Hurricane Guillermo (1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Category 5 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Guillermo at peak intensity |
||
| Formed | July 30, 1997 | |
| Dissipated | August 24, 1997 (extratropical after August 15) |
|
| Highest winds |
|
|
| Lowest pressure | 919 mbar (hPa; 27.15 inHg) | |
| Fatalities | 3 direct | |
| Damage | Unknown | |
| Areas affected |
Pacific coast of Mexico, California, Hawaii | |
| Part of the 1997 Pacific hurricane season |
||
Hurricane Guillermo was the seventh storm of the active 1997 Pacific hurricane season. It formed as a wave on July 16 off the African coast and entered the Eastern Pacific eleven days later. Guillermo was absorbed by an extratropical low on August 24, over 1 month after forming in the Atlantic. Guillermo did not affect land except for some swells and heavy surf along California. Three people were killed directly by Guillermo.
Guillermo became one of 12 storms to reach Category-5 status in the Eastern Pacific basin. Its peak intensity of 919 millibars was the second strongest on record at the time (behind Hurricane Ava of 1973), but Hurricane Linda later that year and Hurricane Kenna in the 2002 season surpassed it.
Contents |
[edit] Storm History
Rawinsonde data from Dakar determined that a wave had formed off the coast of Africa on July 16. The wave moved westward with little change in convection, as strong westerly winds had made it difficult for the wave to strengthen.[1]Reasonable extrapolation would put the wave in an area of cloudiness off the Pacific coast of Mexico on July 27. Convection increased in amount and the wave strengthened into Tropical Depression Ten-E on July 30, 345 miles south of Salina Cruz, Mexico. The depression strengthened quickly in the Pacific Ocean, become Tropical Storm Guillermo the very next day.[1] A cloud circulation had appeared over Guillermo and the storm continued to strengthen, becoming a hurricane on August 1 near Acapulco, Mexico.[1] After upper-level outflow became well established, an eye started to appear in Guillermo, which strengthened into a Category 2-hurricane at 1200 UTC August 2. Guillermo strengthened into a 120 mph (190 km/h) Category 3-storm within six hours of that and became a Category 4-storm six hours after that.[1]
As it continued to move across the Eastern Pacific, Guillermo fluctuated in strength. On August 5, Guillermo reached Category 5-status and peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h) winds with a minimal pressure of 919 millibars (27.15 inHg), one of the strongest storms in the Eastern Pacific. As quickly as Guillermo strengthened, the storm started weakening at a moderate pace, becoming a tropical storm just before entering the Central Pacific basin on August 10.[1] The Central Pacific Hurricane Center took over duties of tracking Guillermo as the storm moved around the Central Pacific.[1][2] Guillermo weakened into a tropical depression, but quickly regained tropical storm strength. Guillermo turned temporarily to the west-northwest near Hawaii and weakened into a tropical depression on August 15. On August 16, Guillermo transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, and turned to the east-northeast, paralleling the southern coast of Alaska about 500 miles offshore. On August 19, it reached a position within 575 miles of British Columbia, before turning to the south. Guillermo was finally absorbed by an extratropical low on August 24 off the coast of California.[1]
[edit] Impact and records
| Name | Season | Name | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patsy | 1959 | "Mexico" | 1959 |
| Ava | 1973 | Emilia | 1994 |
| Gilma | 1994 | John | 1994 |
| Guillermo | 1997 | Linda | 1997 |
| Elida | 2002 | Hernan | 2002 |
| Kenna | 2002 | Ioke | 2006 |
| Main article: List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes | |||
Guillermo's size caused 8 foot-wide swells off beaches in Los Angeles, which was at the time, 1500 miles away from the Guillermo's center. 12-foot surf was experienced for more than 600 miles from the storm center. The heavy surf kept master Cabo skippers in port in Los Cabos. From Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo, the force of the storm crashed waves from the Sea of Cortez over the grounds of beach side resorts. The heavy surf chased tourists off some of Cabo's most popular beaches. A moderate amount of condos and homes were flooded by Guillermo. Two people were killed when waves swept sightseers from normally high beaches.[3]
Guillermo generated heavy surf across the beaches of Southern California. Heights from the surf averaged 6 to 8 feet with local areas reaching above 10 feet. Over 100 rescues were reported by local lifeguards.[4] Surf whipped up by Hurricane Guillermo pounded beaches in Orange County with waves from 6 to 12 feet high. Hundreds of people were rescued, but rip currents were blamed for three injuries and one death. On August 5, a 19-year old man was swept away about a mile north of the Huntington Beach Pier. His body was recovered several days later. On August 6, a teenage boy and girl were pummelled on a beach in Corona Del Mar, while an 18-year old was pulled ashore and sent to the hospital with neck injuries. In Newport Beach, lifeguards made nearly 300 rescues on the 5th and 6th alone.[5] On August 15 to 17, large waves generated while it was at peak intensity came ashore in Hawaii. The swells caused no damage and reached a height of 10 feet (3.0 m) in eastern-facing shores of the state.[2]
At the time, Hurricane Guillermo's central pressure of 919 mb (919 hPa) made it the second most intense Pacific hurricane on record, behind Hurricane Ava of 1973. Later that season, Hurricane Linda set a record for highest intensity, and in subsequent years Kenna and Ioke both achieved lower pressures, leaving Guillermo as fifth most intense hurricane (fourth most in the National Hurricane Center's area of responsibility running from North America to 140°W). Guillermo remains the strongest known Pacific hurricane in August. It also lasted for 16.50 days, the sixth longest ever.[6]
Hurricane Guillermo's name was not retired after this season. It was re-used in 2003 and is on the list for use in 2009.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g B. Max Mayfield (1997). Hurricane Guillermo Prelimary Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ a b National Hurricane Center (1997). Hurricane Guillermo Preliminary Report. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2007-03-07.
- ^ Cabo Bob (2007). Hurricanes in Cabo San Lucas. Unknown. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ NCDC (1997). Event- Heavy Surf- 06 Aug 1997, 06:00:00 AM PST. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ NCDC (1997). Event- Rip Currents- 05 Aug 1997, 06:00:00 AM PST. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
- ^ Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949-2007. National Hurricane Center (2008-03-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Fact Sheet Tropical Cyclone Names (PDF) 4. World Meteorological Organization (2005=07-01). Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
[edit] External links
- NHC 1997 Pacific hurricane season archive
- HPC 1997 Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Pages
- Central Pacific Hurricane Center archive
