hurricane alice june hurricane alice second strongest atlantic hurricane landfall month june reliable records began 1850s major hurricane storm linked catastrophic flooding southern texas northern mexico especially tributaries tropical cyclone hurricane atlantic hurricane season alice storms receive year unusual post season hurricane persisted new year january hurricanes record having formed alice developed suddenly june formed earlier went limited surface weather observations moving northwestward alice strengthened rapidly neared mexican coastline hurricane early day midday june hurricane reached peak winds miles hour moving inland south mexico border storm struck area inhabitants caused relatively minimal impacts wind near point landfall southern texas moved inland alice produced prolific rains near resulting worst flooding seen parts northern mexico southern texas areas flooding amounted year event joined produce significant flooding floods destroyed bridges flooded cities inner reaches river reached highest water levels river overflowed banks floods breached destroying large sections town communities mexico reported significant flood damage united_states damage heaviest texas floods killed people caused million damage usd rainfall peaked fell hour period flooding hurricane alice killed people including mexico deaths rural mexico gone total death toll exceeded meteorological history utc june moderate tropical storm formed miles east winds miles hour researchers working examined observations determine alice formed earlier unsuccessful sparse surface weather observations observation gale force winds occurred utc june ship reported mile hour winds atmospheric pressure inhg indicating developed cyclone area based data scientists concluded alice likely formed earlier indicated went day regardless alice steadily intensified immediately detection headed northwestward strengthening equivalent category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane wind scale utc june early day ship rapid strengthening storm measuring winds mph utc alice neared coast mexico reconnaissance aircraft known hurricane_hunters began tracking eye hurricane apparently penetrate center storm provide information position storm storm continued intensify rapidly approached coastline south united_states mexico border based aircraft observations research suggests alice landfall south utc june storm affected populated segment mexican coastline observations available determine strength hurricane report taken south texas suggested winds mph prior scientific official database containing tracks cyclones north_atlantic regions listed winds mph landfall mexico launched time utc observation recorded winds mph southeast feet elevation based measurement represented winds eyewall researchers determined hurricane alice likely significantly stronger landfall previously assessed analyzed alice having struck mexico winds mph noting great uncertainty possibility storm stronger central pressure eye probably inhg lower observations inland texas alice equivalent high end category hurricane landfall attained major hurricane status hitting land hurricane alice gradually weakened approximately followed crossing southern texas near utc june storm weakened moderate tropical storm winds mph produced gale force winds communities southern texas areas texas experienced hurricane force winds brief periods storm entered state observations confirm winds storm likely caused winds mph southern texas crossed texas tropical storm alice curved north northwest early june assuming sharp bend westward later day storm degenerated tropical depression utc dissipated early june near texas impact alice moved ashore girl scouts camp evacuated center texas residents evacuated residents storm path unprepared storm forming suddenly united_states_coast_guard spread word storm traversing coast advising residents seek shelter officials posted northwest storm warnings area recommending small boats stay harbor damages coastline point landfall relatively light winds reached mph created flying debris injured man moderate strong affected inland southern texas border minor damage reported person killed fallen power line shrimp fishing boats driven ashore heavy winds later severe flooding inland dam prevented significant flooding area damage resulting alice caused heavy rain inland areas texas damage exacerbated areas drought conditions rendered soil especially vulnerable erosion estimates peak rainfall hours vary inches inches total inches rain fell hours approaching world record set unnamed hurricane texas report storm rainfall indicated maximum near fell hour period peak rainfall occurred small area centered near location reported rainfall receiving minimal precipitation previous years addition locals western texas experienced rainfall alice exceed yearly averages contributed significant flooding reaching flood stage flooding swept away group fishermen sheffield location north killing downstream river washed highway railroad bridges temporary bridge built eagle pass july weeks storm destroyed rail lines stranded train prompted passengers evacuate nearby flooding stranded train occupants later evacuated helicopters peak river crest corresponded discharge rate remarked probably greatest rate runoff watershed size united_states heavy rain fell southern texas northern mexico result alice causing flash floods inland areas texas town affected floods sustaining million damage usd deaths early morning june wall water high feet poured dry overwhelmed town roughly evacuated livestock killed families left homeless town united_states military helicopters worked rescue people trapped seven towns experienced flooding storm border including texas badly damaged flash floods rose flood level cities texas city evacuated cities completely flooded intended protect floods washed away people sources killed collapsed commercial sector flooded waters let heavy losses storm began producing heavy rainfall officials anticipated moderate river flooding peak flood river texas waters reached peak feet feet previous record flood high waters caused water treatment plants fail prevented safe delivery fresh water july connecting swept away severe damage occurred city deaths recorded city evacuations flooding highest considered year event people evacuated nearby following flood floods left heavy damage estimates total death toll range death toll estimates texas range official records indicate deaths occurred mexico texas estimates deaths mexico records complete vary widely deaths texas homeless people attempting enter united_states result deaths counted monetary damage figures available known flooding alice caused considerable damage crops primarily cotton aftermath records alice left unprecedented flooding wake storm occurrence similar storm followed comparative track caused significant flooding texas albeit areas affected floods following devastation left alice members navy army flew helicopters tons relief supplies affected people mexico texas including food water medicine clothing disastrous flooding caused hurricane alice accelerated joint dam project series flood control dams designed prevent similar future project planning stages decades storm finally begun waters storm led increase texas prompted widespread application airplane july flood areas southern texas declared major disaster area followed delivery flood specialists laborers portable water treatment plants trucks quantity water treatment residents texas provided citizens neighboring city mexico food water mexican government provided temporary homes affected citizens flood american officials distributed water american cities safe water eventually restored texas july emergency work related disaster finished september flooding hurricane alice notable reason landfall strongest winds june hurricane record winds mph cyclone second strongest atlantic hurricane landfall month june hurricane landfall louisiana winds mph storm somewhat analogous hurricane alex affected region winds mph alex landfall early july
Hurricane Alice (June 1954)