View source for Hurricane Beulah

{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1967}}
{{Other storms|List of storms named Beulah|the 1967 hurricane}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Hurricane Beulah.jpg
| caption = Beulah in the Gulf of Mexico as a [[Category 5 hurricane]] on September&nbsp;19
| formed = September 5, 1967
| dissipated = September 22, 1967
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 140
| pressure = 921
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1967
| fatalities = 59 direct
| damage = 234600000
| areas = [[Greater Antilles]], [[Yucatán Peninsula]], Northeastern Mexico, South Texas
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1967 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}

'''Hurricane Beulah''' was an intense [[Category 5 Hurricane|Category 5]] hurricane which impacted the Greater Antilles, Mexico, and Texas in September 1967. The second tropical storm, second hurricane, only major hurricane, and strongest storm in the [[1967 Atlantic hurricane season]], Beulah tracked through the Caribbean, struck the [[Yucatán Peninsula]] of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwestward into the [[Gulf of Mexico]], briefly becoming a Category 5 hurricane. The hurricane made landfall just north of the mouth of the [[Rio Grande]] as a [[Category&nbsp;3 hurricane]]. It spawned 115 [[tornado]]es across Texas, which established a new record for the highest amount of tornadoes produced by a [[tropical cyclone]]. Due to its slow movement over Texas, Beulah led to significant flooding. Throughout its path, at least 59 people were killed and total damage reached $234.6 million (1967 USD), of which $200 million occurred in the United States, $26.9 million occurred in Mexico, and $7.65 million occurred in the eastern Caribbean.

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Beulah 1967 path.png|colors=new}}
On August&nbsp;22, 1967, an [[Television Infrared Observation Satellite|ESSA-5]] satellite image depicted an area of enhanced [[Atmospheric convection|convection]]—shower and thunderstorm activity—east of the [[Western High Plateau]] in [[Cameroon]] over central Africa. Reaching the western slopes of the mountains two days later, the [[tropical wave]] became more coherent with clouds condensing along its axis. As it moved over west Africa, [[cyclonic rotation]] became apparent about {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the surface. A research paper published in 1969 refers to the disturbance as a depression as it neared the west coast of Africa;<ref name="disturbancepaper"/> however, this significantly differs from the official [[HURDAT|Atlantic hurricane database]], which does not mention the system at that time,{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} as a surface circulation likely did not exist. Regardless, the system emerged over the Atlantic Ocean around [[12th parallel north|12°N]] on August&nbsp;28, as represented by [[barometric pressure]] falls in [[Dakar, Senegal]].<ref name="disturbancepaper">{{cite journal|author=Toby N. Carlson; National Hurricane Research Laboratory|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=March 1969|access-date=October 3, 2014|title=Synoptic Histories of Three African Disturbances That Developed Into Atlantic Hurricanes|pages=256–276|publisher=American Meteorological Society|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1969)097<0256:SHOTAD>2.3.CO;2|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/097/mwr-097-03-0256.pdf|volume=97|issue=3|issn=1520-0493|bibcode=1969MWRv...97..256C|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111508/http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/097/mwr-097-03-0256.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref> Once over water, the system interacted with the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone]] and continued westward along an undulating path with no further organization. It was not until a United States Navy [[weather reconnaissance]] plane flew into the disturbance on September&nbsp;4, while it was located east of the [[Lesser Antilles]], that signs of [[tropical cyclogenesis|development]] were apparent. Corresponding observations from ships in the region on September&nbsp;5 confirmed the existence of a 1010 [[mbar]] (hPa; {{convert|1010|mbar|inHg|lk=on|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}) [[low-pressure area]].<ref name="MWR">{{cite journal|journal=Monthly Weather Review|author=Arnold L. Sugg and Joseph M. Pelissier; National Hurricane Center|issue=4|volume=96|date=April 1968|access-date=October 4, 2014|title=The Hurricane Season of 1967|pages=242–259|publisher=American Meteorological Society|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1967.pdf|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1968)096<0242:THSO>2.0.CO;2|issn=1520-0493|bibcode=1968MWRv...96..242S|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629113956/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1967.pdf|archive-date=2007-06-29|url-status=live}}</ref> In light of this, the disturbance was classified as a tropical depression at 12:00&nbsp;[[UTC]] that day, with its center situated roughly {{convert|175|mi|km|abbr=on}} east-northeast of [[Barbados]].<ref name="HURDAT"/>

