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1970 Caribbean–Azores hurricane
Atlantic hurricane in 1970 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 1970 Caribbean–Azores hurricane was an unnamed Atlantic hurricane that became the wettest known tropical cyclone on record to affect the United States territory of Puerto Rico.[1] The long-lived system formed on September 24 just off the west coast of Africa, and for several days maintained a general westward track. It passed through the Lesser Antilles on October 1, and later stalled in the eastern Caribbean Sea. On October 8, the depression crossed over the Dominican Republic, and subsequently it accelerated to the northeast. It was declassified as a tropical cyclone on October 12, although its remnants persisted for another week before dissipating in the westerlies near the Azores.
![]() Satellite image of the hurricane to the southwest of the Azores | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | September 30, 1970 |
Dissipated | October 22, 1970 |
Category 1 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 85 mph (140 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 989 mbar (hPa); 29.21 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 22 total |
Damage | >$65.5 million (1970 USD) |
Areas affected | Lesser Antilles (especially Barbados and United States Virgin Islands), Puerto Rico |
IBTrACS![]() | |
Part of the 1970 Atlantic hurricane season |
The depression produced heavy rainfall in the Lesser Antilles, reaching 12 in (300 mm) on Barbados; it left three deaths and moderate damage on the island. Another death was reported in the United States Virgin Islands. Torrential rainfall on Puerto Rico inflicted heavy damage, totaling $65 million (1970 USD, $489 million 2024 USD). The highest precipitation total was 41.68 in (1,059 mm) in Jayuya, of which 17 in (430 mm) fell in a 24‑hour period. Most of the damage can be attributed to damaged sugar cane and coffee crops. At least 18 people were killed on the island, and the system was considered one of the worst disasters in Puerto Rican history.