Hurricane Beulah
| Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Hurricane Beulah in the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 5. | |
| Formed | September 5, 1967 |
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| Dissipated | September 22, 1967 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 923 mbar (hPa); 27.26 inHg |
| Fatalities | 58 direct |
| Damage | $1.2 billion (2005 USD) |
| Areas affected | Greater Antilles, Yucatán Peninsula, Northeast Mexico, South Texas |
| Part of the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Beulah tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatan 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.
Storm history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionA convective area in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) developed into a tropical depression on September 5th east of the Lesser Antilles. It moved slowly through the islands, and on September 7th 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 150 mph (240 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 60 mph tropical storm.
Once over the western Caribbean, favorable conditions again returned, letting Beulah strengthen to a 115 mph (185 km/h) major hurricane. On September 16th, Beulah weakened and made landfall near Cozumel, Mexico, as a 100 mph (160 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 160 mph (260 km/h) winds. In terms of size, Beulah became the third largest hurricane on record, at the time.[1]
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.[2] Beulah drifted over Texas, moving southwestward into Mexico where it dissipated on September 22nd.
Impact
Only one death occurred in Hispaniola, due to proper evacuations, as opposed to Hurricane Inez a year earlier that caused 100 deaths.
In Texas, the highest sustained wind was reported as 136 MPH, recorded in the town of South Padre Island, about 20 miles north of Port Isabel. Upon landfall, a 20 foot storm surge inundated lower Padre Island. The force of the storm tide made 31 cuts completely through the barrier island.[1]
The lower Rio Grande Valley, the four county region that comprises deep south Texas, was inundated with torrential rains and strong winds. Gusts of over 100 MPH were recorded as far inland as the towns of McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, and Pharr, some fifty miles from the gulf coast. Beulah spawned numerous tornadoes that destroyed homes, commercial property, and inflicted serious damage on the region's agricultural industry. The Rio Grande Valley's citrus industry, based on cultivation of the famous "Ruby Red" grapefruit, was particularly hard hit. Padre Island, just off the Texas gulf coast, suffered significant devastation, and the island's sensitive ecosystem was altered (perhaps permanently in some respects) by the storm. Within a 36 hour period it dropped over 27 inches of rain near Beeville, Texas.[3]
Hurricane Beulah caused an estimated $1.1 billion (in 2000 dollars) in damage. Sources report either 58 or 59 total deaths from the storm.[4]
Retirement
The name Beulah was retired and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again; it was replaced with Beth in 1971.
See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
References
- ^ a b David M. Roth. Texas Hurricane History: Late 20th Century. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Eric S. Blake, Jerry D. Jarrell, Max Mayfield, and Edward N. Rappaport. The Most Intense Hurricanes in the United States 1851-2004. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ David M. Roth. Hurricane Beulah Rainfall Page. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Edward N. Rappaport, Jose Fernandez-Partagas, and Jack Beven. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
External links
Tropical cyclones of the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season | ||
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