A slow-moving system, the depression steadily organized as it approached the [[Lesser Antilles]]. Observations from aircraft reconnaissance indicated that the system attained gale-force winds by 12:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;7, resulting in its upgrade to a tropical storm. It was also [[Tropical cyclone naming|assigned the name]] ''Beulah'', making it the second named storm of the [[1967 Atlantic hurricane season|1967 season]]. Shortly after being named, Beulah clipped the southern coast of [[Martinique]] and entered the eastern Caribbean. Feeding off the warm waters of the Caribbean, the cyclone quickly strengthened and reached Category&nbsp;1 hurricane intensity by 18:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;8. [[Rapid intensification|Rapid deepening]] ensued thereafter, with the storm's central pressure falling to 940 mbar (hPa; {{convert|940|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}) the following day, as it passed {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Puerto Rico]].<ref name="MWR"/> At this time, 1-minute sustained winds were estimated to be at least {{convert|140|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, ranking Beulah as a [[Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 4|Category&nbsp;4]] hurricane on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale|Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale]] (SSHS).<ref name="HURDAT"/> Upon reaching this strength, [[weather radar]] imagery from [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] showed that Beulah featured a {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}} wide [[Eye (cyclone)|eye]], surrounded by an intense eyewall about {{convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on}} thick.<ref name="Radar"/>

[[File:Hurricane Beulah 1967 eyewall replacement.png|thumb|Radar images of Hurricane Beulah from 21:30 UTC on September 9 to 03:30 UTC on September 10, depicting its eyewall replacement cycle]]
During the evening of September&nbsp;9, Beulah turned westward as weak [[Ridge (meteorology)|ridge]] developed over the [[Bahamas]], between it and the newly formed [[Hurricane Doria (1967)|Tropical Storm Doria]].<ref name="MWR"/> The powerful storm weakened somewhat as an [[eyewall replacement cycle]] began to take shape. During this phase, the inner-eye of Beulah contracted to roughly {{convert|3|–|4|mi|km|abbr=on}} in diameter while a second eyewall spanned an area {{convert|28|mi|km|abbr=on}} across. The smaller eye soon dissipated, and the larger one became the single, dominant feature by the morning of September&nbsp;10. The completion of this process marked the first time that an eyewall replacement cycle was observed in its entirety.<ref name="Radar">{{cite journal|author=Harry M. Hoose and José A. Colón; Weather Bureau|journal=Monthly Weather Review|publisher=American Meteorological Society|date=July 1970|access-date=October 3, 2014|title=Some Aspects of the Radar Structure of Hurricane Beulah on September 9, 1967|volume=98|issue=7|pages=529–533|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/098/mwr-098-07-0529.pdf|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1970)098<0529:SAOTRS>2.3.CO;2|issn=1520-0493|bibcode=1970MWRv...98..529H|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055108/http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/098/mwr-098-07-0529.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}</ref> The aforementioned westward turn placed the [[Dominican Republic]] in the line of danger, an area still reeling from the devastating effects of [[Hurricane Inez]] just [[1966 Atlantic hurricane season|one year prior]]. However, the storm unexpectedly collapsed as it approached the [[Barahona Peninsula]] and struck the area as a greatly weakened, though still significant, Category&nbsp;1 hurricane, with estimated winds of {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} around 18:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;11.<ref name="MWR"/><ref name="HURDAT"/>

Skirting the southern coast of [[Haiti]]'s [[Tiburon Peninsula, Haiti|Tiburon Peninsula]], Beulah further degraded to a tropical storm by the morning of September&nbsp;12. Unseasonably strong [[wind shear]] associated with the [[jet stream]], resulting from an upper-level [[trough (meteorology)|trough]] to the north, and the cyclone's interaction with land were responsible for the dramatic degradation. By the time it had cleared Haiti, Beulah was no more than a minimal tropical storm, with sustained winds near {{convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="MWR"/> The storm's central pressure had also risen by roughly 60 mbar (hPa; {{convert|60|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=3|disp=out}}) to 1000 mbar (hPa; {{convert|1000|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}).<ref name="HURDAT"/> Originally seen as a threat to [[Jamaica]], northeasterly flow induced a southerly component to the track and pushed the cyclone south of the island on September&nbsp;13. The shear previously impeding organization abated on September&nbsp;14, and a ridge re-established itself to Beulah's north, allowing the storm to resume a west-northwest to northwest track. The upper-level changes led to a favorable environment for intensification, and Beulah regained hurricane strength by 12:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;14, while located about {{convert|425|mi|km|abbr=on}} south-southeast of [[Havana, Cuba]].<ref name="MWR"/><ref name="HURDAT"/><ref name="Prelim">{{cite web|work=Weather Bureau|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=September 29, 1967|access-date=October 6, 2014|title=Hurricane Beulah Preliminary Report with Advisories and Bulletins Issued|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/hurricanes/QC9452B485H81967.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214215718/http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/hurricanes/QC9452B485H81967.pdf|archive-date=2016-12-14|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Hurricanes Beulah, Chloe, and Doria on September 17, 1967.png|thumb|left|Composite of [[ESSA-2]] photographs showing hurricanes Beulah (bottom), [[Hurricane Doria (1967)|Doria]] (middle), and Chloe (top), on September&nbsp;17]]
Moving through the climatologically favorable western Caribbean,<ref name="MWR"/> Beulah quickly regained Category&nbsp;3 major hurricane status on September&nbsp;15, with 1-minute sustained winds estimated at {{convert|115|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="HURDAT"/> The storm's central pressure fell to {{convert|964|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}} on September&nbsp;16, before some weakening took place. Beulah ultimately made [[landfall]] on [[Cozumel]] Island, with winds of at least {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} later that day, and struck the mainland [[Yucatán Peninsula]] hours later. Despite moving over land, little weakening took place by the time the hurricane emerged over the [[Gulf of Mexico]] about 24&nbsp;hours later.<ref name="MWR"/> The hurricane maintained its intensity throughout September&nbsp;18, as it moved west-northwest to southern [[Tamaulipas]], Mexico.<ref name="HURDAT"/> However, on September&nbsp;19, a pronounced phase of rapid intensification, took place as Beulah turned northwest to the [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]] region. Aircraft reconnaissance throughout the day found falling pressures and ultimately measured a value of 923 mbar (hPa; {{convert|923|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}) around 18:00&nbsp;UTC. This was the second-lowest pressure ever recorded by aircraft at the time, behind a 920 mbar (hPa; {{convert|920|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}) measurement in [[Hurricane Hattie]] of [[1961 Atlantic hurricane season|1961]].<ref name="MWR"/> Beulah was estimated to have achieved its peak intensity shortly thereafter, as a [[Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 5|Category&nbsp;5 hurricane]] with maximum 1-minute sustained winds estimated at {{convert|160|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="HURDAT"/>

Regarded as the third-largest hurricane on record at the time,<ref name="DRTX">{{cite report|author=David M. Roth|work=National Weather Service|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=2010|access-date=October 5, 2014|title=Texas Hurricane History|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf|pages=51–52|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528012717/http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/txhur.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-28|url-status=live}}</ref> Beulah moved along a slowing, erratic, and somewhat [[cycloid]]al path. Slight weakening ensued as it neared land and Beulah ultimately made its final landfall south of [[Brownsville, Texas]], near the mouth of the [[Rio Grande]] around 13:00&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;20. No direct measurements exist at the core of the hurricane as it moved ashore; however, based on a minimum pressure of 951 mbar (hPa; {{convert|951|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}) in Brownsville, the hurricane likely struck land with a central pressure below that value.<ref name="MWR"/> A vessel anchored in the [[Port of Brownsville]] measured peak wind gusts of {{convert|136|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, equivalent to a low-end [[Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 4|Category&nbsp;4 hurricane]].<ref name="Prelim"/><ref name="DRTX"/> According to the [[National Hurricane Center]], Beulah struck as a [[Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 3|Category&nbsp;3 hurricane]], and was originally thought to have had a central pressure of 950 mbar (hPa; {{convert|950|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}) at landfall,<ref>{{cite report|author1=Eric S. Blake|author2=Christopher W. Landsea|author3=Ethan J. Gibney|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=August 2011|access-date=October 6, 2014|title=The Deadliest, Coastliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010 (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts)|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf|page=13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221124852/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf|archive-date=2012-12-21|url-status=live}}</ref> but a 2020 re-evaluation as part of the [[Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project]] lowered this to 940 mbar ({{convert|940|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|disp=out}}).<ref name="reanal">{{cite report|last1=Landsea|first1=Christopher|author-link1=Christopher Landsea|last2=Delgado|first2=Sandy|last3=Moses|first3=Brenden|date=April 2020|title=1967 Reanalysis|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/metadata-1966-1970.pdf#page=152|publisher=[[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]] Hurricane Research Division|pages=152–174|access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref> Once over land, the hurricane slowly weakened as it remained relatively close to the coast. Sustained winds dropped below hurricane-force on September&nbsp;21, roughly 24&nbsp;hours after landfall. The system subsequently stalled near [[Alice, Texas]], before turning to the southwest.<ref name="MWR"/> It was initially thought that, after diminishing to a tropical depression late on September&nbsp;22,<ref name="HURDAT"/> Beulah's circulation finally dissipated over the mountainous terrain of [[Nuevo León]], Mexico;<ref name="MWR"/> however, the 2020 reanalysis concluded that Beulah survived through at least September 24, when it reemerged into the Gulf of Mexico, crossing the Mexican coast between the cities of [[Tampico]] and [[Tuxpan]].<ref name="reanal" />  Due to a lack of suitable observations, it is unknown how much longer after this Beulah continued to exist as a tropical depression over the southern Gulf of Mexico before degenerating into an open [[Trough (meteorology)|trough]].<ref name="reanal" />

==Preparations==
[[File:Hurricane Beulah on September 9, 1967.png|thumb|275px|[[Nimbus program|NIMBUS satellite]] image of Hurricane Beulah over the Eastern Caribbean on September&nbsp;9]]

===Hispaniola===
Following Beulah's rapid intensification on September&nbsp;9, a [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches|hurricane watch]] was issued for the whole of [[Hispaniola]] on September&nbsp;9, with emphasis on a threat to the southern coast. Warnings were soon raised for areas between [[Barahona (city)|Barahona]] and [[Cape Engaño (Dominican Republic)|Cabo Engaño]] in the [[Dominican Republic]].<ref name="Prelim"/>

Across the Dominican Republic, an estimated 200,000&nbsp;people evacuated from coastal areas.<ref name="MWR"/>

===United States===
Beginning on the afternoon of September 17, people were advised to remain off the beaches of Padre, Mustang, and St. Joseph Islands. Immediate evacuation of Port Aransas and Mustang, Padre, and St. Joseph Islands was advised on the morning of September 19. Most residents and others on the islands evacuated, including the personnel of Padre Island National Seashore. About 40 persons remained on the islands, including about 20 at Port Aransas. Immediate evacuation of Rockport and Live Oak and Lamar Peninsulas was advised in the evening of September 19. These areas and the towns of Ingleside and Aransas Pass were nearly completely evacuated. About 50 persons remained in Rockport. The evacuation of the University of Corpus Christi was advised on the morning of September 20, and Corpus Christi Beach and parts of Flour Bluff were also evacuated. During the storm there were 30,000&nbsp;people in shelters in Nueces and San Patricio Counties, including 6,000 in Corpus Christi.<ref>[[National Weather Service]] Office [[Corpus Christi, Texas]]. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/docs/research/hurrhistory/Beulah/beulah.html Hurricane Beulah.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709051044/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/docs/research/hurrhistory/Beulah/beulah.html |date=2007-07-09 }} Retrieved on 2007-06-23.</ref>

