Hurricane Agnes facts for kids
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Agnes approaching Florida
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| Formed | June 14, 1972 |
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| Dissipated | June 25, 1972 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 977 mbar (hPa); 28.85 inHg |
| Fatalities | 130 direct |
| Damage | $3 billion (1972 USD) |
| Areas affected | Yucatán Peninsula, western Cuba, Florida Panhandle, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York |
| Part of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Agnes was a powerful storm that hit the United States in 1972. It was a Category 1 hurricane, which means it had strong winds, but it caused a lot of damage because of heavy rain and floods. Agnes affected many states, especially Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York.
This hurricane was one of the most expensive in the history of the United States at that time. It caused about $3 billion in damage. If that happened today, it would cost much more! Sadly, Hurricane Agnes also led to the deaths of 130 people.
As Agnes moved across the country, it also caused many tornadoes. About 28 tornadoes were reported, adding to the destruction.
What Was Hurricane Agnes?
Hurricane Agnes started forming on June 14, 1972. It grew stronger as it moved across the Atlantic Ocean. A hurricane is a huge storm system that forms over warm ocean waters. It has very strong winds and brings a lot of rain.
Agnes was a Category 1 hurricane, which is the lowest category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This means its winds were between 74 and 95 miles per hour. Even though it was a lower category, the amount of rain it brought caused massive floods.
Why Was the Name Agnes Retired?
When a hurricane causes a lot of damage or leads to many deaths, its name is "retired." This means the name will never be used again for another hurricane. The name "Agnes" was retired because of the huge amount of damage and the number of lives lost.
Agnes was one of only five Category 1 hurricanes to have its name retired. The other Category 1 hurricanes whose names were retired were "Cesar", "Klaus", "Noel", and "Stan". After 1979, the list of hurricane names changed, so no new name was chosen to replace Agnes.
Images for kids
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Remnants of Agnes over northeastern United States
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Damage in Key West, Florida, from a tornado spawned by Agnes
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Rainfall accumulations in association with Hurricane Agnes
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Buildings almost fully submerged in Richmond
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View from Erie Lackawanna train tracks, looking down Water Street in Elmira New York during the Flood of 1972. The Elmira Savings and Loan bank building can be seen in the background.
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View from the northern end of the Erie-Lackawanna railroad bridge crossing the Chemung River during the Flood of 1972.
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See also
In Spanish: Huracán Agnes (1972) para niños
