It is hard to believe 1974 is now 50 years ago. Even though 1974 was a decade before my time. As a Meteorologists I remember studying this year in classes due to its historic events. I decided to look back at some of 1974's most notable weather events.
First, it should be noted 1974 was fueled by a La Nina. La Nina is a naturally occurring pattern in the ENSO Region of the Pacific Equatorial Waters. It is when water temperatures in the ENSO are colder than -0.5°C from normal for at least 5 months. The 1974 La Nina was part of a 3 year La Nina event that lasted from Fall 1973 to Early Spring 1976.
The first big event was the 1974 Super Outbreak that occurred on April 3rd and 4th In less than 36 hours over 148 tornadoes touched down. A lot of these tornadoes were strong tornadoes EF2 type or higher. 30 of those were EF4 or EF5 type tornadoes. A storm system moved into the Southern region of the United States. There was very strong wind energy behind this storm system. Also very rich moisture was pulled up from the Gulf. To the north of the storm system was waves of energy. All these ingredients came together to produce this monster of an outbreak. The hardest hit states were Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Some of the hardest hit cities were Louisville Kentucky, Cincinnati Ohio, Xena, Ohio, Monticello Indiana, Huntsville Alabama, Chattanooga, TN, Cleveland, TN, North Georgia Dalton and Rome. There were other places as well. Overally 37 people perished and hundreds of millions of dollars was done in damage.
June 8th 1974- Another deadly tornado outbreak occurs. This time in the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Several of these tornadoes are also strong being EF2 or higher. Over 22 people perished and 36 tornadoes were confirmed.
June 18th-20th- A two day tornado outbreak occurred in the states of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Overall 43 tornadoes occurred
Late August early September 1974- Hurricane Carmen peaks as a high end category 4 hurricane with winds up to 150 mph. Carmen makes landfall in Mexico at category 4 strength. Eventually Carmen would strike Louisiana as a 120 mph category 3 hurricane. Overall, Carmen causes over 170 million in damages.
In Middle September 1974- Hurricane Fifi Develops. Fifi would peak as a 110 mph category 2 hurricane. The slow moving hurricane made landfall in Honduras. For several days Fifi produced heavy wind and rainfall. Some places had over 4 feet of rain. Sadly, Fifi was one of the deadliest hurricanes of all time causing 8,200 deaths in Honduras and $1.82 Billion in damages.
Late November early December Blizzard. Shortly after Thanksgiving a powerful Storm system developed this storm system produced heavy rain for places in the South. Ohio and Indiana mostly saw ice from this storm system. However in Michigan it was a different story. The storm produced winds over 40 mph and dumped 18-25 inches of snow in most locations. It was known as the Thanksgiving Blizzard in Michigan. Several people were reported dead. It was one of Michigan's worst snowstorms seen in years.
As we can see 1974 had a lot of historic weather events from a Meteorological standpoint. As I stated The 1974 Super Outbreak and Hurricane Fifi were studied heavily. I remember reading about these events it class.
It is hard to believe 1974 is now 50 years ago. Even though 1974 was a decade before my time. As a Meteorologists I remember studying this year in classes due to its historic events. I decided to look back at some of 1974's most notable weather events.
First, it should be noted 1974 was fueled by a La Nina. La Nina is a naturally occurring pattern in the ENSO Region of the Pacific Equatorial Waters. It is when water temperatures in the ENSO are colder than -0.5°C from normal for at least 5 months. The 1974 La Nina was part of a 3 year La Nina event that lasted from Fall 1973 to Early Spring 1976.
The first big event was the 1974 Super Outbreak that occurred on April 3rd and 4th In less than 36 hours over 148 tornadoes touched down. A lot of these tornadoes were strong tornadoes EF2 type or higher. 30 of those were EF4 or EF5 type tornadoes. A storm system moved into the Southern region of the United States. There was very strong wind energy behind this storm system. Also very rich moisture was pulled up from the Gulf. To the north of the storm system was waves of energy. All these ingredients came together to produce this monster of an outbreak. The hardest hit states were Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Some of the hardest hit cities were Louisville Kentucky, Cincinnati Ohio, Xena, Ohio, Monticello Indiana, Huntsville Alabama, Chattanooga, TN, Cleveland, TN, North Georgia Dalton and Rome. There were other places as well. Overally 37 people perished and hundreds of millions of dollars was done in damage.
June 8th 1974- Another deadly tornado outbreak occurs. This time in the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Several of these tornadoes are also strong being EF2 or higher. Over 22 people perished and 36 tornadoes were confirmed.
June 18th-20th- A two day tornado outbreak occurred in the states of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Overall 43 tornadoes occurred
Late August early September 1974- Hurricane Carmen peaks as a high end category 4 hurricane with winds up to 150 mph. Carmen makes landfall in Mexico at category 4 strength. Eventually Carmen would strike Louisiana as a 120 mph category 3 hurricane. Overall, Carmen causes over 170 million in damages.
In Middle September 1974- Hurricane Fifi Develops. Fifi would peak as a 110 mph category 2 hurricane. The slow moving hurricane made landfall in Honduras. For several days Fifi produced heavy wind and rainfall. Some places had over 4 feet of rain. Sadly, Fifi was one of the deadliest hurricanes of all time causing 8,200 deaths in Honduras and $1.82 Billion in damages.
Late November early December Blizzard. Shortly after Thanksgiving a powerful Storm system developed this storm system produced heavy rain for places in the South. Ohio and Indiana mostly saw ice from this storm system. However in Michigan it was a different story. The storm produced winds over 40 mph and dumped 18-25 inches of snow in most locations. It was known as the Thanksgiving Blizzard in Michigan. Several people were reported dead. It was one of Michigan's worst snowstorms seen in years.
As we can see 1974 had a lot of historic weather events from a Meteorological standpoint. As I stated The 1974 Super Outbreak and Hurricane Fifi were studied heavily. I remember reading about these events it class.
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