Hurricane Carla
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This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 1961; there was also a Tropical Storm Carla during the 1956 Atlantic hurricane season.
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Carla as seen by radar in Galveston, Texas |
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| Formed | September 3, 1961 | |
| Dissipated | September 16, 1961 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | 931 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damage | $325 million (1961 USD) $2.03 billion (2005 USD) | |
| Fatalities | 43 direct | |
| Areas affected |
Yucatán Peninsula, Texas, parts of the Central United States | |
| Part of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Carla was one of two Category 5 tropical cyclones during the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season. It struck the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane, becoming one of the most powerful storms to ever strike the United States. The storm caused over $2 billion (2005 US dollars) in damages, but due to a massive evacuation the death toll was only 43.
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[edit] Storm history
A tropical depression developed in the western Caribbean Sea on September 3 from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. It moved northwestward, becoming a tropical storm on the 5th and a hurricane on the 6th. After skimming the Yucatán Peninsula as a weak hurricane, Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico and headed for the U.S. Gulf Coast.
As it moved slowly across the Gulf of Mexico, Carla steadily strengthened to its peak of 175 mph (280 km/h) winds (Category 5 intensity) on September 11. Just before landfall, it weakened, but Carla was still a very strong and unusually large Category 4 hurricane at its landfall between Port O'Connor and Port Lavaca on the 11th. Along the entire Texas coast, hurricane warnings were put into effect, causing a large evacuation of low-lying areas.
[edit] Impact
Storm surge was measured at 22 feet (6.7 m) near the heads of bays, in some places penetrating 10 miles inland. Because of its large size, the entire Texas coast was affected, and damage was reported as far inland as Dallas. Sustained winds were reported to be 115 mph in Matagorda, 110 mph in Victoria and 88 mph in Galveston. Wind gusts as high as 170 mph were recorded at Port Lavaca. Pressure at landfall was measured at 931 mb (hPa), making it the eighth most intense hurricane to strike the United States in the 20th century.
Much of the damage was done well away from the landfall site, as Carla spawned one of the largest hurricane-related tornado outbreaks on record. One F4 tornado ripped through downtown Galveston, killing several (sources differ on the exact number, varying from 6 to 12). Outside the protection of the Galveston Seawall, structures on the island were severely damaged by storm surge. Damage was reported as far east as the Mississippi River delta.
As Carla weakened, it dropped heavy rain in the Midwest.
Carla killed 43 people, 31 of them in Texas. The low death toll is credited to what was then the largest peacetime evacuation in US history. One half million residents headed inland from exposed coastal areas. Carla caused a total of $325 million (IS$2.03 billion in 2005) in damage.
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
The name Carla was retired following this storm, and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again. It was replaced by Carol in the 1965 season.
[edit] Trivia
The storm marked the first live television broadcast of a hurricane. Then little-known newsman Dan Rather reported live from the Galveston Seawall during the storm, an act that would be imitated by later reporters.
[edit] See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
- Loop Current
