Hurricane Beulah

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Beulah
Type=hurricane
Year=1967
Basin=Atl
Image location=Beulah.jpg

Category 5.
Formed=September 5, 1967
Dissipated=September 22, 1967
1-min winds=140
Pressurepre=≤
Pressure=923
Da

Inflated=0
Fatalities=58 direct
Areas=Greater Antilles, Yucatán Peninsula, Northeast Mexico, South Texas
Hurricane season=1967 Atlantic hurricane season|

Hurricane Beulah was the second tropical storm, second hurricane, and only major hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. It tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly gaining Category 5 intensity. It was the strongest hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. The cyclone then weakened before moving into Texas as a major hurricane. It spawned 115 twisters across Texas, which established a new record for the highest amount of tornadoes produced by a tropical cyclone. Due to its slow movement over Texas, Beulah led to significant flooding, and caused over $1 billion (2005 USD) in damages. There were 58 fatalities.

Meteorological history

A convective area in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) developed into a tropical depression on September 5 east of the Lesser Antilles. It moved slowly through the islands, and on September 7 it became Tropical Storm Beulah. The next day Beulah reached hurricane strength while continuing slowly west-northwestward. It began to rapidly intensify, reaching an initial peak of convert|150|mph|km/h winds while south of the Mona Passage. It passed south of Hispaniola. Land interaction and upper level shear greatly weakened the hurricane to a convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on tropical storm.

Once over the western Caribbean, favorable conditions again returned, letting Beulah strengthen to a convert|115|mph|km/h major hurricane. On September 16, Beulah weakened and made landfall near Cozumel, Mexico, as a convert|100|mph|km/h hurricane. It weakened slightly over land, but once over the Gulf of Mexico, conditions were very favorable. It rapidly intensified, reaching its peak as a Category 5 storm with convert|160|mph|km/h winds. In terms of size, Beulah became the third largest hurricane on record, at the time.David M. Roth. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/txlate20hur.php Texas Hurricane History: Late 20th Century.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.]

However, Beulah weakened greatly before its final landfall as it succumbed to unfavorable environmental conditions. It made landfall just north of the mouth of the Rio Grande as a Category 3 storm. [Eric S. Blake, Jerry D. Jarrell, Max Mayfield, and Edward N. Rappaport. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastint.shtml The Most Intense Hurricanes in the United States 1851-2004.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.] Beulah drifted over Texas, moving southwestward into Mexico where it dissipated on September 22.

Preparations

Beginning on the afternoon of September 17, people were advised to remain off the beaches of Padre, Mustang, and St. Joseph Islands. Immediate evacuation of Port Aransas and Mustang, Padre, and St. Joseph Islands was advised on the morning of September 19. Most residents and others on the islands evacuated, including the personnel of Padre Island National Seashore. About 40 persons remained on the islands, including about 20 at Port Aransas. Immediate evacuation of Rockport and Live Oak and Lamar Peninsulas was advised in the evenimg of September 19. These areas and the towns of Ingleside and Aransas Pass were nearly completely evacuated. About 50 persons remained in Rockport. The evacuation of the University of Corpus Christi was advised on the morning of September 20, and Corpus Christi Beach and parts of Flour Bluff were also evacuated. During the storm there were 30,000 people in shelters in Nueces and San Patricio Counties, including 6,000 in Corpus Christi. [National Weather Service Office Corpus Christi, Texas. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/docs/research/hurrhistory/Beulah/beulah.html Hurricane Beulah.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.]

Impact

The periphery of the hurricane brought rainfall primarily to southwestern Puerto Rico, where a maximum of convert|9.76|in|mm fell at Maricao. [David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967filledprblk.gifHurricane Beulah Black Background, Color-Filled Image for Puerto Rico.] Retrieved on 2008-02-28.] Only one death occurred in Hispaniola, due to proper evacuations, as opposed to Hurricane Inez a year earlier that caused 1,000 deaths. In Mexico, Beulah ripped out the soft coral and sponges from the reefs around Cozumel. [Aquatic Sports. [http://www.cozumelsafediving.com/how_they_born.htm Cozumel Coral Reefs.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.]

In Texas upon landfall, an convert|18|ft|m to convert|20|ft|m storm surge inundated lower Padre Island. The force of the storm tide made 31 cuts completely through the barrier island. Padre Island suffered significant devastation, and the island's sensitive ecosystem was altered by the storm. The highest sustained wind was reported as convert|136|mph|km/h, recorded in the town of South Padre Island, across the Laguna Madre from Port Isabel. Winds as high as convert|109|mph|km/h were measured at the Brownsville National Weather Service office at landfall. Since the hurricane bent the anemometer 30 degrees from the vertical, it is possible the winds at Brownsville were underestimated.National Weather Service Office Houston/Galveston, Texas. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/reviews/HurricanePreparednessWeek02.txt PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.] Gusts of over convert|100|mph|km/h were recorded as far inland as the towns of McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, and Pharr, some convert|50|mi|km from the gulf coast. Beulah spawned a record 115 tornadoes [Robert Orton. [http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/098/mwr-098-07-0541.pdf Tornadoes Associated With Hurricane Beulah on September 19-23, 1967.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.] which destroyed homes, commercial property, and inflicted serious damage on the region's agricultural industry. The tornado record from Beulah would survive until Hurricane Ivan set a new record in 2004. The Rio Grande Valley's citrus industry, based on cultivation of the famous "Ruby Red" grapefruit, was particularly hard hit.

The lower Rio Grande Valley, the four county region that comprises deep south Texas, was inundated with torrential rains. Within a 36 hour period it dropped over convert|27|in|mm of rain near Beeville, Texas. [David M. Roth. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967.html Hurricane Beulah Rainfall Page.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.] Falfurrias received more rain from Beulah than it normally records during one year. Areas south of Laredo, San Antonio, and Matagorda were isolated for more than a week due to the resulting flood. On September 28, President Lyndon Baines Johnson declared twenty-four counties in southern Texas a disaster area. [Texas State Historical Association. [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/daybyday/09-20-001.html Hurricane Beulah wracks Texas coast.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.]

Animal life in the region responded in various ways to survive. Ants survived the floods by congregating in spheres of living colonies and floated down streams to safety. Predaceous beetle larvae preyed on frogs and rodents. Crustaceans from the beaches migrated en masse to the protection of high ground. [N. E. Flitters. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/q1x470037884j6gx/ Hurricane Beulah. A report in retrospect on the hurricane and its effect on biological processes in the Rio Grande Valley.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.]

Hurricane Beulah caused an estimated US$1.1 billion (2000 dollars) in damage. Sources report either 58 or 59 total deaths from the storm. [Edward N. Rappaport, Jose Fernandez-Partagas, and Jack Beven. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadly.shtml The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.]

Retirement

The name Beulah was retired and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again; it was replaced with Beth in 1971.

ee also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes
* List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
* List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
* List of wettest tropical cyclones in Texas

References

External links

* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967.html Hurricane Beulah HPC Rainfall Page]