The 1974 Atlantic Hurricane Season was exactly 50 years ago. The 1970's produced even more technology in terms of weather forecasting. The modern computer models where invented in the 1970's. Even though weather satellites where invented in 1960. In the 1970's they became even more advanced.

The 1970's was part of the cooling phase of the Atlantic which lasted from 1970-1994. The Atlantic Osculation switched from positive to negative. Positive Osculation is seen in Active phases it contributes to above average water temps, light wind shear, and moist. Add a series of La Ninas to do and the Atlantic is usually very active. In the 1970's. The Atlantic water temperatures started to cool. Thus the 1970's was not as active as the previous decades. On the other hand the 1970's still had destructive hurricanes.

In the 1970's the average Atlantic season had 9-10 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes (categories 3, 4, and 5). The seasons total Accumulated Cyclonic Energy rating would typically be 75-90. The 1974 season is considered to be an average season with 11 named storms, 4 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. The seasons's ACE was 68 which was slightly below average but higher than some of the other seasons in the 70's.

One reason the season was average was due to an active La Nina. This La Nina developed in the Summer of 73 and would last till Spring of 1976. In my Atmospheric Science classes we talked about how that if the ASO was positive this would likely have been a very active season. But the cooling phase with negative ASO kept this an average season due to a La Nina.

Despite being an average season it was very destructive and very deadly. I am going to list all the named storms. Dates in parenthesis is when the storm was active as a tropical system. Winds are the peak's storm strength, and pressure is the lowest pressure observed. Damage is in USA dollars. * besides the storm means the hurricane was a major hurricane at its peak.

Subtropical Storm #1 (6/24-6/25) winds 65 mph pressure 1000 millibars. Category Subtropical storm. The first storm of the season was a Subtropical Storm. Basically a Subtropical Storm is a hybrid of a tropical storm and a non tropical storm. It has characteristics of both. It developed in the Gulf and made landfall in Florida. STS #1 caused severe flooding in Florida. Overall $10 million dollars of damage was done and 3 people died in the floods.

Subtropical Storm #2 (7/16-7/19) winds 50 mph pressure 1006 millibars category STS. The second storm of the season was also a subtropical storm. It developed around the Gulf Stream and stayed out to sea.

Subtropical Storm #3 (8/10-8/15) winds 60 mph pressure 992 millibars category STS. Subtropical Storm #3 stayed out to sea.

Tropical Storm Alma (8/12-8/15) winds 65 mph pressure 1007 millibars. Alma made landfall in Venezuela as a tropical Storm. The flooding rains caused severe flood damage. Also Alma caused flooding deaths and killed 40 people by causing a plane crash. Overall Alma caused 51 deaths and $5 million in damages.

*Hurricane Becky (8/26-9/2) winds 115 mph pressure 977 millibars category 3. The first major hurricane developed in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Becky steadily strengthened into a major hurricane. However, Becky caused no impacts.

*Hurricane Carmen (8/29-9/10) winds 150 mph pressure 928 millibars category 4. The strongest hurricane of the season developed in the far Atlantic. As it entered the Caribbean Carmen really got going in terms of development. The storm continued to strengthen reaching a peak of 150 mph before striking Mexico's Yucatan area. After emerging in the Gulf Carmen begin to restrengthen. Eventually Carmen struck Louisiana as a category 3 hurricane. Overall Carmen caused 12 deaths and $170 million in damages.

Tropical Storm Dolly (9/2-9/5) winds 50 mph pressure 1001 millibars category TS. Dolly formed along the Gulf Stream and then stayed out to sea causing no impacts.

Tropical Storm Elaine (9/4-9/13) winds 70 mph pressure 1000 millibars. Category TS. Elaine formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean and steadily strengthened. The storm nearly became a hurricane before moving over cooler waters. Elaine caused no impacts.

Hurricane Fifi (9/14-9/22) winds 110 mph pressure 970 millibars category 2. Fifi was the deadliest hurricane seen since 1963's Hurricane Flora. Fifi developed in the Caribbean and steadily strengthened. Fifi slowly moved toward Honduras. The hurricane's slow movement made it real close to land, which kept it from becoming a major hurricane. On the other hand for several days Fifi pounded Honduras with flooding rains and 100 mph winds. Fifi made landfall as a high end category 2 hurricane. Fifi caused $1.82 Billion dollars worth of damage to Honduras and 8,200 people perished in the hurricane.

Hurricane Gertrude (9/27-10/4) winds 75 mph, pressure 999 millibars category 1. Gertrude formed in the Far Atlantic and moved westward. It seemed like it would threaten the Antilles but strong wind shear prevented the storm from reaching the islands. Gertrude had little impact.

STS Four (10/4-10/8) winds 60 mph pressure 1000 millibars, category STS. The final known storm of the season developed around the Bahamas and moved toward Florida. The storm produced flooding rains that resulted in $600,000 dollars worth of damage.

The 1974 season was historic because it featured 4 sub-tropical storms. Moreover it was the deadliest hurricane season in over 10 years and still ranks as one of the deadliest in the modern era. Only the 1998 season ranks higher. The 1974 season featured a lot of deadly storms, but most of the deaths came from one storm and that storm was Fifi. Overall, the 74 season claimed 8,270 lives, and $2 Billion in damages.

Due to their severe impacts the names Carmen and Fifi where retired the following year. Indeed, 50 years ago was a deadly hurricane season. It would not be until 24 years later in 1998 that the season would be passed in terms of death. In the 1998 season 18,000 people lost their lives. Ironically, 24 years later Mitch would produce similar results to Hurricane Fifi. Mitch is believed to have killed 16,000 people with 11,000-12,000 of those occurring in Honduras. The 1974 season proves even with advanced technology you cannot stop deadly storms and it also proved why warnings are so effective and needed for when dangerous storms impact land.