1976 Atlantic hurricane season

1976 Atlantic hurricane season

Season summary map
First storm formed	May 21, 1976
Last storm dissipated	October 28, 1976
Strongest storm	Belle – 957 mbar (hPa) (28.27 inHg), 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions	23
Total storms	10
Hurricanes	6
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	2
Total fatalities	72
Total damage	$100 million (1976 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

The 1976 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1976, and lasted until November 30, 1976. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was average in activity, with ten total storms and six hurricanes forming.

Although several storms made landfall in 1976, only Hurricane Belle caused significant damage when it hit New England in August, causing $100 million in damage. Hurricane Emmy caused 68 indirect deaths when a Venezuelan Air Force plane carrying a school choir crashed on a landing attempt at Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the storm.

Contents 1 Season summary 2 Storms 2.1 Subtropical Storm One 2.2 Tropical Depression Two 2.3 Tropical Depression Three 2.4 Tropical Depression Four 2.5 Tropical Depression Five 2.6 Tropical Storm Anna 2.7 Hurricane Belle 2.8 Hurricane Candice 2.9 Tropical Storm Dottie 2.10 Hurricane Emmy 2.11 Hurricane Frances 2.12 Tropical Depression Thirteen 2.13 Tropical Depression Fourteen 2.14 Subtropical Storm Three 2.15 Tropical Depression Sixteen 2.16 Tropical Depression Seventeen 2.17 Hurricane Gloria 2.18 Tropical Depression Twenty 2.19 Tropical Depression Twenty-One 2.20 Hurricane Holly 2.21 Tropical Depression Twenty-Three 3 Season summary 4 Storm names 4.1 Retirement 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

Season summary

The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 84.^[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, therefore, the subtropical stage of Anna is omitted from the total ACE value.^[2]

Storms

Subtropical Storm One

Subtropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	May 21 – May 25
Intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  994 mbar (hPa)

On May 19 an upper-level trough produced widespread thunderstorms over the Gulf of Mexico. Slowly, the system organized, first to a subtropical depression on May 21, then to a subtropical storm on May 23. The storm began to move faster, and on May 23, it hit the Florida Panhandle. After moving across Georgia at a forward motion of 25 mph (40 km/h) the storm reached its peak of maximum sustained winds reaching 50 mph (85 km/h) while southeast of the Carolinas on May 24. It merged with a frontal system on May 25. Heavy rainfall was associated with the system, but little damage occurred.

Tropical Depression Two

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	June 7 – June 9
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression affected Florida.

Tropical Depression Three

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	June 11 – June 12
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression affected Florida.

Tropical Depression Four

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	July 20 – July 22
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Tropical Depression Five

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	July 23 – July 24
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Tropical Storm Anna

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	July 28 – August 1
Intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  999 mbar (hPa)

The system that became Tropical Storm Anna formed in the central Atlantic, several hundred miles southeast of Bermuda. It began as a subtropical depression on July 28, and strengthened to Subtropical Storm Two on July 30. That afternoon it rapidly acquired tropical characteristics, and was named Anna. Anna reached its peak of 45 mph (75 km/h) winds that day, but became extratropical on August 1. Steering currents were weak, so the system made a slow counterclockwise loop around the Azores before dissipating on August 6.

Hurricane Belle

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 6 – August 10
Intensity	120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min),  957 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Belle was a major hurricane that threatened much of the East Coast of the United States. It made landfall in Long Island, New York as a tropical storm, causing $100 million in damage (1976 USD) and five casualties.

Hurricane Candice

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 18 – August 24
Intensity	90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min),  964 mbar (hPa)

On August 11, a cold-core low was located south of Bermuda. Over the next week, the system warmed and moved toward the surface. On August 18, it became a tropical depression, and later that day, it was named Tropical Storm Candice. Moving to the northeast, it remained weak until August 21, when it rapidly became a hurricane, located at 41ºN, 400 miles (640 km) east of Cape Cod. When Candice became a hurricane, it was one of only seven hurricanes to reach hurricane strength north of 40ºN. Soon after, Candice rapidly moved to the northeast, and it lost its identity to a cold front on August 24.

Tropical Storm Dottie

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 18 – August 21
Intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  996 mbar (hPa)

A strong upper level trough led to the formation of a low pressure area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, on August 17. This low became a tropical depression on August 18. After drifting to the east-southeast, a pressure of a 1,004 mbar (29.6 inHg) occurred on August 19. The storm rapidly moved to the northeast, reaching tropical storm strength on the way. After passing over Florida, Dottie moved to the north, reaching a peak of 50 mph (85 km/h) winds. Conditions appeared favorable, and a hurricane watch was issued. However, upper-level winds ripped the storm apart on August 20, and it was barely a tropical storm at its South Carolina landfall on August 21. It weakened to a tropical depression, and advisories were stopped, later on August 21. A tide in Atlanta Beach, North Carolina reached 3.5 feet (1.1 m) above normal. The remnant low of the system followed its track, moving southwestward into Florida, bringing more rain to the area. A total of 10.68 in (271.3 mm) of rain fell at Fort Lauderdale.^[3] Dottie lost its identity after re-entering the Gulf of Mexico on August 25. Damage was minor, but four deaths occurred due to a fishing boat sinking over the Bahamas.^[4][5][6]

Hurricane Emmy

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 21 – September 4
Intensity	105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  974 mbar (hPa)

The tropical depression that became Hurricane Emmy developed on August 20 from a tropical wave, located about 1,000 mi (1,600 km) east of the Lesser Antilles. As it moved west-northwestward, the area strengthened to a tropical storm on August 22. On August 24, it recurved to the northeastward, and strengthened to a hurricane on August 25. Its eastward movement so early in the year is almost unprecedented, as it occurred from the rapid development of a low pressure system to its northeast. Emmy moved recurved back northwest on August 26, but again moved eastward on August 29, when it reached its peak of 105 mph (165 km/h). It gradually weakened, and on September 4, a weakened extratropical Emmy was absorbed by the larger circulation of Hurricane Frances while located over the Azores.

