John Metz (National Weather Service) - Public Lecture Series

The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute: Public Lecture Series, John Metz -- National Weather Service

Hurricane Carla was one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever strike the Texas Coast. In this presentation, John Metz will discuss the evolution and track of this storm, from its origination in the western Caribbean, steady intensification in the Gulf of Mexico, and landfall along the mid-Texas Coast.

Hurricane Carla unleashed a fury of extreme winds, deadly tornadoes, and record storm surge. Historic photographs, radar, satellite images, and video clips will be shown, providing an overview of the storm's destructive impact to Texas and inland communities as far as Chicago, Illinois. However, the death toll was low, due to the largest peace-time evacuation in U.S. history.

This coming year marks the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Carla, which came ashore at Port Lavaca, Texas on September 11, 1961. See how this coastal community has changed in the last 50 years and assess the threat that still exists.

John Metz is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Corpus Christi, Texas. John graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Atmospheric Science in 1992. To learn more about his work go to: http://www.srh.weather.gov/crp/