Hurricane Kathleen (1976)
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This article is about the Pacific hurricane of 1976; for other storms with this name, see Tropical Storm Kathleen.
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHS) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Floodwaters caused by the storm |
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| Formed | September 7, 1976 | |
| Dissipated | September 11, 1976 | |
| Highest winds |
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| Lowest pressure | ≤986 mb | |
| Damage | 40-160 million (1976 USD) | |
| Fatalities | 4-7 | |
| Areas affected |
Baja California Peninsula, southern California, southwestern Arizona | |
| Part of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season |
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Hurricane Kathleen was a tropical cyclone of the 1976 Pacific hurricane season. Though rather weak, only a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, it was very destructive. Kathleen caused widespread flooding and damage in northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. It also took an unusual path.
Contents |
[edit] Storm history
A tropical depression formed on September 7. Twelve hours later it was upgraded to tropical storm Kathleen. After spending the past day moving slowly, it started accelerating northwards. On September 9, it reached hurricane status and brushed a promontory on the Pacific coast of the Baja California. Kathleen was a hurricane for only six hours, and was a tropical storm when it made landfall in Baja California Norte on September 10. With its circulation intact and still a tropical storm, it moved inland. Kathleen weakened to a depression when it crossed the US-Mexico border near El Centro, but its circulation allowed gale-force winds to be recorded in Arizona and California. Tropical Depression Kathleen dissipated on September 11 while over southern Nevada as it continued accelerating. Residual moisture from the hurricane hung around over the southwestern United States.
[edit] Unusual path
Tropical cyclones bring gale-force winds to the Southwestern United States only rarely. The rotation of the earth causes most tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere to move west. In the eastern Pacific, this causes landfalls at any location to be rare. To make landfall, troughs are generally needed to recurve storms. Northward movement also tends to move cyclones into unfavourable areas.
Kathleen's survival to such a northerly location was contributed to by a variety of factors. An El Niño caused warmer waters. Kathleen's rapid forward speed allowed it to keep its strength for a long time over land. The time of its genesis was near the peak of the season. Kathleen is one of only five recorded tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific Ocean known to have brought gale or hurricane-force winds to the Continental United States.
[edit] Impact
| Costliest Eastern Pacific hurricanes Cost refers to total estimated property damage. |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Hurricane | Season | Cost (2005 USD) |
| 1 | Pauline | 1997 | $8.84 billion |
| 2 | Iniki | 1992 | $2.6 billion |
| 3 | Iwa | 1982 | $507 million |
| 4 | Kathleen | 1976 | $137-549 million |
| 5 | Norma | 1981 | $300 million |
| Main article: List of notable Pacific hurricanes | |||
In the United States, Kathleen killed at least four people and caused millions of dollars of damage.
[edit] Mexico
Kathleen's impact in Mexico is unknown.
[edit] Arizona
On September 10 and 11, gales caused considerable damage in Yuma. For a time, the sustained winds exceeded 50 mph, with gusts up to 76 mph. Rains caused severe flash-flooding in Mohave County. One man was killed when the wind blew a palm tree onto his mobile home.
On September 24 and 25, residual moisture from Kathleen caused thunderstorms. Flash-flooding was heavy in the Tucson area. Hailstones as large as golf balls caused additional damage.
[edit] California
California received record rainfall, with almost a foot of rain falling into the mountains. Flooding caused catastrophic destruction to Ocotillo. Because Ocotillo is situated atop an alluvial fan, the path of the raging floodwaters was wide and changing, with over half of the town being totally destroyed. The waters piled a layer of sand that was over 3 meters high in some places. Three to six people drowned in the mud and waters in that city. Other parts of Imperial County and Riverside County experienced severe flash flooding.
Flooding disrupted transportation routes in the city. Part of Interstate 8 along the San Diego and Imperial County border was washed out. Three trestles belonging to the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway were destroyed, and five others were damaged. At more than 50 other locations, tracks were buried by mudslides or had the ground under them washed away. After assessing the damage from Kathleen, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company decided in 1977 to abandon most of the SD&AE railway, but in 1978 the Interstate Commerce Commission disallowed this plan and the railway was restored.
Homeowners in Palm Desert received considerable damage from the storm. Many flood control structures throughout the area failed to work. The control structures in the area were rebuilt, and they withstood the next series of flash floods caused by Hurricane Doreen's remnants in 1977.
Agriculture was disrupted throughout the area. The area covered by the Salton Sea increased. Parts of California were declared a disaster area. Damage estimates ranged from 40 to 160 million dollars.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ↑ Unisys Path accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ The San Diego Hurricane of 2 October 1858 accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ Top Arizona Hurricane/Tropical Storm Events accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ ibid.
- ↑ NOAA's Hurricane Story Ideas accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ A History of Significant Local Weather Events accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ Alluvial Fans: Hazards and Management Federal Emergency Management Agency, February 1989 Report. URL accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ Hurricane Kathleen Website accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ 1977 Southern Pacific Bulletin accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ Safeco v. Guyton accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ Bunch v. Coachella Valley Water District accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ FEMA Disaster 521 accessed January 31, 2006
- ↑ An Overview of Los Angeles Climate accessed January 31, 2006