Hurricane Emmy caused 68 indirect deaths when a Venezuelan Air Force plane carrying a school choir crashed on a landing attempt at Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the storm. This makes Hurricane Emmy the fifth documented storm to have downed an airplane (the others were Hurricane Janet, Typhoon Emma, Hurricane Betsy and Hurricane Esther).

Hurricane Frances

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 27 – September 4
Intensity	115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min),  963 mbar (hPa)

Like Emmy, the tropical depression that became Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical wave on August 27, while midway between the Lesser Antilles and the coast of Africa. The next day, it became a tropical storm, and on August 30, Frances became a hurricane. As it recurved to the north and east, Frances reached its peak of 115 mph (185 km/h) on September 1. Steady weakening occurred afterwards, and Frances became extratropical on September 4.

Tropical Depression Thirteen

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	September 4 – September 6
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Tropical Depression Fourteen

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	September 7 – September 9
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Subtropical Storm Three

Subtropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 14 – September 17
Intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  1011 mbar (hPa)

On September 12, the interaction between mid-tropospheric low and a diffuse stationary front led to the formation of a low pressure system over central Florida. As it moved north-northeastward, it developed a circulation and became a subtropical depression on September 13. The next day it became a subtropical storm, and reached its peak of 45 mph (75 km/h) over the western tropical Atlantic, off the coast of Georgia. The storm quickly made landfall near Charleston, South Carolina, and dissipated over southern Virginia on September 17.

Tropical Depression Sixteen

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	September 22 – September 25
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Tropical Depression Seventeen

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	September 22 – September 24
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression affected Louisiana and Texas.

Hurricane Gloria

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 27 – October 4
Intensity	105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  970 mbar (hPa)

A tropical wave became a tropical depression on September 26, located 400 miles (640 km) northeast of the Lesser Antilles. On September 27 while moving northward, it strengthened to become Tropical Storm Gloria. After moving northwestward for a day, Gloria moved northeast, strengthening to a 105 mph (165 km/h) hurricane on September 30. Steady weakening ensued, and Gloria lost its tropical characteristics on October 4.

Tropical Depression Twenty

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	October 3 – October 12
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression affected Cuba.

Tropical Depression Twenty-One

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	October 12 – October 15
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane Holly

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	October 22 – October 28
Intensity	75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)

The tropical depression that became Hurricane Holly formed from a tropical wave 200 miles (320 km) east of the northern Lesser Antilles on October 22. After a day, the storm became Tropical Storm Holly, strengthening to Hurricane Holly on October 24. Holly weakened to a tropical storm on October 25. The storm became extratropical on October 28 while located 400 miles (640 km) northwest of the Azores islands.

Tropical Depression Twenty-Three

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration	October 31 – November 3
Intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Season summary

1976 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	21 – 25 May	Subtropical storm	50	994	Florida Panhandle	May 23	40	0	0
Anna	28 July – 6 August	Tropical storm	45	999	none			0	0
Belle	6 – 10 August	Category 3 hurricane	120	957	Long Island, New York	August 10	75	100	5
Candice	18 – 24 August	Category 1 hurricane	90	964	none			0	0
Dottie	18 – 21 August	Tropical storm	50	996	Southeastern Florida	August 19	40	Minor	0
					South Carolina	August 21	40
Emmy	20 August – 3 September	Category 2 hurricane	105	974	none			0	(68)
Frances	27 August – 7 September	Category 3 hurricane	115	963	none			0	0
Three	12 – 17 September	Subtropical storm	45	1011	South Carolina	September 15	40	Minor	0
Gloria	26 September – 4 October	Category 2 hurricane	105	970	none			0	0
Holly	22 – 29 October	Category 1 hurricane	75	990	none			0	0
Season Aggregates
10 cyclones	May 21 -October 29		120	957	5 landfalls			100	5 (68)

Storm names

The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the Atlantic basin in 1976.^[7] Storms were named Belle, Candice, Dottie, Emmy and Gloria for the first time in 1976. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray. This is the last time these names have been used except for Gloria, Frances and Maria.

Anna Belle Candice Dottie Emmy Frances Gloria

Holly Inga (unused) Jill (unused) Kay (unused) Lilias (unused) Maria (unused) Nola (unused)

Orpha (unused) Pamela (unused) Ruth (unused) Shirley (unused) Trixie (unused) Vilda (unused) Wynne (unused)

Retirement

None of the names from the 1976 season were retired.

See also

• List of Atlantic hurricanes
• List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
• 1976 Pacific hurricane season
• 1976 Pacific typhoon season
• 1976 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
• Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons: 1975–76, 1976–77

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. Tropical Storm Dottie Rainfall Page. Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
4. ^ Dottie TCR Page 1
5. ^ Dottie TCR Page 2
6. ^ Dottie TCR Page 3
7. ^ Associated Press (1976-05-21). "Hurricane Center Gets Ready". http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=54992309_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0. Retrieved 2007-12-01. 

External links

• HPC rainfall page for 1976 tropical cyclones
• Monthly Weather Review

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