41 years since Hurricane Alicia slammed the Upper Texas Coast

41 years ago today, Hurricane Alicia made landfall near Galveston as a powerful category 3 storm.

Alicia was a small, but powerful storm. It was the first of only four named storms of the 1983 hurricane season, which was one of the quietest seasons in recorded history.

Alicia moved ashore just after midnight on Aug. 18, 1983, near the western tip of Galveston Island. Estimated peak sustained winds at the time were 115 mph with higher gusts.

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The National Weather Service said gusts as high as 120 mph were recorded in and around Galveston. As Alicia moved inland, gusts over 100 mph were recorded in southeastern Harris County.

Thousands of homes and apartments across the Houston area sustained damage and the hurricane caused as much as an estimated $3 billion in damages.

21 people lost their life in the storm.

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The National Weather Service compiled a story map last year commemorating 40 years since the storm. Click here to read more.