==Impact==

===Eastern Caribbean===
[[File:Beulah 1967 Puerto Rico rainfall.png|thumb|right|Rainfall from Hurricane Beulah in Puerto Rico]]
Prior to Beulah, a stationary trough over the [[Lesser Antilles]] produced torrential rainfall throughout the region, setting the stage for significant flooding.<ref name="MWR"/> On September&nbsp;7, Beulah brought torrential rains to the already saturated region, with reports of more than {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on}} received by the Weather Bureau. The [[French West Indies]], and especially [[Martinique]], suffering the brunt of the storm.<ref name="Lewiston1">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Lewiston Daily Sun|date=September 9, 1967|access-date=September 23, 2014|title=Hurricane Beulah Belts Martinique and Antilles|location=Miami, Florida|page=1|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qsk0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=JGkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3563%2C854553|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506034557/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qsk0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=JGkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3563,854553|archive-date=2016-05-06|url-status=live}}</ref> During an 18‑hour span, {{convert|11.85|in|mm|abbr=on}} fell on the island. Severe flooding claimed 15&nbsp;lives on Martinique and destroyed many homes.<ref name="MWR"/><ref name="Lewiston2">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=September 9, 1967|access-date=September 23, 2014|title=Beulah Leaves 13 Dead On Martinique, Heads Toward Haiti|location=Miami, Florida|page=13|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cHwgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5GcFAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20haiti&pg=1096%2C862475|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519182903/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cHwgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5GcFAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20haiti&pg=1096,862475|archive-date=2016-05-19|url-status=live}}</ref> Parts of [[Fort-de-France]] were inundated by {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on}} of water while the [[Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport|Martinique International Airport]] saw {{convert|1|ft|m|abbr=on}} of flooding. The banana crop sustained extensive losses.<ref name="Lewiston1"/><ref name="Lewiston2"/> Across the island nearly 1,000&nbsp;residents were left homeless, including 400 in Fort-de-France.<ref name="RDF1">{{cite news|agency=United Press International|newspaper=Redlands Daily Facts|date=September 9, 1967|access-date=October 8, 2014|title=Hurricane Beulah hits Martinique, kills 13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/433322|page=1|location=Miami, Florida|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017232238/http://www.newspapers.com/image/433322/|archive-date=2014-10-17|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Damage on the island amounted to $4.5&nbsp;million.<ref name="MWR"/> Supplies of fresh water were severely limited for two days following the storm.<ref name="RDF1"/>

Heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides across [[Saint Vincent (island)|St. Vincent]], blocking numerous roads and causing some damage. Two children were killed after a boulder, dislodged by the rains, crashed into their home.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Winona Daily News|date=September 10, 1967|access-date=October 8, 2014|title=Beulah Kills Fifteen in Caribbean|page=1|location=Miami, Florida|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/43721321|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017231816/http://www.newspapers.com/image/43721321/|archive-date=2014-10-17|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Damage on [[St. Lucia]] reached $3&nbsp;million, mainly stemming from the banana crop which was largely ruined.<ref name="MWR"/> The periphery of the hurricane brought rainfall primarily to southwestern [[Puerto Rico]], where a maximum of {{convert|9.76|in|mm}} fell at Maricao.<ref>David M. Roth. [http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967filledprblk.gif Hurricane Beulah Black Background, Color-Filled Image for Puerto Rico.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926033027/http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967filledprblk.gif |date=2013-09-26 }} Retrieved on 2008-02-28.</ref> One person lost their life on the island and damage was a minimal $150,000.<ref name="MWR"/>

Owing to effective evacuations, only two people lost their lives in the Dominican Republic. The core of Beulah impacted areas devastated by [[Hurricane Inez]] a year prior, leaving extensive damage in its wake.<ref name="MWR"/> Media reports indicated that more than 1,000&nbsp;people were left homeless across the Barahona Peninsula.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Winona Daily News|date=September 12, 1967|access-date=October 8, 2014|title=Beulah Aims For Jamaica; It Builds Up|page=1|location=Miami, Florida|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/43722882|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017234513/http://www.newspapers.com/image/43722882/|archive-date=2014-10-17|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[Flash flood]]ing affected the southern coasts of both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Brownwood Bulletin|date=September 14, 1967|access-date=October 8, 2014|title=Weather Experts Eye Beulah As Hurricane Rebuilds Punch|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/6268597|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017233437/http://www.newspapers.com/image/6268597/|archive-date=2014-10-17|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

