1973 Atlantic hurricane season
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 Season summary map |
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| First storm formed: | July 1, 1973 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | October 27, 1973 |
| Strongest storm: | Ellen - 962 mbar (28.41 inHg), 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Total storms: | 8 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 1 |
| Total damage: | $18 million (1973 USD) $79.5 million (2005 USD) |
| Total fatalities: | 15 |
| Atlantic hurricane seasons 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 |
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The 1973 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1973, and lasted until November 30, 1973. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin.
Although more active than the 1972 season, 1973 brought few storms of note. Most named tropical cyclones of 1973 stayed well away from land; those storms that did affect land were relatively weak and caused little damage. This was the first year since the 1962 season that a hurricane did not cross the United States coastline.
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[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane Alice
The interaction between a tropical wave and a mid-level tropospheric trough led to the formation of a tropical depression northeast of the Bahamas on July 1. It didn't organize much on its first day of existence due to strong upper-level westerlies, but as the environment became more favorable on the 3rd, the depression became a tropical storm, and a hurricane that night. It moved to the northeast, passing Bermuda on the way, becoming the first hurricane on record to affect the island during the month of July. Alice moved more rapidly to the north, due to a mid level trough, and as unfavorable conditions prevailed, Alice dissipated over southeast Canada on the 7th.
[edit] Subtropical Storm Alfa
The first subtropical cyclone of the season formed 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras on July 30. It moved quickly northeastward, reaching subtropical storm strength on the way. It briefly posed a threat to Cape Cod, but it weakened as it passed east of there. The storm dissipated on August 2.
[edit] Hurricane Brenda
Hurricane Brenda developed from a tropical wave, moving westward through the Caribbean Sea. Forming on August 18, the storm strengthened to a tropical storm prior to its first Yucatán Peninsula landfall. After moving offshore, Brenda turned southward in response to a strong ridge of high pressure. Prior to making its second landfall, Brenda strengthened to a hurricane, but its landfall near Ciudad del Carmen brought it over Central America. Brenda dissipated on the 22nd.
[edit] Tropical Storm Christine
Christine's formation at only 14ºW while over Africa on August 25 makes it the easternmost tropical depression to form in the Atlantic basin. The tropical depression moved uneventfully westward, reaching tropical storm strength at 30ºW. As it approached the Lesser Antilles, it gradually fell apart, and on September 4, while north of Puerto Rico, Christine dissipated.
[edit] Tropical Storm Delia
The tropical depression that became Tropical Storm Delia formed from a tropical wave over the western Caribbean Sea on September 1. As it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, it rapidly strengthened into Tropical Storm Delia. While traveling briskly to the west-northwest, it reached its peak of 70 mph winds, but hostile conditions prevented the storm from becoming a hurricane. Late on the 4th, it made its first landfall on the Southeast Texas coast near Freeport, and after a loop it hit Freeport again on the 6th. This became the first known tropical cyclone to hit the same area twice. Delia spun down over Texas, and dissipated on the 7th over north-central Mexico.
[edit] Hurricane Ellen
The tropical depression that became hurricane Ellen formed from a tropical wave on September 14, located 300 miles south of the Cape Verde Islands. It moved northwestward, strengthening to a tropical storm on the 15th. Conditions weren't favorable for development, but Ellen managed to become a hurricane on the 19th. Just prior to becoming extratropical over the north Atlantic, Ellen became a major hurricane, the farthest north that such has ever happened at 38°N latitude. On the 22nd, it became extratropical.
[edit] Hurricane Fran
An area of convection located north of Hispanola in early October gradually developed a circulation. On October 8, it became a subtropical depression while just south of Bermuda, and it became Subtropical Storm Bravo the next day. It became more tropical on the 10th as it reached hurricane strength, and it was named Fran. Fran quickly moved over the north Atlantic, passing over the Azores before becoming extratropical on the 13th.
[edit] Tropical Storm Gilda
The precursor to Tropical Storm Gilda was a large convective system partially due to a tropical wave. It gradually became better organized over the northwestern Caribbean Sea, and on October 15, a tropical depression formed off the coast of Nicaragua. As it drifted to the northeast, it strengthened to a tropical storm, peaking at 70 mph winds. Before it hit the coast of Cuba, it weakened enough to cause only minor damage. When it did hit, it had become extremely disorganized, separating into a low level circulation and an area of convection well to the northeast. Cool, dry air entrained the new convection, leading to the development of a large subtropical cyclone. Reconnaissance confirmed this on the 24th, and Subtropical Storm Gilda became the first tropical system to pass through a subtropical stage prior to becoming extratropical. The large circulation continued to the northeast, and became extratropical on October 27.
Gilda caused heavy rain and mudslides in Jamaica, destroying six houses [1] and killing six. [2] In Cuba, Gilda dropped 6 inches of rain, while 55 mph winds were reported in the northern part of the country. In the Bahamas, Gilda caused serious crop damage from heavy rainfall and high tides. Gilda's persistent strong currents and easterly winds caused moderate beach erosion on the East Coast of the United States, mostly along the Florida coast. Damage from Gilda was minimal, and there were no reported US deaths. [3]
[edit] Other storms
A tropical depression formed in the northwestern Caribbean on September 6 and moved northwestward over the Gulf of Mexico. It stalled over the Freeport, Texas area from the 10th to the 12th, bringing more rain to coastal areas that had already been saturated by Tropical Storm Delia. The tropical depression finally weakened as it moved east-northeastward towards Louisiana. The depression caused $15 million more in crop damages.
[edit] 1973 storm names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1973. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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[edit] Subtropical storm names
The following names were used for subtropical storms (sometimes called neutercanes) in the Atlantic basin for this year. This year was the second and last year to use the Phonetic Alphabet for these storms. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes
None of the names from the 1973 season were retired.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Monthly Weather Review
- Detailed information on all storms from 1973
- Tropical Storm Delia Rainfall Information from HPC
