Hurricane Allen facts for kids

Hurricane Allen was an incredibly powerful storm that happened in 1980. It was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. This massive storm tore through the Caribbean, Mexico, and South Texas in August 1980.

Hurricane Allen caused a lot of damage and sadness. Over 200 people lost their lives, and the storm caused about $1 billion in damages. That's a huge amount of money, especially for 1980! The winds inside Hurricane Allen were super fast, reaching 190 miles per hour. This speed tied with Hurricane Camille for the fastest winds ever recorded in an Atlantic tropical storm. Because of how destructive it was, the name Allen was taken out of use in 1981. It was replaced with the name Andrew, which was also later retired after a very damaging hurricane in 1992.

Allen's Incredible Strength

Hurricane Allen was a rare and very strong storm. It became a Category 5 hurricane three different times during its journey. A Category 5 hurricane is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This means its winds are 157 miles per hour or faster. Allen's winds were an amazing 190 miles per hour, making it one of the most intense storms in history.

Path of Destruction

Hurricane Allen started as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa. It quickly grew stronger as it moved across the Atlantic Ocean.

Hitting the Caribbean

The storm first hit the Windward Islands in the Caribbean as a strong Category 3 hurricane. Islands like Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines felt its powerful winds and heavy rain. It caused widespread damage to homes and crops.

Journey to Mexico and Texas

After the Caribbean, Allen continued west, gaining even more strength over the warm waters. It then moved towards Mexico and Texas. The storm made landfall in northeastern Mexico, near the border with Texas. Even though it weakened a bit before hitting land, it still brought strong winds and a dangerous storm surge to coastal areas.

Impact and Damages

The effects of Hurricane Allen were felt across many countries.

Damage in Texas

In South Texas, the storm surge pushed ocean water far inland, flooding coastal towns. Buildings were destroyed, and many homes were badly damaged, especially in places like Corpus Christi. Heavy rains also caused flooding, even far from the coast.

Loss of Life

Sadly, Hurricane Allen caused many deaths. Most of these happened in the Caribbean, particularly in Haiti, where flash floods and mudslides were a big problem. The total number of lives lost was over 200 people.

Why Hurricane Names Are Retired

When a hurricane is extremely deadly or causes a lot of damage, its name is "retired." This means the name will never be used again for another hurricane. This is done to remember the storm's impact and to avoid confusion with future storms. Hurricane Allen's name was retired because of its incredible strength and the widespread destruction it caused.

Images for kids

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  Hurricane Allen in the Gulf of Mexico on August 8, 1980.

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  Hurricane Allen's rainfall across Texas and Mexico

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  Allen passing through the Windward Islands as a strong Category 3 hurricane on August 4

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  Building smashed and knocked off foundation, Corpus Christi, Texas

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  Storm surge smashed building in Corpus Christi

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  Corpus Christi TX Ruins after Hurricane Allen.

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  Debris from Hurricane Allen

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Allen para niños