Hurricane Pauline (1968)

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Hurricane Pauline
Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Pauline as a newly-upgraded tropical storm on September 29.

Pauline as a newly-upgraded tropical storm on September 29.
Formed September 26, 1968
Dissipated October 3, 1968
Highest
winds
185 km/h (115 mph) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure ≤1002 hPa (mbar)
Fatalities 5 direct
Damage Unknown
Areas
affected		 Mexico, California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico
Part of the
1968 Pacific hurricane season
This article is about the Pacific hurricane of 1968; for the destructive hurricane of 1997, see Hurricane Pauline and for other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Pauline (disambiguation).

Hurricane Pauline was the only hurricane of the 1968 Pacific hurricane season with recorded casualties. Forming from a disturbance in the Intertropical Convergence Zone on September 26 and becoming a tropical storm on September 29, the hurricane strengthened to a peak of 85 mph (137 km/h) as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale on September 30 before making landfall at a point east of La Paz, Mexico near Ciudad Constitutión in Baja California Sur, exiting over the Gulf of California. Before making a second landfall on the state of Sonora on October 3, Pauline lost tropical characteristics. The storm continued inland, passing directly over Ciudad Obregón before dissipating south-southeast of Sierra Vista, Arizona.

There is very little information as to the effects of Pauline on Mexico, but during the passage of the hurricane over Magdalena Bay, a boat disappeared with its five occupants. Despite a large-scale search for the boat or any possible remnants, no trace was ever found. The remnants of Pauline triggered showers over the southwest United States and may have been responsible for a damaging tornado which occurred near Glendale, Arizona. On best track data, since the hurricane lost tropical characteristics before the Sonoran landfall, it officially made only one landfall.

Contents

[edit] Storm history

Storm path
Storm path

The ITCZ disturbance that developed into Hurricane Pauline was first noticed 200 mi (320 km) southeast of Acapulco and 1,500 mi (2,400 km) to 2,000 mi (3,200 km) west of the dissipating Tropical Storm Orla. The disturbance was in a large area of convection west of Guatemala in the Gulf of Tehuantepec that began to spread 500 mi (800 km) to the west-northwest on September 26. Satellite images at this time showed an area of reflective clouds 500 mi (800 km) long and 200 mi (320 km) wide. Most notable about the pictures of the area was the trace of an inverted "V" curvature along the clouds[1] - a characteristic more common in tropical waves.[2] The disturbance was tracked for 24 hours until September 28, when the disturbance was upgraded to a tropical depression. Later data found that the depression had been active since September 26.[3] After being upgraded, a vortex began to organize at its center and the depression began to intensify. On September 29, a ship 200 mi (320 km) south of the center reported winds of 17 mph (27 km/h) to 23 mph (37 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mbar, the only pressure reading left on best track data for the entire season.[3] Other than this ship, all other active boats steered away from the center of the developing system. Later that day, it was determined that the depression had reached tropical storm strength.[1]

Hurricane Pauline on September 30. The wave effect was caused by an electronic problem.
Hurricane Pauline on September 30. The wave effect was caused by an electronic problem.

After being named, Pauline displayed signs of a tight circulation, but satellite pictures were unable to pick up any distinct features due to obscuring cirrus. Later that day, satellites picked up a feature in the hurricane that resembled an eye, but closer inspection showed that the eye was either a shadow or a gap between bands and that the real center was 50 mi (80 km) west of the false eye. On September 30, the storm turned to the northwest and its forward speed accelerated to 9 mph (14 km/h). At this time, a satellite picture showed a genuine eye beginning to form in the cirrus cover and banding became apparent through the clouds. However, the picture was distorted by a "venetian blind" effect caused by electronic problems. The tropical storm was subsequently upgraded to hurricane intensity.[1] On October 1, the ship Overseas Joyce recorded 80 mph (130 km/h) to 85 mph (137 km/h) north-northeast winds, a heavy swell from the east-southeast and a pressure of 1002 mbar. An estimate based on satellite pictures placed the Overseas Joyce at 15 mi (24 km) to 20 mi (32 km) away from the center.[1] Another nearby ship, the Golden Eagle, reported south-southeast winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) and high seas 75 mi (121 km) east of the center.

