1978 Atlantic hurricane season

1978 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
First storm formed January 18, 1978 (record earliest)
Last storm dissipated November 1, 1978
Strongest storm Greta – 947 mbar (hPa) (27.98 inHg), 135 mph (215 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total storms 12
Hurricanes 5
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 2
Total fatalities 37
Total damage $45 million (1978 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980

The 1978 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1978, and lasted until November 30, 1978. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, the season had the earliest actual start on record due to an unusual subtropical storm in January.

Tropical Storm Amelia, which killed 30 when it flooded the Guadalupe River in Texas, was the most notable storm of the season. Hurricane Greta caused moderate damage in Central America, avoiding fears that it would be a repeat of the devastating Hurricane Fifi. A very unusual subtropical storm formed in mid-January, the only storm (tropical or subtropical) to do so in the Atlantic basin.

The 1978 season was the last hurricane season when only female names were used for hurricanes and the last season before the modern hurricane naming system was developed.

Contents

Season summary

The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 63.[1] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical storms are not included in the ACE value.[2]

Storms

Subtropical Storm One

Subtropical storm (SSHS)
Duration January 18 – January 23
Intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  1002 mbar (hPa)
Main article: 1978 January subtropical storm

The first storm of the season developed from an upper level trough on January 18 while 1,725 miles (2,800 km) east-northeast of Puerto Rico. It moved westward, intensifying to a 45 mph (75 km/h) subtropical storm over the central Atlantic Ocean. The storm dissipated on January 23, 230 miles (370 km) northeast of Puerto Rico due to significant vertical wind shear. Subtropical Storm One is the only known tropical or subtropical storm to form in the Atlantic basin during January. Note that two storms on record, Hurricane Alice from the 1954 season and Tropical Storm Zeta from the 2005 season have formed during December and lasted into January.

Tropical Storm Amelia

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 30 – August 1
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1005 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Tropical Storm Amelia (1978)

Tropical Storm Amelia formed in the western Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville, Texas on July 30. The storm moved over land, but continued to intensify to a 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm. Land then took its toll, and the storm dissipated over Texas on August 1. Flooding rains due to torrential rains were reported to have reached 48 inches (1,200 mm) led to the deaths of 30 people in Texas.[3]

Tropical Storm Bess

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 6 – August 8
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1005 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Bess formed in the central Gulf of Mexico on August 5. Due to a strong high pressure system over Texas, the storm moved southwestward, strengthening to a 50 mph (85 km/h) storm. The storm hit Nautla, Veracruz on early August 8, and dissipated later that day.

Hurricane Cora

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 7 – August 12
Intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min),  980 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Cora (1978)

The tropical depression that became Hurricane Cora formed on August 7 in the tropical Atlantic. It gradually strengthened to a 90 mph Category 1 hurricane, but weakened to a tropical storm as it moved through the Windward Islands. The storm continued to weaken, and dissipated on August 12 near the island of Aruba.

Tropical Storm Debra

Main article: Tropical Storm Debra (1978)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 26 – August 29
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  1000 mbar (hPa)

The origins of Debra were from the combination of a low that formed over southeast Florida and an area of convection near the Yucatan Peninsula, possibly related to a tropical wave. A tropical depression formed on August 26 in the Gulf of Mexico, tracking west-northwestward around a high pressure ridge. Gradual intensification began, and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Debra on August 28. The storm turned to the north, and it reached its peak intensity of 60 mph (95 km/h) on August 29, shortly before making landfall in southwestern Louisiana. It was a disorganized storm, with most of the convection located to the east of the center.[4] It weakened rapidly and dissipated over Arkansas, though its remnants continued into the Ohio Valley.[4][5]

Hurricane Ella

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 30 – September 5
Intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min),  956 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Ella (1978)

Hurricane Ella formed from a stationary frontal zone in late August over the central Atlantic. It moved west-northwestward, passing Bermuda far to the south, and intensified to a major hurricane. After a brief stall on September 2, Ella accelerated to the northeast, rapidly strengthening to a 140 mph (220 km/h) Category 4 hurricane south of Nova Scotia. Ella is the northernmost known category 4 Atlantic hurricane, keeping this intensity as far as 42°5 North. It brushed the coast of Newfoundland and dissipated out at sea.

Hurricane Flossie

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 4 – September 15
Intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min),  976 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Flossie formed in the tropical Atlantic on September 4, midway between Cape Verde and the Lesser Antilles. The system moved to the west-northwest, reaching 45 mph (75 km/h) winds before upper level shear ripped apart the system. After two days of moving to the northeast, the storm re-strengthened to a tropical storm, and became a hurricane on September 12, located about halfway between Bermuda and the Azores Islands. Cool waters eventually led the system to its extratropical transition on September 16. The strong extratropical cyclone brought winds as high as 104 miles per hour (167 km/h) to Fair Isle, Great Britain.[6]

Hurricane Greta

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 13 – September 20
Intensity 135 mph (215 km/h) (1-min),  947 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Greta-Olivia

The tropical depression that became Hurricane Greta formed 75 miles west-northwest of Trinidad on September 13. The storm moved through the Central Caribbean, steadily strengthening. When it neared the coast of Honduras it rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane, bringing winds to the country. It stayed offshore, but came to shore at Stann Creek District, Belize on September 19 as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm dissipated the next day, but later redeveloped in the Eastern Pacific as Hurricane Olivia. Luckily, death and damage was much lower than Hurricane Fifi, a similar hurricane that devastated the same area in 1974. This was likely due to the lack of flooding, as well as using proper warnings from the affected countries. In all, Greta caused 5 deaths and over $75 million (2005 USD) in damage.

Tropical Storm Hope

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration September 12 – September 21
Intensity 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min),  987 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Hope formed just off the northeast coast of Florida on September 12. It remained a tropical depression for three days as it moved generally eastward. It ultimately attained 65 mph (100 km/h) winds over the open Atlantic, but passed cooler waters before it could reach hurricane strength. Still, the storm retained tropical characteristics to nearly 60ºN, not far from Iceland.

Tropical Storm Irma

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration October 2 – October 5
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1001 mbar (hPa)

The origins of Tropical Storm Irma were from a tropical depression that formed about 500 mi (805 km) south of the Azores on October 2. During the next two days, thunderstorm activity gradually increased around the circulation center as the storm drifted northward. On October 2, the storm had taken the appearance of a tropical storm on satellite photographs, and upper-level anticyclonic flow over the center of the storm was evident on satellite time-lapse movies. By the afternoon of October 4, the system had acquired the characteristics of a tropical storm and was named Irma; the gale-force winds extended 150 mi (240 km) from the center of circulation.[7][8]

Six hours after being named, Irma reached its peak intensity of 50 mph (80 km/h).[9] On October 5, Tropical Storm Irma turned towards the north-northeast and passed about midway between the central and western Azores.[7] Shortly thereafter, Irma became less organized,[10] and that evening was absorbed into an approaching cold front, about 450 mi (725 km) northeast of the Azores.[11] Although Irma passed near parts of the western and central Azores with gale-force winds in some areas, no reports of damage or casualties caused by Irma were received. Several nearby ships reported winds around 46 mph (74 km/h). It was noted that heavy rains may have occurred on some of the mountainous islands as Irma passed.[7]

Tropical Storm Juliet

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration October 7 – October 11
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  1006 mbar (hPa)

Juliet formed from a tropical wave on October 7 about 600 miles (970 km) east of Puerto Rico. The storm passed north of the island, attained a wind speed of 50 mph (85 km/h), and headed into the open Atlantic before dissipating on October 11 southwest of Bermuda. The highest rainfall report from Puerto Rico was 4.51 inches (115 mm) from Toro Negro Plant.[12]

Hurricane Kendra

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 28 – November 1
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Kendra (1978)

The final storm of the season formed east of the Bahamas on October 28. The storm strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h), and weakened to a tropical depression on November 1, before dissipating on November 3.

