Hurricane Caroline (1975)

Infobox Hurricane
name=Hurricane Caroline
Type=hurricane
Year=1975
Basin=Atl
Image location=Wea00483.jpg


Formed=August 24, 1975
Dissipated=September 1, 1975
1-min winds=100
Pressure=963
Da

Inflated=
Fatalities=2 indirect
Areas=Cuba, northern Mexico, Texas
Hurricane season=1975 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Caroline was the third named storm, second hurricane and first major hurricane of the 1975 Atlantic hurricane season. Caroline formed in August 24, 1975 as a tropical depression which crossed Cuba and Gulf of Mexico and became a tropical storm on August 29. Caroline then rapidly became a Category 3 hurricane with its winds peaking at 115 mph (185 km/h) before making landfall 100 miles (160 km) south of Brownsville, Texas, before rapidly weakening and dissipated on September 1.

Caroline dropped heavy rainfall across southern Texas and northern Mexico causing minor flooding and relieving drought stricken areas. Offshore, strong currents caused by the storm caused two indirect fatalities in Galveston, Texas. A damage estimate from Caroline is unknown.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave exited the east coast of Africa on September 15 and rapidly moved westward at 17 mph (28 km/h) along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ). On August 18, the system turned northeast away from the ICZ and slowed down by the time it was 600 miles (965 km) northeast of Puerto Rico. On August 22 and 23, the system changed course for the second time as it turned to the southwest. By noon on August 24, satellite imagery showed the disturbance establishing a closed area of circulation with winds reaching 25 mph (40 km/h) and the barometric pressure falling to 1011 millibars. The disturbance then became Tropical Depression Five as it neared northeastern Cuba and southeastern Bahamas. The depression crossed Cuba where it momentarily weakened back to a tropical wave. The storm then regained tropical depression status on August 27 as it continued westward into the Gulf of Mexico.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=1975|title=NHC Report on Caroline|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2007-03-19|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1975-prelim/caroline/prelim01.gif]

After brushing the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, Tropical Depression Five continued to move west at 8 mph (13 km/h) as the storm entered an area favorable for intensification. On August 29, the tropical depression strengthened to a tropical storm and was named "Caroline" by the National Hurricane Center. By that time the storm was only 400 miles east-southeast of Brownsville, Texas. Caroline forward speed slowed down to 5 mph (8 km/h) while intensifying and on the same day, Caroline was upgraded to hurricane status. Before making landfall, two hurricane hunter aircraft flew into Caroline's center on August 30, where data collected from the aircraft showed a barometric pressure reading of 987 mbar and winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). Six hours later the hurricane rapidly intensified, with winds reaching 115 mph (185 km/h) and the pressure dropping to 973 mbar.cite web|author=Francis J. Mercert|year=1976|title=The Turbulent Microstructure of Hurricane Caroline (1975)|publisher=American Meteorological Society|accessdate=2007-03-19|url=http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/104/10/pdf/i1520-0493-104-10-1297.pdf] The pressure then fell to 963 mbar before the storm made landfall 100 miles (160 km) south of Brownsville, Texas on August 31.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=1975|title=NHC Report on Caroline|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2007-03-20|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1975-prelim/caroline/prelim02.gif] Caroline rapidly weakened to a tropical depression twelve hours after landfall and dissipated on September 1 over northeastern Mexico. [cite web|author=Paul J. Hebert|year=1976|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1975|publisher=American Meteorological Society|accessdate=2007-03-20|url=http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0493/104/4/pdf/i1520-0493-104-4-453.pdf]

Experiments

One of the NOAA Research planes (flight 750830A) conducted experiments in the eye of Caroline. The experiments were to study and measure the wind velocity and the environment inside and around the eye of the hurricane. The results of the experiments concluded that Caroline had a higher dissipation rate than normal hurricanes, with the dissipating rate averaging at 30%. This conclusion suggested that energy in a hurricane dissipating internally above the surface layer is two times higher than energy dissipating at the surface.

Preparations

The National Hurricane Center began to issue advisories for coastal sections of south Texas and northern Mexico. Small water craft were also advised of the deteriorating conditions. [cite web|author=AP|year=1975|title=Hurricane Caroline threatens texas|publisher=The Greeley Daily Tribune|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] In Texas, local officials in Cameron County opened storm shelters in anticipation that the storm might make landfall. Emergency commutations and relief and clean up organizations were notified of the upcoming threat. [cite web|author=UPI|year=1975|title=Caroline builds strength|publisher=The News|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] In addition, relief squads from the American Red Cross moved to south Texas in case the storm made landfall. [cite web|author=AP|year=1975|title=Residents in South Texas wary as Caroline chugs west|publisher=Sunday Gazette-Mail|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

In Mexico, coastal residents evacuated to storm shelters south of Tampico. Elsewhere, 300 residents were evacuated to storm shelters in Soto del la Marina 55 miles (88 km) from Santa Rosa. In northeast Mexico, 150 residents evacuated to shelters in San Fernando, 85 miles (137 km) south of Brownsville. [cite web|author=AP|year=1975|title=Hurricane Caroline is tamed, helpful|publisher=The Chronicle Telegram|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

Impact

Caroline brushed the southeastern Bahamas and made landfall in eastern Cuba as a tropical depression though its effects, if any are unknown. [cite web|author=UPI|year=1975|title=Tropical Depression aims 25 MPH winds at Cuba|publisher=The News|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] Caroline’s compact wind field produced a 48 mph (78 km/h) winds in Brownsville, Texas. The storm also dropped heavy rain across southern Texas which caused minor flooding. Caroline also produced storm tides 1-4 feet (0.3-1.2 m) above normal along coastal sections of southern Texas. Overall damage in southern Texas was minor and the rainfall produced by Caroline helped end a prolonged drought in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. Caroline caused two indirect fatalities due to drowning incidents in Galveston, Texas.cite web|author=UPI|year=1975|title=Caroline is Downgraded, Mexico gets only light damage|publisher=The Galveston Daily News|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

In Mexico, the storm brought 10 feet (3 m) storm tides to coastal sections of the country and 5-10 in (127-254 mm) of rain to inland areas.The rainfalls caused moderate flooding which caused 1,000 people to evacuate and left moderate damage to homes and businesses. However, the rains broke an eight month drought that was affecting inland areas of northern Mexico. Along the coast, several small villages sustained significant damage from the hurricane's storm surge. There were no reported fatalities or injuries from Hurricane Caroline’s effects on Mexico. [cite web|author=AP|year=1975|title=Hurricane hits Mexico coast|publisher=Oakland Tribune|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

Because its effects was minimal, the name Caroline was not retired. In 1979 a change in the naming list prevented the use of the name and as a result it was the first and only use of the name Caroline for the Atlantic basin. [cite web|author=Mike Campbell|year=2007|title=Hurricanes and Tropical Storms Chronologically|accessdate=2007-03-21|url=http://www.behindthename.com/namesakes/lists/hurricanechro.php]

See also

* List of Atlantic hurricanes

References