1959 Pacific hurricane season

1959 Pacific hurricane season

Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed June 8, 1959
Last system dissipated October 29, 1959
Strongest storm
Name Patsy
 • Maximum winds 175 mph (280 km/h)
 • Lowest pressure 930 mbar (hPa; 27.46 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions 15
Total storms 15
Hurricanes 5
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)		 3
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage ~ $280 million (1959 USD)
Related articles

The 1959 Pacific hurricane season featured the first Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific basin.

During the season, 15 storms developed, 5 of those became hurricanes, and 3 of those became major hurricanes. The strongest of the storms was Hurricane Dot, which was a Category 4 and made landfall on Kauai, Hawaii, as a Category 1. Patsy reached 170 miles per hour (270 km/h) winds, but had a pressure higher than Dot. The deadliest storm of the season was Hurricane Fifteen, which made landfall in Mexico at Category 4 and killed 1,800 people.

Systems

1959 Mexico Hurricane Hurricane Dot (1959) Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

Tropical Storm One

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration June 9 – June 12
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min)  1003 mbar (hPa)

A 55 mph (75 km/h) tropical storm was first located on June 9 while west of Mexico.[1] It did not strengthen any further as it paralleled the Mexican coast.[1] It made landfall near Los Mochis, Mexico on June 12 and dissipated shortly afterward.[1] There are no reports of damages or deaths due to the storm.

Tropical Storm Two

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration June 25 – June 27
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  1006 mbar (hPa)

On June 25, a small tropical storm developed off the coast of Mexico. It attained winds of 50 mph at its peak. It later dissipated on June 27.[2]

Tropical Storm Clara

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration July 16 – July 22
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  977 mbar (hPa)

After a month of inactivity, a tropical storm formed several thousands of miles south-west of the southern tip of Baja California. This tropical storm began moving north-westwards while keeping its intensity. Winds peaked at 50 mph (85 km/h). On July 19, this tropical storm began moving west and finally dissipated 3 days later.

The name Clara was assigned from the North Pacific Typhoon name list. [3]

Tropical Storm Four

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration July 22 – July 25
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  1004 mbar (hPa)

Soon after Tropical Storm Three dissipated, a new tropical storm formed in the open Pacific. Tropical Storm Four moved west, then west-north-west. Like the previous 2 tropical storms, it did not affect land. It dissipated on July 25.[4]

Tropical Storm Five

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration July 29 – July 30
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 

Tropical Storm Five was a short-lived tropical storm, only lasting a day. It peaked at a relatively weak 45 mph (75 km/h). It moved parallel to the Mexican coast.[5]

Hurricane Dot

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
Duration August 1 – August 8
Peak intensity 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min)  952 mbar (hPa)

Dot was first identified as a strong tropical storm southeast of Hawaiʻi on August 1.[6] The storm was potentially a continuation of a previously unnamed tropical cyclone that was monitored west of the Baja California Peninsula from July 24-27, but was never confirmed due to a lack of ship reports.[7] Dot was quick to intensify, reaching hurricane intensity six hours after naming.[8] By August 3, Dot reached its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds reaching 150 mph (240 km/h).[6][8] Intensity leveled off afterwards as Dot tracked westward before making a curve towards the northwest on August 5, after which the hurricane weakened at a faster clip.[7] Dot made landfall the next day on Kauai as a minimal hurricane before dissipating west of the Hawaiian Islands on August 8.[8]

Dot produced heavy rainfall and gusty winds as it passed south of the Big Island, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu, resulting in minor damage.[9] In Oahu, some homes along the coast were unroofed, and damage from wave action was also reported. Damage from these four islands totaled US$150,000,[7] and two indirect deaths occurred in Lanai.[10] Extensive damage occurred on Kauai as Dot made landfall, producing wind gusts as high as 103 mph (166 km/h) and toppling trees and power lines.[7] Widespread power outages affected the island,[11] causing telecommunications and water systems to fail.[12] Although infrastructure was damaged to an extent by floodwater and strong winds, crops suffered the most losses. Cane sugar crops sustained US$2.7 million in losses.[9] Overall, damage from Dot across Hawaii totaled US$6 million,[7][9] and a disaster area declaration and state of emergency took effect for the archipelago after the hurricane's passage.[13][14]

Tropical Storm Seven

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration August 4 – August 6
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min)  1010 mbar (hPa)

On August 4, a tropical storm formed at about 26°N, quite a long way north for tropical cyclone formation. This system gradually moved west and then turned to the west-south-west late on August 5. It dissipated a couple of hours later.

