1970 Caribbean–Azores hurricane

Atlantic hurricane in 1970 15L 1970-10-18 1342Z.png Satellite image of the hurricane to the southwest of the Azores September 30, 1970 October 22, 1970 75 989 1970 22 total 65500000 > Lesser Antilles (especially Barbados and United States Virgin Islands), Puerto Rico 1970 Atlantic hurricane season The 1970 Caribbean–Azores hurricane was an unnamed Atlantic hurricane that became the wettest known tropical cyclone on record to affect the United States territory of Puerto Rico. The long-lived system formed on September 24 just off the west coast of Africa and, for several days, maintained a general westward track. It passed through the Lesser Antilles on October 1 and later stalled in the eastern Caribbean Sea. On October 8, the depression crossed over the Dominican Republic and subsequently accelerated to the northeast. It was declassified as a tropical cyclone on October 12, although its remnants persisted for another week before dissipating in the westerlies near the Azores. The depression produced heavy rainfall in the Lesser Antilles, reaching 12 in mm on on Barbados. It resulted in three deaths and moderate damage on the island, while another death was reported in the United States Virgin Islands. Torrential rainfall on Puerto Rico inflicted heavy damage, totaling $65 million (1970 USD, $US 65000000 1971  USD). The highest precipitation total was 41.68 in mm on in Jayuya, of which 17 in mm on fell in a 24‑hour period. Most of the damage can be attributed to damaged sugar cane and coffee crops. At least 18 people were killed on the island, and the system was considered one of the worst disasters in Puerto Rican history. Meteorological history 15L 1970 track.png The origins of the depression were identified as a tropical wave on September 22 over western Africa.Neil L. Frank Monthly Weather Review April 1971 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/99/4/1520-0493_1971_099_0269_ahso_2_3_co_2.xml?tab_body=pdf PDF 2011-01-06 Atlantic Tropical Systems of 1970 American Meteorological Society 269–277 99 4 1971MWRv...99..269S 10.1175/1520-0493(1971)099<0269:AHSO>2.3.CO;2 free subscription The system exited the west coast of Africa the next day,David M. Roth David M. Roth 2008-09-24 Tropical Depression #19 - October 2–10, 1970 Hydrometeorological Prediction Center 2011-01-06 http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/td19aof1970.html and on September 24, it developed into a tropical depression about 95 mi km on southwest of Conakry, Guinea. The depression moved generally westward, gradually intensifying to attain peak winds of 35 mph km/h on by September 25. A nearby upper-level trough — an elongated area of low pressure — hindered further strengthening, and on October 1, the depression struck the island of Saint Lucia. As it crossed the Lesser Antilles, its winds and barometric pressure approached the values of a tropical storm. In the Caribbean, the trough caused the depression to slow to a westward drift, resulting in several days of heavy rainfall in the region, particularly Puerto Rico. One forecast on October 5 anticipated a continued westward track toward Jamaica.National Hurricane Center 1970-10-05 SANBAR Forecast Track 2011-01-06 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0037-jpg/1970/atlantic/td%2335/modelout/fcst051200z.jpg JPG Instead, the depression turned to the north the next day under the influence of the upper-level westerlies. On October 7, the depression attained its lowest pressure of 1000 mbar (29.53 inHg) off the southern coast of Hispaniola. The next day, it made landfall in Peravia Province in the Dominican Republic. After crossing the country and exiting into the Atlantic Ocean, the depression accelerated to the northeast, followed by an eastward turn on October 10 before another turn to the northeast. By October 12, the depression could no longer be classified as a tropical cyclone, although satellite imagery indicated that its remnants continued northeastward. On October 15, the system turned to the west, suppressed by a strong high-pressure area to its north. It re-intensified while crossing through the Azores, attaining a pressure of 994 mbar. It turned to the northwest and was absorbed into the westerlies on October 20. Preparations, impact, and aftermath right|thumb|Rainfall map in Puerto Rico Around October 3, forecasters advised residents on islands from Barbados and St. Vincent through Guadeloupe to prepare for floods, high seas, and gale-force gusts.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=004fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ndEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4042,533486&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en 1970-10-03 Depression Hits Windwards Associated Press Daytona Beach Morning Journal 2011-01-06 On October 10, a warning to be on guard against gusts was issued to owners of light aircraft in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rsvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y0QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5428,2662935&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en 13 Dead In Floods Around Caribbean Virgin Islands Daily News Associated Press 1970-10-09 2011-01-06 As it crossed through the islands, the depression produced heavy rainfall, including 8.90 in mm on on Saint Lucia, 2.19 in mm on on Dominica,National Hurricane Center 1970-10-30 Impact from the Tropical Depression 2011-01-06 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0037-jpg/1970/atlantic/td%2335/preloc/jsj1030etd.jpg JPG and 12 in mm on on Barbados.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x2tkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BX0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2928,2780861&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en Heavy Floods Hit Puerto Rico Associated Press 1970-01-06 2011-01-06 In the latter island, the depression left 200 people homeless, caused $500,000 in damage, and killed three people.Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Significant Data on Major Disasters Worldwide 1990-present August 1993 2011-01-06 http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABP986.