1977 Pacific hurricane season
|
Season summary map |
First system formed |
May 26, 1977 |
Last system dissipated |
October 23, 1977 |
Strongest storm |
Florence – 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
Total depressions |
17 |
Total storms |
8 |
Hurricanes |
4 |
Total fatalities |
Unknown |
Total damage |
$25 million (1977 USD) |
Pacific hurricane seasons 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 |
The 1977 Pacific hurricane season was, at the time, the least active in recorded history. Only eight tropical storms formed, and four hurricanes; they would be tied and surpassed, respectively, by the 2010 Pacific hurricane season. There were no major hurricanes; the next time this happened would be the 2003 season. In addition, there was just one storm in each of May, June, July, August, and October, which is also low; the other three storms were in September. Activity in the central Pacific was zero, as no storms formed there nor moved in from the east.
The low seasonal activity also occurred in the Atlantic hurricane season and in the typhoon season of the western Pacific. This was a worldwide trend; various factors inhibited tropical cyclone development throughout the northern hemisphere, resulting in a record low level of tropical cyclones worldwide.
Seasonal summary
The 1977 Pacific hurricane season had the lowest number of tropical storms since reliable records began in 1949,[1] producing 17 tropical depressions, 8 of which became tropical storms or hurricanes.[1] The season officially started on May 15, 1977 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the area east of 140°W and on June 1 in the Central Pacific which is between the International Date Line and 140°W, and lasted until November 30, 1977 in both areas.
The first storm of the season, Tropical Storm Ava, formed off the southwest coast of Mexico on May 26. Between June and August, three named storms formed, with one forming in each month. September was the most active month, producing three named storm storms. One of those storms was Hurricane Florence, the strongest of the season. Tropical Depression Seventeen, the last storm of the year, dissipated on October 23. This season was the last to use the old naming lists that only had female names. Starting in the 1978 season, the naming lists began to include male names.[2]
Timeline of events
May
- May 15
- The 1977 Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins.[3]
- May 26
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. May 25 PDT) – Tropical Depression One forms 600 miles (965 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.[4]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression One strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Ava.[4]
- May 28
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Storm Ava reaches its peak intensity of 65 mph (105 km/h).[4]
- May 29
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Storm Ava weakens into a tropical depression.[4]
- May 30
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Ava dissipates 390 miles (630 km) west of Manzanillo, Mexico.[4]
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Two forms 70 miles (110 km) southwest of the Honduras–Nicaragua border.[5]
June
- June 1
- The 1977 Central Pacific hurricane season begins.[3]
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. May 31 PDT) – Tropical Depression Two dissipates just off the El Salvador coast.[5]
- June 9
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Three forms 350 miles (565 km) west of the Honduras–Nicaragua border.[5]
- June 11
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. June 10 PDT) – Tropical Depression Three dissipates 2 miles (3 km) from where it formed while 352 miles (565 km) west of the Honduras–Nicaragua border.[5]
- June 25
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Four forms 555 miles (895 km) southeast of Acapulco, Mexico.[6]
- June 26
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Four strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Bernice; simultaneously it reaches its peak intensity of 40 mph (65 km/h).[6]
- June 28
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. June 27 PDT) – Tropical Storm Bernice weakens into a tropical depression.[6]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.n. PDT) – Tropical Depression Bernice dissipates 890 miles (1430 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[6]
July
- July 3
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 2 PDT) – Tropical Depression Five forms 580 miles (935 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[7]
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. July 2 PDT) – Tropical Depression Five strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Claudia.[7]
- July 4
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. July 3) – Tropical Storm Claudia strengthens into the first hurricane of the season and reaches its peak intensity of 90 mph (145 km/h).[7]
- July 5
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 4) – Hurricane Claudia weakens into a tropical storm.[7]
- July 7
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 6) – Tropical Storm Claudia weakens into a tropical depression.[7]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Claudia dissipates 1385 miles (2230 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[7]
- July 8
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 7 PDT) – Tropical Depression Six forms 790 miles (1270 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- July 9
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 8 PDT) – Tropical Depression Seven forms 720 miles (1160 km) southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. July 8 PDT) – Tropical Depression Six dissipates 965 miles (1555 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- July 10
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 9 PDT) – Tropical Depression Seven dissipates 710 miles (1140 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- July 25
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. July 24 PDT) – Tropical Depression Eight forms 1820 miles (2930 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Eight dissipates 1910 miles (3075 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
August
- August 1
- 1600 UTC (9 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Nine forms 1235 miles (1990 km) west of Cobo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- August 2
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Nine dissipates 1490 miles (2400 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- August 13
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. August 12 PDT) – Tropical Depression Ten forms 175 miles (280 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.[8]
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Ten strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Doreen.[8]
- August 14
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Storm Doreen strengthens into the second hurricane of the season and reaches its peak intensity of 75 mph (120 km/h).[8]
