1970 Atlantic hurricane season

Season summary map
First storm formed:	May 17, 1970
Last storm dissipated:	October 28, 1970
Strongest storm:	Celia - 945 mbar (hPa), 125 mph (205 km/h)
Total storms:	10
Major storms (Cat. 3+):	2
Total damages:	$450 million (1970 USD)
Total fatalities:	17
Atlantic hurricane seasons 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972

The 1970 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1970, and lasted until November 30, 1970. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was fairly average, with 10 total storms forming, of which 5 were hurricanes. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x822, 672 KB) Season summary provided by NOAA of the 1970 Atlantic hurricane season. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... HPA means Physiology Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis: The hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands work together to regulate hormone levels and maintain homeostasis. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... ... The 1968 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... First storm formed: July 25, 1969 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... The 1971 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... First storm formed: May 23, 1972 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ... The Atlantic Basin includes the main body of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, but ommits other bodies of water considered to be a part of the Atlantic Ocean in the broad sense, such as the Mediteranean Sea. ...

Notable storms of 1970 include Hurricane Celia, which killed 20 and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage as it passed over Cuba and into Corpus Christi, Texas; and Tropical Storm Dorothy, which killed 51, most in Martinique. ... Corpus Christi skyline from harbor. ...

Storms

Hurricane Alma

Storm path

An area of disturbed weather persisted over the southwestern Caribbean Sea in the middle of May. It gradually organized, and a tropical depression formed on May 17. In response to low shear aloft and warm water temperatures, the depression rapidly strengthened on the 20th, becoming a storm early in the day and a hurricane by night. This didn't last, and Alma weakened to a storm on the 21st and a depression the following day, mostly due to upper-level shear. The depression continued its general northward movement, with a brief jog to the west, and hit Cuba on the 24th as a 30 mph tropical depression. As Alma crossed the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it retained a very well defined circulation with an eye appearing on radar, but shear limited convection and strength. Alma crossed the Florida coast on the 25th, and became extratropical 2 days later over North Carolina. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x778, 678 KB) Summary Hurricane Alma (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x778, 678 KB) Summary Hurricane Alma (1970) track. ... Map of Central America and the Caribbean The Caribbean Sea is a tropical body of water adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 km² 260 km 800 km 17. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ...

Alma was one of only three May hurricanes during the 20th century in the Atlantic basin. The Atlantic Basin includes the main body of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, but ommits other bodies of water considered to be a part of the Atlantic Ocean in the broad sense, such as the Mediteranean Sea. ...

Tropical Storm Becky

Storm path

A rain system from the Intertropical Convergence Zone near Panama joined a low-level vortex over the northwest Caribbean, becoming a tropical depression on July 19. The next day it organized over the Yucatan Channel and became Tropical Storm Becky. Becky reached a peak of 65 mph winds over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but upper level winds weakened it to a tropical depression prior its Florida Panhandle landfall on the 22nd. The storm weakened further over land, and dissipated over western Kentucky on the 23rd. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x653, 657 KB) Summary Hurricane Becky (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x653, 657 KB) Summary Hurricane Becky (1970) track. ... The thunderstorms of the Intertropical Convergence Zone form a line across the eastern Pacific Ocean. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... The Yucatan Channel is a strait between Mexico and Cuba. ... The westernmost 16 counties in the state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 37th 104,749 km² 225 km 610 km 1. ...

Hurricane Celia

Storm path

Main article: Hurricane Celia

Hurricane Celia developed from a tropical wave moving through the Caribbean, becoming a tropical depression on July 31 and a tropical storm on August 1. In the Gulf of Mexico, it rapidly became a major hurricane, but weakened steadily to an 85 mph hurricane. On the 3rd, it again rapidly strengthened to a major hurricane, this time reaching 130 mph winds prior to its Texas landfall. Celia killed 20 due to extreme gusts, and caused hundreds of millions in damage. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 702 KB) Summary Hurricane Celia (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 702 KB) Summary Hurricane Celia (1970) track. ... ... The Caribbean, (Spanish: Caribe; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben, or more commonly Antillen) or the West Indies, is a group of islands and countries which are in or border the Caribbean Sea which lies on the Caribbean Plate. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... Official language(s) None. ...