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20110718110440/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABP986.pdf dead July 18, 2011 Heavy rains impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands, including a total of 11.4 in mm on recorded by the National Park Service on Saint John. The rains caused flooding across the territory, washing out roads and destroying several houses. One boy was swept away by the floodwaters, although he was rescued by two people. A girl was also swept by the floods and drowned.The Virgin Islands Daily News Island Cleaning Up After Heavy Deluge 2011-01-12 1970-10-09 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rsvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y0QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5304,2657442&dq=virgin+islands+flood&hl=en The desalination plant on Saint Croix was damaged during the floods, temporarily stopping the supply of drinking water; water from Puerto Rico had to be shipped to provide the 700,000 gallons needed daily.The Virgin Islands Daily News 1970-10-10 Evans Says Islands Major Disaster Area 2011-01-12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_7svAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y0QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4738,2826211&dq=virgin+islands+flood&hl=en On St. Thomas, the main airport was closed for several days.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LYIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dc0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6785,1936540&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en 1970-10-09 Caribbean Flood Deaths Mount Associated Press Spartanburg Herald-Journal 2011-01-06 For six days, the depression dropped rainfall across the northern Caribbean, particularly in Puerto Rico. The highest overall rainfall total was 41.68 in mm on, recorded at a station near Jayuya in the center of the island. This was the highest rainfall total from a tropical cyclone on record in Puerto Rico, surpassing that of the deadly hurricanes of 1928 and 1899, which produced 29.6 in mm on and 23.0 in mm on, respectively.Orlando Pérez 1970 Notes on the Tropical Cyclones of Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico National Weather Service 2011-01-09 http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/data_sub/perez_21_34.pdf The station at Jayuya also recorded 17 in mm on in 24 hours. Four other locations reported over 30 in mm on.Puerto Rico National Weather Service 1970-10-07 Preliminary Rainfall Report 2011-01-06 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0037-jpg/1970/atlantic/td%2335/rain/jsj_rain.01.jpg JPG Such heavy rainfall caused 20 rivers to swell above flood stages.National Hurricane Center 1970-10-07 Preliminary Damage Assessment 2011-01-06 http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0037-jpg/1970/atlantic/td%2335/preloc/jsj071653z.jpg JPG The depression left 10,000 people homeless across Puerto Rico,Associated Press https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=71FWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7435,4485353&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en Spokesman Review Puerto Rico Starts Flood Cleanup Job 1970-10-12 2011-01-06 with 3,000 housed in emergency shelters in San Juan. At least 600 houses were destroyed and another 1,000 damaged.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_7svAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y0QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6455,2737943&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en Puerto Rico Reeling From 4 Day Floods Associated Press 1970-10-10 Virgin Islands Daily News 2011-01-06 Damage was particularly severe in Barceloneta, Aibonito, and Coamo. Across the island, the depression affected at least 40 state roads, with fifteen blocked by landslides, and eleven bridges destroyed.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bv1HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wf8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1665,5070218&dq=tropical+depression&hl=en 1970-10-08 Floods Kill 10 In Barbados, Puerto Rico Morning Record 2011-01-06 Associated Press Flooding forced the closure of Puerto Rico Highway 2 between Manatí and Barceloneta. The depression left more than $40 million (1970 USD, $US 40000000 1971  USD) in crop damage, primarily to sugarcane and coffee, as reported by William R. Poage, the chair of the House Agricultural Committee. Throughout Puerto Rico, the depression caused damage estimated at $65 million (1970 USD, $US 65000000 1971  USD), as well as at least 18 confirmed fatalities. A report six months after the depression indicated there were 34 people missing, although their status is unknown. In the aftermath of the disaster, Luis A. Ferré, the Governor of Puerto Rico, declared a state of emergency over the entire island,https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86145798/the-palm-beach-post/ Puerto Rico Asks U.S. Flood Relief Palm Beach Post 1970-10-09 United Press International 2021-09-28 asking for $10 million (1970 USD) in federal aid. On October 12, two days after the rains subsided, President Richard Nixon declared the territory as a disaster area.Federal Emergency Management Agency 2005-05-20 Puerto Rico Heavy Rains, Flooding 2011-01-06 http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=1497 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100608091023/http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=1497 2010-06-08 Ferre also appeared in a telethon to raise funds for the homeless. The National Guard, the Red Cross, and other volunteer groups were deployed to help those who were displaced. In all, the disaster was described as one of the worst in Puerto Rico history. The Governor of the Virgin Islands, Melvin Evans, requested aid similar to Puerto Rico, and that territory was also declared a federal disaster area about a week after the rains ended.Federal Emergency Management Agency 2005-05-20 US Virgin Islands Heavy Rains, Flooding 2011-01-12 http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=1499 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100409112149/http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=1499 2010-04-09 The heavy rainfall in the Virgin Islands caused a marked dinoflagellate algal bloom in the days after the rains ended.Paul R. Burkholder Robert W. Brody and Arthur E. Dammann Some Phytoplankton Blooms in the Virgin Islands Caribbean Journal of Science June 1972 2011-01-12 25–26 1 http://academic.uprm.edu/publications/cjs/VOL12/P023-028.PDF See also Tropical cyclones List of unnamed tropical cyclones References 2 Category:1970 Atlantic hurricane season Category:Category 1 Atlantic hurricanes Category:Hurricanes in Barbados Category:Hurricanes in Dominica Category:Hurricanes in Puerto Rico Category:Hurricanes in Saint Lucia Category:Hurricanes in the United States Virgin Islands Category:1970s in Saint Lucia Category:1970 in Dominica