Tropical Storm Carrie (1972)

Tropical Storm Carrie (1972)

Tropical Storm Carrie was a strong tropical storm that affected the East Coast of the United States in early September 1972. Carrie formed on August 29 from a complex sequence of meteorological events starting with the emergence of a tropical wave into the Atlantic in the middle of August. It reached an initial peak intensity as a moderate tropical storm before nearly weakening back into tropical depression status. Carrie skirted eastern New England before making landfall in Maine on September 4 and dissipating over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the next two days.

About Tropical Storm Carrie (1972) in brief

Summary Tropical Storm Carrie (1972)Tropical Storm Carrie was a strong tropical storm that affected the East Coast of the United States in early September 1972. Carrie formed on August 29 from a complex sequence of meteorological events starting with the emergence of a tropical wave into the Atlantic in the middle of August. Carrie reached an initial peak intensity as a moderate tropical storm before nearly weakening back into tropical depression status. The storm began to reintensify in a baroclinic environment after turning toward the northwest; its winds of 70 miles per hour as it was transitioning into an extratropical system eclipsed the cyclone’s previous maximum strength. Carrie skirted eastern New England before making landfall in Maine on September 4 and dissipating over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the next two days. Overall damage was generally light, with total monetary losses valued at USD 1,780,000, and four deaths are blamed on the storm. Carrie is listed as a tropical cyclone until the official Atlantic Hurricane Database, however, Carrie is not considered a Hurricane until 1800 UTC on September 3, which is the official date of the storm’s peak intensity of 70 mph and a central pressure of 993 mb/h.

The worst conditions occurred over southeastern New England, where wind gusts reached 84 mph and rainfall exceeded 1 ft. Damage was most severe along and slightly inland from the coast. Thousands of people became stranded on offshore islands of Massachusetts after dangerous conditions created by the storm prompted the suspension of steamship service. Carrie had a minimal impact on the east coast south of New England; limited to increased swells, gusty winds, and light rainfall. It is the third tropical storm of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season, and the third storm to make landfall in the U.S. during the 1972 hurricane season. It was the first storm to be named by the National Hurricane Center after a tropical storm warning was issued on August 28. Carrie was the last tropical storm to form in 1972, and it was the only one to do so in 1972. It became a hurricane-force storm on August 31, but was not officially named until September 2.