Tropical Storm Four

Storm path

A tropical depression formed in the western Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas on August 15. It moved northwestward for a day, followed by a northeast motion for another day, but it remained weak. On the 18th, in combination with baroclinic processes, the depression strengthened rapidly to a 70 mph tropical storm prior to becoming extratropical on the 19th south of Newfoundland. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 397 KB) Summary 1970 Atlantic tropical storm 4 track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 397 KB) Summary 1970 Atlantic tropical storm 4 track. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... Map of Newfoundland Newfoundland (French: Terre-Neuve; Irish: Talamh an Éisc; Latin: Terra Nova) is a large island off the northeast coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

Tropical Storm Dorothy

Storm path

A tropical wave led to a tropical depression beginning 500 miles east of the Lesser Antilles on August 17. As it moved west-northwestward, it slowly strengthened, reaching tropical storm strength on the 19th. On the 20th, it reached its peak of 70 mph while moving through the islands, but an upper-level cold-core trough destroyed Dorothy on the 23rd. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 365 KB) Summary Hurricane Dorothy (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 365 KB) Summary Hurricane Dorothy (1970) track. ... The Lesser Antilles are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas form the West Indies. ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Hurricane Ella

Storm path

Hurricane Ella developed from a surface trough near Swan Island in the western Caribbean on September 8. It moved northwestward without strengthening, but on the 10th, as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, it rapidly strengthened into a tropical storm, and a hurricane 6 hours later. Hurricane Ella gradually intensified prior to landfall, reaching 130 mph winds on the 12th just before hitting the La Pesca/Soto la Marina area of Mexico. Ella rapidly dissipated over land. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 526 KB) Summary Hurricane Ella (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 526 KB) Summary Hurricane Ella (1970) track. ... Swan Island (islands) is composed of three Honduran islands known as Great Swan, Little Swan and Booby Cay which are located at latitude 17 deg. ... The Caribbean, (Spanish: Caribe; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben, or more commonly Antillen) or the West Indies, is a group of islands and countries which are in or border the Caribbean Sea which lies on the Caribbean Plate. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

Tropical Storm Felice

Storm path

An upper level trough led to the formation of a tropical depression on September 12 over the southern Bahamas. Land interaction limited strength initially, but as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, it was able to strengthen to a 70 mph tropical storm. Shortly after its peak Felice moved inland near High Island, Texas on the 16th, and dissipated the next day over northeastern Texas. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 713 KB) Summary Hurricane Felice (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 713 KB) Summary Hurricane Felice (1970) track. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... High Island is an unincorporated city located in Galveston County, Texas. ...

Tropical Storm Greta

Storm path

Tropical Storm Greta began quickly, forming as a tropical storm from a tropical wave over the Bahamas on September 26. Greta did not develop any further, and soon became disorganized, weakening to a tropical depression the next day as it crossed the Florida Keys. The depression moved across the Gulf of Mexico without strengthening, and eventually hit the coast of Tampico, Mexico on the 4th, where it dissipated shortly thereafter. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 585 KB) Summary Hurricane Greta (1970) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 585 KB) Summary Hurricane Greta (1970) track. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ... Palm trees in Islamorada The Florida Keys are an archipelago or cluster of about 1700 islands in the extreme southeast of the United States. ... El Puente Tampico (finished in October 1988) links the states of Tamaulipas and Veracruz and is a major element in the Gulf of Mexico highway system. ...

Hurricane Nine

Storm path

An elongated cold-core circulation north of Puerto Rico organized enough to be called a subtropical depression on October 12. The next day it reached storm intensity, and after a drift to the west, reached hurricane intensity on the 16th. On the 16th it passed by Bermuda, but damage was minimal. Baroclinic processes let the storm reach a peak of 100 mph winds before becoming extratropical on the 17th. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x637, 286 KB) Summary 1970 Atlantic hurricane 9 track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x637, 286 KB) Summary 1970 Atlantic hurricane 9 track. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ...

Hurricane Ten

Storm path

A subtropical depression formed west of the Azores from an area of non-tropical origin on October 20. It strengthened to a tropical storm the next day. It slowly moved eastward, gaining strength but losing size. When it became a hurricane on the 27th, its hurricane-force winds were only 5 miles wide and its tropical storm force winds were only 60 miles wide. This compact cyclone became extratropical on the 28th after passing safely by the Azores. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 54 KB) Summary 1970 Atlantic hurricane 10 track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 54 KB) Summary 1970 Atlantic hurricane 10 track. ... Location Motto of the autonomous region: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos (Portuguese: To die free rather than to be subjugated in peace) Official language Portuguese Capitals Ponta Delgada (Presidency of the autonomous government), Angra do Heroísmo (Supreme Court), Horta (Legislative Assembly) Other towns Praia da Vitória... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ...

1970 storm names

The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1970. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

...

Retirement

The name Celia was later retired. These are the names of Atlantic hurricanes that have been retired (removed from the rotation of naming lists) since human names were first used for naming of tropical cyclones in 1953. ...

See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

• List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Atlantic hurricane seasons

Image File history File links Portal. ... This is a list of notable Atlantic hurricanes, subdivided by reason for notability. ... ...

External links

• Monthly Weather Review
• Detailed information on all storms from 1970