining the Storm

Scale and Intensity

Path of Destruction

Meteorological Path

Genesis and Early Development

Gulf of Mexico Intensification

Landfall and Inland Dissipation

Devastating Impact

Texas Devastation

Unprecedented Tornado Outbreak

Louisiana and Beyond

Preparations

Mass Evacuations

Warnings Issued

Aftermath & Legacy

Relief and Recovery

Name Retirement

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice