A destructive storm with widespread impacts, Carmen developed from a tropical wave that emerged from Africa toward the end of August.

Carmen moved ashore on the Yucatán Peninsula, where, despite striking a sparsely populated region, it caused significant crop damage and killed several people.

Initially threatening the major city of New Orleans, it veered westward and made landfall on the marshland of southern Louisiana, eventually dissipating over eastern Texas on September 10.

Tropical cyclone watches and warnings had been issued for the storm, and approximately 100,000 residents left their homes and sought shelter.

The disturbance moved slowly westward with little convective activity initially, although upon entering the Atlantic Ocean, it spawned a tropical wave within the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

The wave had intensified and broadened by August 25, and it eventually split into two components, the northernmost of which consolidated into an organized storm system.

[3] It attained tropical storm status on August 30, south of Puerto Rico,[2] and was named Carmen by the National Hurricane Center.

[6] On September 1, the hurricane began to rapidly deepen over warm waters of the Caribbean Sea; by 18:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), it had strengthened to Category 4 intensity.

[7] Carmen's forward movement gradually slowed as the storm took a west by north direction,[8] and it reached its initial peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), accompanied by a central barometric pressure of 928 mbar (hPa; 27.4 inHg).

[9] Later on September 2, the hurricane made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula; its northern jog spared Belize City from a direct hit.

[2] Carmen continued to strengthen and accelerated northward towards the United States Gulf Coast,[3] reaching a forward speed of 12 mph (19 km/h); at 00:00 UTC on September 7, it once again became a Category 3 major hurricane.

[10] Fearing significant loss of life and property, the Red Cross began preparations for the approaching hurricane in Belize.

[12] Although it initially threatened the United States city of New Orleans, the hurricane turned west prior to making landfall and spared the area from severe damage.

[13] Over 100,000 residents of the Gulf Coast, mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi, evacuated in advance of the hurricane,[14] causing heavy congestion on highways.

[17] Many Mississippi citizens, having experienced the destruction of Hurricane Camille just five years earlier, quickly left their coastal homes.

[19] The storm spawned a tornado on Puerto Rico and triggered flash flooding, which collectively left over $2 million in damage.

[25] Although Carmen made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, it caused significantly less damage than anticipated because it struck a sparsely populated region.

Communication with the hardest hit regions was lost following Carmen's passage; however, early reports stated that at least five people were injured.

A reconnaissance task force was sent out from Belize City the day after Carmen made landfall to assist any residents stranded by the storm.

The oil and gas industry was also affected, and its estimated $24.7 million in losses resulted mainly from damage to equipment and offshore facilities.

[40] The hurricane caused two fatalities in Louisiana: a utility repairman who was electrocuted while working on power lines damaged by strong winds,[38] and a motorist who was involved in a storm-related traffic accident.