Tropical Storm Candy (1968)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Candy was the third tropical storm of the 1968 Atlantic hurricane season
. The storm made 1968 only one of four years to have three named storms in June, the others being 1886
, 1936
, and 1959
. It formed from a tropical depression on June 22 just off the Mexican coast. At the time, three circulation centers were found on radar. In the end, the third circulation center formed into a tropical storm on June 23 and the other two dissipated. The storm reached its peak intensity of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) later that day and made landfall soon afterwards. The tropical storm weakened into a tropical depression after only 12 hours as a tropical storm and continued northeastward until becoming extratropical
and dissipating on June 26. The storm caused heavy rainfall and 24 tornadoes throughout its path and 2.7 million (1968 USD; 16.9 million 2010 USD) in damage.
. Three separate and distinct circulation centers were found in weather radar
images from Brownsville, Texas
. During the afternoon of June 23, a United States Navy
reconnaissance aircraft
investigated the depression and found sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (80.5 km/h), leading to it being upgraded to a tropical storm, at which time it received the name Candy. Soon afterwards, the other two circulation centers dissipated. Six hours after being named, Candy reached its peak intensity of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h). Soon thereafter, Tropical Storm Candy made landfall near Port Aransas, Texas
with winds of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) and rapidly weakened into a tropical depression. The storm accelerated to the northeast on June 25 ahead of an approaching cold front
. The depression encountered cold air on June 26 and became extratropical while just south of the Great Lakes
. The extratropical cyclone dissipated twelve hours later after crossing Lake Erie
.
to Galveston, Texas
. Sustained winds were above 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) for more than an hour at Austwell, Texas
. The peak wind gust of 71 miles per hour (114.3 km/h) was mearued at Port Aransas, Texas
, where the storm made landfall.
Storm surge was highest in San Antonio and Corpus Christi Bays at 4 feet (1.2 m) and was 2 to 3 ft (0.6096 to 0.9144 m) along the rest of the Texas coast. However, damage from the storm surge was confined to the formation of "cuts" along Padre Island
and to coastal oil refinery equipment.
Prior to the formation of Candy, a trough had brought eight to ten days of rainfall throughout Texas which helped the heavy rainfall from Candy cause damage to crops, roads, and bridges throughout eastern Texas. The rains from Candy also caused flooding on many middle and upper coastal rivers with significant damage confined to the eastern and western forks of the San Jacinto River. Locally heavy rains caused minor flooding from Texas
to Illinois
. The highest recorded rainfall was 11 inches (27.9 cm) at Point Comfort, Texas
. Amounts of 3 to 6 in (7.6 to 15.2 cm) and locally 8 inches (20.3 cm) near the area of landfall were noted throughout southeast Texas. Outside of Texas, 2 to 4 in (5.1 to 10.2 cm) were noted from the throughout eastern Oklahoma
, Arkansas
, Missouri
, and Illinois
.
While tropical, Candy caused 19 tornadoes or funnel-clouds to form between June 23 and 25. Ten were reported in Texas, five in Arkansas, three in Louisiana, and one in Missouri. Five additional tornadoes which were associated with the extratropical remnants of Candy were reported on June 25 in eastern Ohio
. Despite the amount of tornadoes, only one caused significant damage. That tornado "nearly demolished a school in Morning Star, Arkansas.
The total property damage from the storm was "conservatively" estimated at one million dollars (1968 USD). The total crop damage in eastern Texas was close to two million dollars (1968 USD). Despite this, there were no reports of deaths from Tropical Storm Candy.
Although the tropical storm caused damage, the name Candy was not retired due to the storm. When the Atlantic Ocean's hurricane names were changed in the early 1970s, Candy was put into the 1980 list, However in 1979, the naming list was changed to include male names as well as female names and the 1980 list was never used making 1968 the first and only use of the name Candy for a tropical cyclone worldwide.
1968 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1968 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1968, and lasted until November 30, 1968. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
. The storm made 1968 only one of four years to have three named storms in June, the others being 1886
1886 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1886 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1886.-Storms:The 1886 Atlantic hurricane season began with 3 U.S. landfalling hurricanes in June...
, 1936
1936 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1936 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 16, 1936, and lasted until October 31, 1936. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
, and 1959
1959 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1959 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1959, and lasted until November 15, 1959. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
. It formed from a tropical depression on June 22 just off the Mexican coast. At the time, three circulation centers were found on radar. In the end, the third circulation center formed into a tropical storm on June 23 and the other two dissipated. The storm reached its peak intensity of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) later that day and made landfall soon afterwards. The tropical storm weakened into a tropical depression after only 12 hours as a tropical storm and continued northeastward until becoming extratropical
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
and dissipating on June 26. The storm caused heavy rainfall and 24 tornadoes throughout its path and 2.7 million (1968 USD; 16.9 million 2010 USD) in damage.