Beulah had limited impact on Jamaica as it brushed the island as a weak tropical storm.<ref name="MWR"/> According to newspapers, gale-force winds affected the nation though there were no reports of damage.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Daily Plainsman|date=September 12, 1967|access-date=October 8, 2014|title=Beulah Claws At Jamaica|location=Miami, Florida|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/36802242|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018000507/http://www.newspapers.com/image/36802242/|archive-date=2014-10-18|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Mexico===
[[File:Beulah 1967 rainfall.png|thumb|left|Rainfall from Hurricane Beulah across Mexico and Texas]]
Striking [[Cozumel Island]] and the [[Yucatán Peninsula]] on September&nbsp;17 as a Category&nbsp;2 hurricane, Beulah caused considerable damage and killed 11 people across the region. Wind gusts up to {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} severed communication lines, downed power lines and felled trees.<ref name="Prelim"/> The [[Puerto Morelos Lighthouse|Puerto Morelos lighthouse]] on the [[Riviera Maya]] was undermined by the storm; it was never torn down and the leaning tower remains a tourist attraction in the area.<ref>Lougheed, p. 6</ref> In [[Mérida, Yucatán]], winds were recorded up to {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Under the force of the powerful winds, several structures collapsed across the Peninsula, resulting in six fatalities.<ref name="TB1"/> Nearly every buildings on Cozumel Island sustained damage, roughly half of which lost their roofs.<ref>{{cite news|agency=United Press International|work=St. Petersburg Times|date=September 18, 1967|access-date=November 9, 2011|title=Beulah Batters Yucatán, Stalls|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yW1QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kVoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20yucatan&pg=5274%2C4714800|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507013711/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yW1QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kVoDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20yucatan&pg=5274,4714800|archive-date=2016-05-07|url-status=live}}</ref> Four people were also killed in [[Playa del Carmen]]. Along the coast, Beulah's [[storm surge]] flooded areas within {{convert|600|yd|m|abbr=on}} of the coastline, washing out roads and leaving "graveyards of boats."<ref name="TB1">{{cite news|agency=United Press International|work=The Bulletin|date=September 18, 1967|access-date=November 9, 2011|title=Yucatán hard hit; Texas calm, braced for hurricane Beulah|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=neNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N_cDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20yucatan&pg=2891%2C2221253|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515221659/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=neNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N_cDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20yucatan&pg=2891,2221253|archive-date=2016-05-15|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the Yucatán Peninsula, an estimated 5,000 people were left homeless and at least 30,000 were affected by the storm.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle|date=September 18, 1967|access-date=November 9, 2011|title=Mexicans Flee|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nldYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vfcDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20yucatan&pg=3736%2C523745|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510153059/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nldYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vfcDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20beulah%20yucatan&pg=3736,523745|archive-date=2016-05-10|url-status=live}}</ref>

Throughout Mexico, Beulah killed 19 people.<ref name="MWR" /> Economic losses across [[Tampico]] reached 500&nbsp;million [[Mexican peso|pesos]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Efraín Klérigan|publisher=Conexión Total|date=September 16, 2013|access-date=September 19, 2014|title=Sufre Tamaulipas 10 ciclones en 43 años|url=http://conexiontotal.mx/2013/09/16/sufre-tamaulipas-10-ciclones-en-43-anos/|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920065153/http://conexiontotal.mx/2013/09/16/sufre-tamaulipas-10-ciclones-en-43-anos/|archive-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> Across the Yucatán Peninsula, the [[Government of Mexico]] set up an air lift of food and medical supplies to isolated areas by September&nbsp;18.<ref name="TB1"/>

===United States===
[[File:Wea00713.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Damage and Flooding in Brownsville, Texas from Hurricane Beulah.]]
In Texas the [[Lower Rio Grande Valley]], the four-county region that comprises deep south Texas, was inundated with torrential rains and compound flooding effects. Within a 36‑hour period, the hurricane dropped over {{convert|27|in|mm}} of rain near [[Beeville, Texas]].<ref>David M. Roth. [http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967.html Hurricane Beulah Rainfall Page.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921210611/http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967.html |date=2013-09-21 }} Retrieved on 2007-06-23.</ref>  Falfurrias received more rain from Beulah than it normally records during one year. Areas south of Laredo, San Antonio, and Matagorda were isolated for more than a week due to the resulting flood.<ref name="DRTX"/> On September 28, [[Lyndon B. Johnson|President Lyndon Baines Johnson]] declared twenty-four counties in southern Texas a disaster area.<ref>Texas State Historical Association. [http://www.tshaonline.org/daybyday/09-20-001.html Hurricane Beulah wracks Texas coast.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516013043/http://www.tshaonline.org/daybyday/09-20-001.html |date=2008-05-16 }} Retrieved on 2007-06-23.</ref>

