1977 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1977 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1977, and lasted until November 30, 1977. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
.
The 1977 Atlantic hurricane season
was below average in activity, with six tropical storms forming, of which five became hurricanes. The only notable storm of the season was Hurricane Anita
, which hit Mexico as a Category 5
hurricane, killing 10 people.
(ACE) rating of 25, which was the lowest ACE value since 1925
. 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 Babe is omitted from the total ACE value.
and moved west, rapidly intensifying to become a hurricane on August 30. It reached Category 5 intensity on September 2 before making landfall in northeastern Mexico
. It killed 10 people there, though due to the sparse population of the area it hit, damage figures are not available.
on September 3. Inititally subtropical
in nature, having formed with the help of an upper level low
, the storm developed tropical characteristics on September 4. After moving west-southwestward, the storm moved more northerly towards the Louisiana
coast. As it approached the coast, it strengthened to a hurricane, though only briefly, as it made landfall on the morning of September 5. Babe rapidly weakened to a tropical depression over Louisiana, and brought heavy rain over Alabama
, Mississippi
, northern Georgia
, and South Carolina
, before dissipating on September 9. Because of the heavy rains, Babe caused $10 million in damage ($32 million in 2005 USD), but caused no fatalities.
. As the storm moved eastward, it strengthened to a tropical storm on September 8, located 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras
. Later that day it attained hurricane status, but before long, strong upper-level winds sheared the system apart. A weakened Clara executed a tight loop east of Bermuda
, and went out to sea, dissipating on September 12.
to the south, and gradually strengthened. On September 28, Dorothy became a hurricane northeast of Bermuda, but the next day, it lost tropical characteristics while located south of Cape Race, Newfoundland.
. The depression moved northward towards Bermuda and likely became a tropical storm early on October 14, although there was no confirmation that the storm was a tropical cyclone
until it moved over the island later that day. After moving away from Bermuda, Evelyn accelerated towards the northeast and intensified into a Category 1 hurricane
. The storm moved ashore on Nova Scotia
as it was beginning to merge with a cold front
, and on October 16 it completely transitioned into an extratropical storm while located over southwestern Newfoundland.
Affects from Evelyn were limited to light rainfall, which occurred in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia
. After it brushed the coast of Nova Scotia, an isolated area near Evelyn's path recorded near 1 in (25.4 mm) of rainfall. On Newfoundland, similar rainfall totals were reported, and peaked at slightly more than 1 in (25.4 mm). In addition, gale force winds were reported in Stephenville
and St. John's
, both are located on opposite sides of Newfoundland. Evelyn was one of few hurricanes to make landfall in Newfoundland during the month of October. More recently, Hurricane Michael
made landfall at hurricane intensity on Newfoundland in October 2000.
merged with the disturbance on October 16 in the northwestern Caribbean, and another cold front moved into the area. Later that day, a resultant center of low pressure was identified to the east of Swan Islands, Honduras
and declared a tropical depression. The center remained well-defined as the depression tracked slowly westward, and it was quickly upgraded to Tropical Storm Frieda. After peaking as a moderate tropical storm, Frieda steadily weakened until its landfall near Belize City, Belize as a tropical depression. Due to the storm's weak intensity at landfall, no damage was reported. Light to moderate rain fell in some areas along Frieda's path.
Storms were named Anita, Babe, Clara and Evelyn for the first time in 1977. The name Anita was later retired. Because the list used for this season was not used again after a new list containing male names came into usage in the 1979 season
, it was not replaced with any particular name.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s form in the Atlantic basin
Atlantic Basin
The Atlantic Basin is the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Basin may also refer to:* Atlantic Basin Iron Works, an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century...
.
The 1977 Atlantic hurricane season
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
was below average in activity, with six tropical storms forming, of which five became hurricanes. The only notable storm of the season was Hurricane Anita
Hurricane Anita
Hurricane Anita was a powerful Atlantic hurricane during an otherwise quiet 1977 Atlantic hurricane season. The first tropical cyclone of the season, Anita developed from a tropical wave on August 29 in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. It tracked westward into an area with conditions favorable for...
, which hit Mexico as a Category 5
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane, killing 10 people.
Season summary
The season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energyAccumulated cyclone energy
Accumulated cyclone energy is a measure used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to express the activity of individual tropical cyclones and entire tropical cyclone seasons, particularly the North Atlantic hurricane season. It uses an approximation of the energy used by a...
(ACE) rating of 25, which was the lowest ACE value since 1925
1925 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1925 Atlantic hurricane season was an inactive Atlantic hurricane season during which four tropical cyclones, two of which were hurricanes, formed. The first storm developed on August 18, and the last dissipated on December 1. The season began at a late date, more than two months...
. 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 Babe is omitted from the total ACE value.
Mid June Tropical Depression
This tropical depression formed on June 13 and dissipated the day afterward without strengthening.Mid July Tropical Depression
This storm formed on July 18 and dissipated the next day without strengthening.Late July Tropical Depression
This system formed on July 25 and, like the previous storms, dissipated the next day.Early August Tropical Depression
This depression formed on August 1 and briefly strengthened before dissipating on August 4.Hurricane Anita
Hurricane Anita formed on August 29 in the central Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and moved west, rapidly intensifying to become a hurricane on August 30. It reached Category 5 intensity on September 2 before making landfall in northeastern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It killed 10 people there, though due to the sparse population of the area it hit, damage figures are not available.
Hurricane Babe
The tropical depression that became Hurricane Babe formed in the northeastern Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
on September 3. Inititally subtropical
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
in nature, having formed with the help of an upper level low
Cold-core low
A cold-core low, also known as a cold low or cold-core cyclone, is a cyclone aloft which has an associated cold pool of air residing at high altitude within the Earth's troposphere. It is a low pressure system which strengthens with height in accordance with the thermal wind relationship. These...
