1973 Pacific hurricane season
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| First storm formed: | June 2, 1973 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | October 9, 1973 |
| Strongest storm: | Ava - 915 mbar (27.02 inHg), 140 knots (161 mph) |
| Total storms: | 12 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 3 |
| Total damage: | Not Available |
| Total fatalities: | Not Available |
| Pacific hurricane seasons 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 |
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The 1973 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1973 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1973 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1973. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
This season had a quick start but a slow end. Overall activity was below average, with twelve named systems in total. Of these, five were tropical storms, four were hurricanes, and three were major (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale). The reason for the low activity is a strong and long La Niña that started building early in this year. Just one storm formed in August, one of the least active Augusts ever in the east Pacific.
| Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Contents |
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane Ava
| Category 5 Pacific hurricanes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Season | Name | Season |
| Patsy | 1959 | Guillermo | 1997 |
| "Mexico" | 1959 | Linda | 1997 |
| Ava | 1973 | Elida | 2002 |
| Emilia | 1994 | Hernan | 2002 |
| Gilma | 1994 | Kenna | 2002 |
| John | 1994 | Ioke | 2006 |
| Main article: List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes | |||
A tropical depression formed on June 2. It steadily strengthened and headed in a generally westerly direction. It moved slowly and became Hurricane Ava on June 4. Two days later, it became a major hurricane and it sped up. On June 7, it became a Category 5 hurricane. It then started weakening and slowed down until it dissipated on June 12.
Ava's minimum central pressure was 915 millibars, and its winds reached a phenomenal 140 knots. This made Ava the most intense recorded east Pacific hurricane at the time. Ava reached Category 5 intensity on June 7, the earliest date in an east Pacific season that a hurricane has done so. It was also the third known Category 5 storm in the east Pacific; (behind two storms in 1959). Ava is the strongest June storm, the third most intense east Pacific hurricane, and the only June Category 5. It is also somewhat remarkable as it reached Category 5 intensity during a La Niña year, the only known east Pacific hurricane to do so.
Ava was also flown into by hurricane hunter aircraft, which was the first penetration of a Pacific hurricane by NOAA aircraft. Radars and other devices were tested during the flights, and wind speed, pressure, and wave heights were measured. This is why Ava's pressure is measured instead of estimated. Ava was also photographed from Skylab because it developed during one of the missions.
[edit] Tropical Storm Bernice
Bernice formed on June 22. It moved northwest and made landfall along the coast of Mexico on June 23. It dissipated later that day.
[edit] Tropical Storm Claudia
A depression formed June 26. Late the next day, it developed gale-force winds. Claudia made landfall on June 28, and dissipated early June 30.
[edit] Hurricane Doreen
On July 18, a tropical depression formed, quickly strengthening into Tropical Storm Doreen. It steadily intensified, and briefly reached Category 4 strength on July 21. It then weakened steadily as its path carried it on a direct path to the Big Island of Hawaii. Doreen weakened to a tropical storm just as it entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility.
On July 27, Doreen suddenly turned to the southwest and strengthened back into a hurricane. It became a major hurricane again before weakening. Doreen dissipated August 3.
[edit] Hurricane Emily
A depression formed July 21 and headed west-northwest. It became a tropical storm and steadily strengthened into a hurricane. Emily reached Category 4 intensity. The storm then weakened and dissipated on July 28.
[edit] Hurricane Florence
On July 25, a depression formed. Over two days later, it strengthened into a tropical storm. Florence dissipated on July 30. The storm made a close approach to the Mexican coast as a depression, but never made landfall.
[edit] Tropical Storm Glenda
A depression that had formed July 30 quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. It took a path similar to both Florence and Emily. Glenda dissipated August 5.
[edit] Tropical Storm Heather
The only storm to form in August this year formed on August 31. It became a tropical storm and headed almost due north towards Mexico. Heather dissipated September 1, just before making landfall.
[edit] Hurricane Irah
Irah was the strongest landfall of the season. A depression formed September 22. It became a tropical storm on September 23 and a hurricane on September 24. Irah took a northwesterly path and reached Category 2 strength, and then dropped back down to a 1 as it recurved. It made landfall on Baja California and entered the Gulf of California as a tropical storm, making landfall again on in northwestern Mexico. Irah dissipated on September 27.
[edit] Tropical Storm Jennifer
On September 23, another depression formed. It took a very atypical northeasterly path. It strengthened into a tropical storm late on September 24. Jennifer then weakened to a depression and turned to the north-northeast. The cyclone made landfall near Mazatlan and dissipated September 27.
[edit] Hurricane Katherine
Katherine became a tropical storm on September 29, just six hours after forming. It headed out to sea and eventually became a hurricane. After weakening to storm strength, it crossed 140W and entered the Central Pacific. After dropping to a depression on October 9, Katherine dissipated. The storm never threatened land.
[edit] Hurricane Lillian
A depression that formed October 5 reached storm strength that same day and headed far out to sea. Lillian reached minimal hurricane strength and dissipated on October 9.
[edit] 1973 Storm Names
These names were used for storms that formed in the eastern Pacific during this season. It is the same list used in the 1969 season. Storms were named Katherine and Lillian for the first time this year. No names were retired, so this list was used again in the 1977 season. Names that weren't assigned are colored gray.
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The Central Pacific used names and numbers from the Western Pacific's typhoon list. No systems formed in the area, and thus no names were required.
[edit] See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- 1973 Atlantic hurricane season
- 1973 Pacific typhoon season
- 1972-73 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
- 1973-74 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
- Pre-1980 North Indian cyclone seasons
[edit] References
- CPHC season summary accessed October 8 2005
- Unisys Archive accessed October 8 2005
