| 1970 Atlantic hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 17, 1970 |
| Last system dissipated | December 1, 1970 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Celia |
| • Maximum winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 944 mbar (hPa; 27.88 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 20 |
| Total storms | 14 |
| Hurricanes | 7 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 2 |
| Total fatalities | 111 total |
| Total damage | $1.03 billion (1970 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 1970 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was fairly average, with 14 named storms forming, of which seven were hurricanes. Two of those seven became major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Also, this was the first season in which reconnaissance aircraft flew into all four quadrants of a tropical cyclone.[1]
The first system, Hurricane Alma, developed on May 17. The storm killed eight people, seven from flooding in Cuba and one from a lightning strike in Florida. In July, Tropical Storm Becky brought minor flooding to Florida and other parts of the Southern United States, leaving one death and about $500,000 (1970 USD) in damage. The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Celia, a Category 4 hurricane that slammed South Texas in early August. Celia resulted in about $930 million in damage and was the costliest hurricane in Texas until Alicia in 1983. There were 28 fatalities, with four in Cuba, eight in Florida, and sixteen in Texas. Later that month, Tropical Storm Dorothy caused severe flooding in Martinique, which left up to 51 deaths and $34 million in damage. One death occurred in Mexico as a result of Hurricane Ella after a house collapsed. In October, Tropical Depression Fifteen brought a devastating flood to Puerto Rico. At least 22 fatalities and $65.5 million in damage occurred. Collectively, the storms of this season left at least $1.03 billion in damage and 115 deaths.