Tropical Storm Eight

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration August 19 – August 21
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min)  1007 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Eight formed on August 19, a several hundred miles west of Mexico. This system did not affect land so no deaths or damages were contributed to this tropical storm.[15]

Tropical Storm Nine

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration August 27 – August 29
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min)  996 mbar (hPa)

Just days after Tropical Storm Eight dissipated, meteorologists noticed a new tropical system that, once again, was out at sea. Although the storm reached 45 mph winds, it only lasted 2 days.[16]

Hurricane Ten

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
Duration September 4 – September 11
Peak intensity 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min)  987 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Ten formed off the coast of Guatemala as a Category 1 hurricane. It nearly made landfall on September 6. The system turned to the north, then NNW on September 7. It made landfall in Baja California Sur and continued along the state before weakening to a tropical storm, then a tropical depression. It dissipated near the USA-Mexico border.[17]

Hurricane Patsy

Category 5 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
Duration September 6 – September 10
Peak intensity 175 mph (280 km/h) (1-min)  930 mbar (hPa)

On September 6, reports from aircraft indicated the existence of a hurricane near the international dateline. Earlier stages were missed because of a lack of data in the isolated area. Six hours after classification, Patsy reached Category 5 strength, with winds of 160 mph, although it is possible Category 5 status was reached before. A trough moved Patsy northeast. The trough then weakened, and allowed Patsy to curve northwest. The Japan Meteorological Agency's best track at this time Patsy crossed the dateline, at Category 4 strength. A second trough then formed, dominated the first, and recurved Patsy northeast, recrossing the dateline, at Category 3 intensity. The storm then quickly weakened due to unfavorable conditions, while slowly curving northwards. From reports, it is estimated Patsy dissipated on September 10, though other reports credit Patsy with having regenerated as a tropical depression on September 13, north of Hawaii. Patsy's track around the International Dateline was unseen and erratic. Typhoon June's track the year before was somewhat similar. Patsy is also an uncommon west to east crosser of the dateline, and one of the few storm to cross the dateline twice, though Hurricane/Typhoon John in 1994 crossed the dateline four times.[6] although that of Typhoon June 1958 was somewhat similar.[7]

The National Hurricane Center's "best track" data set has Patsy exclusively east of the dateline from detection to dissipation.[18] The Japan Meteorological Agency's "best track" does not give windspeeds, only indicating that Patsy was a typhoon.[19] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center's report disagrees on location but also has Patsy's maximum windspeed east of the dateline;[6] the JMA's data does not indicate windspeeds.[19] By reaching Category 5 intensity on September 6, 1959, it is the earliest known Pacific hurricane to reach that intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[18] Also, its maximum reported windspeed of 150 knots (280 km/h) makes it the central Pacific hurricane with the highest sustained winds; Hurricane John tied this record in 1994. In addition, Patsy is an uncommon west-to-east crosser of the dateline. Including only systems recognized by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, that has only happened seven times since.[20]

Hurricane Twelve

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
Duration September 21 – September 26
Peak intensity 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min)  967 mbar (hPa)

Twelve stayed to sea and was a hurricane for its life.

Tropical Storm Wanda

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration September 26 – September 27
Peak intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min) 

Tropical Storm Wanda existed from September 26 to September 27. The name Wanda was assigned from the North Pacific Typhoon name list.

Tropical Storm Fourteen

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
 
Duration October 19 – October 21
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min)  1003 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Fourteen existed from October 19 to October 21.

Hurricane Fifteen

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
 
Duration October 23 – October 29
Peak intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min)  955 mbar (hPa)

The most notable storm this year was the 1959 Mexico Hurricane. It made landfall as a Category 4 and killed at least 1800 people.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 JTWC (1959). "Tropical Storm One Best Track". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  2. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/2/track.dat
  3. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/3/track.dat
  4. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/4/track.dat
  5. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/5/track.dat
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Typhoon Patsy" (PDF). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The 1959 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  8. 1 2 3 UNC-Asheville Atmospheric Sciences Department. "1959 DOT (1959214N16219)". International Best-Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Asheville, North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Asheville. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  9. 1 2 3 Mueller, Frederick H.; Reichelderfer, F.W. (August 1959). "August 1959" (PDF). Storm Data. Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. 1 (8): 87. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hurricane "Dot" Losing Its Steam". The Lewiston Daily Sun. 67. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine. Associated Press. August 7, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Hurricane Dot Lashes Hawaii". The Gadsden Times. 92 (119). Gadsden, Alabama. Associated Press. August 7, 1959. p. 7. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "Hurricane Dot Hits Kauai With Winds Up To 103 MPH". Lodi News-Sentinel (7076). Lodi, California. United Press International. August 8, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Federal Emergency Management Agency (August 19, 1959). "Hawaii HURRICANE DOT (DR-94)". Federal Disaster Declarations. United States Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Hurricane Moves North Of Hawaii". Lewiston Evening Journal. 99. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine. Associated Press. August 8, 1959. p. 4. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  15. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/8/track.dat
  16. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/9/track.dat
  17. ↑ http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/1959/10/track.dat
  18. 1 2 "Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949-2007". National Hurricane Center. 2008-03-21. Archived from the original on 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  19. 1 2 "Untitled". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  20. ↑ "Previous Tropical Systems in the Central Pacific". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
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