- August 16
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. August 15 PDT) – Hurricane Doreen makes its first landfall on the Baja Peninsula with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and weakens into a tropical storm.[8]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Storm Doreen makes its final landfall on the Baja Peninsula with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).[8]
- August 17
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. August 16) – Tropical Storm Doreen weakens into a tropical depression.[8]
- August 18
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. August 17) – Tropical Depression Doreen dissipates 65 miles (105 km) southwest of San Mateo Point, California, United States.[8]
September
- September 3
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Former Hurricane Anita from the Atlantic moves into the Pacific and is re-designated as Tropical Depression Eleven.[5]
- September 4
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Eleven dissipates 140 miles (225 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- September 13
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 12 PDT) – Tropical Depression Twelve forms 845 miles (1360 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[9]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Twelve strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Emily; simultaneously it reaches its peak intensity of 40 mph (65 km/h).[9]
- September 14
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Storm Emily weakens into a tropical depression and dissipates while 875 miles (1410 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[9]
- September 19
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Thirteen forms 405 miles (650 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- September 20
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Fourteen forms 1120 miles (1800 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico[10]
- September 21
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 20 PDT) – Tropical Depression Fourteen strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Florence.[10]
- September 22
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 21 PDT) – Tropical Storm Florence strengthens into the third hurricane of the season.[10]
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Hurricane Florence strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane and reaches its peak intensity of 105 mph (170 km/h).[10]
- September 23
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 22 PDT) – Hurricane Florence weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.[10]
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 22 PDT) – Tropical Depression Thirteen dissipates 325 miles (525 km) northwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Hurricane Florence weakens into a tropical storm.[10]
- September 24
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 23 PDT) – Tropical Storm Glenda forms at peak intensity of 40 mph (65 km/h) 865 miles (1390 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[11]
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 23 PDT) – Tropical Storm Florence weakens into a tropical depression.[10]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Florence dissipates 835 miles (1345 km) northwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[10]
- September 25
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. September 24 PDT) – Tropical Storm Glenda weakens into a tropical depression.[11]
- September 27
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Tropical Depression Glenda dissipates 150 miles (245 km) south of Punta Baja, Mexico.[11]
October
- October 3
- 0000 UTC (5 p.m. October 3 PDT) – Tropical Depression Sixteen forms 495 miles (800 km) west of Acapulco, Mexico.[12]
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. October 3 PDT) – Tropical Depression Sixteen strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Heather.[12]
- October 5
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. October 4 PDT) – Tropical Storm Heather strengthens into the fourth and final hurricane of the season.[12]
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m. PDT) – Hurricane Heather reaches its peak intensity of 85 mph (135 km/h).[12]
- October 6
- 1800 UTC (11 a.m. PDT) – Hurricane Heather weakens into a tropical storm.[12]
- October 7
- 1200 UTC (5 a.m PDT) – Tropical Storm Heather weakens into a tropical depression and dissipates 80 miles (135 km) west of Puerto Eugenia, Mexico.[12]
- October 22
- 0500 UTC (10 p.m. October 21 PDT) – Tropical Depression Seventeen forms 700 miles (1120 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
- October 23
- 0600 UTC (11 p.m. October 22 PDT) – Tropical Depression Seventeen dissipates 735 miles (1185 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[5]
Storms
Tropical Storm Ava
Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
May 26 – May 30 |
Peak intensity |
65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 997 mbar (hPa) |
Tropical Storm Ava formed on May 26 about 600 miles (965 km) southwest of Manzanillo. It moved northward, quickly intensifying into a tropical storm. At its peak intensity it had winds of 65 mph (101 km/h) and lowest pressure of 997mb. It weakened to a tropical depression on May 29 and dissipated on May 30 about 390 miles (630 km) west of Manzanillo.[13]
Tropical Depression Two
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
May 30 – June 1 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
This depression formed 70 miles (110 km) southwest of the Honduras–Nicaragua border. On June 1 it dissipated just off the El Salvador coast.[14]
Tropical Depression Three
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
June 9 – June 11 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
Tropical Depression Three formed 350 miles (565 km) west of the Honduras–Nicaragua border on June 9. Two days later it dissipated in almost the same location.[14]
Tropical Storm Bernice
Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
June 25 – June 28 |
Peak intensity |
40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) |
Tropical Storm Bernice formed on June 25 about 555 miles (895 km) southeast of Acapulco. It moved northwestward and strengthened to a tropical storm on June 26. At its peak intensity it had winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). It continued moving north-west and dissipated on June 28 about 890 miles (1430 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[13]
Hurricane Claudia
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
July 3 – July 7 |
Peak intensity |
90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) |
Hurricane Claudia formed on July 3 about 580 miles (935 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It moved westward, quickly intensifying into a tropical storm and becoming a hurricane on July 4. At its peak intensity it had winds of 90 mph (148 km/h). It continued moving westward, weakening to a tropical storm on July 5 before dissipating on July 7.
