Poll what was the worst gulf coast hurricane since 1950?

[Swimdude]

Voted Andrew. I hate to say it, but I voted by the amount of hype i've heard about the storm. I didn't vote Ivan. And I believe he's winning because that's the one everyone most recently remembers.

[Aslkahuna]

I imagine that age also has to do with it since one needs to be in their late 40's or older to have memories of Audrey or Carla. In addition, location probably has a lot to do with it as well. Carla was a HUGE storm with a diameter of hurricane force winds of 175 miles-only the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 had a larger diameter of hurricane force winds (200 miles). Yet Carla still had Cat 4 sustained winds at landfall, was still a TS when it became ET in Oklahoma, and until Camille produced the highest storm surge on record for the Gulf Coast (and still a record for Texas). Celia was a mean vicious little storm like Charlie in many ways-even to the point of bombing just before landfall. Andrew's Gulf Coast landfall was nothing like the S. FL landfall though still bad. From the viewpoint of sheer Meteorology and physics, based upon size and all other things, I would say that Carla was the worst storm to hit the US Gulf Coast since 1950 since a repeat would be catastrophic and since we are not including Camille which would otherwise be the hands down winner.

Steve

[Buck]

For those saying that Ivan is the third most costliest storm in US history... according to the NHC, it did more in damage than Charley.

Charley: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004charley.shtml
..."a rough preliminary estimate of the total damage is 14 billion dollars"

Ivan: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004ivan.shtml
..."an estimated U.S. loss of approximately $14.2 billion. In addition to the insured losses that occurred, the U.S. Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida sustained damage losses of $800-$900 million"

[AL Chili Pepper]

Frederic and Ivan were close, but Frederic was in a strengthening phase while Ivan was weakening. Pressures were comparable, but Frederic clocked stronger winds. Frederic by a nose.

[Patrick99]

Charley and Donna do not count as the WC of Florida is considered to be East Coast for some odd reason

That's interesting since we live about a quarter of a mile from the Gulf!!!!
It's about 136 mles to the east coast (Atlantic Ocean).

Guess it's true that you learn something new everyday!

I think the eastern extent of the "Gulf Coast" should be considered to begin at Cape Sable, FL. Possibly even Key West.

Betsy would have been a pretty impressive double-barreled strike.

[feederband]

Ivan........

[jasons2k]

I imagine that age also has to do with it since one needs to be in their late 40's or older to have memories of Audrey or Carla. In addition, location probably has a lot to do with it as well. Carla was a HUGE storm with a diameter of hurricane force winds of 175 miles-only the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 had a larger diameter of hurricane force winds (200 miles). Yet Carla still had Cat 4 sustained winds at landfall, was still a TS when it became ET in Oklahoma, and until Camille produced the highest storm surge on record for the Gulf Coast (and still a record for Texas). Celia was a mean vicious little storm like Charlie in many ways-even to the point of bombing just before landfall. Andrew's Gulf Coast landfall was nothing like the S. FL landfall though still bad. From the viewpoint of sheer Meteorology and physics, based upon size and all other things, I would say that Carla was the worst storm to hit the US Gulf Coast since 1970 since a repeat would be catastrophic and since we are not including Camille which would otherwise be the hands down winner.

Steve

I think an excellent point. The Brazosport area was devastated by Carla and it's over 100 miles away. If the same storm hit today further up the coast it would be catastrophic.

[dhweather]

Ivan, then Audrey, then Frederic

[f5]

What is the worst Gulf Coast Hurricane since 1970
Opal 1995
3% [ 3 ]
Frederic 1979
12% [ 10 ]
Ivan 2004
35% [ 28 ]
Elena 1985
0% [ 0 ]
Alicia 1983
1% [ 1 ]
Eloise 1975
0% [ 0 ]
Audrey 1957
13% [ 11 ]
Carla 1961
7% [ 6 ]
Ethel 1960 lol
0% [ 0 ]
Celia 1970
0% [ 0 ]
Betsy 1965
10% [ 8 ]
Andrew 1992 (in Lousiana not including Florida)
6% [ 5 ]
Dennis 2005
2% [ 2 ]
Agnes 1972
0% [ 0 ]
Allen 1980
1% [ 1 ]
Allison 2001
6% [ 5 ]

Total Votes : 80

[wxmann_91]

I wonder how the poll will look now that we have had Katrina and Rita.

[Brent]

Geez.

[jeff]

Not sure why Katrina is not in the poll unless I am missing something. Otherwise Carla then Ivan. A Carla like storm today would be nothing short of another major "Katrina like" event on the Gulf coast. The fact that it missed a major metro area and happened over 40 years ago must be why it has gotten such a low scoring. In 40 years the scares of that hurricane remain in the Matagorda Bay area where a tremendous storm surge moved ashore.

[WindRunner]

This is from early August.

[vbhoutex]

Not sure why Katrina is not in the poll unless I am missing something. Otherwise Carla then Ivan. A Carla like storm today would be nothing short of another major "Katrina like" event on the Gulf coast. The fact that it missed a major metro area and happened over 40 years ago must be why it has gotten such a low scoring. In 40 years the scares of that hurricane remain in the Matagorda Bay area where a tremendous storm surge moved ashore.

What you are missing is that the poll was originally done on August 9th, long before Katrina hit.

If we ever have one like Carla just about anywhere on the Gulf Coast(or anywhere else) I don't even want to think about what the aftermath would be!!!

[f5]

Rita came close to fulfilling that aftermath by almost hitting the Houston area if that would of happen $3 gasoline would seem like a bargain