, the storm developed tropical characteristics on September 4. After moving west-southwestward, the storm moved more northerly towards the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
coast. As it approached the coast, it strengthened to a hurricane, though only briefly, as it made landfall on the morning of September 5. Babe rapidly weakened to a tropical depression over Louisiana, and brought heavy rain over Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, northern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, before dissipating on September 9. Because of the heavy rains, Babe caused $10 million in damage ($32 million in 2005 USD), but caused no fatalities.
Hurricane Clara
The same system that spawned Hurricane Babe also spawned Hurricane Clara. A convective cloud mass with a spiral band of gale-force winds northeast of Babe moved away from the system. As it moved over Georgia and South Carolina, it became better organized, and became a tropical depression on September 5, located just north of Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. As the storm moved eastward, it strengthened to a tropical storm on September 8, located 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras
Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...
. Later that day it attained hurricane status, but before long, strong upper-level winds sheared the system apart. A weakened Clara executed a tight loop east of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, and went out to sea, dissipating on September 12.
Mid September Tropical Depression
This storm formed on September 17 and dissipated on September 19.Tropical Depression Four
This depression only existed for thirty hours on September 22 and 23 before dissipating in eastern Mexico.Hurricane Dorothy
Hurricane Dorothy formed from a tropical wave on September 26, located about halfway between Bermuda and the central Bahamas. The storm moved northeastward, brushing BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
to the south, and gradually strengthened. On September 28, Dorothy became a hurricane northeast of Bermuda, but the next day, it lost tropical characteristics while located south of Cape Race, Newfoundland.
Early October Tropical Depression
This storm formed on October 1 and dissipated on October 3.Hurricane Evelyn
On October 3, a tropical wave entered the Atlantic Ocean and initially moved towards the west. The large area of disturbed weather associated with the system slowly consolidated and became more organized. It was estimated to have formed into a tropical depression on October 13 while located about 400 mi (643.7 km) south of BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. The depression moved northward towards Bermuda and likely became a tropical storm early on October 14, although there was no confirmation that the storm was a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
until it moved over the island later that day. After moving away from Bermuda, Evelyn accelerated towards the northeast and intensified into a Category 1 hurricane
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. The storm moved ashore on Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
as it was beginning to merge with a cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
, and on October 16 it completely transitioned into an extratropical storm while located over southwestern Newfoundland.
Affects from Evelyn were limited to light rainfall, which occurred in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. After it brushed the coast of Nova Scotia, an isolated area near Evelyn's path recorded near 1 in (25.4 mm) of rainfall. On Newfoundland, similar rainfall totals were reported, and peaked at slightly more than 1 in (25.4 mm). In addition, gale force winds were reported in Stephenville
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland....
and St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, both are located on opposite sides of Newfoundland. Evelyn was one of few hurricanes to make landfall in Newfoundland during the month of October. More recently, Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael (2000)
Hurricane Michael of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season caused moderate damage in Atlantic Canada. The seventeenth tropical cyclone, thirteenth named storm, and eighth hurricane of the season, Michael developed from a non-tropical system to the southwest of Bermuda on October 15. The system...
made landfall at hurricane intensity on Newfoundland in October 2000.
Tropical Storm Frieda
On October 14, an area of disturbed weather associated with a tropical wave developed in the central Caribbean. The remnants of a frontal boundaryWeather front
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities, and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena. In surface weather analyses, fronts are depicted using various colored lines and symbols, depending on the type of front...
merged with the disturbance on October 16 in the northwestern Caribbean, and another cold front moved into the area. Later that day, a resultant center of low pressure was identified to the east of Swan Islands, Honduras
Swan Islands, Honduras
The Swan Islands, or Islas Santanilla, are a chain of three islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, approximately ninety miles off the coastline of Honduras, with a land area of .-Detailed location and features:...
and declared a tropical depression. The center remained well-defined as the depression tracked slowly westward, and it was quickly upgraded to Tropical Storm Frieda. After peaking as a moderate tropical storm, Frieda steadily weakened until its landfall near Belize City, Belize as a tropical depression. Due to the storm's weak intensity at landfall, no damage was reported. Light to moderate rain fell in some areas along Frieda's path.
Late October Tropical Depression
This tropical depression formed on October 24 and dissipated the following day.Tropical Depression Nine
This tropical depression formed on November 3 as a low pressure area north of Puerto Rico. The system became well enough organized to be upgraded to Tropical Depression Nine the following day, as it moved west-northwest. The depression recurved, moving across eastern North Carolina before becoming a non-tropical low-pressure area on the evening of November 7. The low continued tracking along a parabolic curve, moving through the northern Mid-Atlantic states and New England before dissipating on November 10.Storm names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1977. Names that were not assigned are marked in .Storms were named Anita, Babe, Clara and Evelyn for the first time in 1977. The name Anita was later retired. Because the list used for this season was not used again after a new list containing male names came into usage in the 1979 season
1979 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1979 Atlantic hurricane season was the first in which the Atlantic hurricane naming list included both male and female names. It officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30, and there was tropical cyclone activity in every month. The dates conventionally delimit the period of each...
, it was not replaced with any particular name.
|
See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- 1977 Pacific hurricane season1977 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 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...
- 1977 Pacific typhoon season1977 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1977 Pacific typhoon season was one of the least active Pacific typhoon seasons on record, with only 19 tropical storms forming. It was also the only known typhoon season during the satellite era to not produce a Category 5 equivalent super typhoon...
- 1977 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons: 1976–77, 1977–78