Tropical Depression Six
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
July 8 – July 9 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
This depression existed from July 8 until July 9 off the southwest coast of the Baja California peninsula.[14]
Tropical Depression Seven
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
July 9 – July 10 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
This depression existed from July 9 until July 10.[14]
Tropical Depression Eight
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
July 25 – July 25 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
This depression existed on July 25.[14]
Tropical Depression Nine
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
August 1 – August 2 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
This depression existed from August 1 until August 2.[14]
Hurricane Doreen
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
August 13 – August 18 |
Peak intensity |
75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 979 mbar (hPa) |
Hurricane Doreen formed on August 13 and moved northward. The next day it intensified into a hurricane. At its peak intensity it had winds of 75 mph (121 km/h) and lowest pressure of 979mb, making it the lowest measured pressure of the season. It paralleled Mexico, moving north. It brushed the extreme west of Mexico on August 16 and dissipated before reaching California on the August 18. The remnants of the hurricane did bring heavy rain to California, however. The highest amount reported was 7.45 inches at Mount San Jacinto in southern California.[15] In desert areas in the southwestern part of the state, rains destroyed 325 homes and businesses and caused the evacuation of several people. Parts of the recently repaired Interstate 8 were destroyed again, and two of the lanes of Interstate 15 between Barstow and Las Vegas were washed out. In San Diego and Imperial County, the total damage to agricultural interests was $25 million (1977 USD).
Tropical Depression Eleven (Anita)
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
September 3 – September 4 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
The remains of Atlantic Hurricane Anita entered the Pacific Ocean September 3 as a tropical depression. It was designated Tropical Depression Eleven, which lasted for one day before dissipating.
Tropical Storm Emily
Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
September 13 – September 14 |
Peak intensity |
40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) |
Tropical Storm Emily formed on September 13 and moved northwestward. At its peak intensity it had winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). It continued moving north-west and dissipated on September 14 about 875 miles (1410 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical Depression Thirteen
Tropical depression (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
September 19 – September 23 |
Peak intensity |
35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
This depression existed from September 19 until September 23.[14]
Hurricane Florence
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
September 20 – September 24 |
Peak intensity |
105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) |
A tropical depression formed on September 20 and moved northward, intensifying into a tropical storm the next day. On September 22 it became Hurricane Florence. At its peak intensity of 105 mph (165 km/h), Florence became the strongest storm of the season. It turned moving northeast and dissipated on September 24. Its remnants brought rain to California.
Tropical Storm Glenda
Tropical storm (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
September 24 – September 27 |
Peak intensity |
45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) |
Tropical Storm Glenda formed on September 24 and moved northwestward. At its peak intensity it had winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). It continued moving north-northwest and dissipated on the September 27.
Hurricane Heather
Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) |
|
Duration |
October 4 – October 7 |
Peak intensity |
85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 984 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical depression formed on October 4 about 495 miles (800 km) west of Acapulco, Mexico. It quickly intensified into a tropical storm as it moved northwestward, and became Hurricane Heather on October 5. At its peak intensity it had winds of 85 mph (138 km/h). It turned moving north-northeast and dissipated on October 7. The remnants of Heather continued moving in that direction, and brought rain to Arizona. Up to 14 inches fell in the mountains of southeast Arizona.[16]
Tropical Depression Seventeen
This depression existed from October 22 until October 23 off the southwest coast of the Baja California peninsula.[14]
1977 Storm names
This is the same list used in the 1973 season. This is also the last time that this list was used, as modern naming began in 1978. This is therefore the final Pacific hurricane season to have lists with only female names.
- Ava
- Bernice
- Claudia
- Doreen
- Emily
- Florence
- Glenda
|
- Heather
- Irah (unused)
- Jennifer (unused)
- Katherine (unused)
- Lillian (unused)
- Mora (unused)
- Natalie (unused)
|
- Odessa (unused)
- Prudence (unused)
- Roslyn (unused)
- Sylvia (unused)
- Tillie (unused)
- Victoria (unused)
- Wallie (unused)
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The central Pacific used names and numbers from the western Pacific's typhoon list. No names were required.
See also
References
External links
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1970–1979 Pacific hurricane seasons |
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