Other storms

In addition to the 12 other tropical cyclones, there were several tropical depressions that developed during the season. On August 7, a tropical depression formed about 465 miles (748 km) east of Barbados. It tracked westward without significantly intensifying, and passed through the Windward Islands over Bequia on the following day. The depression continued its westward motion, and passed near Aruba on August 9. It eventually traversed the Caribbean Sea, and made landfall to the south of Bluefields, Nicaragua on August 11. The depression dissipated shortly thereafter.[13]

Storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic basin in 1978.[14] Storms were named Amelia, Bess, Cora, Flossie, Hope, Irma and Juliet for the first time in 1978. This was the last year that only female names were used. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

  • Hope
  • Irma
  • Juliet
  • Kendra
  • Loise (unused)
  • Martha (unused)
  • Noreen (unused)
  • Ora (unused)
  • Paula (unused)
  • Rosalie (unused)
  • Susan (unused)
  • Tanya (unused)
  • Vanessa (unused)
  • Wanda (unused)

Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

No names were retired after the 1978 season.

Season effects

This is a table of the storms in 1978 and their landfall(s), if any. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but are still storm-related. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical or a wave or low.

1978 North Atlantic tropical cyclone statistics
Storm
name		 Dates active Storm category

at peak intensity

 Max
wind

(mph)

 Min.
press.
(mbar)		 Landfall(s) Damage
(millions
USD)		 Deaths
Where When Wind

(mph)
One January 18 - January 23 Subtropical storm 45 1002 none 0  0 
Amelia July 30 - August 1 Tropical storm 50 1005 Corpus Christi, Texas July 30 45 20  30 
Bess August 6 - August 8 Tropical storm 50 1005 Nautla, Mexico August 8 50 60  0 (4) 
Cora August 7 - August 12 Category 1 hurricane 90 980 Grenada August 11 35 0  0 
Debra August 26 - August 29 Tropical storm 60 1000 Cameron, Louisiana August 28 60 Minimal  2 
Ella August 30 - September 5 Category 4 hurricane 140 956 none 0  0 
Flossie September 4 - September 15 Category 2 hurricane 100 976 none none  0 
Greta September 13 - September 23 Category 4 hurricane 135 947 Honduras September 18 135 76.2  5 
Stann Creek District, Belize September 19 100
Hope September 11 - September 23 Tropical storm 65 987 none 0  0 
Irma October 2 - October 5 Tropical storm 50 1001 none 0  0 
Juliet October 7 - October 11 Tropical storm 50 1006 none 0  0 
Kendra October 28 - November 1 Category 1 hurricane 80 990 none 0  0 
Season Aggregates
12 cyclones January 18
-November 1		   135 947 16 landfalls 45 37

See also

References

  1. ^ Hurricane Research Division (March 2011). "Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Comparison_of_Original_and_Revised_HURDAT_mar11.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
  2. ^ David Levinson (2008-08-20). "2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones". National Climatic Data Center. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
  3. ^ David M. Roth (2008). "Tropical Storm Amelia - July 30-August 5, 1978". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/amelia1978.html. Retrieved 2008-05-13. 
  4. ^ a b Miles B. Lawrence (1978). "1978 Monthly weather Review". National Weather Bureau. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1978.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
  5. ^ National Hurricane Center (1978). "Tropical Storm Debra preliminary report". http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1978-prelim/debra/prelim01.gif. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
  6. ^ Trevor Harley. British Weather in September. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
  7. ^ a b c "Preliminary Report: Tropical Storm Irma". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1978-prelim/irma/prelim01.gif. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  8. ^ Pelissier (4 October 1978). "Advisory 1". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0079-jpg/1978/atlantic/irma/public/pub041600z.jpg. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  9. ^ "Preliminary Best Track: Tropical Storm Irma". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1978-prelim/irma/prelim02.gif. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  10. ^ Pelissier (5 October 1978). "Advisory 5". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0079-jpg/1978/atlantic/irma/public/pub051600z.jpg. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  11. ^ Lawrence, Miles B. (5 October 1978). "Advisory 6". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0079-jpg/1978/atlantic/irma/public/pub052200z.jpg. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  12. ^ David M. Roth. "Tropical Storm Juliet". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/juliet1978.html. Retrieved 2007-02-28. 
  13. ^ David Roth (2011). "CLIQR database". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/ebtrk_nhc_final.txt. Retrieved 26 October 2011. 
  14. ^ Associated Press (1978-05-31). "Hedge Bets on Hurricanes". http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=106090245_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=1&currentPage=0. Retrieved 2007-12-01. 

External links

Tropical cyclones of the 1978 Atlantic hurricane season
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
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