Meteorological history
The origins of Tropical Storm Candy were from a tropical disturbance that was noted in the Gulf of Mexico in mid-June 1968. It continued to persist, and on June 22, a tropical depression formed just off the Mexican coastMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Three separate and distinct circulation centers were found in weather radar
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
images from Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
. During the afternoon of June 23, a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
reconnaissance aircraft
Reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...
investigated the depression and found sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (80.5 km/h), leading to it being upgraded to a tropical storm, at which time it received the name Candy. Soon afterwards, the other two circulation centers dissipated. Six hours after being named, Candy reached its peak intensity of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h). Soon thereafter, Tropical Storm Candy made landfall near Port Aransas, Texas
Port Aransas, Texas
Port Aransas is a city in Nueces County, Texas. The population was 3,370 at the 2000 census.-Early history:Karankawa Indians played a key role in the early development of the Texas Gulf Coast. The Karankawa Indians inhabited the Gulf Coast of Texas from Galveston Bay all the way to Corpus Christi Bay...
with winds of 70 miles per hour (112.7 km/h) and rapidly weakened into a tropical depression. The storm accelerated to the northeast on June 25 ahead of an approaching cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
. The depression encountered cold air on June 26 and became extratropical while just south of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. The extratropical cyclone dissipated twelve hours later after crossing Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
.
Impact and Aftermath
Gale-force winds were reported from Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
to Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. Sustained winds were above 60 miles per hour (96.6 km/h) for more than an hour at Austwell, Texas
Austwell, Texas
Austwell is a city in Refugio County, Texas, United States. The population was 192 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Austwell is located at .Austwell is bordered on the north by Hynes Bay....
. The peak wind gust of 71 miles per hour (114.3 km/h) was mearued at Port Aransas, Texas
Port Aransas, Texas
Port Aransas is a city in Nueces County, Texas. The population was 3,370 at the 2000 census.-Early history:Karankawa Indians played a key role in the early development of the Texas Gulf Coast. The Karankawa Indians inhabited the Gulf Coast of Texas from Galveston Bay all the way to Corpus Christi Bay...
, where the storm made landfall.
Storm surge was highest in San Antonio and Corpus Christi Bays at 4 feet (1.2 m) and was 2 to 3 ft (0.6096 to 0.9144 m) along the rest of the Texas coast. However, damage from the storm surge was confined to the formation of "cuts" along Padre Island
Padre Island
Padre Island is part of the U.S. state of Texas. The island is located on Texas' southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is famous for its white sandy beaches at the south end...
and to coastal oil refinery equipment.
Prior to the formation of Candy, a trough had brought eight to ten days of rainfall throughout Texas which helped the heavy rainfall from Candy cause damage to crops, roads, and bridges throughout eastern Texas. The rains from Candy also caused flooding on many middle and upper coastal rivers with significant damage confined to the eastern and western forks of the San Jacinto River. Locally heavy rains caused minor flooding from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The highest recorded rainfall was 11 inches (27.9 cm) at Point Comfort, Texas
Point Comfort, Texas
Point Comfort is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. It is a part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 781 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Point Comfort is located at...
. Amounts of 3 to 6 in (7.6 to 15.2 cm) and locally 8 inches (20.3 cm) near the area of landfall were noted throughout southeast Texas. Outside of Texas, 2 to 4 in (5.1 to 10.2 cm) were noted from the throughout eastern Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
While tropical, Candy caused 19 tornadoes or funnel-clouds to form between June 23 and 25. Ten were reported in Texas, five in Arkansas, three in Louisiana, and one in Missouri. Five additional tornadoes which were associated with the extratropical remnants of Candy were reported on June 25 in eastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Despite the amount of tornadoes, only one caused significant damage. That tornado "nearly demolished a school in Morning Star, Arkansas.
The total property damage from the storm was "conservatively" estimated at one million dollars (1968 USD). The total crop damage in eastern Texas was close to two million dollars (1968 USD). Despite this, there were no reports of deaths from Tropical Storm Candy.
Although the tropical storm caused damage, the name Candy was not retired due to the storm. When the Atlantic Ocean's hurricane names were changed in the early 1970s, Candy was put into the 1980 list, However in 1979, the naming list was changed to include male names as well as female names and the 1980 list was never used making 1968 the first and only use of the name Candy for a tropical cyclone worldwide.