1971 Pacific hurricane season
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| First storm formed: | May 21, 1971 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | November 29, 1971 |
| Strongest storm: | Olivia - 948 mb, Denise - 120 knots |
| Total storms: | 18 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 6 |
| Total damage: | 40 million+ (1971 USD) |
| Total fatalities: | 52 |
| Pacific hurricane seasons 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 |
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The 1971 Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, 1971 in the east Pacific, and on June 1, 1971 in the central Pacific. It ended on November 30, 1971. These dates conventionally delimit the period of time when tropical cyclones form in the east Pacific Ocean.
The 1971 season was above average with 18 named storms. Twelve hurricanes formed, of which six became major hurricanes by reaching Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At the time, this was a record number of storms.
| Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Contents |
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane Agatha
Agatha made landfall in western Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane May 24 and dissipated the next day. Playa Azul, a village 60 nm north of Zihuantenajo, suffered the most from Agatha. Many homes were destroyed, and damage to banana, mango, and coconut crops was significant.
[edit] Hurricane Bridget
Bridget was a destructive storm, and Acapulco's worst hurricane in more than a quarter century. It formed June 14, close to land, and paralleled the coast. Its winds reached Category 2 intensity as its eye passed within 30 miles of Acapulco on June 17. Winds gusted to 100 mph. Numerous ships were sunk, including the flagship the Admiral of the Mexican Navy. The estimated death toll is 40. The official damage estimate was half a billion pesos, around 40 million USD.
[edit] Hurricane Carlotta
Carlotta formed from a depression that first appeared on July 1st. Ship reconnaissance reported 30 mph winds and a 1009 mb pressure. The depression became Tropical Storm Carlotta on July 2nd. The next day, indications of a closed eye were found by reconnaissance. On July 4th, a pressure of 980 mb was found along with the stadium effect during a flight into the eye. After the findings, Carlotta started weakening, becoming a tropical storm later that day and further weakening to a depression on July 6th. Carlotta dissipated on the 8th.
Operationally, Carlotta was deemed a tropical storm despite the findings on July 4th, but post season analysis revealed Carlotta was a hurricane for nearly 24 hours from July 3rd to July 4th and was upgraded after the fact.
[edit] Hurricane Denise
Denise was one of the strongest storms of the season. While it had no effect on land as a tropical cyclone, its remnants brought rain to the Hawaiian Islands, helping to relieve a drought. There was also some street flooding. At least one motorist was stranded.
Denise also helped Sheila Scott, a British aviatrix flying solo around the world, as well as a yacht called the Windward Passage, which was in a trans-Pacific yacht race.
[edit] Tropical Storm Eleanor
An area of showers east of Hurricane Denise showed signs of a circulation on July 7th. Strengthening began the next day, with the system becoming Tropical Storm Eleanor. The newly named Eleanor strengthened slightly before weakening on the 10th. Eleanor dissipated on the 11th.
[edit] Hurricane Francene
An area of shower activity first appeared on July 17th. The system began showing signs of an increasing circulation on July 18th, becoming Tropical Storm Francene on July 19th, a fact made clear by ship reconnaissance. Rapid intensification began afterward, with Francene becoming a major hurricane before the end of the day. Francene's expanding circulation and northwest movement would hurt it as it drew in cool surface air. On July 20th, Francene weakened to storm strength after taking in cool air. During one point on the 22nd, the rate of inflow became reduced for a period of time, resulting in a temporary reintensification of the storm. The restrengthening was short and Francene began weakening again, finally dissipating on the 24th.
[edit] Tropical Storm Katrina
Katrina was a very small storm. Katrina brushed Baja California Sur and made landfall in as a tropical storm. It dissipated August 13. Rain from Katrina's remnants ruined crops, destroyed railroad trestles, and washed away three bridges.
[edit] Hurricane Lily
Lily made landfall in western Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane, where it killed 9 people when it capsized a boat. Three other deaths were reported. Damage totals are not available. It dissipated on September 1.
[edit] Hurricane Olivia
Olivia was a continuation of Atlantic Hurricane Irene. Olivia eventually strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane before recurving and making landfall in Baja California as a depression. The remnants of Olivia continued north into California, where they brought rain.
[edit] Hurricane Priscilla
Priscilla made landfall south of Mazatlan as a tropical storm. It had weakened significantly before landfall. No damage was reported.
[edit] 1971 storm names
These names were used for storms that formed in 1971. It is the same list used in the 1967 season. A storm was named Sharon for the first time this year. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1975 season.
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The central Pacific used names and numbers from the west Pacific's typhoon name list. No storms formed in the region, and thus no names were used. However, tropical disturbances that later became typhoons started forming in this area.
[edit] See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- 1971 Atlantic hurricane season
- 1971 Pacific typhoon season
- Pre-1980 North Indian cyclone seasons
[edit] References
- NOAA Monthly Weather Review accessed November 7, 2005
- Unisys Storm Tracks accessed November 7, 2005
- CPHC archive accessed November 17, 2005
