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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. This season had six landfalls in Mexico (Agatha, Bridget, Katrina, Lily, Olivia and Priscilla), the highest number of landfalling Pacific tropical cyclones in one season.[citation needed]
[edit] Storms
[edit] Hurricane Agatha
On May 21, an area of low pressure developed in the very warm waters south of Tehuantepec, Mexico. Later that day, satellite images showed increasing circulation and Tropical Storm Agatha developed shortly after. Agatha continued moving to the west-northwest parallel to the Mexican coastline and strengthened into a hurricane on May 22. A U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance aircraft flew into Agatha and found an eye and strong bands. The next day, a reconnaissance plane found winds of 75 to 80 knots (85 to 90 mph, 140 to 150 km/h). On May 24, a ship reported winds of 85 kt (100 mph, 160 km/h). Agatha made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale within 45 miles (75 km) of Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
The village of Playa Azul was hard hit by the storm. Up to half of the village's homes were destroyed. Also, much of the banana, mango, and coconut crop was destroyed.
[edit] Hurricane Bridget
Around June 12 an area of thunderstorms started to get more organized near El Salvador. The area of convection started to drift west-northwestward and on June 15 Tropical Storm Bridget formed. Bridget moved across the Gulf of Tehuantepec which had very warm waters. On June 16, satellite imagery and ship report data confirmed that Bridget had strengthened into a hurricane. Hurricane Bridget continued moving west-northwest along the west coast of Mexico and came within 35 to 45 mi (55 to 75 km) of Acapulco on June 17. Bridget made landfall about 100 mi (155 km) southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico.
Bridget was the worst hurricane to hit Acapulco in over 25 years; the last strong hurricane to impact Acapulco to a greater extent was in 1943. The storm caused 500 million pesos (40 million USD) in damage. Storm surge caused flooding in the bay and damaged waterfront and beach facilities. Violent seas also sank 20 boats plus a flagship of the Mexican Navy.
[edit] Hurricane Carlotta
On July 1 an area of weather developed about 115 mi (185 km) east of Clipperton Island. On July 2 the area of thunderstorms strengthened into Tropical Storm Carlotta. An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft flew into Carlotta on July 4 and found a system with a well defined eye and good outflow, but winds only supported a tropical storm. Another reconnaissance plane found winds that were near hurricane strength on July 4. In post-season analysis, it was discovered that Carlotta was a hurricane for 24 hours on July 3 and 4. Later that day, Carlotta started weakening after moving into a less favorable environment. The storm continued to weaken until dissipating on July 8.
Carlotta stayed over open waters during its entire life and no land was affected.
[edit] Hurricane Denise
On July 2 an area of weather got better organized about 865 mi (1390 km) east of then Tropical Storm Carlotta. On July 4 satellite imagery indicated that the system had strengthened into Tropical Storm Denise and later into Hurricane Denise on July 6. The system continued to move west and on July 7, U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance plane found a more organized system with sustained winds estimated to be 80 kt (90 mph, 150 km/h) with a minimum central pressure of 963 mbar (hPa; 28.4 inHg). By July 8, the system had sustained one-minute winds of 110 kt (125 mph, 205 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 951 mbar (hPa; 28.1 inHg). Denise reached a peak intensity of 120 kt (140 mph, 220 km/h), a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale early on July 9, but then started to weaken.
Denise had started a northwest movement towards Hawaii. A reconnaissance aircraft found surface winds of approximately 100 kt (115 mph, 185 mph) on July 9. Soon after, the eyewall started to dissipate, most likely because of cooler inflow. Over the next 48 hours, the system continued to weaken into a tropical storm. On July 13 the system was approaching the Hawaiian Islands, but a reconnaissance flight only found winds that were barely tropical storm strength. What was left of the storm quickly weakened and Denise became a remnant low.
The remnants of Denise moved south of the Hawaiian Islands, but still brought beneficial rains that caused some minor flooding. [1]
[edit] Tropical Storm Eleanor
Eleanor was a short-lived, weak tropical storm that stayed well out to sea.
On July 7, a tropical depression formed east-southeast of the weakening Carlotta and west of the strengthening Denise. By July 8, satellite imagery showed that the depression had strengthened into a tropical storm. Eleanor strengthened over the next 24 hours to a top strength of 50 knots (60 mph, 95 km/h). On July 10, a U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance plane found a weakening system and the next day the storm was a dissipating depression moving toward the west-southwest.
[edit] Hurricane Francene
An area of enhanced shower activity and low pressure circulation developed a couple hundred miles off the coast of Mexico. On July 18 a tropical depression had formed and on July 19 the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Francene. Francene underwent rapid deepening into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. However, because of Francene's increasing size, the storm starting pulling in cool surface air which caused weakening. By July 20, Francene had weakened into a tropical storm. Francene continued to weaken over the next 24 hours and was barley a tropical storm by the morning of July 22. That afternoon, Francene began to strengthen once again but it was short-lived. By July 23, the surface circulation had disappeared and Francene was no longer a tropical cyclone. Francene stayed over open water and did not affect land.
[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 Mazatlán as a tropical storm. It had weakened significantly before landfall, having once been a strong category 3 hurricane. 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.
- Agatha
- Bridget
- Carlotta
- Denise
- Eleanor
- Francene
- Georgette
|
- Hilary
- Ilsa
- Jewel
- Katrina
- Lily
- Monica
- Nanette
|
- Olivia
- Priscilla
- Ramona
- Sharon
- Terry (unused)
- Veronica (unused)
- Winifred (unused)
|
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
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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