Further investigation into the hurricane was limited to ship reports, and a satellite image on October 1 was mostly not helpful due to another electronic problem, however, it showed that the hurricane had shrunk. A United States Air Force reconnaissance plane flew into the hurricane that day and reported that the eyewall was open on the southwest side. After the breakup of the first eyewall, a break in the clouds lead to the possibility that another eye was forming 30 mi (48 km) to the north-northwest of the previous eye.[1] No information on the hurricane was available for October 2, when it made landfall near Ciudad Constitutión in Baja California Sur.[4][5] After landfall, La Paz reported winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) from the northwest, which began weakening in the next hour. Satellite pictures showed that Pauline had moved over the Gulf of California, the interaction with land having weakened it to a tropical storm. The storm moved north, making a second landfall near Navojoa.[1] The storm continued inland, passing directly over Ciudad Obregón. The storm dissipated south-southeast of Sierra Vista in Arizona.[4] It was eventually found that the hurricane had lost tropical characteristics before the second landfall, leading to it having made only one landfall while active.[3]

[edit] Impact, records, and naming

Damage totals from Baja California Sur in relation to the hurricane were never received, but light damage was reported in Navojoa.[1] The Pasadena-based Independent Star-News reported that a tourist in Mazatlán at the time, who coincidentally had the name Pauline Thomson, had sent a card saying that the hurricane was responsible for cutting off-shore capers.[6] Mexican Navy members in Magdalena Bay reported that while passing over, Pauline had clocked winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The Navy report of 115 mph (185 km/h) winds came after another report that the 40-foot (12 m) auxiliary-powered yawl called the Tiare was missing in the same bay.[1] The ship had left Newport Harbor on September 25 with the destination being Puerto Vallarta and was occupied by a family of five people: Robert Emigh, his wife Patricia, and their children Kim, Kristen, and another Robert. The last reported sighting of the yawl was off Cedros Island. After the report of the missing yawl was received, the United States Coast Guard engineered a search for the vessel accompanied by Robert Emigh's uncle. The search was called off after covering an area of 50,000 sq mi (130,000 km²) with no results. The ship was reported as lost and the five occupants were listed as dead. Despite not finding any sign of the ship, the Coast Guard was praised for the extensive search.[7]

The remnants of Pauline were responsible for scattered showers in an area ranging from southern California to Utah and New Mexico.[8] In Arizona, Tucson, Phoenix, and Gila Bend all reported rain on October 3 at a time when Pauline was centered 200 mi (320 km) southeast of Douglas and a 30% chance of more rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds were predicted for the rest of the day. [9] Around this time, an F2 tornado on the Fujita Scale touched down near Glendale. The tornado followed an erratic path to the west, injuring three people due to flying glass, one of which was hospitalized due to their injuries, and causing severe damage to two apartment buildings. Automobiles were damaged by falling concrete blocks and various buildings and trailers were also damaged.[10] In total, the tornado was responsible for $50,000 to $500,000 in damages.[11] It is unknown what link the hurricane had to this tornado.

Hurricane Pauline was the fifth hurricane to occur in the East Pacific in 1968 and the only named storm in that year to cause any deaths.[1] When the Mexican Navy reported winds of Category 3 strength, Pauline became the second of three hurricanes that may have reached Category 3 status in the season. The other two were Liza and Rebecca.[1] This was the second time a storm was named "Pauline" and the first time that an East Pacific storm named "Pauline" reached hurricane strength.[3] The name was not retired after this storm and was used in both old names lists and the revised names lists until 1997[3], when Hurricane Pauline became the costliest East Pacific hurricane in history and was subsequently retired.[12] Coincidentally, the name that replaced Pauline in 2003 was the same name as Robert Emigh's wife who perished in the 1968 hurricane: Patricia.[7] The name is set to be used next in 2009.[13]

[edit] See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j William J. Denney (1968). The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season of 1968. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  2. ^ Neil L. Frank (1968). The "Inverted V" Cloud Pattern-An Easterly Wave?. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e National Hurricane Center (2008). East Pacific Best Track Data: 1949-2006. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  4. ^ a b Storm Advisory.org (2008). Storm Advisory Map: Hurricane Pauline. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  5. ^ Baja Insider.com (2007). 2007 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Outlook - Beginning the Season. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  6. ^ John Q. Copeland (1968). Culturally At Random. Independent Star-News. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  7. ^ a b Associated Press (1968). Boat Listed as Lost With Family of 5. Independent. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  8. ^ Associated Press (1968). Frosty Weather Nips At Much of Nation Today. Valley Independent. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  9. ^ Associated Press (1968). Hurricane May Bring Yuma Rain. Yuma Daily Sun. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  10. ^ Arizona State University (2008). Description of Known Tornadoes and Funnel Clouds in the Greater Phoenix Area: 1955-1990. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  11. ^ Go Glendale AZ.com (2008). Weather Trivia: Tornadoes. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  12. ^ Weather Underground (2008). Retired Atlantic Hurricane Names. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  13. ^ National Hurricane Center (2008). Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Names. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.