Hurricane Celia facts for kids
Hurricane Celia was a very strong storm that hit the Corpus Christi, Texas area in 1970. It was a powerful hurricane that caused a lot of damage. Celia was the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean during 1970. At the time, it was the most costly storm ever to hit Texas. However, other hurricanes since then have caused even more destruction.
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What Was Hurricane Celia?
Hurricane Celia was a powerful storm that formed over the ocean. A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone. This is a big, spinning storm system with strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricanes get their energy from warm ocean waters. Celia grew very strong as it moved across the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Celia's Path and Power
Celia started as a small storm near Cuba in late July 1970. It moved west and became stronger. By August 3, 1970, Celia was a full hurricane. It then turned towards the coast of Texas. When it hit land near Corpus Christi, Texas, Celia was a Category 3 hurricane. This means it had very strong winds, reaching about 125 miles per hour (205 km/h).
How Celia Grew Stronger
As Celia moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it quickly gained power. This rapid strengthening made it a very dangerous storm. It became a major hurricane just before reaching the Texas coast. The strong winds caused a lot of harm when the storm made landfall.
Impact and Damage in Texas
When Hurricane Celia hit Texas, it caused widespread damage. The strong winds knocked down many buildings and trees. Homes lost their roofs, and power lines were destroyed. This left many people without electricity.
Cost of the Storm
The total damage from Hurricane Celia was estimated at nearly $930 million. This was a huge amount of money in 1970. It made Celia the most expensive storm in Texas history at that time. Many boats were also blown ashore and damaged. The storm affected thousands of people and took a long time to clean up.
Images for kids
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Track of Celia, according to the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
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Boats blown ashore by Celia at Aransas Pass, Texas
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Damaged building in Corpus Christi
