1972 Pacific hurricane season
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| First storm formed: | June 1, 1972 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | November 19, 1972 |
| Strongest storm: | Celeste - 940 mb, 115 knots |
| Total storms: | 14 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 5 |
| Total damage: | unknown |
| Total fatalities: | unknown |
| Pacific hurricane seasons 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 |
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The 1972 Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, 1972 in the east Pacific, and on June 1, 1972 in the central Pacific. It ended on November 30, 1972. These dates conventionally delimit the period of time when tropical cyclones form in the east Pacific Ocean.
This season had a below average number of storms. There were twelve tropical cyclones. Of those, four were tropical storms, eight were hurricanes, and four were major hurricanes that reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. In the central Pacific, two tropical storms and two tropical depressions formed. One of the depressions and one of the storms crossed the dateline to become typhoons.
| Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Contents |
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane Annette
On June 1, a tropical storm formed and moved slowly north. It intensified into a hurricane before weakening again. It made landfall in western Mexico on June 7 and dissipated the next day.
[edit] Hurricane Celeste
Celeste was the strongest storm of the season. It passed close to Johnston Atoll where it did a heavy damage. Many buildings on the weather station on the island lost roof tiles, and parts of most buildings were sandblasted by the wind. Hawaii's Big Island was also pounded with waves. The specifics regarding extent, type, and cost of damage to military facilities on the island is unavailable. However, Program 437, an anti-satellite weapons system, was destroyed.
After raking Johnston, Celeste turned north and was quickly destroyed by wind shear on August 22.
[edit] Hurricane Diana
As a tropical storm, Diana briefly threatened the Hawaiian Islands. Instead, it veered north and dumped rain. At Vacationland, surf swept four homes off their foundations, doing extensive damage to one of them. Another home was flooded. Debris was carried inland, and 200 feet of private roads were washed away. Diana dissipated August 20.
[edit] Hurricane Hyacinth
Hyacinth was a Category 3 major hurricane. It headed out to sea. After weakening to a tropical storm, it recurved and headed straight for California. It made landfall in the state as a depression and dissipated September 7.
[edit] Hurricane Joanne
Hurricane Joanne recurved and made landfall in Baja California as a fast-moving tropical storm. It continued north, and maintained gale-force winds and a closed circulation as it entered Arizona, the first recorded time this had happened. There was severe flooding in the areas of Clifton, Duncan, and Safford. Heavy rains were recorded elsewhere in the region, but the damage total is not known. Joanne dissipated October 7.
[edit] Tropical Storm Liza
A tropical depression formed on November 13, a few hundred miles west of Central America. Liza moved westward, and became a tropical storm on November 14. It reached peak strength of 65 mph, estimated by satellite imagery. Liza dissipated on November 16.
[edit] Hurricane/Typhoon Ruby
Ruby was the first typhoon to reach hurricane strength in the central Pacific before crossing the dateline since the 1967 season. An area of disturbed weather organized into a depression on November 11. It moved west and slowly intensified. Ruby became a hurricane just before crossing the dateline. On November 16, Ruby peaked at Category 3 strength and 944 mb. The typhoon then weakened. Ruby was dissipated by wind shear on November 19, located about midway between Wake and Guam.
[edit] Other storms
A tropical depression formed September 28 east of the Hawaiian Islands. It headed towards the archipelago and dissipated on the afternoon of October 3. It remnants dumped nearly a foot of rain on the mountains of the Big Island.
[edit] 1972 Storm Names
These names were used for storms that formed in the east Pacific ocean this season. It is the same list used in the 1968 season. No names were retired, so this list was used again in the 1976 season.
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The central Pacific used names and numbers from the west Pacific's typhoon list. Two names— June and Ruby— were required.
[edit] See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- 1972 Atlantic hurricane season
- 1972 Pacific typhoon season
- Pre-1980 North Indian cyclone seasons
