It is estimated that sustained winds reached 45 mph (75 km/h) at 1200 UTC on September 5, thus the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Carla, while located just northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios. The Weather Bureau Office in Miami, Florida issued its first bulletin at 1600 UTC on September 4, while the depression was centered about 250 miles (400 km) east-southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. At San Andrés, winds shifted west at about 12 mph (19 km/h), while barometric pressures dropped to 1,007 mbar (29.7 inHg). Initially, the center of circulation remained difficult to locate on surface charts due to lack of data. Thus, it is estimated that a tropical depression – a tropical cyclone with sustained winds with winds of less than 39 mph (63 km/h) – developed about 175 miles (282 km) northwest of Barranquilla, Colombia at 1200 UTC. Surface charts indicate that a low-level circulation was developing early on September 3. Around that time, an anticyclone was situated over the western Caribbean Sea at the upper-tropospheric levels. Overall, Carla resulted in $325.74 million in losses and 43 fatalities.Įxtratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionĪs early as September 1, a tropical disturbance – an area of convective activity – was observed tracking westward across the Caribbean Sea within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Heavy rainfall occurred in several other states, especially in Kansas, where flash flooding severely damaged crops and drowned 5 people. Six deaths and $25 million in losses in Louisiana were attributed to Carla. Minor to moderate damage was also reported to 748 homes and 75 farms and other buildings. Several tornadoes also touched down in Louisiana, causing the destruction of 140 homes and 11 farms and other buildings, and major damage to 231 additional homes and 11 farm and other buildings. There were 34 fatalities and at least $300 million (1961 USD) in losses in Texas alone. Additionally, 50,723 homes, 5,620 farm buildings, and 10,487 other buildings suffered damage. ![]() Throughout the state, Carla destroyed 1,915 homes, 568 farm buildings, and 415 other buildings. The aforementioned tornado is one of only two violent tornadoes ever recorded in a hurricane, with wind speeds in the tornado nearly 50% greater than Carla's peak intensity. Additionally, several tornadoes spawned in the state caused notable impacts, including a violent F4 tornado near Galveston, Texas, resulting in 200 buildings severely damaged, of which at least 60 were destroyed, 8 deaths and 200 injuries. In Texas, wind gusts as high as 170 mph (280 km/h) were observed in Port Lavaca. Although initially considered a significant threat to Florida, the storm brought only light winds and small amounts of precipitation, reaching no more than 3.15 in (80 mm). While crossing the Yucatán Channel, the outer bands of Carla brought gusty winds and severe local flooding in western Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula, though no damage or fatalities were reported. Rapidly moving northeastward, Carla's remnants reached the Labrador Sea, Canada and dissipated on September 17, 1961. Heading generally northward, Carla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 13, while centered over southern Oklahoma. It weakened quickly inland and was reduced to a tropical storm on September 12. Later that day, Carla weakened slightly but was still a large and intense hurricane when the storm made landfall near Port O'Connor, Texas. Resuming its northwestward course, Carla continued intensification and on September 11, became what would today be classified as a Category 4 hurricane. By early on the following day, the storm became a major hurricane after reaching Category 3 intensity. Late on September 7, Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico while passing just northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula. ![]() Shortly thereafter, the storm curved northward while approaching the Yucatán Channel. About 24 hours later, Carla was upgraded to a hurricane. Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened slowly while heading northwestward, and by September 5, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Carla. The third named storm of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, Carla developed from an area of squally weather in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 3. It was the ninth most intense hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. tropical cyclone landfall on the Hurricane Severity Index. Hurricane Carla ranks as the most intense U.S. Part of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season Yucatán Peninsula, Texas, parts of the Central United States, Great Lakes region, Canada, Greenland Satellite image of Hurricane Carla on September 10.
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