Hurricanes of the Coastal Bend
Join us as we welcome Chuck Benson, USAF Meteorologist, who will speak on hurricane formation, the forecast production cycle, and commonalities for storms that pose threats to the Coastal Bend.
About Chuck Benson:
Chuck Benson grew up in Houston and has studied hurricanes since childhood. As a weather officer in the United State Air Force, he forecast the effects of hurricanes and typhoons in every ocean basin around the world.
After 26 years on active duty, Chuck became a public-school teacher. For 14 years, he taught earth science to eighth graders in Bellevue, Nebraska. Chuck and his wife moved to Corpus Christi during the summer of 2020…just in time for Hurricane Hanna! Since moving to the Coastal Bend, he has been an officer on the boards of both the Corpus Christi Geological Society and the Coastal Bend Geophysical Society.
Chuck earned a Bachelor of Science (meteorology) from Texas A&M in 1977, a Master of Science (tropical meteorology) from St. Louis University in 1985, a Master of Arts (national security) from the Naval War College in 1991, a Bachelor of Science (education) from Peru State College (Nebraska) in 2005, and Master of Science (science education) from Montana State University in 2013.
Presentation Summary:
Hurricanes are a serious threat to public safety and to industries in the Coastal Bend. On average, hurricanes make landfall on the Texas coast about once every other year.
Major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) directly affect this area about once every 50 years. The six necessary factors for hurricane formation will be presented. Next, the hurricane forecast production cycle will be explained. Then…through a lens of case studies, some commonalities become apparent for storms that pose the gravest threat to the Coastal Bend.
The September 1919 Hurricane brought the highest storm surge during historic times to downtown Corpus Christi. Hurricane Celia (August 1970) delivered a direct hit to Corpus Christi as a Category 4 storm and produced almost unimaginable wind damage. Hurricane Harvey (August 2017) devasted an area from Rockport to Port Arthur, but largely spared Corpus Christi. Harvey also caused historic flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. Hurricane Hanna (July 2017) was only a Category 1 storm but caused considerable damage from Baffin Bay to Port Aransas from a quite significant storm surge.
The worst-case scenario for the Coastal Bend would be a “long track” hurricane that is intensifying as it makes landfall just south of Corpus Christi Bay.