Hurricane Beulah produced {{convert|9.4|ft|m}} of storm tide surge, crossing [[North Padre Island]] at Nueces County Park No. 1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Report on Hurricane "Beulah", 8-21 September 1967. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report_on_Hurricane_Beulah_8_21_Septembe/zk6ORluNOxcC?gbpv=1 |publisher=United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Galveston District |access-date=4 August 2025}}</ref> The storm also caused 31 cuts through Padre Island, all occurring south of a point 30 miles south of Corpus Christi.  The height of the storm surge diminished near South Padre Island toward [[Port Isabel, Texas]], where flooding from tides ranged from 4.7 to 8 ft.  The highest sustained wind was {{convert|136|mph|km/h}}, reported aboard the SS Shirley Lykes, which was anchored in the Port of Brownsville. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Sugg |first1=Arnold L. |title=The Hurricane Season of 1967 |url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1967.pdf#page=6 |website=NOAA's Atlantic and Oceanographic Meteorological Laboratory |publisher=American Meteorological Society |access-date=18 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223091604/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/mwreview/1967.pdf#page=6 |archive-date=2025-02-23 |page=6 |date=April 1968}}</ref>  Winds as high as {{convert|109|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} were measured at the Brownsville National Weather Service office at landfall. Since the hurricane bent the [[anemometer]] 30&nbsp;degrees from the vertical, it is possible the winds at Brownsville were underestimated.<ref name="IAH">[[National Weather Service]] Office Houston/Galveston, Texas. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/reviews/HurricanePreparednessWeek02.txt PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724053446/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/climate/reviews/HurricanePreparednessWeek02.txt |date=2008-07-24 }} Retrieved on 2007-06-23.</ref> Gusts of over {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} were recorded as far inland as the towns of [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], [[Edinburg, Texas|Edinburg]], [[Mission, Texas|Mission]], and [[Pharr, Texas|Pharr]], some {{convert|50|mi|km}} from the gulf coast. Beulah spawned a record 115 [[tornado]]es<ref>Robert Orton. [http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/098/mwr-098-07-0541.pdf Tornadoes Associated With Hurricane Beulah on September 19-23, 1967.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701004429/http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/098/mwr-098-07-0541.pdf |date=2007-07-01 }} Retrieved on 2007-06-23.</ref> which destroyed homes, commercial property, and inflicted serious damage on the region's agricultural industry. The tornado record from Beulah would survive until [[Hurricane Ivan]] set a [[Hurricane Ivan tornado outbreak|new record]] in 2004. The [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]]'s citrus industry, based on cultivation of the famous "Ruby Red" [[grapefruit]], was particularly hard hit.

Animal life in the region responded in various ways to survive. Ants survived the floods by congregating in spheres of living colonies and floated down streams to safety. Predaceous beetle larvae preyed on frogs and rodents. Crustaceans from the beaches migrated en masse to the protection of high ground.<ref>N. E. Flitters. [https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF01742066 Hurricane Beulah. A report in retrospect on the hurricane and its effect on biological processes in the Rio Grande Valley.] Retrieved on 2007-06-23.</ref>

Hurricane Beulah caused an estimated US$200&nbsp;million in damage. Sources report 15 total deaths in Texas from the storm.<ref name="MWR" />

==Retirement==
{{see also|list of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}
Due to the number of fatalities and extensive damage the system caused from the Lesser Antilles to Texas, the name ''Beulah'' was retired following the 1967 season, and will never be used for an Atlantic basin tropical cyclone again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml|title=Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref> It was replaced with ''Beth'' for the [[1971 Atlantic hurricane season|1971 season]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1971.pdf|page=96|publisher=[[NOAA]] Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research|location=Washington, D.C.|title=National Hurricane Operations Plan|date=May 1971|access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes]]
* [[List of tornadoes spawned by tropical cyclones]]
* [[List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States#Texas|List of wettest tropical cyclones in Texas]]
* [[Hurricane Harvey]] (2017) – another hurricane that caused severe flooding in Texas

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

;Works cited
*{{cite book|publisher=Hunter Publishing Inc.|title=Travel Adventures Yucatán – The Riviera Maya 4th Edition|year=2009|author=Lougheed, Vivien}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hurricane Beulah}}
*[https://www.weather.gov/crp/Beulah Major Hurricane Beulah – September 20, 1967], National Weather Service
*[http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/beulah1967.html Hurricane Beulah HPC Rainfall Page]

{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1967 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Tropical cyclones|Caribbean|Texas|Mexico}}

[[Category:Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes|Beulah]]
[[Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes|Beulah]]
[[Category:1967 Atlantic hurricane season|Beulah]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Windward Islands|Beulah]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Martinique|Beulah]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saint Lucia|Beulah]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Texas|Beulah (1967)]]
[[Category:Atlantic hurricanes in Mexico|Beulah]]
[[Category:1967 in Mexico]]
[[Category:History of British Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:Floods in Texas]]